Pretty

Age-8

(At home )

It had been three years since their first meeting at a park. Kong and Arthit were like two peas in a pod.
Arthit and Kong were sitting in bed doing their homework in Kong's room. Kong was pretty immersed in solving sums, Arthit had to shake his shoulder a little bit to get his attention
" Ai Kong Nam is pretty. Isn't she?"
Kong shook his head in denial.

" You are more pretty than her"

" No. She is pretty." Arthit was adamant about making Kong agree their new classmate Namtarn is pretty. Arthit didn't like how everyone said he was really pretty, he would be a beauty should he have been born as a girl.

Kong had half his attention on math homework. He disliked being interrupted while doing homework.
" For me only you are pretty" Kong declared. Arthit frowned, he hoped Kong would agree that Nam is more pretty.
Arthit wanted his point to be made.
" Girls are pretty. Namtarn is pretty. I am not. "

Kong didn't even look at him " You are..."

" I will marry Namtarn when I am older. My phi says you marry the person you find pretty"
Kong raised his head.
" For me you are pretty, then I will marry you"

" I will not marry you. Boys marry girls, not boys."

"Who says so? I find you pretty and I will marry you. Even your Phi says you should marry who you find pretty "
Arthit's cheeks flamed red from anger and slight embarrassment. He picked up his notebook and other supplies.

" I hate you"

Age-10

( Arthit's room)

"Ai Kong, don't go to America. You can stay with me in my room. I will ask my mae and por, they won't say no."

" I can't na Ai Art- " Arthit's wasn't ready to listen.

" I will let you call me pretty, I won't be angry, I swear" He took Kong's hand in his own desperately trying to make him agree.

" But Ai Arthit - "

" Arthit will let Kong call him pretty. Don't go na khrap. na...na ..na na "

" I have to go na Ai ..."

" Kong wants to marry Arthit na ja, Arthit will marry Kong...don't go "

" Oon, please listen..."

" Fine. Go. You don't want to live with me. " Arthit stomped out of his room.

" Arthit... Arthit... Ai oon..."
Kong's calls fell on deaf ears, Arthit didn't turn back.

(Night before departure.)

Tomorrow Kong was going to leave for the USA since his parents had decided to settle there.
Kong and Arthit both laid side by side in Arthit's bed. Arthit was still not talking to Kongpob. He kept his back to Kong.

" Ai Arthit you will miss me na? " Kong asked generally peering over Arthit to see his response since Arthit didn't forgive him for moving to the states ...

" No"

" Little bit..... Tiny tiny bit "

" No"

" But Kong will miss you na Ai oon."

" Good."

" Will you come to say goodbye ?"

" No. You are going too early. I will be asleep." Arthit turned his back to Kong.

" Can't you sleepless for one day for your best friend ?"
Arthit turned on his side facing Kong, eyes smouldering with stubborn anger

"No, you can't stay with me. Why would I lose my sleep for you?"

"...!..."

Seeing Kong silent Arthit continued
" Aunt Piroj promised me to bring Kong here for vacation every year. Arthit even counted, three times. It is 225 days from now. You better be here on 226 days or I won't talk to you."
Kong smiled sliding close to Arthit and turning him on his back.

" That means you will miss me right"
Arthit glared at him, his eyes watering a bit
" No. That means I won't talk to you if you don't come on the right day." Arthit's voice sounded a bit strained, teary.
Kong didn't know what to say, he didn't want Arthit to cry, better turn him angry.

" You look really pretty when angry na khrap." Kong teased. Big teary doe eyes stared at Kong directly for full three seconds before Arthit whacked him on the head and Kicked him straight off the bed. He turned his back to Kong and stayed like that all night. Kong tried to coax him into talking but to no avail.

Actual drama issued in the morning, when Suthhilucks had to leave at 5 Am, but Arthit wasn't ready to even open his eyes. After few gentle tries, his mother yanked him up into a sitting position asking him to at least say goodbye to Kong but he kept his eyes tightly shut refusing to look anywhere. Kong made them let Arthit sleep. Everyone was astonished when Kong murmured something in Arthit's ear and Arthit gave him sleepy hug, with eyes still closed and went back to sprawl on the bed.
" I will be here on day 226 na Ai oon" Kong had whispered.

After moving to USA Kong's mother kept her promise. Suthiluck family spent one month every vacation in Thailand. Every vacation for a month Arthit and Kongpob will become neighbours.
Needless to say, Arthit never said bye to Kong, sleeping at the exact time of his departure. But he would be present one hour early at Airport- with his family, counting every damn second to flight's arrival time.

---

Age-16

It's summer vacation Kong is in Thailand with Arthit, getting ready to attend Namtarn's b'day party.

Arthit once again threw the white shirt on the pile at his bed and changed into a black shirt, by now Kong had lost count of the same action being repeated only with a different colour. Pile of clothes littered around the room only growing with each passing second. He checked the watch and cursed seeing they still had one hour to leave for Namtarn's bday. Kong thought he must be a masochist sitting here and smiling through attempts of his first love trying to look better for his crush. He wished to have Arthit's undivided attention, he prayed Arthit would look in his direction at least once. But you don't get everything you wish.

" How do I look Kong? I think black suits me better. " Arthit asked twisting his body to check himself in the mirror.
Kong didn't know how to answer that. For him, Arthit always looks handsome even in age-old faded t-shirts and bedraggled hair resembling a bird's nest. However, he loved Arthit but he had no intention of sitting through another hour of torture.

" How do I look?" Arthit's impatient voice fell on his ears. Kongpob smirked when a bulb suddenly lit in his mind.

" Perfect. Very Pretty -" the moment words fell out of his mouth a comb came flying in his direction, then a bottle of deo, a pillow, mobile holder, anything and everything Arthit could get his hands on was being projected in Kong's direction. Kong expected this onslaught and immediately dashed for the door but his foot got strangled in the heap of clothes littering the floor from Arthits previous tryouts and he fell forward on the floor bending his wrist at an abnormal angle. A sickening crunch of breaking bone could be heard in the room.

" Kong.. !" Arthit ran to him. He turned him over and seeing Kong's wrist swelling abnormally fast, he carried him downstairs frantically calling for his father at top of his lungs.

Kong was taken to the hospital, the doctor informed them that he had a hairline fracture in his wrist and three broken fingers from trying to break the fall.
The doctor had put his right hand in a cast after swelling subsided.

" Sorry ...." Arthit mumbled the minute they let him be by Kong's side.
" It was not your fault. " Kong tried to smile through the pain.

Arthit took it upon himself to care for Kong.
Kong had Arthit's undivided attention since he refused to move from Kong's side, volunteering to do anything Kong needed help with. He would ask every ten minutes

" Kong, do you need something?"

" Ai Kong, are you hungry ?"

" You fed me ten minutes ago!"

" Do you want me to read you a book?"

" Arthit I have hurt my wrist not my eyes "

" Do you want to go to the bathroom, want me to help you take a bath or shower? You must be feeling sweaty, You shower twice or thrice a day. Thailand is hot in summer na Kong. "

" ...!.."

Kong didn't know how to feel about this new development. Kong had Arthit's attention 24/7 but he wasn't happy, deep down he felt guilty for hoping Arthit wouldn't propose to Nam, for feeling jealous of Arthit trying to look his best for Nam's party. Especially when that night he saw the video of Jay proposing Namtarn, he blamed himself. If not for him, Arthit would be at Nam's side smiling.

Kong didn't know if Arthit had seen it, his heart pained to think all hurt Arthit must feel seeing Nam happy with someone else, he knows what unrequited love feels like and he would never wish this for Arthit.

Nothing showed on Arthit's face. Not even when Nam came with Jay to see Kong. Arthit simply left the room saying he had to buy some medicine prescribed for Kong, he returned only after Nam and Jay left.

That summer Kong had left Thailand with a broken hand and broken heart. He vowed he will help Arthit get his love should he fall in love with someone else or should Arthit have a chance with Namtarn in future. He will help Arthit as a true friend should. More importantly, he will move on, it wasn't fair to Arthit and himself.

Afterall
If you like a flower you pick it to adorn yourself with, if you love a flower you will water it daily. Be happy seeing it bloom and grow every day.

Age 19

Kong had caught Arthit stealing glances at their classmate Praepallin. Arthit sometimes even stared at her when he thought no one is looking. In lectures, he kept doodling at the corners of pages of his notebook instead of taking notes. In these three weeks, Kong had low key slapped Arthit's hand countless times to keep him from being scolded by professor Suda. Whenever he did so, Arthit would look all flustered and stare strangely at his artwork as if he didn't even know he was running his pen in circles, which by the way looked like pen had vomited ink at the corner of pages. In all these years Kong and his friends had known Arthit he never acted like this. It seems puberty had finally hit him.

Kong didn't know how to broach the topic to Arthit, every time he tried to talk about prae Arthit would evade the topic, so much so that he straight away walked out on him at dinner once. After that Kong just let the matter rest.

Deep down Kong knew what is the matter, all the signs were blatantly obvious. But he refused to put it down in words. He had vowed that he would not come in between Arthit and his next affection, he will even help. Maybe Arthit being in a relationship will be the push Kong needed to move on from Arthit. He knew Arthit lov -- no at least like this girl, so much so that his eyes searched her every time girls are around.

Like right at this moment Arthit and group sat at the small establishment they frequented since the first day, it served a really good home-cooked meal. Their group as always kept being noisy and chattered nonstop. Kong was writing down everyone's order on the paper provided by the old lady.

" Arthit " Kong called for his attention without looking up, when he didn't get any response the third time he looked up. Bright nudged him and pointed towards Arthit who was busy staring hole in the back of one of their classmate talking to Praepallin.

Their whole table was silent alternating their gazes between Arthit and another table. Much to Kong's dismay prae sat beside Khaofang right in Arthit's line of vision. Kong scoffed at the scene and wrote orders for Arthit by himself.

A voice flashed in his head, a memory from past " Namtarn is pretty, I will marry her "
He remembered how dejected Arthit was when Jay had proposed Namtarn. For months all their talk revolved around Namtarn. Kong had prayed every day that Arthit would just move on...... Well, every prayer is not answered.

It looks like the new girl had unknowingly paved the path for Arthit to move on. Kong should be happy- for his best friend, though in his mind other is more than that for years. And he had known he doesn't have even the tiniest bit of hope to be the object of Arthit's muse, his fascination.

Kong was brought out of the deep muse by Arthit's angry voice " What are you doing Ai Bright? " Arthit had Bright's wrist under tight grip who was about to sneak some chillies in Kong's food.
Kong put his hand on Arthit's shoulder to get his attention. " It's ok"

" Really? You look like a tomato, numbed till brain, trying to cough your lungs out after eating that chilly is okay? " Their table turned silent.

" Oon, I didn't eat it. I am okay. Besides you sneak chilly in my food all the time, I think I have developed a tolerance for small amounts."

Arthit looked like he just realised that he was yelling at Kong. He just turned to Bright and issued a warning loud and clear " only I'm allowed to mess with him".

Arthit turned to Kong, scanned his food for any piece of chilly, tasted it for further assurance and instantly made a face " yuck, bland as fuck. You are good to go "

These little gestures made him feel special, made him feel like he was the only person in Arthit's sight. These gestures were the reason Kong couldn't move on. Kong shook his head... You can do it - fighting! They continued their dinner without any further event.

( After moon and stars competition)

" How do you feel about winning both the popular vote and the moon of the campus?" Student association reporter asked him.

" Good..... I guess"

" Just good. You are the moon that gets to be with all the stars in the sky "

" I think I don't have a way with the biggest star in the sky."

" What does this mean?" A reporter asked confused.

" It's a secret Khrap" Kong flashed his heart-winning smile.

( Same night at the rooftop of the dorm)

Kong and Arthit stayed back at the roof after the party. Arthit knew Kong needed some me time after being surrounded by friends, seniors and other students for the majority of the day.

The roof was Kong's favourite place in their university dorm. Especially a small three feet wall-like structure with a triangulartop surface, that divided their roof into two parts. They even had chairs and some folding tables since this rooftop were their information go to go place for doing assignments, discussions, chilling, parties, basically everything.

Kong liked the rooftop since he can enjoy some me-time here after midnight especially lying on that great wall of SSU( as he likes to call it). Balancing his body to not kiss the floor, he laid on the great wall and folded his wrist under his head.

Seeing the sky always made him calm, some lines from the poem always jumped in forefront of his mind soothing him as if stars themselves were whispering melody in his ears. It was his healing time that he needed too much since he had moved from the USA to study at SSU, mostly to be by Arthit's side.
Today he was not alone though, Arthit too sat by before him in a chair, watching the stars in a clear sky. Kong watched Arthit engrossed in watching stars, his face pure picture of focus. Kong sat on the wall, both feet dangling.

" Ai Arthit what do you think when you watch the stars?"

"Big bang theory of cosmic evolution and GUT?"
" Also shock wave theory. "

" ...?...." Kong should have expected that.

" What are you fucking judging me for Kongpob? I am a science student I am allowed to think about shock wave theory and GUT and stuff like that."

" At 3 at night, you are sitting here under the full moonlight, watching the beautiful night sky in the sweet light of the bright full moon and thousands of twinkling stars to think about the GUT ?"

" What do you think about then?"

"Not GUT " Kong teased chuckling. Arthit stared back at the stars.

" Ai Kong what do you meant when you said you don't think you have the way with the biggest star in the sky?"

" Exactly that." Kong took a pause " I am not interested in stars twinkling merrily in the night sky, far away from me. I want the star moon can't have, one in my range of vision. One that burns brightly like daylight, sometimes warming sometimes scorching but delightful nonetheless. "

" Why can't the moon have it ?"

" I don't know "
Arthit stayed silent for few heartbeats.

" Ai Kong read me something that you think of watching your star. "

" What do you want to listen to."

"Anything that's on your mind"

" The stars twinkled in his eyes and the sun itself warmed his smile.
I knew I might burn
But
I
Just
had to
inch closer."

Arthit lips curved into a pained smile his eyes shining in the moonlight with unshed tears.
Kong jumped from the low wall dusting his pant.
" Let's go. It's late " Kong turned to walk away. Arthit held his wrist lightly pulling Kong towards himself.
" Ai Arthit..." Kong turned his head to look at Arthit.
" I am sorry. " Arthit said.
" What are you sorry fo-" Kong was silenced by a pair of lips simply placed upon his.
Kong placed a hand on Arthit's chest and pushed lightly signalling to break the contact. Arthit instantly leaned back.
" I just had to inch closer..." Arthit whispered in a hoarse voice, tears falling freely. " I am sorry... I just... It's"
Kong smiled wiping Arthit's tears with his thumb he pulled Arthit closer and placed gentle kisses on both his eyelids. Kong traced Arthit's lower lip with his thumb

" I think this moon has the way with this Sun."

Kongpob hugged him tightly. They heard a whistle tearing the silence of the night. Both immediately sat down on their knees avoiding being seen by the night guard on his regular rounds around the hostel. Being on the roof after midnight was against dormitory rules, but rules are meant to be broken.

Arthit held him tight resting his head on Kong's shoulder, both were still in hugging position.

" I thought you like Praepallin?" Arthit whispered.
" I thought the same about you, anymore staring and you would have bored a hole through her" Kong whispered back.

" She always tries to talk to you, you even gave her your line I'd on the first day of college."

" You were jealous?"

" Who the fuck is jealous?"
Arthit tried to break free from their hug, Kong tightened his grip.

" Ai oon It has always been only you.
Constantly,
Consistently,
Continuously,

Only you."

They heard the whistle being fainter and fainter means night guard had walked away.

" Ahh, Kong I think guards want away. let's stand up gravels are pricking my knee."

They both stood up and dusted their knees before walking downstairs to their respective rooms.

---

(A/N: poems used in the story are not my own. Credit goes to the rightful owners.