Hi, everyone,
Well, we've finally reached the final chapter of my story.
Special thanks to yodacapos who had been there since I started writing this story, helping me with her valuable suggestions and comments.
This chapter was edited by Grammarly only. Please, excuse my mistakes.
As usual, all your comments, votes and reviews are highly appreciated and valued
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The evening of 6th of February,
Arthit smiled warmly as he welcomed Todd and Earth to the home-warming party he and Kongphop were throwing. It had been three months since the Judges ruled in his case and sentenced the culprits to their just punishments. During those months, many things had changed. Knott, for instance, got engaged to his girlfriend Tob. Bright had a boyfriend named Rome. Wad decided to leave the work in Siam Polimer and help Prem in running his photography studio. Em, May and Praepailin quitted their jobs and joined Kongphop who opened an office for Quality Control and Improvement Counseling.
Speaking of his boyfriend, the news of Mrs Suthiluck's sentencing spread throughout the country like fire despite all the efforts of Kongphop's family to cover it up. Luckily, no one knew the real reason behind her imprisonment, but that opened the opportunity for gossip and rumours to rampage through the high society, which Kongphop and his family bore its burden for a long time.
Kongphop, Arthit admired, remained strong and worked hard to establish his office. The younger man spent many sleepless nights carefully planning and preparing his new business to ensure that it would be a success. With the help of his father, he managed to find a suitable location in the business area and rented the highest two floors of a building as a base for his business. After decorating and furnishing the office, he moved then to hiring qualified employees. When hiring the employees for his office, Kongphop only hired young people with creativity and ambition and after running a thorough check on them. And after two months of hard work, 'The Gears for Quality Evaluations' was opened for business.
Arthit let out a deep sigh as his eyes scanned around the garden of their villa. After securing his work, Kongphop informed him about his desire to have their own place together. An idea that Arthit had gladly welcomed, except...
FLASHBACK
"A villa?" Arthit asked astonished as he stared at his boyfriend, who was changing his clothes. "Your father bought you a villa?"
Upon his return from his newly opened office, the younger man told his lover with a casual tone that his father had bought a villa for them.
"Us! He bought us a villa to live in," Kongphop simply replied. "He sent me the deed to the place this morning. It's a cute small villa. Don't you like it?"
Arthit blinked, staring at the picture and description of the cute small villa in question.
The villa was made of two floors, but it was built with luxury. There was a terrace on the rooftop. The first floor consisted of four bedrooms with their bathrooms, a study room, a living room and a preparatory kitchen. The ground floor, on the other hand, consisted of two guest bedrooms with their bathrooms, a small library, a spacious kitchen, a large living room, a foyer and a terrace overlooking the garden. Outside the house, there was a long driveway that ended with a garage for three cars; a spacious garden that had a swimming pool and a gazebo. And the place even had a basement that was turned into a ballroom complemented with a grand piano and a small bar. Not to mention that the entire villa was already furnished.
"It's—it's nice," he finally said, uncertain how he could reject something that Mr Kerkkrai had bought for them.
'This isn't what I had in mind at all!' he thought to himself.
"What's the matter, P'?" Kongphop asked as he sat in front of Arthit. "You don't look happy."
Looking into his boyfriend's eyes, Arthit let out a deep sigh. "It's not that I don't like the villa or don't appreciate your father's gesture," he said. "but this is too much for just the two of us. I thought that we would both rent a small apartment with two bedrooms, a living room and a small kitchen. You know, something that we both can contribute to."
"I know, P'," Kongphop said. "but my dad insisted that he would buy us a house. He still feels guilty for cutting me off his will; that's why I couldn't refuse him." he paused a little before he continued. "However, if you don't like it, then I'll return the deed to my father tomorrow morning."
"No!" Arthit said hastily. "I don't want to be disrespectful. I'm...I'm ok with living there."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
END OF FLASHBACK
Arthit sighed. He had agreed to live in the villa because he didn't want to refuse Mr Kerkkrai's kindness and be ungrateful to the man who bought such a beautiful place for them to live in, especially after everything that had happened. Shaking his head, Arthit pushed all these negatives thoughts away. He and his boyfriend were finally happy, and he should be focusing on the bright side. Roaming his eyes around the place, Arthit smiled.
Kongphop had pulled all the stops to prepare a marvellous home-warming party for their family and friends. The young man ordered catering from the best restaurants in town, decorated the garden with sparkling lights, booked a famous band to play and even hired Prem and Wad to take pictures and videos of the event. And though, Arthit thought that it was overboard, he was internally pleased that his boyfriend had put too much thought into this. The older man realized that it had been a long time since they celebrated anything.
Arthit's eyes fell on his father, who was sitting on a distant table with Siriporn and Kongphop's father and sisters, and his smile widened. In an odd twist of events, his father and Siriporn started dating. Arthit couldn't help the chuckle that escaped his mouth upon remembering that fateful day.
FLASHBACK
"Good morning, everyone!" Siriporn chirruped as she entered the kitchen where Phet, Arthit and Kongphop were having their breakfast one Sunday morning.
"How did you enter the house?" Phet asked sharply.
"Return my greeting first, P', before you start asking meaningless questions," Siriporn huffed as she poured herself a glass of fresh orange juice.
"This isn't a meaningless question," Phet disputed. "I'm asking you how you entered my house!"
"Oon gave me a spare key to the front door," Siriporn said casually as she joined them for breakfast. "I've been a friend of the family for 17 years; I should've had a spare key a long time ago!"
"Says who?"
"Me!" the psychiatrist replied teasingly, gaining a glare from the detective. Smirking, she turned her attention to the two young men. "So, boys, do you have any plans today?"
"We're meeting our friends in the basketball court, P'," Kongphop replied.
"Sounds wonderful," Siriporn exclaimed before she turned to Phet. "What about you, P'? Any plans?"
"No," Phet replied crossly.
"Then, how about you take me out on a date?" Siriporn asked nonchalantly.
Phet chocked on his orange juice, while the two young men stared at her with opened mouths.
"What?" Phet asked as soon he recovered from his shock.
"I'm asking you out on a date," Siriporn replied calmly.
Phet blinked several times before he scoffed, shrugging dismissingly. "You're not funny, Siri," he said, averting his eyes away from her.
"I'm not joking, P'," Siriporn said seriously. "I'm seriously asking you out. I'm sure that you still haven't realized it, but I love you."
Heavy silence shrouded the place as the three men stared stunned at her.
END OF FLASHBACK
A soft chuckle escaped Arthit's mouth as he remembered how Siriporn pestered his father for an entire week until he agreed to date her for a month and see what happened. But somehow, this month seemed to have extended.
"Oi! Ai'Arthit!"
Arthit sighed upon hearing Bright's annoyed yell before he turned his attention to his friend.
"Yes, Bright?" he asked as Bright, Rome, Knott and Tutah approached him.
"Where is the damn alcohol?" Bright complained. "I couldn't find a drop of alcohol in the entire freaking villa!"
"You might as well give up, Bright," Knott said as he wrapped one arm around Bright's shoulder. "Since Arthit isn't allowed to drink, N'Kongphop had banned alcohol from their house altogether."
Arthit laughed. Indeed, his lover had banned all alcohol and sugary drinks and food from the house. It was a miracle that the younger man agreed to serve soft drinks in the party along with fresh juices. Even the food that Kongphop had ordered for the banquet was grilled and low in calories.
"What a bummer!" Bright whined, gaining laughs from the rest of his friends.
"Excuse me,"
The five men looked and saw Kongphop standing a few steps away with a warm smile on his face. "May I steal P'Arthit for this dance?" he asked as he extended one hand towards his boyfriend.
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The soft music started as soon as the two were in the middle of the dancing space in front of the band.
Arthit stared into Kongphop's eyes, feeling himself being hypnotized by his boyfriend's lovely dark eyes that shone with unconditional love and ultimate adoration. The older man didn't even notice when his boyfriend wrapped one arm around his waist, pulling their bodies closer as they began to dance to the song.
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The two swayed slowly with the music with their eyes locked into each other. Suddenly, the entire world around them disappeared, and none other than the two of them existed. Neither of them even noticed that they were the only couple dancing while their guests formed half a circle around them.
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Kongphop smiled as he stared into Arthit's eyes. "Happy, P'?" He whispered.
Arthit averted his eyes shyly. "Can't you tell?" he asked.
Kongphop laughed softly in response before he rested his forehead against Arthit's.
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Letting out a soft sigh, Arthit lowered his head, burying his face into the crook of Kongphop's neck as he snuggled closer to the other man, enjoying the warmth of his body. Only in Kongphop's arms, he could feel completely safe, secured and contented. Only in Kongphop's arms, he could feel whole and complete.
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As the music slowly faded, their movement came to a halt.
"Marry me, P'."
Arthit's eyes widened in surprise, and his body tensed. Although the sentence was barely audible and was whispered into his ear, he heard it loud and clear. Raising his head, he stared at the other man dumbfounded, trying to assess whether the other man was serious or joking.
Smiling, Kongphop pulled away before he knelt on one knee in front of the other man and took out a velvet box with two beautiful matching rings nestled inside.
"P'Arthit, will you marry me?" he asked in a loud and clear voice.
Arthit froze as his eyes locked their gaze on the rings, resting neatly in the middle of the box. He felt as if his brain had short-circuited and lost control over his entire body. Moments passed, but Arthit couldn't find the strength nor the ability to form any kind of response.
"Just say YES already!" Arthit was snapped from his trance by Bright's annoyed exclamation. Looking around him, he realized that all their guests were surrounding them and looking at him expectantly. Arthit felt his cheeks heating up from shyness as he looked down at Kongphop, who smiled at him in response.
"Y—yes," he whispered bashfully as he looked at his boyfriend with hooded eyes.
"I don't think they heard you, P'," Kongphop commented softly with a teasing chuckle.
Letting out an annoyed huff, Arthit looked up directly into Kongphop's eyes. "YES!" he yelled.
Loud cheers broke out accompanied by joyful clapping and Arthit felt a sense of Déjà vu, remembering the day when he announced his relationship to his friends during the "Senior's Thank You" party.
Smiling widely, Kongphop stood up and slipped one of the rings into Arthit's finger before he stretched out his hand so Arthit could slip in his ring.
"KISS!" "KISS!" Chanted their friends as the two finished exchanging their engagement rings.
Kongphop and Arthit stared at each other shyly for a moment; each giving the other the chance to initiate the kiss.
Suddenly, Kongphop felt his body being pulled forward and Arthit's lips crushed against his amidst their family and friends' cheers.
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"Congratulations, Buddy!" Knott said emotionally as he hugged his best friend.
After the cheers had died down, the newly engaged couple went first to greet their fathers and family members and get their blessings before they were surrounded by their friends and guests who wished to offer their congratulations and best wishes.
"Who would've thought that the day would come when I see our little Arthit engaged!" Tutah commented excitedly.
"He has grown so much so fast!" Bright played along, wiping a non-existing tear from the corner of one eye dramatically, gaining his friends' laughs.
Arthit rolled his eyes at his two silly friends but allowed them their fun, nevertheless.
"Anyway," Bright said seriously, placing a hand on Kongphop's shoulder. "You'd better take good care of my little Arthit, Nong. Or else, as your honorary father-in-law, I'll make your life miserable!"
"Who are you referring to as your little Arthit?!" Arthit asked in mocked annoyance. "And father-in-law? Please! I do have a father, thank you very much!"
"Don't mind him, Arthit," Knott said. "You how Bright is."
"Is this the thanks I get for attending this Alcohol-less party?!" Bright pouted, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Such ungrateful friends I have! I should've stayed at my bar instead!"
"Oh, come on, P'Bright! Stop teasing your friends." Rome said. "As if you would really miss this party! You've been excited all week long! And you couldn't sleep at all last night! I swear, P'Arthit. He hadn't stopped speculating your reaction when P'Kong pops the question the entire week! He even bet on it with P'Tutah!"
Bright's pout deepened at his boyfriend's comment but didn't deny it.
"Wait, you knew that Kongphop was going to propose?" Arthit asked, stunned.
"Of course," Prem replied. "Everyone knew that this is your engagement party."
"Except you, that is!" Knott continued.
Arthit raised an annoyed eyebrow at Kongphop who smiled innocently back at him. "I can't believe that you planned all this with my friends behind my back!" he sulked. "Did my father and P'Siri know as well?"
"Of course, P'," Kongphop replied nonchalantly. "I wouldn't dare to propose to you without your father's permission! He does carry a loaded gun with him all the time!"
Everyone laughed as Kongphop faked a frightening shudder.
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Phet let out a deep sigh as he strolled through the garden, feeling a little gloomy. Sure, he was happy that his son was getting married, but at the same time, he felt as if he was about to lose his only son to another man. The detective wondered if he would feel the same if his son got engaged to a girl instead. Halting suddenly, Phet closed his eyes and wondered what his late wife would've thought of their son marrying another man.
'Knowing her,' he said to himself. 'She would've forced them to get married the moment she knew about their relationship!'
"Dad!"
Opening his eyes, Phet turned his face and saw Arthit approaching him from behind.
"What is it, Arthit?" he asked.
"I saw you were walking by yourself," Arthit replied. "so, I wondered if something is wrong."
Phet raised an eyebrow, smiling. "There is nothing wrong, my little Sun," he said, shaking his head. "I just wanted to clear my head a little."
"Are you not happy about my engagement to Kongphop?" Arthit asked hesitantly. He knew that his father had his reservations towards his relationship with Kongphop, and after all that had happened the idea of his son marrying the younger man might not settle well with him.
"Arthit!" the young man snapped from his thoughts at his father's sharp voice. Blinking at the older man confusedly, Arthit noticed the amused smirk plastered on his father's face.
"You certainly took the overthinking trait from me," Phet commented with a chuckle. "How didn't I notice this before?"
"Dad?"
Phet let out a deep sigh before he placed a hand on his son's shoulder. "Oon," he said tenderly. "I do still have my doubts and fears, but I can't allow them to stand in the way of your happiness. If you are certain that you want to spend the rest of your life with Kongphop, then I won't object. I have already told that boyfriend of yours that I'll only agree to this marriage if you do."
"Thank you, Dad," Arthit said, smiling before he threw himself into his father's arms.
"But you have to promise me that you won't forget your old man after you get married, ok?" Phet said as he returned his son's hug.
"Nothing and no one can make me forget you, Dad," Arthit said as he pulled away. "You, on the other hand, have to promise me that you will be happy with P'Siri!"
Phet let out a chuckle. "I promise," he said before he ran his hand through his son's hair. "I wish your mother was with us tonight. She would be so happy to see you get engaged to the person you love!"
Arthit smiled warmly in response.
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A month later,
Arthit took a deep breath as he sat alone in the small semi-lit room, trying to calm down his anxious nerves as he waited. To be honest, he was starting to doubt the validity of his reasons to be here in the first place. Like any half-cooked idea, the notion of paying a visit to Mrs Suthiluck sounded very rational and even sentimental when it first popped inside his head. He was so convinced that he was doing the right thing that he was persistent in his request to see her; despite the numerous times her lawyer had turned him away. And it was this resolve and determination that had finally made the woman agree to meet him. However, now he seriously thought that it was a terrible idea!
Here he was in a small room in prison, behind his fiancé's back, waiting for the woman that had ruined his life. Why was he in the first place? He wondered. The answer to this question suddenly started to sound like a naïve and silly one to him.
Before Arthit could stand up and leave, the heavy door of the room opened, and two people appeared from behind.
"What do you want?" Mrs Suthiluck asked in a cold tone as she sat across of Arthit while the office escorting her closed the door on them after making sure that everything was in order.
"Umm..." Arthit began hesitantly as he rubbed his neck nervously. "I—I came to tell you that Kongphop and I got engaged."
Waan stared at the young man in front of her before she let out a soft scoff. "So, in the end, you reached your goal," she remarked. "Congratulations."
"Despite what you think, Mrs Suthiluck, I never aimed or planned for anything," Arthit said crossly. "It was Kongphop who started everything between us, and up until his third year, I didn't even know who his father is. Anyhow, I'm not here to explain myself. I came here to tell you that Kongphop and I are getting married because you are still his mother." —he let out a deep sigh, trying to suppress the anger that was rising inside of him— "My mother had died when I was 13 years old. I know too well how much it hurts to lose one's mother, especially for someone who loves his mother as much as Kongphop loves you," Arthit said in a low voice as he directly looked into the woman's eyes. "When I first met you, I was hoping that you would accept me as a son and be my mother." —Arthit let a soft snort— "Anyway, I know that Kongphop would have wanted you to be present in our engagement party and our wedding. But since you can't, I thought that I should come and let you know. After all, I don't think Kongphop would bare to come himself to see you in this place, nor I want him to be in this situation to begin with." Without waiting for a reply, Arthit stood up and waied goodbye before he turned around and left.
Stepping out of the prison building, Arthit closed his eyes and inhaled deeply before exhaling. Now that he had gotten the words he wanted to say to Mrs Suthiluck out of his chest, he felt as if a boulder was taken off his chest. He felt his heart lighter, and his soul freer. Smiling to himself, he walked away, ready to start a new page in life with the one he loved.
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20th of June,
In one of Phuket beach's finest resorts,
Kongphop took yet another glance at his reflection on the mirror, checking his looks for the umpteenth time. Today, he and Arthit were tying the knot amidst their family, friends and loved ones in one of Phuket's beautiful resorts. Kongphop still couldn't believe that finally he and Arthit would be wedded at last! It was a dream that had finally come true!
Suddenly, he heard a rapid knocking on the door.
"Come in," Kongphop said as he looked away from the mirror. "Grandpa?" The young man's eyes almost popped out of their sockets when he saw his grandfather entering the room. "Why are you here?"
Ukrit raised an eyebrow as he made himself comfortable on the nearest chair before speaking. "Don't you want me to be present at my grandson's wedding, Boy?" he asked.
"No, of course not, Grandpa," Kongphop said as he sat on the chair opposite to the older man. "I'm very honoured that you are here. I'm just surprised. That's all!"
Ukrit let out a soft scoff. "Whatever." He said. "I'm sure that you know very well that I don't approve of this wedding or this relationship. But you are still my grandson, and I must keep appearances for the sake of our family's reputation. I don't want people to say that the grandson of Ukrit Ruangroj had married without his grandfather's approval. It would affect your reputation in the business society too, you know."
Kongphop smiled, knowing that this was the closest thing he would get as congratulations from his grandfather. "I'm glad that you are here," he said, waiing to the older man.
Ukrit let out a deep sigh before he reached into inside his jacket and took out an envelope. "This is my wedding gift. Use it wisely!" he said as he handed Kongphop the envelope before standing up.
"Thank you, Grandpa," Kongphop said as he stood up as well to see his grandfather out. "Would you like to be the one performing the Sai Monkhon(1)?" he asked.
Ukrit arched an eyebrow at his grandson. "Don't push your luck, Boy!" he said, though Kongphop didn't detect any anger or resentment in the older man's tone. "Consider yourself lucky that I'm attending the ceremony."
"I'm so honoured," Kongphop responded.
"Good! Don't forget to introduce your husband to me afterwards," Ukrit said. "Despite everything, he will be a son-in-law to the Ruangroj family." Without waiting for the reply, the old man left the room.
Kongphop couldn't stop the wide smile that appeared on his face. His grandfather might not like his choice of a partner, but he was a practical man and a stickler for traditions and family obligations.
A few moments later, someone else knocked on the door.
"Hey, Handsome!" Siriporn greeted sweetly as she appeared from behind the door. "Are you ready?"
"I'm ready, P'Siri," Kongphop said before he smiled teasingly. "Or should I call you mother-in-law?!"
Last month, Phet and Siriporn surprised everyone when they entered the house one afternoon and announced to Arthit, Kongphop and Arthit's friends, who were visiting that day, that they had eloped. The two, without any prior arrangement, had driven to a local Amphur(2) to register their marriage certificate. To say that the eight young men were surprised would be an understatement. Arthit and Kongphop, for one, thought that the world would end before they would see Phet standing in front of them blushing bashfully like a lovestruck teenager. However, in the end, it was the happiness of Phet and Siriporn that really mattered.
"Who you are calling Mother-in-law?" Siriporn tsked in mocked annoyance. "You aren't married to Arthit yet, Boy! I could easily make P'Phet cancel the wedding, you know!"
"Oh, no! Please! I beg you!" Kongphop put his hands in front of his face and begged. "I'm so sorry, P'Siri! I won't tease you again!"
"Smart boy!" Siriporn said cockily. "It will serve you well to know who runs the Rojnapat household now."
Kongphop laughed in response. "I still can't believe that you actually married Uncle Phet. How did you manage to convince him?"
"I've told you before," Siriporn replied smugly. "It's all about pushing the right buttons!"
Before Kongphop could comment, someone knocked on the door before opening it.
"Hey, Kong!" Em said. "What the hell is taking you so long? Are you having second thoughts?"
"In your dreams!" Kongphop exclaimed. "I'm ready! Let's go!"
Smiling, Kongphop and Siriporn left the room along with Em.
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Kongphop felt his heart skipping a couple of beats when he saw Arthit climbing down the car in front of the local temple. Each of them was driven in a different vehicle by their fathers to the temple to make merit before the wedding ceremony. Letting out a deep breath, Kongphop forced his legs to move forward as he locked his eyes on his gorgeous husband-to-be. His sun simply looked stunning in his white suit.
After both had made merit and prayed for long and lasting happiness in their upcoming life together, they left the temple and headed to where the wedding would take place.
Sitting side by side in the car, the two lovers exchanged nothing but loving smiles. Neither of them needed words anyway. Their eyes said to each other all that needed to be said.
Reaching the pavilion that had been prepared for their wedding ceremony, Arthit and Kongphop kneeled next to each other with their arms resting on two small padded tables and their hands held together in prayer position in front of their guests before Phet approached them and placed the Mong Kol(3) on both of their heads. Their family and friends then lined up with their special shells to pour holy water over the couple's hands as they offered their congratulations and best wishes.
After the shell ceremony ended, Kongphop and Arthit's friends ushered the couple to the wedding hall where an official was waiting for them to sign their marriage certificate. Loud cheers roared across the room as the two signed the certificate before Tutah climbed on the small platform that was set at the end of the hall to start the celebration.
"Hello, everyone!" he said into the mic. "We are here to celebrate the wedding of our faculty most famous couple! Arthit and Kongphop Rojnapat-Suthiluck!" –a second wave of loud cheers filled the hall— "We, their faithful friends who had witnessed their love since the start, had prepared this small video. Please, enjoy it!"
With that, a movie about Arthit and Kongphop throughout the years, starting from the hazing days until their engagement party, began to play on the white backdrop. Many of the attendance felt their eyes pooling with tears as they witnessed in the span of the five mins video the blooming and growth of the love story between Arthit and Kongphop. As the video came into an end, Tutah took the stage once more.
"Now, Arthit and Kongphop will be answering few questions that all their friends had prepared," he announced, smiling mischievously as the couple joined him on stage.
"We'll start with a simple question for both," he said. "What was your first impression of the other and why? N'Kongphop?"
"The first impression?" Kongphop replied thoughtfully. "Well...it was when I came here for the faculty interview. I met P'Arthit in front of a beverage stall. I know it's not a romantic place. But...to get support from a stranger at that time made me feel really good."
"And you, Arthit?"
"For me, it was when this kid said he wanted to make me his wife in front of everyone at the initiation gathering!" Arthit replied with a slight frown. "It was quite a bad impression; I must say. But, it also made me memorize his name, Kongpod, student ID 0062, by heart!"
"When did you fall in love with each other?" Tutah asked slyly.
"Every time he gave me something to eat, whether it was oranges or extremely spicy chilli basil dish or noodles in Tomyum soup or something like that," Kongphop replied.
"I didn't know that you a gluttonous person, Nong?" Tutah commented.
"No, I'm not. But, I just feel that he is a considerate person. And that makes me fall for him."
"What about you, Arthit?"
"Ah," Arthit said shyly. "I can't really remember. I suddenly found myself had fallen for him."
"Which body part of your partner do you like the most?" Tutah asked, gaining a disapproving frown from Arthit.
"His eyebrows," Kongphop answered almost immediately. "I like when he frowns because he is mad."
"You are sick!" Arthit commented, looking at his husband with a frown.
"See?! He's so cute when he's mad," Kongphop teased, flashing his brightest smile at his husband.
"What about you, Arthit?" Tutah asked.
"Every part of him except for his mouth," Arthit replied. "Definitely not his mouth!"
"Do you think your partner has any flaws?" Tutah asked.
"When he's shy," Kongphop said. "He is extraordinarily cute."
"I think that's an asset," Tutah commented.
"Really? Ah...To me, it's a flaw," Kongphop said. "Because, whenever he's shy, I feel like I want to throw myself at him."
"What the hell?!" Arthit exclaimed, feeling his face heating up.
"See?" Kongphop said, wiggling his eyebrows at his shy husband as all the presence laughed.
"Let's get back to our questions," Tutah said as the laughter died down. "Arthit?"
"Seriously, Kongpob has many faults in him," Arthit said, giving Kongphop a pointed look. "He likes to tease me. And he must be a stalker too."
"I'm a stalker, really?" Kongphop asked, shocked.
"Yes, he really acts like a stalker," Arthit persisted. "When we were in college, sometimes on a rainy day, he would call me and say 'Hey, P'Arthit. You've hung dry clothes. Don't forget to collect them!' or something like that," –he looked at his husband— "So, I know you must be watching me all the time. Or else you wouldn't know that I hang dry my clothes. That's why I call you a stalker. And after during his third year when I graduated and moved to a new apartment. He moved and stayed next door. See? You are stalking me so closely!"
"Actually, I'm just concerned about him," Kongphop explained.
"Many couples have cute to call each other," Tutah said. "If you want to have cute couple nicknames, what would you call each other?"
"Well, I would call P'I-Aoon, and...honey!" Kongphop said with a shy smile.
"Dream on!" Arthit smacked his husband's side.
"What about you, Arthit?"
"None from me," the older man replied flatly.
"If you were stranded in a deserted island, name one thing you would bring?"
"P'Arthit!" Kongphop replied.
"I'm not a thing!" Arthit protested.
"Actually," Kongphop said, smiling. "As long as he is with me, I can go anywhere."
"Ohhh..." Tutah sighed dreamingly. "What about you, Arthit?
"Well, I would need someone to get me out of there quickly."
"That's is not a thing either," Kongphop commented.
"I know!" Arthit said, rolling his eyes.
"What is your favourite dish?"
"P'Arthit!"
"Come on! Answer something else!" Arthit said. "I'm not food either!" —he looked at Tutah— "For me, I like pink milk. And also chicken chilli basil with a sunny side up egg. And the other dish ... I really like steamed eggs with meat." He looked at Kongphop pointedly, with a knowing smile.
"What was your most favourite moment in college?"
"I liked when I biked around the campus," Arthit replied.
"Eh?" Kongphop commented as he gave Arthit a shocked look. "I thought you would answer that you liked being a hazer and gave your juniors a hard time."
"I'm not a sadist who enjoys inflicting pain on others," Arthit protested.
"But I liked it when I bickered with you!" Kongphop said, smiling.
"You are sick indeed," Arthit said, shaking his head. "Let's go see to a doctor."
"I'm ok," Kongphop said. "It's enough for me to see you and be fine!"
Arthit raised an eyebrow at his husband but didn't comment.
"Have you ever got jealous of each other?"
"Huh?" Arthit's eyes widened in shock. "Never!"
"Don't lie about something that people find it's hard to believe," Kongphop teased. "You've been caught red-handed several times already!"
"What!? I really never get jealous!" Arthit objected.
"Really? Why the high-pitched voice then?" Kongphop asked.
"Neverrrrrrr!" Arthit in a low voice, gaining the laughter of their audience.
"When your partner is sad, how do you show your support?"
"I don't say anything," Arthit replied. "I just stay by his side."
"I will hold him tightly," Kongphop replied.
"How do you like your partner to dress?" Tutah asked.
Arthit thought for a moment before he replied. "When he wears a white shirt, he looks good. But, he looked kind of cool too in the engineering workshop shirt!"
"To me," Kongphop replied, smiling naughtily. "I think he looks his best when he wears ... nothing at all!"
"Hey!" Arthit exclaimed as his face turned into a deep shade of red.
"Do you believe in destiny?" Tutah asked.
"I didn't believe in destiny before," Kongphop replied. "But now, I do. Something comes at the right place and at the right time!"
"Yike!" Arthit remarked. "To me, I believe in taking an effort. I think for love, destiny alone does not work."
"What would you do if one of you disappear?"
"I will look for him," Kongphop replied. "No matter how far he goes, I will definitely find him."
"In my case, I will stay still," Arthit said. "I'm sure he will come back to me sooner or later."
"What if I don't?" Kongphop asked.
"You can't stand seeing me cry," Arthit said smugly. "Can you? No, right?"
"I give that to you!" Kongphop said, smiling.
"When did the first kiss happen?"
Arthit glared at his friend, but Tutah smirked at him challengingly. When he found that his friend wasn't going to back down, he turned to his husband.
"Kongpob, he's asking you. You go!"
"I think you should answer this better than me," Kongphop disputed.
"Hurry up! You answer him," Arthit said.
"No, you answer him!"
"Kongphop! I order you to answer this question!" Arthit ordered firmly.
"You can just say where," Tutah tried to compromise.
"Our first kiss took place at the Rama VIII bridge," Kongphop replied after clearing his throat.
"Who initiated the kiss?" Tutah asked.
"Actually, he...kissed..." Kongphop's voice trailed, giving his husband a hesitant look.
"Well, it was me!" Arthit admitted.
"He pulled me swiftly to a kiss," Kongphop elaborated, gaining another smack on his side. "It hurts!" he whined.
"How do you define love?" Tutah asked.
"Love is love," Arthit replied with a smile.
"P' Arthit," Kongphop replied.
"What?" Arthit asked, looking at the younger man. "Why do you call my name?"
"No, I didn't call your name. That's my answer to P'Tutah's question."
"Really?" Arthit asked, raising a teasing eyebrow.
"What is your view of your love?" Tutah asked.
"Honestly speaking," Arthit replied as he took a deep breath. "before I had no confidence in myself. But eventually, I managed to step over the fear. It's like I can finally be honest with my own feelings. I think love ... requires just two persons to understand each other."
"I think love has no gender, no place and no time when it happens," Kongphop replied. "I want everyone to understand it. Gender is just something that defines what you see from the outside. If you close your eyes and open your heart a bit, you will see that love is indeed beautiful. So what more do we want?"
"Do you have anything to say to each other?"
"P' Arthit, I love you," Kongphop said as he locked his eyes into his husband's.
"I already knew," Arthit said bashfully as he averted his eyes away. "Me too," he whispered.
"Me too what?" Kongphop asked teasingly.
"Me too means me too!" Arthit exclaimed. "What you said, it's me too!"
"Can't you say it out loud?" Kongphop asked. "Come on!"
"Wait until when we're alone," Arthit tried to negotiate.
"But I want to hear it now," Kongphop insisted. "You can whisper to my ear if you were too shy to say it out loud!"
Arthit seemed to think before he shook his head. "You are so demanding!" he grumbled. "Lean closer to me!"
Kongphop leaned closer, but Arthit surprised him and their guests by kissing his check, gaining the applause and cheers of their audience.
"Wow! That's so romantic!" Tutah commented when the noises died down, fanning himself with his hand. "I've never thought I would see the day when Arthit displays PDA!"
Arthit hissed at his friend, but Tutah simply smiled in response.
"Anyway," the chubby man continued, turning his attention to the audience. "As engineering students, most of you know how important a thread ceremony is as a step of the acceptance into our Engineering faculty. That's why, we, Arthit and Kongphop's friends, want to tie threads on the couple's hands."
Arthit and Kongphop exchanged surprised looks, deeply touched at their friends' gesture. Their friends from college lined up at the stage to take their turns in tying white silk threads on the couple's hands.
"Take care of Arthit, Nong," Knott said as he tied the silk thread on Kongphop's hand. "He could be thick-headed and stubborn, but he truly loves you and would gladly give up his life for your sake."
"I know, P'," Kongphop replied. "Don't worry. I'll gladly give up my life for him as well."
Knott smiled in response.
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After the thread tying had ended, the couple stepped down the stage so the celebration activities could move on. Kongphop took his husband to a secluded table at the end of the hall where an old man was sitting by himself with two men standing behind him like two statues.
"Arthit, this is my maternal grandfather, Mr Ukrit Ruangroj." Kongphop introduced as they stood in front of the man. "Grandpa, this is my husband, Arthit Rojnapat-Suthiluck."
"Hello, Sir," Arthit said as he waied. "I'm honoured to have you here."
Arthit felt his body tensed as the old man gave him a penetrating gaze, remembering what his father had told him about Kongphop's maternal grandfather.
"Congratulations, Son," Ukrit finally said in a neutral tone.
"Thank you," Arthit said.
"I'll be going then," Ukrit said as he stood up. "Have a good night."
"It's too early, Sir," Arthit said, "Please, stay a little more. At least, stay until the banquet."
"I'd like to, but I have prior engagements in Bangkok," Ukrit said. "Goodbye." With that, the man walked away followed by his bodyguards.
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Arthit took a deep breath as he sat on the bed in the resort's bridal suite, waiting for Kongphob who had just entered the bathroom to take a shower. Their friends didn't let them go to their suite until it was midnight. Kongphop was too considerate and let him shower first and change into his PJs.
As much as he waited for this moment, Arthit dared it. This was their wedding night, and Arthit wanted Kongphop to make him his completely, but there was still a slight fear and hesitation lingering inside his heart. Despite his progress in therapy, Arthit still feared the idea of having sex. He feared that his body would react in a way that Kongphop would interpret as rejection. Plus, the man wondered what Kongphop's reaction would be if he saw his scarred body.
Arthit kept looking at the door nervously while he played with the hem of his PJ shirt. Taking another deep breath, he stood up and took small steps towards the bathroom door, wondering if it was a good idea to join his husband.
Would Kongphop think of him as desperate if he joined him inside the bathroom?
Would he be able to take off his clothes in front of Kongphop?
Would the sight of his naked body repulse the other man?
Arthit closed his eyes and breathed deeply.
It had been a long time since he and Kongphop were together. He wanted this night to be special and memorable. He wanted none of those bad memories to ruin it. Taking another deep breath, Arthit decided to take a leap of faith. He twisted the door's knob slowly and pushed it open.
Kongphop was busy humming a song while scrabbing shampoo into his scalp, unaware of the man who entered the bathroom.
Arthit, still in his clothes, walked into the shower and stood behind Kongphop, placing his hands on the latter's preventing him from continuing.
"Let me do it for you." He said in a low voice.
Turning around, Kongphop lowered his hands and smiled softly at his husband. "Aren't you going to take off your clothes?" he asked.
Arthit gulped visibly, lowering his gaze. "I—I don't want you to see my body," he whispered.
"Why? It's nothing I haven't seen before," Kongphop said. "There is nothing more beautiful and mesmerizing than the sight of your smooth perfect body."
Arthit looked at Kongphop with eyes full of pain and sadness. "My body is no longer smooth or perfect," he said sadly. "It's marred with scars."
Kongphop rose his hand and cupped his husband's face. "No scar will be able to change the way my eyes see you. You will always be beautiful and perfect for me."
Arthit stared deeply into his husband's eyes, feeling his heart skipping several beats at the unadulterated love that shone inside them before he nodded reluctantly.
Without saying a word, Kongphop reached out his hands and helped the other man out of his clothes before he turned around again and allowed him to administrate his magical hands on his hair. He moaned softly as Arthit continued massaging his scalp.
After Arthit was done, he turned on the shower and rinsed the soap off Kongphop's hair. He walked in front of Kongphop and pressed his lips against the latter.
Kongphop, whose eyes were closed, opened them and stared with surprise into his husband's.
Arthit pulled back and caressed Kongphop's lower lip with his thumb before smashing their lips ones again.
This time Kongphop reciprocated the kiss with the same passion. He wrapped his arms around the latter's waist and pulled him closer.
"I love you, Oon," Kongphop whispered in between the kiss as he used his strength to hoist Arthit's legs up around his waist.
He pushed them against the bathroom tiles and devoured Arthit's lips hungrily causing the latter to moan as his hands caressed on Kongphop's wet hair.
Their hot make out was too much to handle inside the bathroom in their current position, so Kongphop walked out of the bathroom carrying his husband like a Koala baby without breaking their breathtaking kiss. He gently lowered Arthit on the bed and straddled above him while still pampering him with kisses. Feeling his lover's body tensed a little suddenly, he gently nuzzled Arthit's cheek.
"Think only about me," he whispered huskily.
Arthit took a deep breathe as he blocked every other negative thing that had ever happened in his life. He wanted this night to be all about him and Kongphop only. It was their night, and he wouldn't allow anything to ruin it. He wished to make it up to Kongphop for everything his husband did and would do for him in the future.
With a faint mischievous smile on his face, he surprised Kongphop by switching positions all of a sudden. As soon as he was on top of his husband, he started to leave trails of drool from all the sloppy kisses that he navigated on Kongphop's skin. His tongue knew no boundaries as it arrived at the pubic area. His husband's erect cock twitched at the mere touch of the tongue tipping and twirling all around it.
Kongphop couldn't help but groan in ecstasy as he watched Arthit work not only on his cock but testicles. He bobbed his head faster as Kongphop too upthrusted his hips, meeting the other man's lips half-way.
Arthit muffled his moans around the soaked cock. He could feel it almost at the peak. Kongphop tried warning him of his impending orgasm, but the latter's actions quickened.
With a loud growl, Kongphop's essence sprouted and spiralled down Arthit's throat, leaving a mess of his mouth as he tried to gulp down the non-stop cum.
Arthit made sure he had licked every last drop of the white fluid before crawling back to Kongphop's lips. The latter welcomed the lips with the same hunger as his husband. Swiftly, he switched their position with him on top.
One hand travelled from Arthit's torso down to his thighs pressing while the other hand caressed the latter's face.
"You are as beautiful as ever."
"Really?" Arthit asked uncertainly, looking deep into his husband's eyes.
Kongphop smiled, noticing that Arthit hadn't protected as being called beautiful before he started to kiss the other man's cheeks and lingered his tongue on the sunken dimple, twirling and prompting with his lips. Kongphop then moved his butterfly kisses down Arthit's jawline, neck and jugular notch(4).
Arthit let out a soft moan as his husband sucked in that sensitive spot, not expecting that that spot would arouse him like this. Each kiss carried so many promises, and Arthit savoured all of them.
Moving down, Kongphop's eyes spotted the faint bite scar that blemished his husband perfect nipple. He gently started kissing and sucking the offending mark as if he was trying to erase it with his affection.
Arthit moaned as his husband teased one of his nipples with his tongue while his hand worked on the other, bringing them both to erection.
Done with his husband's nipples, Kongphop moved down to the rest of the pale torso, tracing the operation's scar with his kisses. Looking up, Kongphop stretched his hand on the bedside drawer and took the lube. With his knees, he spread the legs beneath him for better coverage of his now lubricated fingers.
"Open your eyes and look at me, Oon." He said softly.
Arthit opened his eyes and stared into the black midnight orbs.
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For Mature contents, you can find the chapter in:
Wattpad (HanaHeart)
Archive of our own (HanaHeart)
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Arthit was still panting and sweating. He wrapped his arm on Kongphopb's waist and buried his head at the crook of the latter's neck.
"Can we clean up later? I am too tired," he said in a small voice followed by a yawn.
Kongphop nodded and pecked his forehead before pushing and glueing himself to his love caring less about their stickiness or the wetness of the mattress underneath them.
"I love you, my Sun," he whispered.
"I love you too, Kong," Arthit whispered back.
Wrapped in each other's arms and warmth, the newlyweds surrendered to sleep, dreaming of the happiness that awaited them.
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THE END!
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Glossary:
(1) Sai Monkhon: Two linked but independent circles made of white string. The string is draped from the groom's head to the bride's head, connecting the couple. This is symbolic of retaining individual identity while linking the couple's destiny.
(2) Amphur: Thai district office.
(3) Mong Kol: A string headpiece made out of one piece of cotton, previously blessed by monks, that is put on the heads of the groom and the bride by an elderly family member, joining the couple during the rest of the ceremony, and symbolically for the rest of their lives.
(4) Jugular notch or neck dent: a large, visible dip in between the neck in humans, between the clavicles, and above the manubrium of the sternum.
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Well, I guess this is the end of my story. I hope you liked it ^^
I have a question, though. How do you find Arthit in this story?
I'm sorry if he seemed week or helpless. Considering the situation he had gone through, I tried to describe his emotions and his actions as reliable and reasonable as possible. I hope I managed to convey the image that I wanted to send correctly.
Another question, would you like a sequel to the story?
Of course, it would be angsty! So, I'll only write a sequel if many wanted to read another angst Peraya story.
Thank you all for riding on this ride with me! I'm so honored to have received your comments, reviewsand encouragement.
I hope you will keep on supporting me and my stories.
Thank you!