Stumbled In Love [Complete]

21.

I shifted in my seat, smoothing my palm over my shirt for probably the millionth time, a little too conscious of potential wrinkles drowning me, thinking the same thought once again.

I really shouldn't have come today.

"Stop it."

I turned towards the sound of Kongpob's mom as she took the chair next to me. Lightly touching my wrist before replacing the gigantic cup of ice cream I had just polished off. Happily munching away at her own snack.

"Stop what?"

"Thinking that you shouldn't have come today. You definitely should have and I am glad that you did."

"How did you...?"

"Anyone ever tell you that you have a very expressive face?"

"It's been mentioned once or twice."

"You overthink too much Arthit. Don't you enjoy Kong's company?"

"I...I do, but..."

"But what?"

And as if it was the most normal thing under the sun, I felt her reach over and dab away the extra dollop of cream stuck on my chin with her napkin. Something I would expect a mother to do to her own child. Something I hadn't expected anyone to do for me. In fact there have been many a times that I have gone the whole day flashing the greens stuck in my teeth without anyone even mentioning it to me until Sol would come act as a warrior against stray spinach residue.

"I am not the best around people. Actually, I might probably be the most anti-social human that exists. I didn't want to embarrass Kongpob in front of his friends and family."

The loud chuckle that followed sounded so similar to Kongpob that could almost hear the familial resemblance.

"If you think Kong is embarrassed of you in the slightest then you have a long way to go before you have figured him out. It's more like he is worried we will embarrass him in front of you. Which I thoroughly plan to do by the way, serves him right for not calling for weeks. Now I'm going to get me some more ice cream. Want another round?"

"Yes please."

And before I knew it the cup in my hand was replaced once again. Kong's mom staying by my side since the minute Kong had ushered me inside his seemingly overcrowded house. And although Kong had been busy getting introduced to the who's who of the country, both he and his dad popped by our table every few minutes to check in on his mom. Weirdly, what in the past would have been utter torture to me having been introduced to so many strangers in one go, was almost bearable tonight.

Between Kong and his mom, all I had to do was nod once and attempt half a smile and they took care of all the charming and schmoozing. Seriously, it's just not fair for anyone to be this good at dealing with people where as I had the skill of a black bear trying to pass of as a pet dog.

Yet as much as I really wanted to believe her, I still wasn't convinced that I should have come tonight. What the fuck was I even doing here? It was my supposed errand boy's mom's baby shower for heaven sake. When did I get so freaking desperate to attend parties? I don't even like parties. Or babies.

But I do like Kongpob, as unbelievable as that sounds. He made me act in all sorts of uncharacteristic ways that I didn't completely hate. Somehow he made me forget my insecurities even for the short time he, along with his effervescent personality, hung around my house. As Mrs. Paikarn puts it, I opened the door to him, I let him inside my house and the world hadn't ended. So maybe pushing my boundaries just a tiny bit wouldn't really be that Earth shattering would it? After all, I think I am ready to accept it at least to myself that I was lonely. For the longest time I was more than convinced that Sol and I would always be together. That neither of us needed anything more than each other. Naturally, I was wrong. I guess there are only so many years one could dedicate towards fighting with the world for your handicapped brother. And so he left. Leaving me with this emptiness in my chest that I haven't figured out how to fill yet. But ever since Kongpob has come cursing and complaining into my life, that void doesn't seem all the hollow. And now I don't want to lose those brief moments of happiness I feel when he comes by my apartment.