FALLIN' ALL IN YOU (Completed)

Chapter 109

Every street, every corner, every house in this neighborhood brought back memories to Arthit. Some were good, some were bad, and some he really wishes he never had. Coming into view is the house he used to frequent the most as a child. It was his best friend Lek's house. They had become friends since they were in kindergarten. He used to hang out there more than his own home just to avoid his father's daily drunken tirades. It was at that house that he found a bit of solace, and got to be just a kid. It was at that house that he didn't have to hear or see his father degrade and lay his hands on his mother.

There's one memory that still vividly haunts Arthit till this day. It's the one where all three of them, Kohl, him, and Krystal are crying inside their bedroom as their father beat their mother with his belt outside the living room. All three of them hovered in the corner furthest from the bedroom door. Arthit had pressed his hands down hard covering his ears as he sobbed uncontrollably. Kohl, being the oldest, kept a protective arm around Arthit while also carrying Krystal in his lap. All three of them cried in the room until they heard the front door slammed shut, and only their mother's soft whimpering was audible. He can still remember his mother laying on the floor bleeding with cuts all over her arms and legs. Arthit had run to Lek's house and didn't go back home until two days later when Kohl promised that their mom was okay.

Unfortunately, that wasn't the only time such a scene took place. It gradually started to become a regular occurrence, just different degrees of horror. Lek helped Arthit escape the harsh reality of his family's situation and always tried to keep Arthit safe with him. He invited Arthit to go anywhere his family would go just to get Arthit out of the house. Lek's parents welcomed Arthit with open arms since Lek was an only child that had no one to play with. They used to scrape their money together just to buy one comic to share. They did everything together.

That is until Kohl's best friend Ian outed Arthit. Words spread like wildfire around their neighborhood that Arthit was gay. Lek never said anything derogatory to Arthit, but things were never the same. Lek stopped inviting Arthit over to his house which was like Arthit's second home. Then slowly he started to distance himself from Arthit. And somewhere along the way, they stopped talking altogether. Lek's whole family eventually moved away, and not even one word was mentioned to Arthit. Not even one goodbye after fourteen years of friendship. It was the first time Arthit truly felt alone. But luckily, Arthit met a gang of new friends in college and they've been there for him through thick and thin.

"We're here. Are you going inside?" Luke stops in front of a house with green iron gates. He ducks his head a little lower to get a better look at the house that he knows is Arthit's childhood home. The lights were on so his brother is most likely inside. Luke can see Arthit internally debating whether or not he wants to see his brother. With a prominent frown on Arthit's face, his hold on the car's door handle tightens and loosens again and again. Luke has an urge to just kick Arthit out of the car to get it over with. For God's sake, the man has already bought his brother medicine so he obviously cares. What's the holdup? Let's get the show on the road as they like to say.

"Do you want me to go in with you?" Luke offers seeing Arthit has still yet to make a move.

"Uh, no. I'll be right back." Arthit finally says and pops open the car door.

It's as if his feet were made of lead, every step Arthit took his feet grew heavier. It feels like a million years ago since the last time he has pushed the green iron gates open. Green paint chips away at his touch, exposing more of its rust underneath. It's time for another coat of paint, Arthit thought to himself. Not that it's any of his business. The front yard used to be filled with flowers and vegetable plants, but now it's covered in cement. To the left of the yard against the wall is their old wooden kiddie bench pushed to the side where it's rotting away. Arriving at the footsteps of the door, Arthit anxiously raises his hand to press the doorbell. He doesn't know if he really should be here or not.