Stumbled In Love [Complete]

26.

"So you like Kong, huh?"

My butt had barely touched the seat when I bounced back to my feet. Kong's mother's words ringing around me like a blast of shock.

Seriously, did the whole family live to torment me in unique ways?

"No...no...I...I...just..."

Stammering away my denial I felt a slender hand on my shoulder, softly pushing my back down towards my seat.

"Sit, sit. No one is about to eat you up. At least not yet. Now let's gossip a little before it's impossible to keep that idiot son of mine away from this room. So, Arthit, tell me, how deep in are you?"

Settling down next to me, she placed a heavy plate of snacks in my hand as she began munching from it herself. And for a second I even contemplated flat out denying everything, but somehow she had this easy presence that made me drop all of my guards. Making me confess all of my darkest secrets knowing they will be safe with her. I guess I know where Kong inherits that skill from.

"I won't be for long."

"Really? So you are what, going to simply stop liking him? Just like that?"

"I...I am trying."

"It may not be as easy as you think. Unfortunately, I have been told that boy is rather lovable."

"Well, good thing I have a cold, hard stone for a heart then."

"Maybe try that line again when you actually believe it yourself."

We fell into a strange silence, the only sound in the room being the soft munching of the carrots she seems to love. Was it weird that I didn't even feel awkward discussing my ridiculous crush on Kong with his own mother? In the few times I had met her already feeling closer to her than I have ever been to my own family.

"You know he likes you too right?"

"I know he thinks he likes me."

"And there is a difference?"

"He...thinks its fun and exciting and...and novel right now. But he has his hopes and dreams and all these plans for the future I am not going to be able to be a part of, and sooner rather than later he will figure out he has better things to do than liking me."

"Hmmm, yeah, I am worried about that too..."

I frowned at her words, wondering where this conversation was even going. Mostly, confused as to why she wasn't freaking out that we were flirting at the boundaries of our friendship like any mother should. Breaking the silence once again with words I had never expected to hear before.

"...but maybe you never know, Kong might actually surprise us if you give him a chance. Perhaps you are more of a priority to him than you realize."

"I am never a priority for anyone."

I immediately bit my lower lip as I heard the words I had just said, sounding a little too bitter even for me. And as weird as it sounds I would like to maintain atleast a thin veneer of a good impression on her. The tortourous silence stretching a little too long after my snapped response. Trying to gauge her reaction hoping I hadn't ended up offending her the one time I was actively not trying to be an asshole.

"I actually completely understand what you mean. Arthit, did I ever tell you how I met Kong's dad?"

"No, ma'am."

"We were together at the last orphange before we were old enough to leave the damn place."

"Oh? I'm sorry I didn't know."