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Part 43

Just as I expected (though I had fervently wished for the opposite) Arthit and Jessica both applied for part-time jobs in Dad's company. And, he agreed quite cheerfully to hire them both, in spite of the angry looks that I was sending in his direction.

At least I must say the Jessica is competent which is more than what I can say for Arthit. In the end, I had to ask Mrs Tania to veto his work. Thank goodness Mrs Tania somehow had developed a fondness for that baka and didn't complain at this unnecessary increase in her own workload. Sometimes, I really wonder how Arthit does it. All the grownups appear to adore and support him.

"Mr. Suthiluck."

"Yes?" I was standing up to send Mr. Pakorn, our business partner, off after our meeting when he suddenly paused in front of the door.

"I was wondering if you are engaged?"

I was rendered incapable of speech for an instance. Then, "No, I'm not, Mr. Pakorn."

"I have a granddaughter around your age and she's also unattached. I am very impressed by your knowledge and skills, Mr. Suthiluck. How would you feel if I arranged a marriage meeting for both of you?"

Again, I was shocked speechless for a moment, before I calmed myself and replied. "Is this for the benefit of both our companies?" I wondered if Mr. Pakorn wanted a merger with Dad's company and was hence proposing a "business" marriage. However, I was quite certain that the answer would be negative, which indeed it was. Mr. Pakorn was a successful business tycoon and there was no reason for him to be interested in merging his business with Father's small, faltering one.

So this meant a real marriage meeting with a real intention of getting me married into a successful and powerful family.

I was definitely not delighted by the news, but began thinking of ways to turn this into a business marriage of profit for my Father's failing company.

Maybe, this is the last hope to save it...

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At dinner the same evening, I dropped the bombshell. Arthit choked over his soup, Mama looked extremely upset and Daniel's eyes widened in shock.

"So Dad, what's your opinion?" I asked the only member of the family (other than Mr. Rojnapat who wasn't family anyway) who did not have any reaction.

"Kongpob, you should only marry someone you really like. Never marry for any other reason, otherwise you would only be miserable and it isn't fair to the other party." He replied to me after long pause. I had never seen Dad looking so serious before. It reminded me of the time when I shouted at them for not being able to make my own decisions and choose who I want to like. Was this the reason he was being so...calm about it? Letting me make the final decision?

...But why was I disappointed about him not stopping or trying to convince me otherwise?

I simply nodded with a deadpan look and continued to eat my dinner quietly, trying to gather my thoughts about what to do next.

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The next day, Arthit and I went to work together as per normal. We walked into the elevator and Arthit went to press the button to keep the door open for other people – at least I assumed that he wanted to press the "open" button. Well, that Baka got confused and pressed the "close" button instead, so that the lift door almost shut on this girl who was entering the elevator. Almost as a reflex action, I turned and forced the doors apart with my hands, before any damage could be done to the girl.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, thank you."

"I'm sooooooooooooooo sorry!" Immediately, Arthit was next to the both of us apologizing profusely. "Are you alright?" He was asking the girl frantically. Upon hearing her confirming that she was fine, Arthit turned to me with his big puppy eyes, "I'm sooooo sorry, Kongpob! Did you hurt yourself trying to open the door?"

"I'm fine baka!" I didn't notice the way the girl's eyes widened when she hear Arthit calling my name and the way she stared at me even after we had walked out the elevator.

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I was struggling with the three huge grocery bags that I was carrying back from the shop. After Mr. Suthiluck's health began to deteriorate, Mrs. Suthiluck spent more time at home, taking care of him and I was only too glad to be there or at the office to help out. The only thing was that I wish I could do much more than what I have been doing so far.

"Hey..."

I turned when I suddenly felt someone grabbing my grocery bags. I turned to see Kongpob Suthiluck's standing beside me. "... ... oh hi!"

He simply nodded as he carried the two heavier bags with ease. We both walked back inside the house in companionable silence.

"We're back~" I exclaimed happily as soon as we stepped inside.

"Welcome back!" Mrs. Suthiluck beamed at us as we took the grocery bags to the kitchen. Mr Suthiluck was reading his paper and having a glass of orange juice in the living room.

"Dad," I heard Kongpob Suthiluck say as I poured myself a cup of coffee. "I've told Mr. Pakorn that I'll go for the arranged marriage meeting with his daughter."

The next thing I knew, the cup had slipped from my nerveless fingers and shattered into pieces on the floor, resembling the shattered pieces of my heart.

"What did you just say???" I heard Auntie shouting in obvious shock.

"Excuse me, ummm...I've got a headache." I quickly mumbled an excuse before fleeing from the scene of crime. Thank goodness I managed to reach the sanctuary of my room before the floodgates opened.

Why are you suddenly agreeing to this marriage arrangement Kongpob Suthiluck? Why?

Is this your final say in what you want from your future?

A future without me?

The image of him married to another girl flashed through my mind and pain consumed me. That night I fell asleep crying and unsure of the future...

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If someone told me that I would one day be working together with Jessica to make another person's life miserable, I would have laughed my head off and pronounced them hopelessly insane. Yet this is the precise situation that I find myself in right now. Jessica and I are creeping after Kongpob Suthiluck and Vanessa (his "fiancee" *shudders*), shamelessly spying on their first date together at the local park.

Imagine my shock when I realized that Vanessa was the girl that I had almost "crushed" in between the elevator doors when Kongpob introduced her to the family. Of course I must admit guiltily that I was thrilled at Mrs Suthiluck's less than enthusiastic greeting towards her. She was extremely cold with her whenever they met. Dear Auntie, she's always on my side.

"Hey, I've thought of something." I suddenly spoke up.

"What?" Jessica asked me irritated.

"I'll throw a caterpillar on her when she's crossing the "bridge", she'll get scared and then fall into the river." I explained hurriedly, quite excited by my idea.

Jessica gave an unladylike snort, rolling her eyes, "That's so unoriginal."

"Better than your idea of fixing the sprinklers! In the end both of us got wet, because the timing was off. Face it Jessica, we haven't got the brains nor the expertise for such "elaborate" schemes."

"Fine, do it your way." She glared at me angrily. We both ran to the trees near the river where Kongpob and Vanessa were heading for and gathered the biggest caterpillars we could find. I got my hands on a really big and fat one, so happily aimed it at Vanessa. Okay, now! I fired the caterpillar and it landed on her shoulder. Bingo!

"Ahhhh!" Vanessa screamed and lost her balance on the narrow plank that acted as a bridge. I was about to do a victory dance when an icy hand gripped my heart. Kongpob Suthiluck's hand shot out quickly and caught hold of Vanessa protectively, steadying her against him.

"Are you okay?" He asked as he found the criminal and flicked it off her shoulder. A hot blush spread over Vanessa's pretty face at their closeness.

"I-I'm fine. Thank you." Only then did Kongpob let go of her, letting her guide him on the "plank" like the usual gentleman he was. All the fight went out of me at that instant. The accident we created only helped to bring both of them closer together.

"I'm going home," I muttered sadly and ignoring Jessica's protest, walked off in the opposite direction, not wanting to look at Kongpob Suthiluck and Vanessa any longer.

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I fond myself crying on Mrs Suthiluck's shoulder soon after reaching home. She soothed me and asked me what happened. I found myself confessing about me and Jessica spying on them and trying to ruin their date. To my surprise, a broad grin lit up her face.

"Worry not Arthit, with me around Kongpob and Vanessa will definitely not be together!"

I gave her a watery smile. I could tell that her brain was working at top speed, hatching out evil schemes to ruin Kongpob and Vanessa's relationship. However, I recalled with a sinking heart the image of Kongpob Suthiluck holding Vanessa protectively on the bridge.

I have never seen him acting so protective towards anyone before, not Jessica, Krystal or me. Somehow, I think Auntie is too overconfident this time. Perhaps this is really what Kongpob wants. And he has found the person he really wants to be with...

I kept out of Kongpob Suthiluck's way for the rest of the day after he returned from his "date". Somehow, I just didn't want to see him. I knew it would only hurt me more, cause he would probably find every reason to rub his date in my face.

But after some sulking in my bedroom, I went to study in the living room. Suddenly, the house phone rang downstairs and after a while of endless ringing, I answered it since no one else seemed to care about it.

"Kongpob residence."

"Hello, can I speak to Kongpob Suthiluck please?" My heart sank as I recognized Vanessa's voice.

"Hold on please. Kongpob, you have a phone call!"

He walked downstairs and into the living room as I continued with my homework, trying my best to eavesdrop on their conversation – or rather Kongpob's side of their conversation.

"Hi..."

...

"Yes..."

...

"This Saturday?"

...

"Mmhmm... yes I like their music too..."

...

"Alright, I'll get the tickets."

...

"Yes, see you then..."

0_0

Oh god no...

Kongpob Suthiluck is going on a second date!!!

And it seems to be for a concert!!!

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