Arthit
Arthit had woken up that next morning feeling extremely lost. Since finding out that he was not Sirikit's son but someone that was taken from his family, the Jaturapooms. Arthit felt extremely confused at what the outside world would want from him. What would his family want from him? Part of him feared that both Dusit and Forth would hate him.
He had spent the entire previous day locked up in the guest room clinging on to Kongpob and Yo; occupying his mind with only them. Arthit knew it wasn't healthy. Just like he knew that he couldn't hide and avoid it forever.
"Love..." Arthit smiled as he heard Kongpob whisper in his ear. Despite the fact that they were not together it made Arthit smile to know that Kongpob loved him. He snuggled closer to the man not wanting to leave his arms. A soft kiss was pressed to his cheek that made Arthit smile once more.
"Daddy... Teacher Art! Yo is done with his bath!" Yo announced from the bathroom. Arthit opened his eyes and looked at Kongpob who offered him a kind smile. Arthit reached out to caress Kongpob's cheek. They had told one another they loved each other, yet at the same time, Kongpob was keeping his promise to wait. Arthit was glad, and for now, he wasn't thinking too much about it or seeing it as more than a comfort from a person who truly cared for and loved him. Because that was what Kongpob was; a person that cared for him and loved him.
"Kong..."
"2" (Eskimo kiss) Arthit smiled as Kongpob's nose gently brushed against his. He couldn't help the flutters that he felt in his heart.
"We need to get up..." Kongpob whispered to him. Arthit nodded yet he stayed in the same position that they were in. Kongpob smiled at him gently caressing his cheek.
"Things will be okay..."
"I don't want you to leave..." Arthit whispered.
"It will only be for today. We need to grab a few things from home and I need to see if I can send someone to fix the damages of our house." Arthit's heart clenched and he couldn't help the guilty feeling that came with it.
"Don't worry about it okay," Kongpob spoke knowingly.
"Where are we going to live? I can't go back there... and I don't want to stay here..." Silently Arthit was asking if he would be left there on his own. He knew that Kongpob would not want to stay in this mansion and despite the fact that he knew that Forth and Dusit Jaturapoom were biologically his family, he didn't know how he would feel to live with them on his own.
"You can do what you want Arthit. I won't force you to stay here. You can go with Ming and Byul... I think Yo and I will move in with my mother. There's a pool house there so we'll have our own space. You're welcome to come with us and this isn't me telling you that you're a burden to us because I would gladly have you with us for as long as I could. This is me giving you choices." Kongpob tells him gently. They sit on the bed and soon Yo comes out wrapped in a small little bathrobe and a pout on his face. On his head was a large towel wrapped around him messily.
"Is Yo not important! Why did Daddy and Teacher Art not come to help Yo!"
"Sorry Buddy. Arthit and I are having an important conversation." Kongpob spoke up while Yo climbed on to the bed. Arthit offered him a smile and chuckled as he took the towel from Yo's head and began to gently dry his hair.
"Daddy... When are we going home?" Yo questioned. That in itself brought more guilt to Arthit.
"We need to fix some things first. We might stay with Grandma and Grandpa for a while."
"Teacher Art is coming with us, right? Yo needs to have Teacher Art with him." Arthit smiled at Yo who clings on to him and hugs him. Arthit knows that Kongpob would never ask anything of him, he's too much of a gentleman and far too selfless to ask him to stay with them. Arthit likes that about him. Then there is Yo. Who is innocent and unafraid to say his wants and be a little selfish, for that Arthit is also thankful. Not only does it make him feel wanted but needed.
"Of course I'm going with you," Arthit tells Yo who smiles at him. There was a knock on the door and Kongpob stood up to get it. It was one of the maids, and they brought a tray of food inside. Something they had been doing since the day prior. Arthit had not eaten much only when Yo had insisted that he do so. For that, he was thankful for.
Kongpob opened the tray and Yo simply sat on Arthit's lap.
"Nam Tao Hoo" Yo spoke up in excitement as he saw the spread that was around them.
"Let's eat then we'll get you ready for today okay," Arthit told Yo who nodded. Kongpob smiled at them and they ate while chatting. Despite the fact that Arthit was sad when Kongpob told him that Knot had ruined his studio. Arthit was saddened by the fact that his paintings were most likely ruined but as he always did, he knew that he could always start all over again. As long as he could paint no matter how much anyone tried to stop his dreams he would always get himself back up and start again.
He thought about the last thing he was working on and found himself smiling. He could always start over, Kongpob would always be there for him, there was no doubt in his mind about that.
Kongpob
Kongpob had left Yo at his mother's house in order to go back home. There was no need for Yo to go back and forth with him considering the long drive to and fro the Jaturapoom mansion. Especially now that they would be moving into his mother's house.
Dusit Jaturapoom had asked his driver to take him and Yo where they wished and Kongpob had only taken the offer to be driven to his mother's house but was now driving his mother's car. Kongpob had not wanted to leave Arthit by himself but he was giving both Forth and Dusit Jaturapoom a chance to talk to Arthit on their own. Kongpob knew that eventually, Arthit would want to get to know both men, he would want to spend time with them. Eventually, Arthit would need to be away from he and Yo so that he could allow himself to grow as a person.
Kongpob was trying to prepare himself for that and he was willing to be heartbroken and sad for a while if it meant that Arthit would be happy and finally come into himself. He'd talked to his mother and had asked her about staying with her until Arthit's divorce was finalized. He'd told her what was going on and she had immediately told him he, Arthit, and Yo were always welcome to live with them as long as they needed to.
"But you know don't you son? Eventually, Arthit has to start his life again. The world you too live in is quite beautiful but eventually, you need to help him come outside to the real world too." His mother had said to him. And Kongpob knew that to be true.
When he arrived at his home he wasn't all that surprised to see Knott. However, he was surprised to see that Jae Ha, Ming, and Byul were there as well. It was clear that they were arguing and when Kongpob stepped out of the car Knot tried to get to him.
"What are you doing here? Did you not receive the restraining order that was issued for Arthit, for Yo, and for myself?" Kongpob questioned. Knot glared at him.
"Give him back to me now!"
"Arthit doesn't belong to you bastard." Ming snapped angrily while Byul and Jae Ha held him back.
"I'm his husband."
"Soon to be ex," Byul said to him angrily.
"I don't know what you did to him how could you all get into his head. We were happy."
"Were you?" Kongpob spoke up unable to take Knot's words.
"Those bruises Arthit had on him was that him being happy? All the tears that he shed because a bastard like you decided to ruin his life. You don't deserve him."
"And you do? I should have seen this coming. How dare you look at my husband." Knot snapped at Kongpob.
"Arthit and I, we're not together. I care about him I won't deny that. He's a good man and it took me a single moment of speaking to him to know that. How could you even think about laying your hands on someone ever let alone Arthit the person you claim to love. If that's the way you love I don't even want to think about what you do to your enemies." Kongpob snapped at him.
"Is that what he told you? He's a liar." Kongpob scoffed.
"Arthit didn't have to tell me anything. I saw the bruises that you left on his arms. And I saw you that night at the art gallery. The way in which you spoke to him and degraded him, I saw the way you put your hands on him." Kongpob snapped at him.
"You don't know anything about him and I. There are things that you won't ever understand."
"And I don't want to understand Knot. There is no excuse for the way you abused Arthit. He loved you and you took advantage of him and now you're never going to see him again. You lost that right the second you started to hurt him." Kongpob said to him.
"You don't get to decide that." Knot snapped at him.
"You're right. I don't. Arthit decided that the moment he chose to run away from you not this time or before that. From the moment Arthit tried to run away the first time. That should have let you know that he did not want to be with you anymore. And it had everything to do with you and with Luna." Kongpob said to him.
"You need to leave." Jae Ha spoke up.
"You won't find Arthit here and I suggest you stop looking unless you want to end up in jail earlier than you hoped," Kongpob said to him. Knot glared but doesn't say more as he walks away and gets into his car.
"He might try to follow you later..." Jae Ha tells him.
"I know. But he won't be able to do anything. Not anymore. The Jaturapooms will take care of it." Kongpob said to them.
"You're right. Arthit now has more power than Knot knows about. He won't be able to touch him anymore." Byul spoke up.
"No offense. But why are you guys here?" Kongpob questioned.
"We thought that we could come to get a few of Arthit's things. There was a guard here Mr. Jaturapoom sent him to guard the house and someone else replaced your door. We cleaned a bit inside and threw some things out. I hope you don't mind." Byul explained.
"It's fine thank you," Kongpob said to them.
"We also packed a few things. We figured you would be staying at the Jaturapooms for a while." Ming said to him.
"Maybe... I'll let Arthit decide what he wants to do." Byul looks at him and offers him a kind smile.
"Thank you. We were apprehensive at first but we can see that you genuinely care about Arthit." Byul tells him Kongpob offers them a smile.
"I understand. There are no hard feelings on my part and you're welcome to come to see him if he does decide to come with Wayo and I," Kongpob spoke up. He knew that Arthit had told Yo he was going with them but things could always change, it was why Kongpob had left Arthit with his family, so he could make a real choice.
"He'll go with you. Arthit loves you and your son too much not too. In his eyes, you are already his family." Ming said to him.
"Don't worry about Arthit and the Jaturapooms. He'll slowly get close to them but you can't force him into it or push him too hard with that." Byul tells him.
"I know." He tells them. Byul hands him the new keys that were left by the guard. When he walks into his house despite the good memories he ha had throughout the years and the ones he had been having with Arthit and Yo now, he knew that it would be hard to come back now that Knot had tainted their home that was supposed to be safe for Arthit and their son.
A lot of the wreckage that Knot had made was already thrown out. Kongpob didn't know if he should buy new things for his home yet. When he walked into the studio that he had made for Arthit there were still some remnants of blood from both he and Knot. There was paint on the floor that Kongpob knew just wasn't going to come out. Arthit's beautiful art that had been on the wall was now completely ruined as well.
Kongpob sighed as he looked at everything.
"We found a few paintings that could be salvaged," Ming explained to him.
"Thank you. This will mean a lot to Arthit." Kongpob tells them.
"Unfortunately the painting he had been working on at the time was completely ruined," Byul tells him. Kongpob looks at the broken canvas. Despite the fact that there is a lot of tares it is clear to Kongpob what Arthit had been working on. He found himself looking back at his own face and part of him couldn't help but smile as he was able to see the way in which Arthit saw him.
Together with Jae Ha, Ming, and Byul Kongpob was able to finish packing within thirty minutes. He packed everything in his car and after thanking Arthit's friends once more before driving away. His intention originally had been to drive back to his mother's house but as he thought of what had been ruined at his home and the things that could help Arthit feel better Kongpob smiled to himself as an idea came to his mind.
Arthit
Arthit didn't like being by himself. Given what had happened 48 hours prior things were still so fresh in his mind. He didn't want to feel fear. Not when it came to stepping outside to the world but he did. Without Kongpob and Yo he felt naked and unprotected.
He knew that it was not healthy to be codependent on someone. But at the moment, given what happened he felt he had an excuse to feel that way. There was a soft squeak beside him and Arthit smiled as Sweet Pea made her way towards him. He picked the small animal up in his arms and sighed.
Yo had decided to leave her with him simply because he had said this way no matter what Arthit would not be alone and it was a promise that they would come back to get him. It was a weekday and Yo had skipped school because of this incident. Arthit felt guilty about that but Yo had shrugged and said that it was a good day for any kid that missed school.
Checking the clock he realized that Kongob and Yo had been gone for over three hours. Not that he was surprised. The Jaturapoom mansion was far away from where they lived, not to mention Arthit was sure Kongpob had to explain to his parents that they would be living with them. Then there was the nightmare of traffic that Kongpob would have to deal with.
Arthit sighed, he hated being in this very large room by himself. He supposed that Mr. Jaturapoom and Forth had both gone to work and that gave him a bit of courage to explore the house. He would be lying if he said that part of him was not curious about both men. Even so, he was naturally shy and of course, he was feeling overwhelmed.
He stood up from bed, placing Sweet Pea in his hoody pocket. He was cautious when he opened the door of his room and peeked out. The hallway was silent and he could not see any of the maids that worked in the home.
When he was sure no one was there he took a step out of his room. His intent was to go down the hallways but he froze when he heard someone calling his name.
"Arthit..."
Turning around he offered an awkward smile to Forth. Who he now knew was his older brother. He gave a polite wai to the older man.
"I thought... you left for work," Arthit said to him.
"I couldn't... I'm sorry if this situation makes you uncomfortable. I'm just... I really want to get to know you and I'm sure you have a lot of questions yourself." Arthit was quiet for a moment but he found himself nodding.
"I just... I want to know if she was happy... Did she... want me?" He found himself saying.
"Of course she did." Dusit Jaturapoom spoke up coming over to them. Arthit blushed and he realized that most likely both men had been waiting for him to come out of the room. Two separate rooms were opened and Arthit realized that both men had been staying in the guest wing of their own home in order to keep an eye on him.
"We don't mean to overwhelm you it's just..." Forth began. Arthit could tell that he was on the verge of tears and his own heart ached because he knew it had to do with him.
"We're just glad that you're alive and safe now," Dusit tells Arthit. There was a moment of silence before Dusit cleared his throat.
"Forth. Why don't you take Arthit to the art studio while I go grab a few things to show him."
"Art studio?" Arthit's interest was piqued when he heard those words. Forth nodded and began to walk indicating for Arthit to follow. Because he had spent most of his time in his room he had not had the time to explore the mansion. The corridors seemed big in fact to Arthit it felt as though he could get lost in this house for days.
"Did you always live here?" He questioned out loud as they went down the stairs and past more hallways that Arthit knew he would never get himself to remember.
"Yes. We have other homes in other cities, states, countries. All for business travel purposes or for vacations." Forth explained to him. Arthit had so many questions. His mind continued to wonder and he couldn't help but think what his life would have been like if he had lived here. Could he have been happy?
They arrived at the end of the hallway where there were two large doors. Forth offered him a smile as he pushed open both doors.
Arthit felt his breath catch in his throat as he looked inside.
There was a rustic atmosphere from the studio. Arthit found himself drawn to the art like a moth to a flame. He couldn't stop himself from moving forward in order to see some of the paintings that still remained here. From looking around the room the various tables filled with paints and paintbrushes, there was a stool placed in front of a blank canvas. Paint stains were on the floor. There were several photographs on the wall mainly photography of landscapes. It was all so artistic and if there was a dream studio that Arthit had always had in mind it was this one.
He looked at one of the paintings that stood there and its colors drew him in. It was of a beautiful ocean. He had seen many pieces of Fah Rojnapats in fact he had admired the woman's art for so long. His heart felt as though it was being filled up with pent up emotion again. There was an ache in his heart as he realized that he would never get to know her. Yet unknowingly the two of them had this connection.
He found himself drawn to an apron that was hanging on an empty stand. It was covered in several paint stains. He reached for the apron curious to feel some sort of connection with it as though it would be able to answer all of his questions. But before he could touch it he realized that it might be inappropriate.
He turned to look at Forth who offered him a smile.
"You can touch it. Por had them especially made for Mai. We have several of them around the house. But this is the last one that she wore... I think it still smells like her. Rose petals..." Forth says quietly. His eyes are so sad and Arthit somehow realizes that for Forth it might be sadder.
"I don't remember much I was young too... but I vaguely do recall being in here... they might be memories. They might be dreams... but what I do know is that I miss her each and every single day." Arthit wants to tell him that he understands. Yet part of him can't feel that way.
He doesn't know if he misses her or if he can grieve her. He had never met her and it was still new to him that this woman had been his mother. Yet as he looks around he can't help but feel a connection to her and this place. Because as much as he had wanted to deny it, other than Kongpob, he had never felt more similar or connected to anyone else like this.
"Was she happy?" He asked this time.
"She was... we were." Dusit Jaturapoom spoke coming into the art studio. In his hands were old photo albums.
"How could we not be happy. We had a wonderful son already and we were expecting you..." Dusit said to him. Arthit didn't know what to say, he was having a hard time understanding everything that he was feeling.
"I always thought that you were going to be a girl... Fah said you were a boy. We agreed to call you Sunshine." Dusit spoke with a smile, though his eyes spoke of great sadness. He handed Arthit and album and the three found themselves sitting at the old bench that was in the middle of the room.
When Arthit opened the photo album he was unable to stop himself from smiling.
"We took this photo on our first date. It had taken me months to build up the courage to ask your mother out. She was quite outspoken, very confident. She was a great artist. One look from her and it was as though my knees shook and my voice was caught in my throat. She was so incredibly beautiful. She looked the most beautiful when she painted...and when she smiled..." Arthit could tell how much Dusit still loved his late wife and it broke his heart knowing that everything had been destroyed because of someone else's jealousy.
"We were married a year later... She was already pregnant with Forth. We had a small wedding with our closest friends and our parents... that was it. She didn't want an extravagant wedding simply one for us and our love. She would always say that our love was our own that the world could be crumbling away but we should never let go of each other's hands." Somehow Arthit realized this was also something he had in common with his mother.
"How did you know... about me?..."
"It was seeing that woman. She looked completely scared when she was us and when we saw you that day at the Art gallery with Kongpob. I did not know you were my son then, not even when you applied to work at our school. But I'd be lying if I said that I did not feel a special connection. I didn't know what it was I just cared for you and liked you immediately. Blood always calls I suppose. I'd seen that bastard lay his hands on you." There was anger in Dusit's voice and Arthit himself felt ashamed.
"It's not your fault... I wanted to help you but knew that in these things unless someone wants to be helped they just go back... I did some digging and when I knew you were trying to escape... I was proud and relieved. I had no idea what you were going through because of that woman. But after the gallery, I did what I could to find out the truth. You'd be surprised what you can do with power and money. I did what I could to make sure that husband of yours couldn't find you. Capturing that man who had helped in the kidnapping was easy after we talked to Jay. Kongpob himself has great people working for him and when he had your DNA tested I thought it was best that he not know for the time being." Dusit explained.
"This is actually something I've never told anyone... not even Forth." Dusit begins, there's a bitter smile on his face as he begins.
"Fah was dropped on our doorstep. She was wrapped in a blanket covered in blood. There was a baby in her arms. She was dead too. Everyone always believed that the baby died inside of Fah... but it was placed in her arms..."
"For a very long time, I was unable to get that image out of my head. After the autopsy came back they said that Fah's neck was broken most likely from someone pushing her. The baby was. born dead... but she was only seven months at most. She was so tiny. That's when we knew that she wasn't ours. I kept worrying about everything. We took a DNA test and no records were found of her or her family. Sirikit had been arrested but she was just a minor and I assume DNA tests weren't taken from her either. I kept worrying about my child but I had no leads. My hands were tied and I knew I had to wait..." Dusit spoke. He reached out to touch Arthit who flinched away. It was a normal reaction for him now, given everything that happened. He didn't trust easily even when he knew people were good.
"I'm sorry." Arthit spoke up and Dusit shook his head and gave him a wry smile.
"I understand. But I hope one day you can trust me the way you trust your friends and Kongpob Suthiluck."
"How does he treat you? We can see how close you are with him... was it always like that?" Forth questioned. Arthit smiled but shook his head. He understood what they were asking and was not offended by it.
"Not really. We only met a few times we rarely talk. Knot didn't allow me to talk to anyone... He's a good man. He's helped me a lot. He believed in me when I felt no one else would. He's a good friend..." But I want more than that... Silence lingers between them for a moment before Dusit breaks the silence.
"I know that I'm asking too much right now. It doesn't feel like I have a right to ask anything of you because I didn't know you most of your life." Dusit begins.
"That wasn't your fault... or mine or anyone else's..." Arthit tells the older man who nods.
"But... I'd like to ask that you stay here. With us. So that we can get to know you better." Despite the fact that Arthit would like to say yes, he knows he can't because he doesn't feel comfortable enough to be in this house by himself without Yo and without Kongpob.
"Kongpob and Yo are welcome to stay here." Forth adds as though he knows this is what troubles him.
"Thank you... really. I would like to get to know you. There are so many questions I have about all of you... about her... But I've never felt like I belonged anywhere. I.. I've always been filled with pain and felt unloved and unneeded."
"I know that's not your fault" Arthit quickly adds when he sees that both Forth and Dusit both want to speak.
"But... with Kongpob and Yo it's different. I feel happy and needed and like I can do anything and say anything without someone judging me or telling me what to do and how to feel. I know you would never treat me badly. And Yes I am willing to get to know you and spend time with you. But right now. I need to be selfish and think of myself and my wants and needs. And what I want is to be with Kongpob and Yo because I feel safe and when I'm with them I feel normal and like nothing else matters. I love them... and they love me." His intention is not to hurt their feelings. He knows that ideally, they would want him to agree to stay there with them but he knows that he can't. He doesn't want to miss Yo and Kongpob. Despite the fact that he keeps telling himself that this is temporary and eventually he will have to take a step by himself he can't see himself walking away from either Yo or Kongpob.
"They can stay here..." Forth tells him. But Arthit shakes his head.
"Yo has school. It would be too much to have him drive back and forth for hours. He doesn't have to change schools because of me either. Kongpob will have a lot on his plate because of his business endeavors with Knot. I need to take care of my own business too. I want to better myself. I'm going to therapy and I want to take care of my divorce before I can take a real step forward."
"With them. " Forth says knowingly. Arthit smiles and shrugs.
"Maybe... Kongpob says I need time to think about things after I divorce. I'll need time for myself and I agree but... I'd like to have the option of being close to them."
"Can you at least promise us weekends?" Forth questions. Arthit nods.
"I can do that."
"Thank you," Dusit says to him. There's a knock on the door and the butler comes in.
"Sirs. Mr. Suthiluck has come back. He's headed to his room." Arthit smiles as he hears this.
"You won't be staying tonight will you?" Forth questions. Arthit shakes his head.
"Yo has school tomorrow. We'll be living with Kongpob's family. They live close to Yo's school. We'll be staying in their pool house. Kongpob and I both agree that we want our space just for us and Yo." He tells them.
"Of course. You have your family now and don't want to feel uncomfortable or as though you're being invasive of other's space or that someone is invading your own space and your family's..." Dusit tells him. Arthit nods guiltily.
"We understand..." Arthit stands up and wai's politely before walking out of the art room. He follows the butler back to his room when Kongpob is waiting there. He's gathering their clothes in a small bag because they didn't have much there simply clothes that had been brought to them and that they had been wearing at the time.
Kongpob offers him a smile and Arthit simply goes to him hugging him from behind. Needing Kongpob's comfort.
"5" (hug me) He whispers.
The man freezes for a moment before Arthit feels him relax and twist his body around to face Arthit and hug him back as Arthit buries his face in the crook of his neck.
"Is everything okay?..." Kongpob questions quietly as he rubs Arthit's back gently.
"Yes... I want to go home with you..." Arthit whispers.
"We can't go back to our house... Not yet at least. I wasn't sure if you'd want to after what happened."
"Maybe not now... but eventually I would like to go back there. One bad memory won't ruin the rest I can't let someone like Knot constantly dictate my life and bring fear to me." Arthit tells him as he looks back up at Kongpob who smiles at him.
"But I realize that my home now is wherever you and Yo are." Arthit tells him. He can see the surprise in Kongpob's eyes but the handsome man pulls him closer, their foreheads pressed against one another.
"2" (Eskimo kiss) Kongpob whispers. Before he gently brushes his nose against.
"8 (I love you)" Kongpob tells him. Arthit's heart races and he smiles at Kongpob wishing that the man would simply just kiss him. Instead, he simply places a kiss to Kongpob's cheek before hugging him tightly once more. They stay like that for a few more minutes before a soft squeak interrupts them. Arthit chuckles as he realizes that he'd forgotten about Sweet Pea. He takes her out of his pocket and Kongpob chuckles as well.
"We should get going now... Yo is waiting for us." Kongpob tells him. Arthit nods and after grabbing Sweet Pea's small cage together with Kongpob they head out of the room and down the stairs. He's not surprised at the fact that both Forth and Dusit Jaturapoom are waiting for them. Arthit offers both men a smile. He's holding Konpob's hand as they stand in front of both men.
"Thank you for letting us stay here," Kongpob says.
"You don't need to thank us. Arthit is my son. He might have not had a parent to protect him in the past but he does now. You both can always count of us. Arthit you don't ever have to worry about that person again. I am your father and I will do my best to protect you and your family."
"Thank you," Arthit tells him. He's unsure of what more to say but feels an overwhelming feeling of wanting to cry and at the same time, he feels relief and comfort at Dusit's words. He takes a step forward and hugs the man who is definitely surprised but hugs him back. He looks at Forth and hugs him as well.
He's overwhelmed by the feelings that course through him as both men begin to sob in front of him. Arthit can feel the longing of them to want him to stay and despite the fact that part of him wishes that he could at that moment. He knows that he needs time to fully think and embrace and accept this part of himself and at the same time deal with what was between himself and Sirkit as well as Knot.
"We love you okay. You can always come to us. From now on we'll protect you. You're our family." Forth tells him. Arthit nods and despite the fact that he would like to tell them that he loves them back he knows that it will take time. He turns to look at Kongpob again and takes his hand.
"Kongpob. Take care of him." Dusit tells him.
"With my life," Kongpob says to them.
"I'd like you to send me the files of the case you're building against that bastard too. I'd like to defend Arthit as well. He's my brother and I'm going to do what I can as well." Forth says.
"We'll also be sending bodyguards with you. I want you to be safe. You don't have to worry about this any more than you already are. Some of my men will be following you behind in your car. I know it might seem like too much but it would give me peace of mind." Dusit tells them.
"I understand... okay," Arthit whispers. Kongpob himself also nods in agreement.
"Thank you Sir," Kongpob tells Dusit before they both give another polite wai they exit the house.
"Are you sure about this? You can stay here Arthit, with them." Kongpob tells him as they stand on the porch.
"I'm sure. This is what I want." You are what I want...
They head inside their car and Arthit speaks up.
"I can drive if you want... You look exhausted." Arthit comments.
"It's okay. I can drive." Kongpob tells him then he chuckles.
"What?"
"Yo said you drive slower than a snail." Arthit blushes and pouts.
"I was afraid to crash!" Arthit says which only earns laughter from Kongpob, Arthit himself laughs and for the first time all day he finally feels like he can start to breathe again. Kongpob offers him a smile before speaking.
"Maybe another time but it takes at least two hours to get to my mother's house. I'd like to get there before next week." Kongpob jokes. Arthit glares at him but blushes when Kongpob takes his hand and presses a soft kiss to his knuckles.
"Let's go home," Kongpob tells him. The drive to the Suthiluck's home is long. During this time Arthit's mind drifts towards the future. He might be uncertain about a lot of things but he is happy as long as Kongpob and Yo remain in his life.
Eventually, they arrive at the Suthiluck mansion that was surrounded by acres of land and the most important thing for their safety, a gate, and lots of guards and security cameras. The Suthiluck Mansion but he's not surprised because he knew that Kongpob's family was amongst one of the wealthiest families in Thailand. He doesn't have to ask Kongpob as to why he had chosen to downsize to a home for only himself and Yo.
"There was really no need for the two of us to live in a house that was too big. I wanted to be independent from my parents as well and start my own family."
"I'm sorry. I made you move back in with them."
"It's temporary and we'll be living in a house of our own. We'll have privacy." Kongpob tells him. Like the Jaturapoom mansion, they have to go past gates and security. Arthit knows that they will be alright. Kongpob informs the guards that there will be new guards there too. Mainly around their pool house to keep an eye on them, rooms will be given to them as well.
When they knock on the front door it is Mr. Suthiluck that opens the door. He offers them both a smile.
"Yo is in the living room with your mother. He's been trying very hard to stay awake. He has not wanted to have dinner either."
"That's fine. We'll eat with him." Kongpob says. They walk inside the house and head towards the living room. Arthit can hear Mrs. Suthiluck talking with Yo as soon as he sees them the sleepiness leaves Yo's face and his eyes light up.
"Daddy! Teacher Art!" He rushed towards them clinging on to their legs. Arthit picks him up pressing a kiss to the top of his head. Kongpob does the same and Yo smiles at them.
"I've already prepared the guest house. I've left a meal for you to heat up as well." Mrs. Suthiluck tells them.
"Thank you," Arthit tells her. The older woman offers him a smile.
"You'll be safe here." They then head towards the back of the house, they get on a small golf cart and it takes a good fifteen minutes or more for them to arrive at the pool house.
To Arthit it looks like a normal one story house but compared to the size of the mansion it is nothing more than a small garage. Kongpob is carrying Sweet Pea in her cage while Arthit is carrying Yo in his arms as they walk through the front door of the house.
There is a small kitchen, a living room, a bathroom, and one bedroom.
"Yay! Yo gets to sleep with Daddy and Teacher Art!" Yo speaks up. Arthit smiles at him and silently he too is glad that there was only one room. He was too shy to ask Kongpob to continue to sleep with him.
"Is this okay?" Kongpob questions and Arthit nods.
"The refrigerator has been filled already and our clothes have been put away too," Kongopb explains as Arthit puts Yo down who immediately begins to run around the house.
"Daddy, What's this?" Yo questions from the kitchen. Kongpob takes Arthit's hand and leads him into the kitchen where Yo has already gone towards the fridge and taken out a large red box.
"It's a gift for Arthit and Yo." Yo's eyes light up as he looks up at Arthit. He's silently asking him if it's okay to open the box and when Arthit nods Yo sets the box down on the kitchen island, with the help of Arthit before he is picked up and placed on a chair so that he can open the box.
Yo gasps and Arthit smiles when he sees what's inside. There are more than a dozen chocolate covered strawberries as well as white and red roses inside the box.
"Wow! Can you eat all these!" Yo speaks in excitement. He's about to reach for a strawberry when Kongpob pulls his hand away gently.
"We have to have dinner first and you're only allowed two a day." Yo pouts and looks at Arthit.
"They'll spoil. Daddy and Teacher Art won't be able to eat fast enough..."
"You can have three today if you eat all your vegetables," Kongob says.
"Deal," Yo says proudly. Arthit laughs and kisses Yo's cheek finding him cute.
"This is also for you." Kongpob tells Arthit as he pulls out another wrapped gift. Arthit is curious and as he removes the wrapping paper he can't help but smile. It is a sketchbook and a few pencils.
"I know this place doesn't have a studio but I wanted you to at least have this. There are some soft pastels and some colored pencils... it's not much but."
"It's perfect," Arthit tells him hugging Kongpob as a thank you.
"You didn't have to do this but you did...for me... so thank you," Arthit tells him with a smile.
"Let's eat. Yo wants to have dessert soon." Yo interrupts. And they do, they have Pad Grapao. Arthit prepared the fried eggs for them and they have a quiet but nice meal.
Yo eats so much as he had been hungry but sadly he does not get to dessert as Kongpob convinces him to take a bath first. Arthit gives Yo a bath as Kongpob does look exhausted. When he gets back to the room with Yo, Kongopb is sprawled on the bed completely out. Yo helps Arthit take Kongpob's shoes off before Arthit starts drying Yo's hair with a towel. Halfway through Yo ends up falling asleep. Arthit settles Yo down on the bed who immediately curls up beside Kongpob. He then feeds Sweet Pea and when he comes back to the room he can't help but smile at the image in front of him of Yo sleeping on Kongpob's chest while the handsome man is protectively holding on his son. The image is too beautiful not to be captured and Arthit finds himself sitting there with a sketchbook. Time passes so easily for him he doesn't realize when morning comes but by the time he's finished, he's used the soft pastels to finish his sketch. He ends up falling asleep as soon as he finishes.
In the morning, when Kongpob's alarm rings he wakes up to find Yo clinging on to him only to have his son frown and move away from him as he realizes Kongpob is about to get up.
"Teacher Art..." Yo whines softly while blindly looking around for Arthit. The pretty man raises his head sleepily but it is clear he is tired. His cheeks are stained in pastel paints as are his hands that reach to pull Yo close to him. The pretty man pats Yo's back gently trying to settle him back to sleep.
Kongpob smiles getting out of bed in order to get ready for his day. As he does so he presses a kiss to the top of Arthit and Yo's heads and gently pries away the sketchbook that is in Arthit's right hand. While looking at both Yo and Arthit Kongpob knows that things will be okay.
Third Person
Sirikit waited until night came. Tom had called her asking her to meet with him. She had gotten a cab and driven to the worse part of town. A place that she had never wanted to return too. Just thinking about the rat hole she once lived in made her skin crawl.
She went back to their old place. Back to where she had started it all. When she opened the door of that secret hideout she turned on the lights to see Tom sitting on an old chair and in front of him a dusty table that had a bottle of vodka and a single glass. Sirikit frowned.
"Why did you call me for? You're supposed to be lying low." Sirikit snapped.
"I need more money."
"I've given you everything I have. Why haven't you sold those painting in the black market?" Sirikit snapped angrily.
"Are you kidding me?"
"We stole from the Jaturapooms! They're the most powerful people in all of Thailand!" Tom snapped angrily at her.
"We've done it before!"
"Yes. And even back then you couldn't stop yourself from killing!" Tom snapped angrily.
"She was going to talk! It wouldn't have been a problem if your men had killed that little bastard like I ordered you too!" Sirkit snapped angrily.
"Why did you want to kill him? You've already taken everything from him. Including his mother."
"She stole my life! So I took hers!"
"She was adopted by rich people how was that her fault. You didn't have to kill her."
"I did. And I would do it again!" Sirikit snapped angrily. Tom who was looking at her then smirked.
"Is that enough? Do you need more?" For a moment Sirikit was confused. She had no idea what was going on until the door of the safe house was opened and several police officers rushed inside. All of them pointed their guns at her. Tom carefully placed his cellphone on the table. It was clear that he had been recording the conversation. Sirkit felt her soul leave her body it was only when she was grabbed by an officer that she snapped out of it.
"You bastard! How could you do this to me!" Sirikit yelled as she was handcuffed. Tom glared at her as he too was being taken into custody.
"I may be a thief but I am no killer. I'm not going down for your messes. You clean them up yourself Sirkit. Our relationship ends here." Tom tells her as he is taken away.
"You're going to pay for this Tom! I swear if it's the last thing I do you will regret this!"
Thank you guys for reading. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Don't forget to vote for this chapter, add this story to your library, and leave a comment.