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"But I do."
Arthit had a bit of time to wonder why he said those words as Kongpob left him alone for a moment to opened the door for Tew.
"How did you even know what happened?" It hasn't been ten minutes since he and Arthit went back. Kongpob let his friend in and shut the door quickly. He was still worried that the attack won't stop with just that.
"P'Jane called me. He said you were attacked" Tew replied and stopped mid-step when he caught sight of Arthit with his shirt off. His lips tilted upward, slyly grinning upon the sight of Arthit's naked torso.
"Have you forgotten to tell me something Kongpob?"
It looked like Tew didn't know the whole story, seeing the male's reaction.
Kongpob looked at Arthit and then back at his friend before piecing it together. He vigorously shook his head in denial. "It's not like that Tew. I was checking his back."
Arthit flushed red, understanding what Kongpob's friend was thinking. He covered himself quickly but winced when the sore muscles protested.
Tew frowned. Only when he got closer did he see the bruises forming on the male's back. "Shit. That doesn't look good. Shouldn't he go to the hospital?"
"I don't need a hospital." Arthit was already sweating at the cost of treatment. He couldn't afford to go.
"As you can see's being stubborn about it." Helplessly sighed while looking worriedly at Arthit.
"At least get some ice for it." Tew suggested, squirming as the image got stuck in his head. The male's back looked like it had been painted with patches of dark blue.
"I ran out."
Tew looked at his friend with a raised brow before walking to the front to door. "I'll get some in my fridge. I'll be back so don't do anything over pg-13"
Before could say anything, Tew had made his escape and could only look at the injured Arthit with a loss for words.
Arthit pretended not to hear what Kongpob's friend said but his cherry red face couldn't erase the fact that he heard it and was deeply embarrassed.
There was an awkward silence between them as they waited patiently for Tew. Arthit aimlessly looked around while Kongpob stared at his phone, fiddling.
Tew was back in less than two minutes. He wrapped the ice cubes in a towel and gave it to Kongpob. "You put it on his back." He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively which earned him a smack. Good thing Arthit didn't see it or he might have blushed again. The male was so easily embarrassed. Kongpob actually found it quite cute.
They decided to let Arthit lie down on his front in the bedroom. There wasn't just enough space in the living room to lie on.
Arthit got a little help from the two when he removed his shirt. He regretted putting the shirt back on. It hurts to move. His back muscles protested as he took off the top and position himself on the bed.
He yelped when the ice made contact on his skin. The male celebrity had forgotten to warn the older male.
"Sorry."
"No problem." Arthit replied stiffly, feeling the ice on his bare back. He took a couple of deep breaths as the tingles on his back alternate between pain and numbness. It was uncomfortable but he had to endure.
Tew made himself scarce and was probably in the living room using the television. Arthit could faintly hear sounds coming in that direction.
A couple of minutes had passed before he got accustomed by the weird sensation caused by the ice on his back. Arthit expected for Kongpob to join his friend in the living room but Arthit felt the bed dip slightly on his left.
"Kongpob?" He couldn't see the younger male.
"Yeah?"
"What are you doing?" Arthit asked curiously. He was getting bored at doing nothing. It hurts to move, making it hard to even use a phone.
"Watching you."
Arthit couldn't help but chuckle. He had began to be more open with the younger male. "I'm not a television. I'm far from interesting than that electronic box."
Kongpob laughed in reply and wiped the melted liquid on the older male's back. "Humans will always be far more interesting than a television."
"Fair point. But you don't have to watch me. I can take care of myself."
Arthit couldn't see Kongpob's face but he could guess that the other male didn't believe him.
"Can you reach your back without feeling pain?"
The injured male thought for a second before admitting, "No b-"
"You need someone to watch over you P' " Kongpob interjected. "At least until your back looked better. Want to stay here for the meantime?"
As much as the fanboy part of Arthit wished he could do so, the logical part of him had to decline the offer. It was so tempting but it was risky and unrealistic. Staying would mean distractions and he would have a higher chance of being discovered. He didn't want that to happen. "You know I can't. My school is too far. I like my sleep and I don't want to impose on you. You're busy as well."
The male celebrity expected this, but wished he could do much more for the elder male. "Thank you P'. Thank you for protecting me even though I didn't need it."
"Shut it Kongpob. We're friends. It's what we do for each other." Arthit buried his face on the Kongpob scented sheets. He was getting dizzy from it.
By the time Jane, Kongpob's manager arrived, Arthit's back was numb from the ice pack. It had been changed thrice and Arthit was shivering already. He had his legs covered with a comforter to chase off the cold in some way. It was really cold but he could feel that the pain had subsided a bit.
The door to Kongpob's bedroom slammed open and a very ruffled and panting manager entering the room.
Kongpob smiled with with relief at the presence of his reliable manager, P'Jane. "Was the traffic bad?"
Jane looked ruffled and panicky. It was evident that he rushed as fast as he could to get here.
"A car accident made it worse. I thought I would have to run to get here. Are you alright? Did you get hurt? Who's he? And why is he topless on your bed? Are you forgetting to tell me something?"
Jane's eyes grew big at the sight of a stranger in his talent's bed. He was already thinking all sorts of reasons as to why there was such a man on the bed and it wasn't innocent.
The barrage of questions had the young celebrity laughing. "Thank you for coming so fast P'. I'm alright. He's my friend and he acted like a hero earlier. He bore the brunt of the attack.
"You saw him before. Remember that fanmeet for the series? He was also there. The fanbo-"
"Kongpob!" Arthit called out his name in warning.
The younger male corrected himself. "What I mean is that fan I was paired with is him. He's also the one I've been talking to for some time."
Arthit respectfully greeted Kongpob's manager as best as he could while he stayed still on Kongpob's bed.
Kongpob's explanation cleared the speculations running through his head. He was relieved that nothing scandalous has happened. For a second, he thought that Kongpob came out of the closet.
Jane approached Arthit and sincerely expressed his gratitude. "Thank you for protecting Kongpob."
"It was nothing." Arthit shyly looked away, his cheeks once again stained with a slight blush. "I'm his friend. I wished we could have met in better circumstances."
"Me too. Do you want to go to a hospital? You don't have to worry about the expenses, we'll be shouldering it. It was our fault you got hurt."
"No need. My back feels a lot better." It was true. Earlier his back hurt like a bitch but he could handle the current pain level. "Can you give me a ride home? I still have to study for an exam tomorrow. "
Arthit had to leave already. He hadn't started to review for his exam tomorrow.
Jane didn't argue with the younger man, respecting the male's wishes. "This is the least we could do."
With a new shirt borrowed from Kongpob, this time a short-sleeved navy blue button up shirt, and help from them, he got changed. Tew had already gone home when Jane arrived. Arthit was grateful for the assistance and the ride back to his dormitory.
It only took them an hour trip and stopped at Arthit's dorm building.
"Here's my number." Kongpob's manager handed Arthit a business card. "If you need anything just call me."
Arthit pocketed the card and thanked Kongpob's manager.
"Rest well P'" Kongpob said from inside the car. His manager had forbidden him from going out of the car for safety reasons.
Arthit's usual expression was present. He merely nodded at the celebrity before watching them drive off.
Outside his dorm building, Arthit was surprised to see his friend Knot waiting patiently by his motorcycle. A friendly smile from Knot greeted him in which he returned with his own version of a smile.
"So....what had you missing our classes yesterday and today? This is extremely unusual for you? Did you get involved in something dangerous?"
Arthit gave his friend a look that wondered how his friend came to such a conclusion. No. He wasn't involved in anything dangerous. He had enough excitement as being a fanboy.
He shook his head and began to walk to the entrance. He couldn't help but wince when he tried to flex his back in reflex.
"You're hurt." His friend stated the obvious, unable to suppress the urge to roll his eyes.
"It's a long story."
"Tell me." Knot demanded while he supported his friend was they entered the building.
Arthit began to talk, telling his best friend of his friendship with Kongpob. He wasn't worried about Knot blabbering this to other people. It wasn't in Knot's personality to tell other people's secrets. That was why he had been voted by the group as their most trusted confidant with Bright as the worst.
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btw. if you see the my stories being updated but no new chapters, that means I'm editing them. The plot doesn't change but there were parts where I am not satisfied. this is a head up :)
short update. finally had some time to write. This took me 3 hours. I apologize I am a slow writer.
ciao.