Hi, everyone,
I hope you are all fine and well.
So this is chapter 21, finally up! I do apologize for the delay, but I discovered that Phet is one complex man who is giving me a hard to write his reactions! He's such a pain-in-the-butt!
Anyhow, I hope you like this chapter, vote, comment, and review ^^
This chapter was edited by Grammarly only, so please excuse my mistakes.
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When Kongphop went to bed last night with Arthit, he discovered that his mobile was on silent and that his father had been calling and messaging him all day long. Calling his father, he apologized to him and explained why he hadn't been returning his calls before he informed his father that he would be spending the night in Arthit's house. His father didn't mind, but he asked him to come to the company the following morning because he had something important to discuss.
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"I've been told that you've attacked a worker in the warehouses," Kerkkrai said as he sat with his son in the small sitting area inside his office the following day. "Is that true?"
"Yes," Kongphop replied flatly. "and I would've killed him if Wad hadn't stopped me."
Kerkkrai frowned, not liking that his son seemed to be resorting to violence a lot these days. "Care to explain why?"
Kongphop sighed deeply, wondering how much he should reveal to his father.
"That man was involved in P'Arthit's assault," Kongphop said. "He was hiding among our workers. I don't know what came over me when I saw him in front of my eyes."
Kerkkrai's face turned into a frighteningly pale as he listened to his son.
"How—how long that man has been an employee in the company?" he asked.
"According to his file, he has been working in the warehouses for around three years," Kongphop replied.
"Three-?" Kerkkrai was speechless. "How did you know that he was involved in Mr. Arthit's assault?" He asked.
"I've seen him leaving P'Arthit's apartment once," Kongphop replied. "At that time, I thought that he was P'Arthit's new lover. But after P'Knott told me that one of P'Arthit's rapists kept visiting him in his apartment, I realized the truth of what I had seen. When I informed Detective Phet and Gun, they told me that this man had a shady history."
Kerkkrai took several deep breaths, trying to calm himself. He was still having a difficulty to imagine much less believe that among his employees was a man who had committed a horrible crime such as kidnapping and raping his son's lover, on their property, and using the company's cars and chauffeurs. Cold sweat dripped down the older man's forehead as he imagined the scandalous and terrible consequences upon his family if something like this became known to the public. He couldn't help imagining the destruction of his reputation and good name throughout the entire country.
"Who—who hired such a man in the company?" the older man asked, barely able to keep his voice steady. "How could your brother-in-law allow such a man to join our workforce?"
"I'm not sure who hired him in the first place or how," Kongphop replied. "I didn't get the chance to check out his file thoroughly yet. However, the man was using an alias. Any background check would've been futile."
"I must ask your P' about him," Kerkkrai said.
"No, Dad," Kongphop objected. "Detective Gun told me to keep this matter a secret until they finish their investigation. We can't jeopardize their work."
The older man stared at his son with a conflicted expression on his face, but in the end, he nodded his agreement to keep this matter a secret for the time being. At any rate, they didn't want a scandal of such nature to leak out to the media before the police finished their investigation and caught the culprits.
"What are you planning to do now... regarding Mr. Arthit?" Kerkkrai asked his son after a few moments of tensed silence.
Kongphop's expression froze for a moment before he let out a deep sigh.
"He asked to reconcile, and I agreed," he said.
"You don't seem enthusiastic," Kerkkrai remarked. "Aren't you happy that you're back to him?"
Kongphop's eyes twinkled with unknow emotion before he sighed. "I would've been the happiest man on this Earth if I wasn't troubled by doubts and uncertainties," he said.
"What doubts?"
Kongphop told his father about his fears of Arthit's reaction if he knew that the man who raped him was found working in the warehouses of Siam Polimer, not to mention all the suspicion that was surrounding him and his brother-in-law. The young man also narrated his mother's declaration the night before yesterday and Phet's view of his relationship with Arthit.
"All I want is to live with P'Arthit in peace," Kongphop concluded with a tone full of emotion. "But I can't help fearing that I would open my eyes one day, and I wouldn't find him by my side."
Kerkkrai listened attentively to his son, sensing how much his son was suffering. He, too, knew how it was like to be madly in love and how it was hard to even think about losing the one he loved. It was a fire that hadn't subsided until he married the woman he had loved with all his heart.
"Kong," he said. "Be with the one you love and leave the matter of your mother on me. I will convince her. As for Mr. Rojnapat, I understand his fear for his son. Your role is to show him that you can protect Mr. Arthit and make him happy."
"And what about P'Arthit?" Kongphop asked desperately. "I'm afraid he will leave me again!"
"He won't," Kerkkrai said positively. "He loves you very much. And even if he tries to leave you, you should stop him and show him that your love is stronger than any obstacle. When he left you the first time, he thought that he was sparing you the pain. You should show him that you're cable of bearing his pain as well. You should show him that being in a relationship means that the two of you must share each other's pain and bear it together."
Kongphop stared into his father's bright eyes for few moments before he smiled slightly.
"Thank you, Dad."
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"Good Morning, Mr. Kongphop,"
Kongphop stared at the Benz Onruang, who greeted him as he left his father's office, with a tightness in his chest as his mind suddenly started picturing Benz and Kla taking turns with his P'. One hand unconsciously tightened into a fist.
"Mr. Kongphop?!"
Snapping from his dark thoughts, Kongphop shook his head before he turned around and left the office without a word.
His father's secretaries stared at his retrieving figure with surprised expressions on their faces. It was unusual for the young man to act so rudely to anyone, let alone toward his father's employees, but none of them dared to comment on what happened.
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Kongphop couldn't wait until he reached the hospital where Arthit had two appointments; one with his hepatologist and the second with Siriporn. After he left his father's company, Kongphop went to his house briefly before he left hurriedly to the hospital. Fortunately, his mother wasn't at home when he went there to pick up some spare clothes for his stay with his P'.
Reaching the hospital, Kongphop called Knott to inquire about their whereabouts. However, Knott had told him to quickly come to the clinic in a tone that made Kongphop's heart skip several beats from fright.
Hastily, he headed to Siriporn's clinic, where he saw Knott and Siriporn talking outside.
"Where is P'Arthit?" He asked as soon as he was near the two.
"He's under sedation in the out-patient observation room," Siriporn replied.
"What? Why?" Kongphop asked. "What happened?"
"Calm down, N'Kong," the psychiatrist said. "He panicked during the session, and I had to sedate him."
"Why did he panic?"
"I asked him about the cabin," Siriporn replied. "At first, he was calm and answered my questions, but suddenly he started to hyperventilate. I tried to calm him, but he didn't respond. So, I gave him a mild sedative."
"Are you going to admit him?"
"No," Siriporn replied. "Once he's awake, you can take him back home."– She smiled warmly— "Go and stay by his side. I think your presence will comfort him."
Nodding his head, Kongphop followed Knott, who volunteered to take him to where Arthit was sleeping.
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Sitting by the Arthit's bed, Kongphop held his lover's hand and raised it to his lips before he planted a soft kiss on each of his P's fingers.
"I love you, P'," he whispered.
"Kong," Arthit whimpered in his sleep, and Kongphop saw a single tear sliding from underneath his closed eyes.
"I'm here, P'," Kongphop called softly. "by your side."
"Don't leave," Arthit sobbed in his sleep. "please..."
"I'm never going to leave you, P'," Kongphop said as tears fell down his eyes. "Even if it meant my death, I'm not going to leave you. I promise!"
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Phet took a deep breath as he stood behind Kongphop, watching and listening to what was going on. He had come running to the hospital after Siriporn had informed him of what happened to Arthit during his session with her. He had just arrived at where his son was sleeping when he heard him whispering Kongphop's name and his heartbreaking plea. Phet closed his eyes as guilt squeezed his heart. Taking a deep breath, he turned around and left.
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Kongphop side-glanced at the man sitting next to him as they drove back home. Just as Siriporn had said, Arthit was discharged soon after he woke up. But Arthit had been passive and silent since the moment he woke up. He had a distant look in his eyes that made Kongphop extremely worried. Currently, the older man was staring out of the car's window with an absent mind and blank eyes.
As soon as they reached their destination, Arthit silently climbed down the car and entered the house, mindless of Kongphop or Knott, who had just parked his car nearby.
"I'll take care of it," Kongphop assured Knott before he rushed inside behind his boyfriend.
Arthit was lying on his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling when Kongphop entered the bedroom.
"P'," the younger man said as he sat on the edge of the bed. "I know you're upset right now, but please don't shut yourself out like this. It's not good. Please, say something!"
The other man looked at him with an unreadable expression before he made some space for Kongphop. "Lay next to me," he said.
Smiling, Kongphop laid down next to Arthit, who snuggled closer to him and placed his head on his shoulder, before Kongphop wrapped his arm around Arthit's waist.
"You're not going to leave me, right, Kong?" the older man asked in a soft tone. "You will always stay with me, right?"
"I won't leave you, P'," Kongphop reassured. "I promised you, didn't I? I won't leave your side unless you tell me so."
"No!" Arthit exclaimed anxiously as he rose and looked at his lover. "Even if I told you to leave, you mustn't. You'll stay, right?"—his hand desperately tugged Kongphop's shirt— "Please, no matter what happened, you won't leave me again, right?" Tears slid down Arthit's doe eyes as he stared pleadingly at a very shocked Kongphop. "Even if I asked you to, you won't leave me, right?"
Placing one hand on his lover's cheek, Kongphop tenderly wiped Arthit's tears with his thumb. "I promise you that I won't leave you, no matter how much you try to kick me out of your life," he said softly before he rose his head up and kissed his lover's forehead.
Arthit closed his eyes, allowing his tears to fall freely as he calmed himself down.
"P'," Kongphop spoke as Arthit's sobs finally ceased. "I know it's hard for you to talk about it, but won't you tell me what happened in the cabin? Or at least, tell me how you've felt during that difficult time?"
Arthit stared at Kongphop for few moments before he leaned forward and rested his head down on Kongphop's chest.
"You were the only one whom I thought of during my captivity," Arthit whispered. He buried his face deeper into Kongphop's chest as a sob threatened to escape him. "I've prayed constantly that you would come and rescue me but without avail. You never came."
Kongphop tightened his arm around his lover's slender waist, feeling guilty for not being with his lover at his moment of need.
"I'm sorry, P'," he whispered. "I'm sorry for not being there for you. I should've at least told you that I wasn't going to the cabin."
Unable to bear it anymore, Arthit burst into tears once more. He didn't blame the other man for not informing him about the change in his plans or for not coming to rescues him. Thinking of Kongphop was the only thing that kept him sane during that horrible time.
"Don't leave me, Kong," he sobbed as his hand clutched the other man's shirt. "I need you."
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After a visit to the temple where Phet prayed for his wife, he drove to a public garden where he and his wife used to have short walks. Sitting on a bench, the detective closed his eyes and thought of the time he had spent with Rawee. Though he was a proficient detective, he always had a problem when dealing with emotions and any situations that require them. His wife was the one who helped him through such situations, gently guiding him with her soft talk and a warm smile.
"What should I do, Rawee?" he whispered softly to the air. "I truly need you by my side."
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A week passed since the incident at the hospital, during which Arthit had become extremely clingy to Kongphop. The older man couldn't bear to spend a second without his boyfriend as if the younger man would disappear at any moment if Arthit weren't looking.
And though he liked it, Kongphop was a little concerned about Arthit's sudden clinginess. It was something he wasn't used to at all, plus the older man would panic if he was out of his sight or he would become too smothering. When Kongphop asked Siriporn, the psychiatrist explained that it could be a reaction to last week's panic episode, and she advised him to bear with it simply. However, she also warned him that he should be on his guard and not be carried away; because in his condition, Arthit could feel compelled to do something he wasn't ready for just to ensure that Kongphop would stay beside him.
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Phet was in his office working when Gun knocked on the door and entered.
"P'," the younger detective said. "may I have a minute?"
The older man sighed before he nodded his head. It had already been a tiring week for him. In addition to his work's obligations, he had been trying, all week long, to ignore the way his son had been gluing himself to Kongphop with too much effort. Watching Arthit following the younger man like a small duckling was genuinely getting into Phet's nerves. But due to Siriporn's warnings and his promise to Kongphop not to interfere with his son's relationship with the younger man, he was forced to bite down on his tongue whenever his eyes laid upon those two.
"What do you have?" he asked bluntly with a bored tone.
"Not much, I'm afraid," Gun replied as he took his seat in front of Phet's desk. "Monitoring Yu's men and the company's employees didn't lead us to anything. And our efforts to track him down didn't result in anything either."
Phet let a deep sigh. "Fine," he said uninterestedly as his eyes scanned the papers in front of him. "Arrest Yu's men and beat them to death then throw their bodies into the river or to the streets' dogs."
Gun raised an eyebrow, unsure whether Phet was serious or joking. Clearing his throat, the young detective decided just to dismiss it. "So," he said. "I was thinking that it's time we start interrogating the employees in Mr. Kerkkrai's office."
"You're the detective in charge of the case," Phet replied quietly, still not lifting his eyes from his work. "You decide what is best for the investigation."
"Alright," Gun said, still surprised by Phet's apathy. "P', I've thought that I should first establish the connection between Yu and that employee before I question him about the attack."
"Okay," Phet replied.
"So, I thought not to ask him about it directly," Gun said. "Instead, how about I use the reason that Mr. Kongphop's friend was suspecting the two of theft as an excuse?"
"Do as you wish."
A heavy silence hovered over the two for few moments before Gun broke it.
"Umm...Sir," he asked. "how is your son doing?"
"He's fine."
"I thought if I can talk to him?"
"Get near him, and Siriporn will eat you alive," Phet stated, looking up at Gun.
"Siriporn?"
"His psychiatrist," Phet replied. "At any rate, Arthit is refusing to talk...even his boyfriend couldn't wrench a word out of him."
Gun sighed deeply. "I have a theory that perhaps your son was protecting someone close to Mr. Kongphop; that's why he's refusing to talk."
"Someone like whom?"
"I'm not sure," Gun replied. "It could be a member of Mr. Kongphop's family or one of his friends."
Phet thought for few moments before he nodded his head. "See what your interviews reveal first, then you can decide on your next move."
"I'll get right to it."
"By the way," Phet said suddenly as Gun was about to stand up. "What's the news on that CD? Have you seen it?"
Gun bit his lower lip, not really wanting to discuss this topic.
"I did," he replied.
"And?" Phet asked as he stared at him intensely.
"It contains a video of your son's attack," Gun replied tonelessly.
Phet tensed, but his face showed no expression.
"Does it show any of the attackers' faces?" he asked.
"No," Gun answered. "but some of the attackers' tattoos are showing. We can easily match them with our suspects."
"I want a copy of the pictures of those tattoos," Phet said.
"Sure, P'. I'll send them to you instantly." With that, the young detective stood up and left.
On his way back to his department, he called Robin and told him to take his equipment and meet him at the station's parking lot because they had work to do in Siam Polimer Group Company.
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Reaching Siam Polimer, Gun and Robin paid a short visit to the Director of the Human Recourse to ask him about Kla Gruemor and circumstances of his employment before they headed to Mr. Kerkkrai's office.
Upon reaching his office, Mr. Kerkkrai had graciously provided Gun with a private room to conduct his investigation. But the detective didn't start his questioning with Benz Onruang right away. Instead, he began his investigation with the two female secretaries in Mr. Kerkkrai's office before he moved to question the other male secretary, leaving Benz to the end.
When Benz's turn came, he was escorted by Robin to the investigation room where Gun was waiting for him.
As soon as he entered, Gun asked him to hand over his mobile to Robin. When Benz protested, the detective showed him the warranty that authorized him to check the phone. The secretary hesitated, but in the end, he handed his mobile to the IT.
"Mr. Onruang," Gun began. "Do you know a worker in the company's warehouse named Kla Gruemor?"
Benz frowned slightly, but he remained calm. "I don't know anyone by that name," he replied.
"Are you sure?" Gun asked.
"Of course. I don't know anyone by that name," Benz insisted.
Gun smirked slightly. "But Mr. Onruang, you've been seen talking to Mr. Gruemor by Mr. Wad, the supervisor of the warehouses. You even told him that you two are old friends."
Benz's expression changed, but he remained silent.
Gun's smirk widened as he leaned forward, resting his chin on his entangled hands. "Moving on," he said casually. "I'm sure that you've heard the disturbance that happened in the warehouse a week ago?"
"Yes," Benz replied flatly.
"Well," Gun said. "The warehouses' supervisor suspects that Mr. Gruemor is involved in some theft or fraud business. He informed Mr. Kongphop, who, I think, overreacted upon seeing Mr. Gruemor."
Benz blinked several times in total confusion before he asked.
"Excuse me?" he asked.
"Mr. Kongphop and Mr. Wad think that you are connected to all of this too," Gun continued, seemingly ignoring Benz's question. "So, I need to know how close you are to Mr. Gruemor."
Onruang stared at the detective with a blank expression. He had been fretting ever since Mr. Kerkkrai had informed his secretaries that a detective wanted to interview them. No, he was worrying since Kla had disappeared without a trace a week ago after the rumors about the CEO's son almost killed him in the warehouse. Benz couldn't shake the fear that Kongphop somehow knew who Kla indeed was or knew Kla's actual connection with him. But, since Kongphop hadn't visited the office since that day after the incident, Benz couldn't find exactly what the young man knew or the reason behind attacking Kla. Had he been in agonizing in horror for an entire week while everyone was only worried about a mere suspicion?
"I—I don't know anyone with that name!" He finally said.
"I see," Gun said with a smirk. "Well, in that case, I'm done here. Thank you, Mr. Onruang."
With that, Gun stood up as Robin handed Benz his cell phone before the two left.
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Returning to his office, Benz slumped on his chair, feeling completely drained. He couldn't believe that he hadn't been able to sleep from all the worry while Kongphop and his friend were thinking about a possible petty theft!
It was all that Kla's fault! How could he even disappear without a word like this?! Even if he was recognized, he shouldn't have vanished like this without a least telling him where he was or returning his calls!
Benz let out a frustrated groan, vowing he would kill the gangster for putting him through all that stress for nothing.
Little did he know that Gun was merely biding his time until he established a solid proof of his involvement with Yu and his gang.
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Kongphop finally finished collecting all the laundry. During his stay with Arthit, he volunteered to do all the chores in the house. At first, Arthit tried to protest, telling him that he shouldn't do that, but when Kongphop insisted, the older man started to help him with the chores, since they had to stay together anyway. It really made Kongphop happy since it reminded him of the days he used to sleep with his P'. Phet, on the other hand, hadn't commented on this situation at all. And Kongphop tried not to enter detective's bedroom or office too much or move things around either.
The young man peeked into the living room, checking on the older man. Taking advantage of Arthit's nap, the younger man quickly gathered the laundry to wash them.
Finding his P' still asleep on the couch, Kongphop walked to him with a fond smile.
"I'll be in the laundry room. I won't be gone for long," he whispered softly into the man's ear as he bent over and planted a kiss on his forehead before he left. If he had lingered a little longer, he wouldn't have missed the soft whimper that escaped the lips of his sleeping lover.
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Arthit's eyes snapped open with an uneasy feeling inside his heart. Since his incident, he had never tried to think about it or even about the circumstances that led to it eventually. However, he had just seen a vivid dream of that time, causing his heart to palpitate at an alarming rate.
"Kongphop!" Arthit called anxiously as he stood up and hurried out of the living room. "Kongphop, where are you?" He frantically looked everywhere in the house but without avail. Kongphop simply wasn't there and he was all alone.
Arthit yelped in surprise when the house's bell rang suddenly. Taking a deep breath, he ran to the door.
'It must Kongphop,' he told himself. "He must've forgotten his keys.'
But Arthit was disappointed when he opened the door and found no one. His eyes roamed around the house's surroundings but couldn't see anyone. Just as he was about to enter the house, his eyes fell upon a white envelope lying peacefully on the doormat.
Picking up it, Arthit entered the house, unaware of the man hiding behind a tree watching him from a distance.
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Around 2 pm, Phet parked his car at the same time that Knott parked his. The detective smiled slightly as the younger man greeted him before they both entered the house. However, as soon as they set foot inside, the two heard loud bangs combined with Kongphop's voice calling anxiously for Arthit, coming from the second floor, and filling the entire house.
Without losing any second, the two rushed up to the second floor to see what was going on.
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Kongphop panted heavily as he kept banging on the door with all his might while calling for Arthit, begging him to open his bedroom door.
"What's happening?" Phet barked as he and Knott appeared.
"P'Arthit had locked himself in his bedroom," Kongphop replied agitatedly. "And he's not answering me!"
"What?" Phet exclaimed. Quickly, the older man pushed Kongphop aside before he launched himself on the door twice before it broke down.
The sight that met the three men was heart-shattering.
Arthit was curling into a tight ball at the far corner of the room with his head buried between his knees, shaking like a leaf in a storm.
"Arthit!" Phet exclaimed as he rushed to his son's side while Knott and Kongphop stood nearby, petrified at the pitiful sight of Arthit.
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"Arthit!" Phet called his son as he tried to uncurl him, but the more he tried, the more Arthit's body tensed and resisted while his sobs became louder.
"He's here!" Arthit gasped between his sobs as he fought back the arms that tried to untangle him from his safe position. "He came to me! He's here!"
Hearing his son's desperate mumbles, Phet frowned, not understanding what his son was trying to say; however, the detective knew that it wasn't the right time to ponder on such thing. He had to calm down his hysteric son.
"Oon, look at me," he said, trying to make his voice as soothing as possible. "Look, it's Dad. I'm here with you, my little Sun. No one can hurt you! Dad is here and will protect you!" Tears of desperation filled Phet's eyes at his son's heartbreaking sight, but he quickly blinked them away. It took the older man several minutes before his voice finally reached his son. Lifting his head, Arthit stared at his father with teary eyes and a fazed expression.
"D-dad?" he choked on the word before he suddenly launched himself into his father's arms, seeking warmth and shelter.
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Knott and Kongphop stared at the scene in front of them silently. Kongphop, especially, was feeling tremendously guilty for leaving his P' by himself. He honestly didn't think that during the 20 minutes that he spent in the laundry room in the backyard, something like this would happen. Kongphop's eyes teared up as guilt swelled up inside his chest and threatened to smother him alive. He was too drowned in his own misery to notice what Knott noticed.
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Knott frowned as his eyes caught something scattered on the floor near Arthit. He quietly walked over and picked up what looked like a bunch of printed photos. His expression hardened as he looked at their contents. He finally understood the reasons behind Arthit's incoherent mumbles and hysterical panic.
"Knott, call Siriporn quickly!" Phet's voice snapped Knott from his thoughts. Nodding, the bulky man, shoved the pictures inside his pocket and proceeded to call Siriporn.
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Siriporn smiled fondly at a sleeping Arthit as she gently brushed some bangs off his forehead. She had rushed to Phet's house as soon as Knott called her and told her that Arthit had a panic attack. Upon arriving, she saw Arthit on the ground nestled in his father's arms, sobbing pitifully and shaking like a wounded bird. She quickly gave him a mild sedative and asked Phet to carry him to his bed.
Once she was sure that he was fast asleep, she looked up at the three men standing nearby.
"The sedative will make him sleep for an hour, or an hour and a half," she said. "What happened?"
Both Phet and Knott stared at Kongphop, who hadn't said a word since they entered the room.
"I—I don't know what happened," Kongphop said nervously.
"What do you mean you don't know?!" Phet asked snappishly, causing Arthit to whimper in his sleep.
"Shhh!" Siriporn hissed at the detective angrily. "Do you want to wake him up?!"
Phet scowled but said nothing. Siriporn did have a point, and he didn't want his son's rest to be disturbed. Marching outside the room, he got hold of Kongphop's arm and dragged him out of the room silently.
Knott and Siriporn stared at each other before the young man spoke. "I probably should go with them," he said. "Uncle Phet has a loaded gun!" with that; he hurried outside of the room.
Siriporn let out a deep defeated sigh before she sat at the edge of the bed, staring sadly at Arthit's tear-drenched face.
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"Now, tell me exactly what happened," Phet said with a voice void of emotions as he, Knott, and Kongphop sat in the office. Cold shivers were still running down his spine from his fright over Arthit.
"I honestly don't know," Kongphop replied guiltily. "P'Arthit was napping in the living room, so I decided to do the laundry. I've only been away for 20 mins in the laundry room. When I came back, I didn't find him in the living room, so I checked upstairs. But his bedroom was locked, and he wasn't answering me."
Phet's eyes narrowed into thin slits and his mouth pressed into a thin line as he glared daggers at the younger man.
"You left him alone for 20 mins?!" He spat. "How could you?"
"I didn't think—"
"It's obvious that you weren't thinking at all!" Phet snapped, cutting Kongphop off. "Arthit is still unstable and can relapse any second. That's why you're here; to keep an eye on him, not do the laundry! A splitting second!" he growled. "It took Arthit a splitting second to throw himself in front of that car when I wasn't looking! And you left him alone for damn 20 mins!"
"Uncle Phet," Knott intervened before things took an ugly turn. "I don't think Kongphop's disappearance has anything to do with Arthit's panic. Yes, N'Kong was wrong to leave Arthit by himself, but something else must've happened to him."
"Something like what?" Phet barked.
"Something like these?" Knott said as he took out the photos from his pocket and gave them to Phet. "There were scattered near Arthit when we entered the room."
Phet paled as he stared at the photos; his eyes started to blur with tears, and his breathing became labored.
The photos showed Arthit, laying naked and bruised on what seemed to be a bed in various sexual positions. The last photo showed him pictured from the back as he laid on his stomach, and the corner of the photo was some filthy comments written by familiar handwriting.
The detective felt as if his heart was about to explode. Even when he learned about his son's plight, it hadn't hurt this much. A dizzy spell suddenly washed over him, and he would've fallen, had not Knott supported him in time.
"I'm fine," Phet said quietly as he freed himself from Knott's arms. "How these photos reached Arthit?"
"I'm not sure," Knott replied. "Maybe someone left them at the door and Arthit, since Kongphop was absent, saw them. What I'm sure of is that Arthit didn't have these photos before."
Phet thought for a moment before he looked at Knott. "How can you be sure?"
"I was the one who packed Arthit's stuff from his apartment," the bulky man replied. "I know every single item Arthit has. Before today, those photos weren't in Arthit's possession."
"Leave me alone," Phet said quietly after few moments of silence.
Knott stared at the older man with extreme concern. He feared that something would happen to Arthit's father if he left. The older man wasn't looking well at all. Knott started to regret showing the photos to Phet.
"I'll be fine," Phet said, guessing correctly what was running through Knott's mind. "I just need some time alone."
Nodding, Knott turned around and took Kongphop with him outside.
}{ }{ }{ }{ }{
"P'," Kongphop spoke when he and Knott were outside the office. "What is in the photos you've given to Mr. Rojnapat?" he asked.
Knott exhaled deeply. "It's better if you don't know," he said quietly. "Let's go to see Arthit."
Kongphop frowned but said nothing. Letting a soft sigh, he nodded before he followed his P' upstairs.
}{ }{ }{ }{ }{
Gun drove hurriedly to Phet's house as per the older detective's request, followed closely by a police car bearing three police officers.
The young detective was worried ever since the older man called him and urged him to come to his house. His P's voice was quivering and shaky as if the man was overwhelmed by extreme emotion that was suffocating him.
Reaching the house, Gun quickly and carelessly parked his car before he rushed to the door and rang the bell. His heart dropped when Phet opened the door. The older detective was as pale as a white sheet, his eyes were sunken and bloodshot, and his usually proud posture was slumped.
"What's wrong, P'?" Gun asked as he and the three officers followed Phet into the house.
"Let's talk inside my office," Phet said before he looked at the officers and ordered them to surround the house and keep an eye on anything or anyone suspicious.
Once Phet and Gun were in the office, the older detective showed Gun the photos.
The young detective frowned as he stared at the photos. The setting of the place was different than the video. Then, he remembered that Knott had said that one of the rapists used to frequent Arthit's apartment. Were these photos taken then?
"How did you get those photos?" Gun asked, fully understanding now the reason behind Phet's miserable state. He had refused to show the older detective the video in fear that something would happen to him if he saw the raping of his son.
"I don't know," Phet replied.
"What happened exactly?"
Phet took a deep breath before he started to narrate everything that happened to Gun.
}{ }{ }{ }{ }{
Gun frowned as he listened to Phet's story. Now he understood why his P' had requested three police officers to come here and ordered them to guard the house's surroundings. Things were taking a dangerous turn. And though none had seen anything, it was clear to the young detective that Yu had taken a liking to Arthit and would try anything to get him once more.
"I think your conclusion is correct, P'," he said. "and Yu has indeed come to your house. This incident is consistent with his behavior in previous cases. I'll order the officers to remain around your house. Nevertheless, I'd like to hear the testimony of Mr. Kongphop."
Phet sighed deeply as he nodded his head. "By the way, what happened with you and that employee?" he asked. "Did you arrest him?"
"No, P'," Gun replied.
"Why the hell not?" Phet barked.
"P', all we have is insubstantial evidence and assumptions," Gun replied calmly. "Any good lawyer would make us release him within an hour, especially that he's still denying ever knowing Yu."
Phet inhaled deeply before he exhaled. "And the solution?" he asked impatiently.
"Your son has to give his testimony, P'," Gun said bluntly. "Only then, we can issue an official accusation, arrest that employee then process with the interrogation."
Phet stared at Gun with doubtful eyes before he sighed deeply. A colossal argument and possibly a third world war would inevitably erupt inside the house once Siriporn knew about this.
}{ }{ }{ }{ }{
After Gun had talked to Kongphop and understood precisely what had happened, it was Siriporn's turn. The two detectives invited her to the office and explained the entire situation to her.
The psychiatrist blinked several times as she stared at the pair of detectives sitting opposite to her. She couldn't believe what the two men were asking her, especially after the panic attack that Arthit had just gone through.
"That's not possible, P'," she said. "He's just gone through a panic attack!"
"Doctor, we are in a tight situation," Gun said. "We don't have more time to drag this case any longer. Besides, sine Yu had reached here, N'Arthit's life is in danger."
The woman toured her eyes between the two men before she sighed in defeat. "Fine," she said. "However, I must be present during the questioning."
"No problem," Gun said.
"And you won't do anything to Oon without informing me first," Siriporn continued. "No surprise moves."
"I won't." The young detective reassured.
"And Arthit must know and agree beforehand," Siriporn said. "His mental state couldn't stand to be forced into something he couldn't go through."
"I agree," Gun said. "I don't want to force him into something he wouldn't want in the first place."
Pressing her lips into a thin line, Siriporn nodded her agreement.
"Then, you would talk to him, Doctor?" Gun asked.
"I think it would be best if N'Kong did that," Siriporn said. "He has a way to convince Oon, and Oon does listen to him."
Gun nodded before he and Siriporn looked at Phet as if they were asking for his permission.
Phet rolled his eyes at their eager expressions before he nodded his head. At this point, he was ready to make a pact with the Devil to stop this nightmare.
}{ }{ }{ }{ }{
Kongphop sat alone in the garden, on the swing that he shared his first kiss in two years with the love of his life, still battering himself for neglecting his actual duty; Arthit. He sighed, wondering how he could be so careless and negligent to allow such a thing to happen.
Detective Gun had told him that someone, most likely Yu, had come to the house while he was in the laundry room and left some photos at the doorsteps, causing Arthit to breakdown.
Looking up at the sky, Kongphop let out a deep sigh.
"May I sit next to you?" The young man was snapped from his thoughts by Phet's quiet voice.
Blinking, Kongphop nodded his head before he made some space, allowing the older man to sit next to him.
Heavy silence shrouded the two as they sat in silence for several minutes, each lost in his own thoughts.
"Mr. Kongphop," Phet suddenly spoke, sending a cold shiver down Kongphop's spine. "I'm not really good at dealing with emotions, nor I'm good at expressing myself or apologizing." —He took a deep breath— "I—I lose my temper quite easily, and I usually don't evaluate my actions nor my words when I do. Anyhow, I—I came to realize that I have snapped at you unjustly earlier.''— He let out a soft snort— "Seeing Arthit in that state—"
"Mr. Rojnapat," Kongphop said in an uncharacteristic small voice. "I understand your anger. I am at fault too. I shouldn't have left him for any reason."
Hesitantly, Phet placed a hand on Kongphop's shoulder. "You meant well. And I'm sorry for being ungrateful to all you've done to my son. The truth is, I don't think anyone would've taken care of Arthit the way you've done. Thank you."
Kongphop smiled slightly as he looked at the older man. "Mr. Rojnapat," he said. "As selfish as it may sound, I can't live a single day without your son. I love him, and I want to be always by his side."
"I know," Phet said, smiling bitterly before he gently squeezed the younger man's shoulder encouragingly. "I've already given you my permission to resume your relationship, but I want you to promise me one thing. I will trust that you will keep him safe, so please don't betray my trust. Don't' make me regret giving you this chance."
"I won't."
Phet nodded his head before he sighed. "In light of the latest events, Gun wants to interview Arthit. It's essential to know at least the name of the employee who lured Arthit into the cabin. But Siriporn stipulated that Arthit agrees to it forehand. Do you think you can persuade him?"
"I—I'll try," Kongphop replied hesitantly. "but won't that cause him to relapse?"
"Not necessarily," Phet answered. "All the questions and other procedures will be carried out only if Siriporn pre-approved them. She was a police psychiatrist at the beginning of her career, so she's well-aware of the police procedures."
Kongphop stared thoughtfully at Phet before he nodded his head. "If I managed to persuade P'Arthit, may I accompany him as well?"
"I can't promise you that you'd be allowed into the interrogation room," Phet said. "But you may accompany him to the police station."
"I don't want more than that," Kongphop replied with a smile.
Forcing a slight smile on his face, Phet nodded his head before he stood up.
"Come inside," he said. "Arthit is awake and asking about you." Not waiting for an answer, the detective walked away, heading inside the house.
}{ }{ }{ }{ }{
After dinner, which was oddly silent, Kongphop and Arthit went upstairs to Arthit's room. The older man was physically and emotionally drained from his panic attack and looked as if he would drop at any moment.
Kongphop quietly watched as Arthit laid on the bed after getting ready to sleep before he joined him. Almost immediately, Arthit snuggled closer to Kongphop, resting his head on the latter's shoulder.
"Are you alright?" Kongphop asked softly.
Arthit let out a deep breath. "I don't want to talk about it," he replied. "let's sleep."
"Not before we talk, P'Arthit," Kongphop said determinedly, slowly pulling himself away from Arthit so he could lock eyes with the other man. "This has to stop, P'Arthit. You've been running away long enough."
Arthit averted his eyes away, not wanting to continue this conversation, but Kongphop wasn't giving up.
"Please, P'," he continued. "I know it must be hard on—"
"HARD?" Arthit snapped, sitting up as he glared at the younger man. "Hard doesn't even begin to describe what I'm feeling. I—I—" Arthit chocked on his tears as his emotions overwhelmed him.
Quickly, Kongphop rose and gathered the crying man in his arms. "I know you're hurting, P'. And honestly, I can't even begin to imagine the pain you're going through, but you have to face it at some point."
"I'm already seeing P'Siri!" Arthit said in clear annoyance between his sobs.
"Not enough," Kongphop tried to reason. "Every time P'Siri tries to make you talk about your incident, you break down. How long have you been going to therapy, yet you still not showing any notable progress!"
"What do you want me to do, then?" Arthit asked angrily, pulling away from Kongphop's warm embrace.
"Detective Gun wants to take your statement," Kongphop stated bluntly, causing Arthit's eyes to widen in shock.
"No! I can't!" the older man exclaimed as he tried to dislodge himself from Kongphop's arms.
"Yes, you can!" Kongphop insisted as he prevented Arthit from trying to escape. "P'Arthit, you have to face this sooner or later. However, we can't wait any longer. There is a legal case that is dependent on you and a free criminal who is threatening you; stalling will only help him escape. Detective Gun needs your help to catch those wronged you."
Arthit lowered his face as he continued to sob. He was indeed afraid of recalling the incident or anything related to it. Memories of the dream that he had morning started to haunt him again. Leaning forward and resting his head on Kongphop's shoulder, he began to do some breathing exercises to calm himself down.
"I—I had a dream about that day," he whispered. "This morning, when I was napping, I dreamt of that day. I saw myself as that car drove me to the cabin, unaware of what was waiting for me there."
Kongphop encircled his arms around his boyfriend's shoulders, pulling him closer to his warm body and letting him know that he was there for him.
"If—if I agreed to talk to that detective," Arthit said in a small voice. "will you be by my side?"
"Of course," Kongphop replied as a small smile started to appear on his face.
}{ }{ }{ }{ }{
"What are you doing?" Phet almost cursed out loud when someone suddenly whispered into his ear. He looked at his side with a death glare at Siriporn, who was standing next to him, smiling smugly at him.
Grabbing her hand, he dragged her away for a safe distance before he spoke in a low voice. "I'm just making sure that everything is alright with Arthit," he said innocently.
Siriporn raised an amused eyebrow but said nothing. It was rare to see the man in an awkward position, such as eavesdropping. Of course, the fact that the door of the room was knocked down and was simply leaning on the frame made it easier for him to pretend that he simply overheard whatever the boys were talking about as he passed by. Still, the detective didn't seem that he was going to justify himself.
"So," she said. "What did you hear?"
If looks could kill, Siriporn would've been killed and buried 6 feet underground. Phet gritted his teeth as he glared at the smug smiling face of Siriporn.
"He'll be talking to Gun," he said before he walked away, leaving a chuckling Siriporn behind him.
}{ }{ }{ }{ }{
To Be Continued...