Arthit’s mother offered him a drink after their failed attempt on getting Arthit back in his body. Kongpob took it and thanked her. There’s something in her eyes that deeply resembles her son greatly and Kongpob couldn’t place a finger on it. She really is beautiful up close.
“Ever since the accident,” she started, “I haven’t been at home. I keep thinking what if – what if I go home and my Oon wakes up?” she looked at him and gave Kongpob a smile. Arthit sat beside his mother, wanting to comfort his mother even if it’s by presence only.
“But he hasn’t woken up yet,” she continued, “my Oon – he – well there was this one time where his hand moved like he was reaching for something,” she smiled at the memory and sniffs, “I was so happy. The doctor told me there’s a great deal he’ll wake up soon.”
Kongpob furrowed his brows; somehow the information struck him.
Mrs. Rojnapat then started recalling the events on the day Arthit got into an accident which favored Kongpob and Arthit greatly. They didn’t want to raise any suspicion that’s why Kongpob wasn’t asking any questions too much.
Apparently, while Arthit was taking a stroll by the beach where Kongpob found the gear there was a jet ski that went out of control, driven by an amateur that collided with her son resulting in head injuries and multiple conditions. The head wound was bad enough for Arthit to succumb into coma and since then her son hasn’t woken up.
As his mother recalled what transpired that day, Arthit couldn’t help but cry again. Kongpob felt for him; finally, his senior knows what happened to him.
Kongpob wanted to stay for a bit longer for the sake of Arthit since his senior hasn’t seen his mother in a long time but they needed to go. He’s not related to them and Kongpob didn’t want to intrude any much further than he already was.
-
The commute back to his dorm is filled with silence.
He promised Arthit he’ll bring his senior back into his body and Kongpob failed. He keeps thinking what Arthit must think of him now, what Kongpob should have done – what he didn’t do.
By the time they reach Kongpob’s building he’s in a gloomy mood. He failed his senior and Kongpob is berating himself for it.
“I’m sorry, P’Ai’Oon,” he finally says after they get inside his room. Kongpob places the dinner he bought on the way back to the table.
“Why are you apologizing?” Arthit furrows his brows at him.
“Well, I didn’t get you back in your body,” Kongpob frowns, “I promised you I’ll –
“We tried,” Arthit says sternly. “At least we tried.”
“But –
“We’ll figure something out,” his senior walks towards him. Standing this close to Arthit, Kongpob sees the galaxy within Arthit’s pupils. “You always say that,” he continues and smiles. “We – we’ll figure something out.”
He can tell that Arthit is encouraging him but Kongpob can also notice the uncertainty in his senior’s features. They tried the closes thing they could think of but they failed.
“Maybe it’s time we start consulting psychics?” Kongpob jokes. The trip to the hospital leaves him emotionally tired.
Arthit laughs, “You believe in those things?”
“You’re a ghost.” Kongpob raises a brow at him. He starts preparing his dinner and Arthit sits across him like he usually does.
“Still,” Arthit says as he looks over the balcony again, “They’re all fakes.”
“How can you be sure that all of them are fakes, P’?”
“Are you seriously considering it, Kong?” Arthit gives him an incredulous look.
He shakes his head and chuckles, “Well, do you have anything else in mind?”
They’re running out of ideas. Kongpob has already searched the internet on ways to get a ghost back into its body and most of the results were disturbing enough that he doesn’t even consider trying it, and some of the links lead him to different porn sites which – no.
Kongpob starts his dinner as Arthit ponders in front of him, looking over the window.
The glow surrounding Arthit dances as the night deepens. Kongpob watches his senior as he eats; the pull is there again; the itch is there again.
Arthit is beautiful, he thinks. Handsome would not be the right adjective to describe his senior because it pales in comparison to how Kongpob sees Arthit; beautiful.
Kongpob only realize his senior noticed him when he sees Arthit’s ear starts getting red.
“Why are you looking at me?” Arthit mutters, still looking over the window. His ear is now full blown red and Kongpob smiles.
“Do I make you uncomfortable, P’Ai’Oon?” he says in a soft voice.
A smile slowly plays on Arthit’s lips, “No.” he says.
-
The Mr. and Ms. Faculty competition will be held later this afternoon; a week after they visited the hospital. Their seniors postponed their cheering activity to support their faculty’s candidate. Kongpob and Prae had been busy with rehearsal and practices together with preparing their pieces for the talent portion.
Arthit had been with him all throughout and Kongpob couldn’t help but be amused every time his senior would glare or cross his arms on his chest whenever Kongpob gets closer to Prae.
He knows its jealousy even if Arthit says otherwise; the eyes don’t lie, and Arthit’s eyes tell Kongpob everything he needs to know.
“Aren’t you nervous?” Arthit asks. They’re on a break and Kongpob sits at the far end corner of the room where every candidate is gathered.
Kongpob plays with his phone and says, “Of course I’m nervous, P’.”
“You don’t look nervous to me,” his senior mutters.
He smiles and puts his phone on his ear. “Are you worried about me, P’Ai’Oon?”
“Well – I – you’re my junior so . . .” Arthit stutters, “Besides, ma told me to take care of you or whatever.”
“Thank you for looking after me then, P’.” Kongpob smirks. “Please look after me for a while longer.” He says in spite.
Arthit scratches the back of his head, “Yeah . . . whatever.”
He chuckles. There’s something in Kongpob’s mind that he so badly wants to say to his senior and he’s just finding the right time.
Kongpob is about to say something when they’re called again for one last run. He pockets his phone and looks at Arthit who gives him a nod.
-
All in all, the contest was a success. Kongpob and Prae both won the Popular Vote while the overall champion was won by Kongpob which made his senior go crazy. Apparently, it was the first time it happened in the event since the beginning.
The highlight of the competition, in Kongpob’s opinion was when he sang a song dedicated to Arthit. He didn’t care about the sash or the title, Kongpob wanted to sing a song to his senior to begin with.
Since Arthit can’t get far from him, his senior had to stand by on the first row facing him which favored Kongpob.
The song was about letting someone know that you love them; and all throughout the song Kongpob had looked directly in Arthit’s eyes. And it made him smile when his senior didn’t break eye contact.
It was like a spell had been cast and the audience didn’t matter; it was only him and Arthit.
Kongpob wanted Arthit not only to hear the lyrics but feel the emotions behind it. His senior had this unreadable expression on his face that worried him for a while but Kongpob could see the faint blush tainting Arthit’s cheeks.
The song was for him and him only.
-
After he had celebrated with his friends, Kongpob and Arthit head back to his dorm. The ride back was filled with silence but it was welcomed. He had a feeling they’re going to have a talk when they get back to his room.
Kongpob takes a shower a couple of minutes after they’ve arrived. Arthit goes to the balcony to watch the sky.
He needs to gather his thoughts; he’s nervous. Kongpob doesn’t know how his senior will react.
When he gets out, Arthit is sitting on his bed looking at his palms.
Kongpob dries his hair and gets dressed. He watches his senior fidget with his hands and Kongpob breaks the silence.
“Is something wrong, P’?”
Arthit doesn’t look up but says, “Was the song earlier –
“It’s for you.” his heart starts beating faster. Kongpob swallows and repeats. “The song . . . it – it’s for you, P’.”
“Oh,” is the only thing Arthit says before looking up to meet his eyes.
Arthit doesn’t say anything else which makes him anxious. Kongpob tries to think of anything to say, “Uhmm –
“I thought you liked Prae.” His senior frowns at him.
“Praepailin?” Kongpob tilts his head.
Arthit nods and stops fidgeting with his fingers when Kongpob adds, “She’s beautiful.”
His senior then hunches his shoulders. Kongpob continues, “And she also likes girls.”
“Praepailin?” Arthit furrows his brows.
He nods.
“The song was for you, P’Ai’Oon,” Kongpob kneels in front of Arthit and looks up at his eyes.
“I’ve wanted to tell you about this but I haven’t found the right time.” he says. “And I can’t keep it inside anymore, P’.”
“Kong . . .”
“I love you, P’Ai’Oon,” he says softly.
Kongpob wishes to hold Arthit’s hand but only his senior can do that if he wills it enough. Arthit stares into his eyes as if looking for something; and Kongpob’s heart hammers in his chest.
“Kong I . . .” Arthit swallows.
He sighs, slumping his shoulders. Somehow, Kongpob has thought about this at the back of his mind; he just refused to entertain it.
Kongpob stands slowly and blinks. “It’s okay, P’,” he licks his lips, “I just wanted to tell you how I feel. You don’t have to say anything.”
He busies himself with his bag and the bouquet of flowers he got from the competition. Arthit remains silent behind him and it kills Kongpob.
“Kong,” he hears his senior call for his name. Kongpob doesn’t look back and Arthit continues. “We still don’t know if I’ll be able to go back to my body.”
He takes a deep breath and faces Arthit who’s already standing a few feet away from him. Kongpob has the sudden need to tell his senior what he feels.
“We’ll figure it out, P’ –
“We’re running out of time.” Arthit cuts in.
Kongpob’s heart aches for some reason. “How – why?”
“I don’t know,” Arthit shrugs. “I just feel it here,” his senior points to his chest. “A faint hollow feeling.”
“P’ –
“I love you too, Kong.” Arthit says. “But – but what if I can’t go back to my body in time?”
“P’Ai’Oon,” he whispers.
There’s a flurry of mixed emotions wrecking havoc inside him. Arthit loves him, too; but now they have a race against time. The thought of his senior vanishing for good sends a shiver in Kongpob’s spine enough to make him tear up.
“Kong,” Arthit walks towards him.
Kongpob just stands still. He feels the tears trailing down his cheeks but he feels weak to wipe it.
“Since when?” he asks.
Arthit opens and closes his mouth before saying, “Ever since we visited the hospital.”
“Why – why didn’t you tell me, P’?”
Kongpob feels Arthit’s hands wiping his tears for him. He should feel happy about the contact but it burns instead. “Please don’t cry, Kong.”
His senior’s hand rests on his cheek and Kongpob leans to the touch and closes his eyes.
“You’ve been busy and I didn’t want to burden you –
“’We’, P’Ai’Oon.” Kongpob says. “Since the beginning it’s always been a ‘we.’”
“Kong –
“We’ll figure this out, P’.” he bites his lips. “I promise you –
“I love you, Kong.” Arthit says; his senior starts to tear up also and Kongpob can’t help but just stare.
“But?”
“I’m still a ghost.” It pains Kongpob to see that sad look on Arthit’s face. “And we’re running out of time I can feel it. It’s close.”
“We –
“I’m scared.” Arthit whispers. “I’m scared, Kong.”
“P’ –” Kongpob doesn’t get to finish his sentence because Arthit hugs him tightly. He can hear the soft sobs of his senior just like the last time and Kongpob’s chest aches even more. He wraps an arm around Arthit’s lower back and leans his head on his senior’s.
“Promise me, Kong.” Arthit sobs. “Promise me you’ll get me back.”
“I promise, Oon.” He bites his lips. “No matter what it takes. I promise.”
---
AN
Hello! I'm sorry if i haven't updated sooner. I was busy with my birthday hehe.
I apologize if this seem all over the place. I havent been feeling well
I hope it's still okay tho.
Thanks again for reading!
#sotusforever