The Prince and The Thief

Ten

Kongpop clutched his head that he felt was about to burst in pain. He was hyperventilating and drenched in sweat the next moment. He never knew that the flashbacks of that day still had the same effect on him.
An injured and fully drenched Kongpop was discovered by Bright and Oak ten years back when they were out playing around. Bright's mother took him in, bathed him, and tended to him until he was fine. But the nightmares wouldn't stop for another two years, and Bright's mother would hold him close every night to calm him down. And one day she suddenly passed away in an accident depriving Kongpop of the only warmth he had. Since then, everytime the thoughts of that day came up in his mind, he distracted himself. And today, he is remembering the dreadful day again.

"Are you okay?" Arthit's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. Kongpop took a while to steady his breath and then looked at Arthit with lots of questions in his mind. "Did my grandmother know you?" he asked after a while. "Your grandmother?" Arthit asked confused. "Your story...I knew it before...my grandmother told me about it," Kongpop said, making Arthit furrow his eyebrows. "How can it be? Only few people in the palace knew about this. My parents and the palace maid," Arthit said and his eyes shot up in surprise the next moment. It can't be. Was this why he felt familiar?

Ten years back...
A 14 year old Arthit sat by the study table burying his head into the book about royal etiquettes. Being a crown prince wasn't easy as he had thought. He was told not to trust anyone but himself, and had to look presentable every moment. The worst part was his own mother calling him "your highness." He terribly missed her hugs and her calling him "my baby Ai-Oon" ever since he was moved to the part of the palace near the western gate that was designated to the crown prince. Arthit sighed at the sight of many books piled up near him. He had started reading at 7:00 a.m. and hadn't even reached half of the book he was reading.

"Hey," Arthit raised his head in surprise hearing the voice and smiled at the familiar figure dressed in a black suit standing near the window. He got up and rushed towards the person. "P'San," he called enthusiastically while the other person gestured him to lower his voice. "How are you? Do you like it here?" San asked placing his hand over Arthit's while looking around. Arthit shook his head frantically into a "no," pouting. "How can I like it here when my boyfriend is away?" Arthit whined. "My good boy, P'San misses you too. But you know that I can't do anything right? I am just a bodyguard," he replied, while rubbing his thumb over Arthit's hand that he held. "I don't want to be the crown prince. I just want to be with you," Arthit said to which San shook his head smiling. "Don't say that. You are the king's only son. The only way I can be around you is as a bodyguard. They are selecting bodyguards for you next week. I'll try my best to pass the test, okay?" San asked to which Arthit nodded his head smiling. "Okay, I have to leave now. I'll see you next week," he said trying taking away his hand from Arthit's. But the next moment the latter grabbed it tight. "Wait," Arthit said before putting his head out of the window and kissing San's lips. The bodyguard was taken aback for a second and then he smiled and leaned forward to grab Arthit by his nape before capturing his lips. Suddenly a loud voice from behind startled them. Arthit turned back to see the palace maid looking at them aghast. The tray with the glass of milk she had just brought to the room lay shattered on the floor. Arthit stood up from where he sat and gulped. "I..." he tried to explain and turned back, but San had already left. The woman grabbes his hand and made him sit on his bed. She then went to lock the door before coming back and standing in front of him. Arthit could feel his heart beat hard against his chest in fear. He was scared that Khun Nin, his favourite nanny, who had a special place in his heart, would hate him. She had been there ever since he was born and had always taken care of him. When his parents were busy with imperial affairs, she was the one who always kept him company.

"Son," she called, like everytime when they were alone. Arthit looked at her and saw that her face reflected worry more than disgust. "I love him," he said, his fingers playing with the hem of his shirt's sleeve. She shook her head in understanding. "But you know that this relationship is forbidden. If your parents or anyone else in the palace comes to know about it, you know what will happen, right? Be careful, I'm worried about you," Nin said, while caressing Arthit's head. "You don't hate me right?" Arthit asked for confirmation. "Why would I hate you? You are my favourite child," she smiled. Arthit felt relieved at her response. The next moment he sprung up from the bed as if remembering something and rushed to his table. He then came back with three books and placed it into the nanny's hand. "This is for your grandson. I really love these stories. I'm sure he'll like it too," Arthit said smiling. "Kong really loves reading, just like you. He smiles like he won a lottery every time he sees the books you send for him. Thank you son," Nin replied as she held the book firmly in her hand and left the room before calling a maid to clean up the glass on the floor.

"Kong," Arthit whispered, his eyes wide in realisation. "Was Khun Nin your grandmother?" Kongpop looked at Arthit in confusion and then nodded his head. "She was my grandmother," he confirmed. Arthit didn't know how to react. He was happy that he finally met Nin's grandson, but the fact that probably he was the reason Kongpop was living this way made Arthit feel guilty at the same time. "Khun Nin wasn't just a maid to me. She always talked about you. She loved you so much," Arthit said to which Kongpop felt his eyes tear up.  "It was all because of me. That day my father came to know about my relationship, she tried her best to protect us. I knew that my father won't leave her alone even when he had assured to spare her if she wouldn't talk about it to anyone. I had asked her to escape but she said she trusted the king and I never saw her again," Arthit said as teardrops fell from his eyes. Kongpop burst into tears at what he just heard. His grandmother was the only person he had after his father died and his mother abandoned him for another man. She had a job and always promised Kong that she would send him to school one day. But everytime he asked, she never said where she worked. "I'm sorry...I'm so sorry," Arthit said as he pulled Kongpop into a hug. Both of them sat like that for a while, crying their hearts out.

"Why are you sleeping here?" Kongpop asked, looking towards his right, trying to figure out where Arthit was, in the moonlight coming through the window. "I don't want to sleep alone," he replied before turning to face Kongpop. The next moment, Arthit raised his hand to gently touch the scar on Kongpop's cheek, making him flinch. Arthit shut his eyes, his fingers still lingering on Kongpop's scar and let out a deep sigh. Kongpop had finally told him how he got the scar and his guilt had only grown on hearing that. "Don't think too much about it. Everytime I lost someone in my life, I always found someone who stood by me the same way. Now I have P'Bright and Oak," Kongpop said. "And me," Arthit added as Kongpop looked at him surprised. Arthit opened his eyes and pressed his lips into a thin line still rubbing the scar as if to make it fade. Kongpop gulped as he felt his body react strangely at the way Arthit was looking at him. "Sleep," Arthit said, as his hand moved to gently pat Kongpop's arm. Few moments later, the pats slowed down and Kongpop could hear the sounds of slow breathing. He gently removed Arthit's hand and turned to his left, trying to calm down his racing heart. But the next moment, Kongpop felt Arthit's arm around his waist, causing him to stiffen. He sighed hard realising that his mind could think of everything else except sleep tonight.