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Part 20

We were sitting in a private room in the Mr Rojnapat's restaurant, starting on an extremely mouth-watering dinner. The table was covered with delicacies such as sashimi, delicate slices of thin beef, oysters and barbecued eel.

It's really amazing how Arthit's cooking skills are practically non-existent compared to his father's. Surely, it would be reasonable to expect that some of his father's skills would have rubbed off on him. Obviously it must have been some recessive gene that has skipped a generation.

Max was trying his best to be a permanent fixture near our table as he served us — I forgot that he was now an apprentice to Mr Rojnapat's restaurant.

"Now, a toast to welcome Arthit and his father to our family!" that was Mama waving her glass around chirpily. I reached for my glass, albeit a trifle reluctantly and we all drank.

As soon as I had put down the glass, I found Max standing next to my chair. "Arthit, I thought you'd move out of the Kongpob residence?"

"Oh but he's moving back in," my mother cut in happily. I glanced at Max. He didn't look too merry at the bombshell that my mother had oh so casually dropped. On contrary, his face had turned a dark red.

"Well, I mean since Kongpob's already kissed Arthit, I don't see why they shouldn't stay under the same roof." I nearly choked on my mouthful of soup at my mother's next words. Apparently Arthit suffered the same shock, as simultaneously, choking sounds came from his direction. When I looked at him, he had buried his face in the napkin behind which the sounds of a coughing fit were heard – that baka's always unlucky.

"Whaaat?" I winced as that idiot Max practically shouted into my ear. Before I could react, he had seized me by the collar and was shaking me hard. "Tell me that isn't true! Tell me you haven't kissed Arthit!"

Smoke was practically coming out from his ears as he glared at me, grinding his teeth. It's pathetic how lower life forms always have to turn to violence to solve everything. I simply removed his hands from my collar and smoothed my shirt with dignity.

"It's true," I said and then deliberately rubbed salt into his wounds. "He looked really cute blushing then." Turning my back on him, I continued to enjoy my dinner, leaving him to tear his hair out in rage.

Fortunately, Arthit was still in the midst of his coughing fit and didn't hear our little exchange. Otherwise, I wouldn't have known the end of it. I must admit that on rare occasions, my tongue runs away from me.

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A few days after that extremely embarrassing dinner, I found my feet carrying me to Kongpob Suthiluck's faculty building, much to my own confusion. To my surprise, I noticed a familiar figure lurking furtively behind a tree. I stepped up to the figure and tapped him on the shoulder. Mike jumped up violently as he swung around to face me, his face scarlet.

"Don't do that again. You scared the heck out of me!"

"Who are you looking for?" I looked in the direction which he had been staring in and my heart gave a sickening lurch.

"...so what do you say?" That was Jessica smiling sweetly (sickly sweetly) at Kongpob Suthiluck.

"Sorry, I'm busy." He turned and walked off abruptly, leaving her looking despondently after him. I could not help but gloat. Way to go Kongpob Suthiluck! I knew you wouldn't go out with her!

Hmm...Did you really know this? A small annoying voice sounded in my head but I brushed it away just like an irritating fly.

"Actually Arthit," Mike smiled broadly at me, just as happy as I was at Kongpob Suthiluck rejection of Jessica, "You like Kongpob, I like Jessica. Why don't we work together?"

"To try and separate them?" I looked at him, my mouth hanging open. What a brilliant idea!

Immediately, we put our heads together, trying to think of "interesting" little schemes to keep them apart. I must say that I liked Mike's evil mind, as long as his plans weren't directed at me.

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"Kongpob Suthiluck!" I turned to see a fellow classmate running up to me.

"Yes?"

"Hey, that irritating guy is here to bother you again! He's hiding behind the big tree in the courtyard."

"Irritating guy? Which one?"

All the people I know are irritating to me, he'll have to be more specific for me put my finger on the exact one.

"Must be Arthit," another classmate cut in.

"Yes, yes," he nodded furiously. "Arthit is his name."

"Really, I wonder what he's doing here. Didn't he say that he was giving up on you, Kongpob?" the same classmate asked me, puzzled. Then ignoring my existence, they started discussing the reason behind Arthit's appearance since he had declared publicly that he had "given up" on me.

I shook my head, exasperated with the triviality of their discussion. Firstly, what business is it of theirs whether Arthit is here to see me or not? Secondly, Arthit never said that he was giving up on me – that stupid sign in front of the school was put up by that idiot Max.

Arthit wouldn't give up on me so easily.

I stalked off, leaving those gossip mongers to carry on with their "exhilarating" conservation. Pardon me, but yours truly has better things to do then to listen to such "titillating" and "intellectual" gossips.

Is Arthit really here to see me? What on earth does the baka want now?

My curiosity got the better of me and I went to the courtyard. I circled the tree, approaching it from a different angle so that I could first see what Arthit was doing without him being aware of my presence. This precaution had to be taken so that I could "escape" from any embarrassing situation that I did not want to be associated with.

Much to my surprise, I heard a deep male voice, followed by Arthit's laughter. Almost immediately, the same familiar voice joined in his laughter merrily. My eyes narrowed as my footsteps quickened. The scene that met my eyes made my blood boil – Mike was bending over Arthit, whispering something in his ear. They both looked at each other and started laughing loudly. Arthit then whispered something back to him and they burst out laughing again. Arthit's silky black hair was almost touching Mike's face as his lips came close to his ears...

What on earth does he think he's doing???

I stood there for a moment, clenching and unclenching my fist as I glared at them laughing and talking together.

Are they really together? Is he really over me already?

There was a wild roaring sound in my ears as these questions suddenly popped into my head and I couldn't control my feelings...

I had never been this angry in my life.

And I didn't even understand why I was so angry...

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I sighed heavily as I made my way to the bathroom, my heart still hurting from Kongpob Suthiluck's stinging comments at dinner. I had wanted to thank Mrs Suthiluck for letting us stay with them again and so I helped her with dinner. It's not that I have an inflated opinion of my cooking, on the contrary, I know at best my culinary products are hardly edible.

However, under Auntie's patient guidance and with me taking special pains, the beef dish I prepared today was at least edible. Not that it could have won any cooking awards, but it tasted normal. Even papa told me that it was quite good for my standards.

"What kind of meat is this? Have you served us the dog's dinner by mistake?" I was totally taken aback by his rude comments.

"Kongpob, how could you say something like that?" Auntie reprimanded him. "Try some, it's really nice."

"I was really careful this time, Kongpob." I muttered to him softly, hoping to reassure him.

"No thank you, I have no desire to end up in the hospital. Arthit, you'll have to look for another victim to poison, I'm not in the mood today."

0_0

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As if that wasn't enough, Kongpob continued to sling hurting remarks at me throughout dinner, attacking my looks, personality and intellect rather viciously.

Is my presence so distasteful to him?

If he continues in this strain, I doubt that I would be able to remain under the same roof as him, much as I would like to.

It simply hurt too much.

Tears came unbidden to my eyes and I sniffed a little as I entered the bathroom...

The hot water soothed me. There's nothing like a hot bath to cheer someone up. I was almost feeling myself again by the time I stepped out of the bath. I was reaching for my garments when I realized that I had forgotten to bring my underwear with me!

Shit!

I wrapped a huge fluffy white towel around myself and opened the door, calling for Mrs Suthiluck. Only she could get me out of this mess.

"Umm...Auntie!"

There was no answer.

Darn! I'd have to get out of this mess myself.

I sighed, wishing that I didn't have a cabbage for a brain before poking my head out of the bathroom door. The coast appeared to be clear.

I quickly tip-toed out of the door, hoping to make it to my room before meeting anyone.

But as usual, my Luck wasn't with me at the moment.

Just as I shut the bathroom door, a piece of cloth hit me right in the face. I caught hold of it and when I lowered my eyes, I noticed that it was the missing culprit - my boxers. I lifted my head and looked directly into Kongpob Suthiluck's icy face. My face started burning. I was so embarrassed that I wished the ground would open beneath me and swallow me up. Thank god the towel was covering most of my naked body.

"You dropped it on the corridor," Ice was dripping off his words. I cringed under his contemptuous gaze. "Don't you have any sense to be more careful, especially with personal clothing like that? Or did you want to display it to us all?"

I flinched. I had never heard him so angry before.

"Well, if you don't want me to pick up your stupid belongings or if you don't like the way I'm speaking, you can jolly well disappear and then I won't ever have to see you again."

My face turned deathly pale and I was staring at Kongpob in total shock when he finished his tirade. Did he really mean everything he said?

He never wanted to see me again?

I was frozen to the spot, one hand still clutching the towel and the other, my boxers.

I shivered involuntary as I stared at his dark eyes radiating cold fury.

They hid something else that was more complex than anger, however I was unable to comprehend...

"Er hm..." The sound of someone clearing his throat interrupted our staring match. We both turned to see my Dad standing there, his arms folded across his chest. I must say he did not look very happy to say the least.

"Er hm..." he cleared his throat again. "Kongpob, Arthit," he said sternly. "You're both still very young. You should wait until you are both married before doing things like this ..." He ended his words with a frown.

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My forehead furrowed for a moment – doing things like what?

Then I glanced down at myself and the boxers in my hand and turned crimson as I noticed that the fluffy white towel only managed to cover the essential parts of my anatomy required to maintain decency, but my legs, bare shoulders and chest were all revealed.

Mortified, I fled to my bedrooms as tears came into my eyes again – this was certainly not my day.

Behind me, I heard Kongpob Suthiluck starting to explain to my dad.

"Uncle, you've mistaken. Arthit dropped his clothes on the corridor floor and I happened to pick it up when he ..."

I shut my bedroom door and leant against it, letting the tears fall.

What have I done to Kongpob Suthiluck for him to hate me so much?

I thought we were starting to get along and he was disliking me less.

I guess I was completely wrong and he still hated me fiercely...

But despite all the pain you've caused me, Kongpob, why do I still love you so... :(

I buried my face in my hands and started to sob my little heart out...

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