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Part 29

I looked at the spread of mouth-watering delicacies in front of me on the canteen table – different types of sushi, salmon sashimi, fish and chips, French pastries and cakes, teriyaki chicken, sandwiches, noodles etc – there was enough to feed an entire army. My eyes started to fill again with tears of gratitude as I smiled weakly at Aya's and May's eager faces.

"Thank you so much, but I'm not hungry. Why don't you both just go ahead." Their faces fell as I gave them each a tight hug and left the table, not wanting to break down in public yet again.

I walked outside and rested my head against the nearest tree trunk, wiping my tears with a handkerchief and trying to calm down.

"Come on, Arthit!" I chided myself. "It's really not like you to suddenly turn into a spineless waterspout over a man! Kongpob Suthiluck isn't the only man in the world! You couldn't see the forest for the trees! Let's go out now and get yourself another man, 10,000x better than Kongpob Suthiluck!"

I squared my shoulders with renewed determination and walked out of the university gates, looking at the pedestrians – focusing mostly on the male students to be more accurate. I scanned the sea of faces, trying to find one that could replace Kongpob Suthiluck. My feet were aching – three hours had probably passed – when I suddenly saw a face that captured my attention. Tall and lean, dark hair with a lock of fringe falling into the dark cool eyes and chiseled features – geez that guy really looked like Kongpob Suthiluck.

"That one is good..." I thought to myself, my eyes fixed on his face as he walked nearer to me. "Ok Arthit, new target spotted – standby, ready to go into action." I took in a deep breath and curled my hands into fists, preparing to talk to him.

When he was just a few feet away (before I could try anything), he turned and those dark captivating eyes met mine. I saw the light of recognition in them and uncontrollably, my heart started racing – it was not an Kongpob Suthiluck look-alike – it was the man himself. I started panicking as he approached me, suddenly unable to breathe.

"Hey Arthit, it's been quite a while."

Lord help me, he's standing directly in front of me and there's no way I can avoid him now.

"...Yes," there was a pause before I answered awkwardly, trying to look at anywhere but his face.

"What's wrong?"

"Wrong? Nothing! Everything's fine!" I blabbed loudly, my voice an octave higher than usual. I saw him frown at me and I know he didn't believe that one bit, but fortunately, he didn't continue his line of inquiry.

"I'm waiting for someone."

"Oh..." Realizing that I wasn't exactly being my usual talkative self, I tried to sound more normal, "How's your new house by the way?"

"That place? Oh it's really nice. It's big and roomy."

My heart sank to my boots when his expression didn't even flicker as he mentioned the place. I felt my fragile heart shatter yet again – deep down in my pained heart, I was hoping that he would provide some kind of explanation and convince me that I was mistaken. And he was right – the house I saw was extremely large. But he should have mentioned living together with...someone.

Somehow I managed to converse with him casually, hiding the pain in my heart. "... it's quite a big place to be living alone isn't it?" Somehow the words came unbidden to my lips.

"No no, Jessica also stays there – it's too large for one person." He said firmly, his tone unchanged as if he didn't know that his words hurt me.

I couldn't suppress my tears any longer at his damning words. Why did you have to force him to admit that he was staying with Jessica, you Baka? Who does it hurt but yourself? I scolded myself as I turned my head aside, quickly dabbing at my eyes with my already soaked handkerchief.

"Kongpob teacher!" I suddenly heard another new voice calling Kongpob Suthiluck "teacher" (what the heck???) and turned to see a beautiful young girl walking up to us. Yet another one? I groaned silently.

He smiled and greeted her politely. "Arthit, meet Krystal, Jessica's sister."

I smiled and shook her hand, thinking sadly that she was just as lovely, if not even prettier than Jessica. They're really lucky to have such wonderful genes. However, I started to regret my friendly gesture when she looked at me with Jessica's familiar expression of disdain and started insulting me.

"Oh, you must be the Arthit who Jessica mentioned failed the English test five times."

I blushed to the roots of my hair.

She continued with a superior smile, "Ah did you know that Kongpob is my tutor? He has even been coming to my house to teach me..." She had this gloating expression on her face, but I was no longer listening. Her sentence hit me with the force of a blow. Hope filled my entire soul as I instinctively grabbed Kongpob Suthiluck's arm.

"It this why you've been going home with Jessica? To tutor Krystal and not because you're living with Jessica?"

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I was shocked at the strength in his fingers as he clutched at my arm in the same way a dying man would clutch at a straw. I would not have believed that he was capable of exerting such force, looking at his now pathetically thin figure. The pale puffy cheeks were slightly rosy, and hope was sparkling in his large doe-like eyes that were lifeless just a few seconds ago.

I sighed secretly – isn't it amazing how resilient human beings are? Pandora, Pandora was it a blessing or a curse when you managed to retain hope in your box?

"Of course I don't live with her! It's your overactive imagination yet again," I pushed his hand away from my arm with an impatient gesture. "I've got to go now." I turned and left with Krystal.

As I was walking away, I couldn't help but glance back once more to see his reaction. That baka was jumping up and down in the middle of the streets, cheering happily and creating quite the bizarre scene. Then just as suddenly, he turned and disappeared rapidly back towards the campus.

A small smile flickered on my face for an instance.

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Déjà vu! Once again, here I am in the kitchen, making chocolate for Kongpob Suthiluck for his Valentine's Day present. I couldn't help but think that the year had passed really rapidly. I mean it only seemed like yesterday when I was in the same situation with Mrs Suthiluck cheering me on.

Again, one year late, she's by my side, encouraging me and providing me with lots of good advice... A sharp pain in my stomach disturbed my thoughts. What is this? Why does it hurt so much??? Sweat glistened on my forehead but I bit my lip as I persevered, dreaming of Kongpob Suthiluck's surprised and delighted expression when I present him with this box of chocolates. Hey, I know I'm just daydreaming for thatto open, but that's not illegal ok?

"It's snowing, Arthit, wrap up warmly." I smiled gratefully at Mrs Suthiluck who gave me a "fighting" thumbs-up as I put on my jacket, grabbed the gift bag with chocolates and headed for Sotus restaurant to surprise Kongpob.

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The moment I entered the restaurant, I was greeted by a disgruntled Jessica. "It's useless waiting for Kongpob today, he has to go to my house to tutor Krystal after work."

What a wonderful greeting. I kept quiet as I headed for a table and ordered a coffee, wrapping my frozen fingers gratefully around the hot cup. As I sipped the coffee, my gastric pains returned with more force than previously, reminding me that I had not eaten anything that day. Unfortunately, I didn't bring enough on me to pay for any of the meal sets – I had only planned to pass the chocolates to Kongpob Suthiluck and was intending to take things from there, expecting that he would probably ask me to go back home with him. Yes, in spite of my daydreams, I'm very practical.

I was lost in my thoughts when suddenly a pot appeared in front of me and a stream of hot coffee flowed into my half-empty cup. I looked up to see Kongpob Suthiluck standing in front of me impassively. Suddenly, another sharp pain twisted at my insides, I clutched to my stomach and I felt a sudden urge to throw up.

"Excuse me," I muttered through gritted teeth as I slipped off the seat, heading for the bathroom. When I reached the corner, yet another sharp pain in my tummy made me bend over, clutching at my stomach once more. This time, the pain was more intense, burning my insides like a red-hot poker – the room suddenly appeared to be illuminated with a flash of blinding white light. I reached out blindly for the wall, thin layer of sweat covering my body, then darkness descended rapidly displacing the white light and I knew no more.

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I thought I was dreaming when I slowly opened my eyes and saw Kongpob Suthiluck leaning over me. Was that a flicker of concern or anxiety that I saw in his dark eyes? Nah, it was probably irritation.

I slowly sat up, realizing that I was lying on a booth seat at the restaurant.

"W-what... happened?" My voice was weaker than I expected.

"You fainted." His voice was quiet and...worried?

"Kongpob, I think you should send your friend home. He doesn't look very well."

I realized that we were not alone and turned around, seeing the same middle-age man who had interviewed me last time. I could have hugged him for his wonderful suggestion. He was looking anxiously at me, almost as if he feared that I would have another fainting fit in front of him.

Kongpob Suthiluck was silent the entire time as his manager(? I presumed) had my jacket brought to me and walked me to the exit. I smiled my thanks to the gentleman before walking out into the cold.

Kongpob Suthiluck stood beside me quietly, studying the snow that was falling more heavily than before. "Why don't we go to my place? It's nearer. We can then get my mother to pick you up from there. I doubt that you're fit to walk too far."

I nodded at him gratefully. Geez, I must really look fragile to get such special treatment from Kongpob Suthiluck. But hey, my daydreaming is actually becoming a reality! OMG!

His apartment was only about 5 minutes walk from Sotus and he was staying on the second floor. It was located in an old-looking stone building with small windows, much different from the huge house I had seen him enter with Jessica before. Obviously, only someone rich like Jessica would live there.

Gosh Arthit, you really jumped to conclusions way too quickly! Kongpob doesn't have the money nor a desire to stay in such a huge house like that one! Stupid, stupid! You should've just asked him about it and not indulge into self-pity...

"Have a seat," he told me softly, gesturing towards the kitchen.

I sat down a little nervously in the small little sitting room with the even smaller attached kitchenette. I looked around curiously as Kongpob Suthiluck poured me a glass of hot tea. The sitting room was sparsely furnished with only the low little table that I was sitting at and four cushions surrounding it. There was another door, probably leading to his bedroom and study.

I thanked him for the tea, "Has Jessica been here?" I couldn't help asking quietly, already dreading the answer.

"No, you're my first visitor."

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