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Part 48

I was almost running beside Kongpob Suthiluck as he headed for home, taking swift determined strides with his ridiculously long legs. However, he was holding my hand the entire time and I did not dare to ask him to slow down for fear that I would wake up, only to find that everything was a dream.

When we reached the gates to the house, I was winded, but even before I could catch my breath, Kongpob Suthiluck pulled me through the door and headed for the dining room. Damn, why is he in such a hurry?

"What do you mean you are moving out?" Mrs Suthiluck sounded really upset with my father. Uhuh, my Dad must have told them about us moving out.

"You know you're extremely welcome to stay with us," Mr Suthiluck was trying to persuade my dad to stay.

Just then, we both burst into the dining room. Everyone's eyes widened as they turned to us.

"OMG! Why are you both dripping wet? You'll catch a cold." Mrs Suthiluck chided. However, Kongpob Suthiluck totally ignored her and pulled me along until we were both standing in front of my Dad who had yet to recover from the shock of our soaked appearance.

"Why... why don't you both go and change out of those wet clothes?" Dad commented slowly.

However, Kongpob Suthiluck did not budge. I turned to him, wondering why he had such an exceptionally serious expression on his face. "Mr Rojnapat, would you please give me Arthit's hand in marriage?"

I froze in shock as my jaw dropped. Everyone stared at Kongpob Suthiluck and the silence in the room was palpable. Daniel dropped the bag of chips he was holding and stared at us wide-eyed, before a bright somewhat satisfied grin spread on his face and he gave me, surprisingly, an encouraging wink that seemed to say 'I knew this was going to happen'. What did that little devil know that I didn't?

"Kongpob are you serious?" My dad and Mr Suthiluck finally got over their state of paralysis and asked almost simultaneously, disbelief obvious on their faces.

"A-are you joking, Kongpob?" Mrs Suthiluck whispered slowly, already shedding happy tears.

"Yes, I'm serious." Kongpob responded with firm confidence, squeezing my hand in his.

I had to bite my lips to stop them from trembling when I heard his quiet but firm tone. "I have finally realized that the only person I wish to marry is Arthit... Of course not now. I would like to wait until we've graduated from university and I've turned Dad's business around, before we get married. However, no matter what happens, I will only want Arthit in my life."

I told myself that I had to be dreaming. Yet, if dreams were always so wonderful, then I pray that I would never wake up, ever.

"Kongpob, a-are you sure?" My dad had to dampen my spirits a little by asking Kongpob Suthiluck again. Dad, haven't you got a little bit more faith in me? "You know what you are in for, don't you?" He continued slowly, oblivious to the frown that was starting to appear on my face. "Arthit is quite reckless, none too intelligent. Geez, he can't even cook! You know that he will never do anything correctly."

"I know." Kongpob responded calmly, nodding.

I suddenly felt like boxing Kongpob Suthiluck's ears when he calmly agreed with every horrible thing that my dad was saying about me. Thanks dad.

"However, it's also equally true that he's always kind, cheerful and optimistic. He always lights up the house and he's very determined."

My heart immediately softened towards my dad.

"I know," when I turned to look at Kongpob Suthiluck, there was a soft smile dancing on the corner of his lips. Somehow, I felt my heart flutter as I gazed at him – geez it must be a sin to look so handsome.

"And he is dearest to my heart, so he deserves only the best," my dad said after a long pause as he looked steadily at Kongpob Suthiluck who returned his gaze unflinchingly and nodded. "Okay then, if this is what you both want, I will give you permission to get married with my Arthit, please take good care of him for me."

I had thankfully closed my mouth by now, but I had a shell-shocked expression on my face when Kongpob Suthiluck suddenly turned to me. His expression was still extremely serious, but in the depths of his dark eyes I saw a certain emotion flickering – was it tenderness maybe? Now for the first time I wished that I could read him better.

"Arthit?"

"Y....yes?" I stuttered, my knees starting to feel weak as I continued gazing into his eyes, losing myself in them.

"Is this alright with you?" In spite of his genius, no one can say that Kongpob Suthiluck is Romeo reborn. However, there was something endearing about the extremely serious yet sincere way in which he uttered those words, the way he had rather old-fashionably asked my dad for marriage permission and then from myself, which all touched me very deeply. I mean even a person lacking in basic intelligence could tell that I was crazy in love with him and that nothing would make me say no to his offer.

Yet here he was, without a single romantic bone in his body, but showing that he respected (can you imagine that he actually respected) me and was asking me if I would marry him just as any other guy would ask his beloved one to marry him. His direct almost business-like way of going about his proposal moved me more than the most romantic flowery speech would. This was Kongpob Suthiluck and he was different, the most interesting, contradicting person I'd ever met. Belatedly, I realized that he was still holding my hand firmly in a way that indicated he was not about to let go anytime soon.

I felt tears of immense happiness brimming in my eyes as a shaky smile appeared on my lips. "Y-yes," I managed to whisper. "Yes!"

His eyes softened as his hand tightened around mine and then, his face broke into the warmest smiles I had ever witnessed, a smile so bright I swore it could melt hearts. It sure melted mine.

Then I heard Mrs Suthiluck let out something sounding like a victory war cry as she flung her arms around me and squeezed the daylights out of me, quite literally.

My head was already swimming with the stress and emotional rollercoaster of the past events, getting drenched by the rain, the sudden confrontation with Kongpob Suthiluck, hearing him denying my right to like anyone else, being winded from being rushed home, and the shock of his sudden proposal and indirect love confession.

The suffocating hug from Mrs Suthiluck was the last straw.

I was still trying to regain my breath when the room started spinning and I seemed to hear my name being called by Kongpob until I was embraced by darkness...

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"Arthit!"

I heard mama call out frantically. I quickly caught Arthit's limp body as he slipped out of my mother's arms.

"Arthit!" I shook him gently but he didn't respond.

"He probably fainted from the stress," I announced after checking his breathing and pulse rate. The medical books that I have read came in useful after all. "Just get him out of these wet clothes and let him rest."

Immediately, my mother and Mr Rojnapat took over. I was commanded to change my clothes as well, before they both carried Arthit to his room. I waited until they had closed the door before returning to my own bedroom.

The past events flashed through my head as I sat down on my bed. I reached for the bedside cupboard and took out a letter.

It was the same confession letter that baka had given me 6 years ago...

I had kept it all this time, read it countless time, remembered it despite not having any attention to do so, and even fixed all the grammatical mistakes out of confusion and dislike towards Arthit.

I had meant to throw it away after making fun of him about it, but...for some reason, I was unable to and instead, had kept it hidden in my cupboard all these years, taking it out to read it whenever things got tough and I didn't know what to do or feel. Reading it seemed to calm me down every time.

And then over time, my feelings changed as well and I found myself treasuring this confession letter, a solid reminder of Arthit's bravery and everlasting love for me...

I traced my fingers over it slowly, smiling to myself as I thought back on what had just happened.

Aya and May's conversation had affected me more deeply than they thought. As fear of losing Arthit overwhelmed me, I suddenly realized that I had to see Arthit, I had to know what Arthit's answer was to Max's confession. I couldn't let him go like this...

So acting on one of my rare impulses, I found myself waiting along a street near my house in pouring rain. I can only defend myself by saying that I had been under a lot of stress lately – Dad's collapse, the restructuring of his business, Vanessa and now Arthit. Fortunately, I was still sane enough to want the confrontation to take place away from my parents and her father.

As I had expected, the baka had forgotten his umbrella and was drenched in the rain. However, I must say that it was comforting to see that he was alone – my worst fear was that he would turn up with Max, being all lovey dovey...

And then, we began fighting and soon frustration and panic overwhelmed me as with every word Arthit spoke, it felt like a slap in the face and I felt guiltier for all the pain I had caused him over the years.

In the moment of desperation, I didn't mean to pinch him – or let's say that I regretted that I had no other choice but to hurt him a bit. I've learned it is the best way to deal with hysterics, although I had to admit that I didn't really pinch him very hard.

I actually felt extremely upset – goodness knows how rare it is for me to feel this way – when he informed me that he was going to marry that moron. Is he so blind that he can't even see that he isn't fit for him. Ever?

I hoped that Arthit was acting on impulse on rebound because of me. Guilt started to smite me when I saw painful tears roll down his cheeks mixed with rain...and then, the prospect of really losing him hit me hard and...scared me to death...and... well we all know what happened next.

My lips are still tingling from the sweet, passionate kisses we shared...

And my heart is at content. I was really glad that Mr Rojnapat agreed to let me marry Arthit. Everyone was shocked, to say the least, when I spoke up – I must say that I'm still a little shocked myself. Unfortunately I know Arthit well enough to comprehend clearly what exactly I have gotten myself into.

Yet somehow, in spite of all the scrapes he had gotten himself and me into over these past years, in spite of his obvious lack of intelligence and skills, his silly schemes, his clumsiness and tendencies to get himself and myself injured (I could go on and on forever)... I realized that I had always expected him to be there for me and had taken his love for me for granted.

When I realized that I was about to lose him, something deep in me responded instinctively. I don't know yet if what I feel for him is called love, geez man, what even is love?

However, I do know that I want him beside me. I do feel warmth and care towards him and I won't allow him to be with anyone else whilst I'm still around. His cheerfulness, his bright smile, his generosity, caring ways and kindness has touched everyone around him, myself included, and somehow I found myself turning to him when I needed someone to talk to or to be comforted. My dislike for calf-like infatuated look on his face has even evaporated along the way and by now I was looking for it, hoping to see him smile at me whenever we laid eyes at each other.

I knew Mr Rojnapat would agree to the proposal, if not immediately then eventually – he knew just how much Arthit cared for me, so I was confident to get his approval.

However, I found myself holding my breath as I waited for Arthit's answer. I expected him to say yes, but his answer was so important to me that I could not help but feel a little nervous. I had never felt such nervousness in my life. What if my coldness towards him had been crueler than I feared? What if Max had been more successful than I had thought?

I must say that he practically glowed with loveliness when he told me yes, and my heart melted. His eyes were starry and sparkling with unshed tears – I wanted to kiss him right there and then in front of both our families...

"How is he?" I quickly asked when the room of his bedroom opened and my mum stepped out together with Mr Rojnapat.

"He's resting."

"I'll go and check on him." They both nodded as I went into his bedroom. Drawing a chair up next to his bed, I watched him sleeping peacefully, an innocent childlike smile on his lips. I reached out gently and touched his forehead. Thank goodness, he had not caught a cold from the heavy rain.

It seemed like only a few minutes later when Daniel knocked on the door softly and poked his head in, whispering, "Time for dinner."

"We'll be down shortly," I smiled at him as he vanished and then shook Arthit gently. His long lashes fluttered open and fixated on me. "Dinner time," I whispered to him, before leaning closer to place a soft kiss on his forehead and leaving him to follow me down on his on.

We were both quiet during the entire dinner. Thank goodness mama was extremely happy and more than made up for our silence with her chattering.

I felt Arthit's eyes on me constantly through the dinner time, although his eyes quickly fled from my face when I looked at him.

I smiled secretly at his shyness – it was somewhat endearing...

Now that my feelings were clear and known for everyone, I felt extreme calm and happiness for being together with Arthit.

I promise you, Arthit. I will cherish you deeply and shower you with all the love you deserve. For years and years to come...

My adorable baka...My dear Arthit.

My Love.

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Aaahhh I really enjoyed to see Kongpob's feelings for Arthit here... We are only 2 chapters away from the sweet ending, so I hope you enjoyed the story!