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Part 22

In a matter of seconds I collided with something huge, yet soft. I lifted up my head and froze. This completely obese man with a huge stain on his shirt was standing directly in my path, scowling fiercely at me. His hand lifted threateningly as I cowered.

"You clumsy idiot, you made me spill my drink!" His fat sausage of a finger pointed to the orange spot that was spreading on his light blue shirt. "You better pay me back for this shirt!" He shook his finger at me threateningly now as I took a couple of steps back in a panic. He followed me as he frowned even more fiercely. My legs felt like jelly and I shut my eyes in a panic as his fingers clenched into a fist, waiting for the blow to hit me...

"Run!" A familiar husky voice sounded next to my ear and my arm was seized in a firm grip. Before I knew what was happening, I found my legs carrying me away from the scary man as fast as they could and I was running and stumbling after...

...

Kongpob Suthiluck!

My mind was still blank where he pulled me around a corner and then peered out. Moments later, the obese man stumbled past us and disappeared from sight. I heard another person breathing heavily next to me and turned to see Mike gasping for air. Apparently, he had been running together with us too.

Kongpob let go of my hand and I stared at him unblinkingly as he stood up and we both followed him via another route back to the mall.

Jessica was standing next to the ice-cream stand, apparently waiting for Kongpob. My heart started sinking again when I saw her. They're gonna be together again huh...?

Suddenly, Kongpob Suthiluck stopped and looked at Mike. "Go, take care of her," he gestured with his head in Jessica's direction. "That's what you have been doing anyway..."

I saw astonishment appear on Mike's face, swiftly followed by gratitude mixed with some embarrassment.

"So you knew all along..."

I guess he thought that Kongpob hadn't noticed his affection towards Jessica. Of course he did, it's Kongpob Suthiluck...

"Go," Kongpob Suthiluck jerked his head again impatiently. A frown appeared on Jessica's face as she saw that Kongpob Suthiluck was urging Mike towards her. I was totally taken aback by this unexpected turn of events when Kongpob pulled me to another corner of the shopping center.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Jessica looking after our disappearing backs with an extremely unhappy expression on her face. However, this time I was too numb with shock to feel anything as Kongpob squeezed my hand tighter.

And all I could think of was...Kongpob Suthiluck is holding my hand!

And his hand felt so warm in mine...

OMG!

GOSH!

Is this reality or...another one of my crazy fantasies?

Nope...this was a reality and I could feel him squeeze my hand tighter as it threatened to slip from his hold. Kongpob Suthiluck is really really holding my hand!

Please please please let this moment never end!

We kept walking further and further until finally, Kongpob let go of me and stopped. I looked searchingly at him, but his face was as emotionless as always.

"I'm sorry..." the words slipped out before I could stop myself. "Thanks for rescuing me..."

"Is that all you want to apologize for?" To my surprise, there was a glimmer of amusement in those captivating dark eyes.

"I ... ... I ... ..." I stuttered.

"In addition for 'ruining' my date by indirectly causing me to 'rescue' you, you want to apologize for sitting behind me and Jessica in the cinema, eaves-dropping on our conversation from the next table in the café and trailing us in the shopping center..." He ticked off the events one by one smoothly as I blushed to the roots of my hair and dropped my gaze to the floor in confusion and shock.

So he knew all this time!!!!

"I thought you and Mike were together as a couple." He suddenly said, his jaw clenched and voice tight.

"NO WAY!" My head shot up as I protested vehemently.

Then I blinked – was that a glimmer of emotion in his eyes (something almost akin to tenderness or...relief?) or was it a trick of the light? I decided it had to be the latter. "I'm so sorry!" I bowed again, apologizing for all the confusion I had caused and ruining his date. Hey, but I can't honestly say that I was really sorry for the latter...

"Well..." Kongpob Suthiluck glanced at his watch. "It's still early. Since you've lost me my date, I guess you'll just have to accompany me instead. Shall we?"

Dumbstruck, I gaped at the slight smile that had appeared on his face. Did I just hear what I think I heard him say?

He's asking me to be within his proximity rather than to get lost?

After ten seconds of blinking in shock, I realized that he was still waiting for my reply.

"S-sure, sure..." I quickly closed my mouth, I didn't realize that I had been gaping at him...how undignified.

With something that sounded suspiciously like an amused chuckle, Kongpob Suthiluck turned and walked out of the store. I snapped out of my daze and quickly caught up with him.

0_0

Kongpob Suthiluck had practically asked me out on a date???!!!

...

Lord, am I dreaming?

❤︎

I was trying to hold in my laughter as I glanced at the dazed look in Arthit's doe eyes as he walked by my side. Geez, it's really fun teasing him and taking him by surprise. From the surprised expression on his face, I doubt that he would be capable of expressing any further shock even if I were to suddenly grow wings and start flying.

Well, my little experiment to test if Arthit really had feelings for Mike had worked like a charm.

It's pretty obvious that the only person he cares for is me. Thank god for that...

Though I must say that I have a slight inclination to smash my fist into the faces of those idiots who were teasing him about Mike. Can't they think of something less juvenile to do? Childish brats!

We wandered around the park in companionable silence. It was a cool evening and there weren't many people around, so it was quiet and just...nice. Suddenly, Arthit's eyes lit up and he became very excited.

"Look Kongpob!"

I looked in the direction of his finger. There were several couples who were rowing peacefully on the lake. I turned my head and saw a few boats bobbing near to the shore, tied to a platform.

"Shall we go boating?" I asked him, trying to sound casual, but I felt nervous all of a sudden. He nodded excitedly, his face bright with enthusiasm and just...glowing.

I smiled inwardly, he was still such a child.

Soon, we were sitting in the boat and joining the rest of the couples on the peaceful surface of the lake.

Wow, it really does feel like a date...

"It's so beautiful," Arthit sighed as he was sitting at the edge of the boat – I had refused to let him row. Going home all wet was not something that I was looking forward to with great anticipation. After a while, I could not resist ribbing him again – sigh, there are moments when I must admit that my intelligence decides to take a holiday. And this only happens around Arthit...

"You know, most couples who go boating in this park usually break up..."

"Whaaat?" His eyes widened as I held his complete attention.

"Yes," I swallowed back a grin. "Married couples divorce, engaged couples break up, dating couples never see each other again... It's almost like a curse."

"...W-we should back now."

"Why? We were just starting to enjoy ourselves. It' so peaceful out here, and isn't the scenery marvelous?"

"It's almost dinner time, we should go." He was insistent.

"You know my mum, she'll only be too happy that we are spending time together. Look the sun will probably set in half an hour..." I looked on in amusement as he rapidly got more and more agitated, his puffy face growing redder by the minute. You know, Arthit really looks quite adorable when he's angry...

But then, he stood up ... ...

"Wait...." Hardly did the word escape my mouth, then there was a loud creaking sound as the boat tilted and we were both thrown into the cold water.

❤︎

I gasped in shock as we fell into the cold water. It's all Kongpob Suthiluck's fault for making me scared. I was treading water when I felt a hand touch my arm. He had managed to right the boat.

"After I've gotten back into the boat, swim to me."

I nodded and watched as he threw the oars back into the boat. Grabbing the side of the boat, after a few tries, Kongpob managed climb into the boat without capsizing, although the boat bobbed violently for a couple of minutes.

"Arthit!"

He called for me and I swam towards him as he pulled me up into the boat, shifting his weight to the other end as soon as I clambered in. Thankfully, the boat didn't turn over. We were both soaking wet and shivering in the cold wind. Without another word, he quickly seized the oars and rowed to shore.

"I'm s-so sorry Kongpob... I shouldn't have stood up..." I lowered my head waiting for the usual angry tongue lashing. To my surprise, he simply looked at me and didn't say anything. I guess he knew that it was partly his fault that I got startled. Looking at him, I felt that Mother Nature was rather biased. Even though we were both dripping wet, he still looked damn handsome with his hair sticking to his forehead. I, on the other hand, looked like a wreck.

"Come with me!" I suddenly recalled the shirt that I had bought for him. I quickly pulled him to the boating house where we left our belongings and took out the shirt.

"This is for you," I beamed at him. "It's come in handy now... Oops! I forgot to remove the price tag." I quickly snatched back the shirt and hastily pulled off the tag. Then I smiled and offered it to him again. However, he made no movement to take it from me.

"You wear it." I looked at him, unable to decipher the expression on his face.

"...You don't like it?" I asked carefully, crestfallen that he didn't appear to like the shirt that I had selected with such love.

"Wear it for now, you can give it to me when we get back. You're soaking wet."

0_0

Was that actually concern that I heard in his voice?

Regardless, I was beaming again as we were handed some towels by the boat owner and went to dry-off or change respectively. Oh gosh, Kongpob Suthiluck was being kind to me!!!

But my happy smile faded when I returned to the boat house and realized that Kongpob Suthiluck was no longer there. Not knowing what to do I sat there silently, fingering the shirt, trying to absorb the events that happened today. After a short while, I heard footsteps approach and the door opened. Kongpob Suthiluck walked in holding two hotdogs.

"You must be hungry," he said handing me one of the hotdogs.

"Thank you!" I simply beamed, feeling extremely happy.

We left the boating house, eating the hotdogs and chatting casually. I must say that it was the most delicious hotdog I had ever eaten, the reason being that Kongpob Suthiluck was the one who bought it for me. We were chatting as we strolled along, slowly making our way home. Our clothes had more or less dried from the wind and sun.

I glanced at his profile now and then, thinking of how handsome he looked especially when he was smiling like he was doing now. Kongpob Suthiluck was smiling...and daaaamn was he handsome...

Aaaahh....so so...

Handsome...

Deep in thought and quite obviously I wasn't exactly looking where I was going and tripped over a rock. Two hands grabbed my shoulders, saving me from smashing my face onto the pavement.

"Watch out!"

I turned to face my savior - Kongpob Suthiluck of course. His hands were still holding my shoulders as our eyes met and held. Then it seemed like the most natural thing in the world for me to step forward and hug him. And I did, wrapping my arms around him gently. Instead of pulling away, he slipped his arms around me, holding me lightly and I was pretty sure my heart was going to burst out of my chest.

If the world had ended this moment, I would have died with no regrets, safe in his embrace.

"Thank you so much for today Kongpob Suthiluck. I was so happy." I said softly, leaning my head on shoulder. And then the emotions overwhelmed me..."I really really like you..." I whispered, biting my lip nervously, while my heartbeat sped up.

He was silent for a while. "Prove it."

Just the words to make me pull away from him, staring at him in shock.

"P... prove it?"

"Show how much you like me by scoring high in the upcoming tests..."

The precious moment had ended and my heart sunk.

Why does it have to be tests???

He turned away and I quickly caught up with him. My head was still swirling from confusion as we walked home together.

Isn't there an easier way for me to show my feelings for him other than scoring in a test??? He knows it's way too difficult for me...

Just before we stepped into the house, I turned to him, "Kongpob Suthiluck, how much do I have to aim for in the test? Is 60% okay?" My voice sounded rather weak and well...reluctant.

"So is that how much you like me? Just 60%?" He asked with a raised eyebrow, but his lips were twisted into a smirk and his deep chocolate eyes were twinkling.

Of course not!

I quickly shook my head. However, I knew my own limitations only too well.

"How.. how about 70% then?" I tried feebly. His eyes were enigmatic as they gazed at me for a while. I could see my own reflection in his dark captivating eyes...

I wondered if he saw himself in mine...

"I expect 90%."

He muttered with a smirk and then left me staring after him on the steps, my jaw hanging open as cold sweat overwhelmed me.

0_0

Oh gosh...

My dear Kongpob...

I'm totally in love with you, but you are asking for the impossible...

❤︎