"Kong!"
"Kong! Baby! Wake up!"
"Kong!"
Kongpob's eyes shot up. His eyes turned wide as he tried to regulate his breath. He took a large gulp of air, his chest rose high as two hands tried to stable him.
Kongpob looked at Arthit's face which was filled with worry, Kongpob's eyes teared up when Arthit pulled him into a bone-crushing hug to which Kongpob reciprocated with the same vigor.
"It's okay baby, it's okay. I'm here, I'm here." Arthit hushed
Kongpob clutched onto Arthit's shirt as if his life depended on it, his uneven breaths started to become steady as the minutes passed.
Arthit made sure that his boyfriend was steady enough to let go before he slowly pulled away and kissed his forehead which was still having sweat decorating it.
Arthit cupped Kongpob's cheeks and pressed his forehead against the other's.
"Let's change, you're sweating profusely." Arthit wiped the sweat on Kongpob's face with his palms while the younger nodded his head.
But before Kongpob could say anything he covered his mouth and rushed to the bathroom.
Arthit ran behind him and helped him patting his back as the younger threw up everything he had that day.
Arthit watched his lover threw up, he couldn't help but feel helpless. The other felt cold against his skin and he was getting worried even though he had been seeing this for the fast few days after he got to know about Kongpob's condition.
"There - there, it's okay. I'm here." Arthit caressed Kongpob's hair back as he let him sit on the floor. He looked at the breathless lover in front of him and couldn't help but feel helpless that he felt the urge to just cry out.
Arthit made sure that Kong was feeling good before he helped him to stand up. He then helped Kong to change his sweaty clothes to a more comfortable one before the two walked back to the bedroom.
Kongpob's eyes darted to the digital clock which was blinking in red with 2:35 am written on it. He sighed, he watched Arthit's movements as the elder closed the bathroom door and then switched off the lights of the bedroom before he slipped inside the blanket with him.
The moonlight entering the room was the only source of light at the moment and the atmosphere felt so in peace that either of them didn't want to break it.
Kongpob felt Arthit's arms pull him closer, he snuggled into Arthit's chest hugging him tightly. The elder's strong hands acting as a pillow for the younger.
Kongpob didn't close his eyes, flashes of the nightmare he had running through his mind. This time the nightmares were harsh, he dreamt about someone taking Arthit away from him like what happened to his mom and dad. His grip on Arthit's shirt tightened and that's when Kong felt the elder's fingers smoothly caress his hair, making him feel a sense of safety.
"I'm sorry P'Arthit, I'm troubling you a lot," Kongpob mumbled.
Arthit's hands stopped it's movements for a while before it resumed.
"Do you really think you've to say sorry for all these Kong? I'm your boyfriend, your lover. You don't have to say sorry for taking care of you or being with you through this phase," Arthit's voice was soft and low that it didn't disturb the peaceful environment around them. He spoke in enough volume to be only heard by his lover.
"I promised you that I'll be with you through this. You're undergoing treatment Kong, things like this are usual for a person who goes under chemo. And I'm here to support you, Sam is there and my parents are there too. Don't worry." Arthit kissed Kongpob's forehead making the younger smile weakly as he snuggled closer into the elder's chest.
It's been two weeks since Kongpob and Sam moved into Arthit's house and just after two days Phana had called them as the results have come out. After seeing the results Phana had advised them to take chemo the very next day because the cancerous cells were spreading violently and it had already affected organs inside him. The blood results were not very pleasing either, the number of blood platelets were less and the RBC and WBC level were less. Phana had told them that after undergoing chemo for at least a month they would have to take blood tests again and if needed they might need a blood transfusion surgery.
Even though things were hectic for Kong the latter still decided to continue his classes saying he didn't want to lose his study time. After a lot of compelling from Arthit and Arthit's parents, the latter told that when the treatments get heavier he will stop going for classes.
For the beginning Kong would be having a 2 cycle chemo treatment, the first week Kong was okay with the treatment but as the time passed, from the second week onwards he started to feel nauseous and frequently vomited. Phana had already given them a heads up about it but the doctor had also advised them that if things get worse they would have to consult him once again.
Today Kong had to go for the chemo after his classes and Arthit picked him up from school. He's very thankful to his friends who understand his condition well and helps him out in every possible way they can.
When one-day Kongpob felt dizzy in the middle of the class Tew and Aim immediately informed the professor despite Kong's protest and took him to the infirmary. Despite Kong's protest, he felt himself feel tired as he hit the bed at the infirmary where he took a small nap. His friends brought notes for him and they explained what the professor thought them the class Kongpob missed out.
Kongpob is really happy despite his condition that he has so many people who care about them very much. Now that Arthit's parents are also with him he felt extremely grateful.
Kong felt the love of a mother and father after a long time. He could see how Sam is being showered with attention and care by Achara and Chaow. He's really happy for Sam. Sam doesn't have a clear picture of what Kongpob and Arthit are and they had decided to tell him when the younger reached an age when he can understand things.
Kongpob could feel the love and care Achara and Chaow were showering him, it wasn't out of sympathy, he could see it. Their actions were full of love and care. Days when Arthit wasn't able to pick Kongpob up from school since the latter might be hooked up with work or assignments since he's in his fourth year it's always Achara who comes to pick him up, bringing all attention of the students to him. Who doesn't know Achara Rojnapth? She was a star model when she was young. She's still famous in the entertainment industry.
She always took care of Kongpob like her own son. She cooked his favorite food and Kong doesn't know why but her food tastes exactly like how his mom used to cook for him. He could never forget that taste.
Without his awareness tears started to slide down his cheeks.
"You wanna talk about it Kong?"
"Huh?" Kongpob looked up to find Arthit gazing lovingly at him. Kongpob gulped, he knows what Arthit meant but he doesn't know if he can open up to the latter.
"It's worrying me seeing you getting nightmares like this, I think it would help you if you could open up. I'm not forcing you, my love. But I'm always here with you." Arthit kissed Kongpob's hair.
Kongpob bites his lips as his thoughts wandered around.
Should he tell? Will it be okay?
There was this pregnant silence in the room that Arthit thought the younger wasn't going to tell anything to him. So he sighed before he closed his eyes, his hands still caressing Kongpob's hair before he started to force himself to sleep.
"I was 13 when my dad and mom died."
Arthit's eyes shot open when he heard Kongpob's low voice whispering against his chest.
Arthit didn't stay anything, he kept on caressing Kongpob's hair as he let the latter continue.
"Just two months after my birthday Sam came to our life. My family was a happy family, we always shared our worries and happiness together. Sam and I were the apples of their eyes. My lifestyle was similar to yours, P'Arthit. We had a big house, I had everything I asked for but the love my mom and dad gave me was the previous possession I had. " Kong could feel his lips stretch into a pained smile as flashes of his mom and dad taking care of him and Sam rushed to his mind.
"I don't know how but days after things started to change. I used to see my uncle visit us regularly, the first few days it was a friendly visit and I didn't find anything odd in it but later-later-" a sob escaped Kongpob's lips.
Arthit pulled the later up close as he changed their position from lying down to sitting, leaning against the headboard.
Arthit pulled the younger up into his chest as he let the younger cry in his arms.
"It's okay, it's okay," Arthit whispered into the air as he caressed Kongpob's hair.
"Dad and uncle used to fight - they - they always did after the first few visits and mom had to go there. She used to hand me Sam and ask me to take care of him. One afternoon we event to a little picnic and in the middle dad got a call. The next thing we know we're on the road with Dad grumbling under his breath. Mom looked very angry too. I couldn't say or do anything because I didn't know what was happening, the only thing I cared about was Sam who was at the back seat on his baby seat."
Kongpob took in a deep breath, he was still surprised that Arthit was listening to his pathetic life story. But he didn't care about it at the moment, he just wanted to let everything out. Completely.
"The park was situated in a calmer area so there weren't many vehicles there except for the people's who were in the park. At the cross-section, a truck came in front out of nowhere and Dad took another direction due to the impact. Dad cursed so much because we could have died of not for dad taking the turns. The road was secluded and I don't know how suddenly our car lost its break or something! I was still a kid and I didn't know what was happening! The next thing I know was that the car was upside down and Sam's cries are still echoing in my head." Kongpob took a deep breath, tears falling silently from his eyes soaking Arthit's shirt.
"I somehow managed to get out of the car through the broken door with Sam. We both had injuries and Sam wouldn't stop crying. Then I saw Dad and - and Mom, under the car with blood dripping all over them. Mom's body was under the car. She still managed to talk to me."
"She told me to run away with Sam, she told me to never trust my uncle and don't look back while I escape. Mom told me that if I don't leave then she'll hate me. I was a child, didn't know what to do and I didn't want mom and dad to dislike me so I ran away until I passed out when I reached a garbage throwout place."
Arthit could feel all the sadness in Kongpob's words as he poured out his past in front of him.
"I didn't know what was happening! Everything was soo sudden! Everything! I even don't know what I felt back then! Fear? Anxiety? Sadness? Loneliness? I don't know!" Kongpob's body was shaking.
"It's okay Kong, it's okay." Arthit kissed the younger's forehead. He doesn't know what else to say, various questions flashed into his mind and he wanted to know the truth about everything. What might be the reason for that accident?
"Did your uncle see you after that?" Arthit asked hesitantly.
Kongpob raised his head and slowly sat up, leaning his back against the headboard with Arthit's arm wrapped around his waist.
The younger took hold of the elder's hand and caressed it under his fingers.
"Aim's father was the one who found me, he took me and Sam as his own children. Aim was very friendly too, we were like brothers and still are. The news of mom and dad's death was all over the news and they even framed that I and Sam were dead!" Kongpob grunted his teeth in anger.
"Just a few days after the news my uncle came to visit me telling he wants his nephews back to Aim's father. Thank goodness he didn't let us go. That's when uncle threatened Aim's father and I had to come in between them. I didn't want something to happen to Aim's family. Despite Aim's protest and his family's, I went to MY home which has become my uncle's now!"
Arthit could see the clear anger and rage growing inside Kongpob and he hated seeing Kong like that. It was a new side of his lover he was witnessing. Kong never held a grudge towards anyone but he can't deny the younger's urge of rage towards his uncle because that man destroyed Kongpob and Sam's childhood.
"I'm the sole heir of everything. Since they proved that I and Sam were dead it was all uncle's now. He threatened me to kill Sam if I ever come and ask for the shares and even lift a finger against him. I was just 13 back then! What could I do!? I agreed! The only thing I wanted was Sam's safety." Kongpob started to cry again, he was still surprised how the tears could fall soo freely from his eyes even after hours of crying.
He was surprised that tears were still there in stalk with him.
"If not for him Sam could have better treatment! He could have been well by now! Whenever I needed money for Sam's operations I would go to uncle to ask him to help. Those were the only times I approached him but each time I visit him he throws me out like a nobody! As if I'm no one to him! As if Sam is not his brother's son!"
Arthit engulfed Kongpob in his hold. He wanted to request Kongpob to stop crying. He wanted to ask him to not cry over that useless man. But he knows Kong needed this. He knows the younger wanted to release all his weights in his mind that he carries. And he'll make sure that he is strong enough for Kongpob to lean on.
"I'm sorry I ruined your night," Kongpob whispered as he managed to stabilize himself.
Arthit shook his head, "No Kong, please don't say that. If not for me who'll stay with you? You needed me and I'm more than happy to be here for you. I'm soo happy that you're able to lean your past memories onto me, I'm happy that you trust me Kong."
Kongpob smiled softly as Arthit placed a soft kiss on his lips.
"How do you feel?" Arthit caressed Kongpob's hair.
"I-I feel calm. As if a weight had been lifted from my shoulders." Kongpob sighed.
Arthit smiled at the younger, "I'm happy to hear that, love."
Kongpob stared up at Arthit, the moonlight making the elder's face look as if he was some angel from the above.
"Thank you for being with me and I love you na P." Kongpob smiled wider when he saw Arthit's dimple in display as the other smiled.
Arthit pressed his forehead against the younger's and closed his eyes.
"I love you too, Kong."
*********
Hey guys! Missed me? Because I missed you all!!
Thank you for all the support you gave me!
For those who don't know why I took a break from updating, I had a muscle tear in my left hand wrists, and along with that nerve elongation so I needed full rest.
Now my hand has healed but still I have to wear a wrist brace for a week more, just in case. So I'll be compensating for the lost updates!
I'll try my best to updated soon!
Stay safe and healthy!
Love you all! ♥️♥️♥️♥️