Claimed by The Virus

19. Our Past

Arthit stirred in his sleep when he felt his waist throbbing in discomfort, he whimpered from the dull pain, unconsciously his hand pushed something in front of him and then he heard a groan and whimpers. His eyes opened, still a bit disoriented from sleep. He saw Kongpob's face in front of him, contorting in pain and how his face is wet with sweat. He keeps mumbling mother and father several times before his expression turns into anger and the death grip around his waist tightened.

Nails embedded in his skin, drawing blood. He gasped and shakes Kongpob's body "Kongpob..." but the grip only tightened and it is getting painful now that Arthit got a little scared.

"Kongpob.. please.." still nothing.

"KONGPOB!" he slapped his arm hard, immediately Kongpob's hands left him as he shot up into a sitting position. With effort, he tried to sit up too, ignoring the pain on his waist.

He saw how Kongpob panicked, how he tried to organize his breath as he clutched to his chest. Arthit touched his shoulder softly but Kongpob turned to him so fast and slapped his hand away, Arthit flinched as he brought his stinging hand close to his chest.

Kongpob seems to snap out to reality as his eyes widened in reallisation, craddling Arthit in his arms "I'm sorry... I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry,-" he got cut off when Arthit cupped his cheeks sending him a reassuring smile.

"hey..I'm okay, you're okay, we're okay..." Arthit holds his hand and kissed his fingers one by one softly, Kongpob calmed down at this, seeing his boyfriend's face is enough for him.

"what happened?" he wheezed out.

"you were groaning in your sleep, I think it was one hell of a nightmare" slowly Kongpob remembered the nightmare, god... it was one of the memories he wanted to erase. It has been quite some time since he had them.

"do you want to talk about it?" Arthit laid him down and brought Kongpob's head to his chest, playing with his hair.

"I'm scared you'll leave me, if you know what I did" Kongpob confessed, eyes prickled with tears.

Arthit took a deep breath, closing his eyes as his heart throb painfully. He opened them again after a few seconds, it's now or never. He promised to give all of himself to Kongpob and this might be his chance.

"Do you remember that time, the whole week that I was busy?" he started, voice barely above whisper. Kongpob knew what's coming and he doesn't want to force Arthit.

"No, P'. Don't tell me if you're no-"

"I want to, so listen." their hearts beating in sync, both forgotten wounds opened again after such a long time.

"I was having my regular check-ups, that's why I couldn't go to class or go outside. I was in the medical bay for the whole week." Kongpob's breath hitched, eyes widening in panic. Seeing Kongpob's face, Arthit wavered at his own thoughts but still he keeps smiling and hugged the other man.

"A-are you in danger? Are you hurt somewhere?" hands exploring Arthit's body checking him everywhere.

"No.. It was more like, controlling my mutant side. My power... I couldn't control it fully and that was because-" he took Kongpob's hand in his before continuing "...because they got me, once. I belonged to the shadows, to him when I survived the virus, me along with someone else. The one who that gear belonged to."

Arthit paused, tears pricking at the memories "I still remember the day they kidnapped me, how they slaughtered my whole family in front of my eyes" tears are streaming down his cheeks and Kongpob couldn't believe what he heard, the terrifying truth.