Chapter Text
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Arthit pouted as he checked his phone for the millionth time. Even surrounded by friends, he still felt empty. Alone.
Why?
Because of one person. This person whom he had been waiting to greet him all throughout the day but hasn’t yet. He got it, his boyfriend must be busy with work.
But come on! Just a single message would have sufficed! Just a simple, happy birthday…
“When he was overseas, he could greet me even though there is a time difference between us. Now that he’s here in Thailand, he couldn’t even send me a greeting? Just a simple, measly, tiny sticker would’ve been okay!” his rant steadily rose from a silent grumble into a shout. He grabbed his glass of vodka and downed its contents, letting the alcohol burn through his throat. He winced at the aftertaste.
He noticed the sudden silence and he looked up, only to find all of his friends looking at him in alarm. The juniors were even sporting the expression they had when they were still freshmen under his “tyranny” as they called it.
“Sheesh, Arthit. Stop glaring at the glass. It would explode with how intense your glare is,” Bright mumbled. He was finally learning about self-preservation, that was why he was carefully grabbing the bottle of liquor and slowly refilling the birthday boy’s glass.
“You have to understand your hubby. He’s a CEO now so he’s got bigger shoes to fill. And besides, a good wife’s job–”
Or not.
“I will fucking murder you!”
“Arthit, chill. Bright is right on his first statement. Nong Kongpob is juggling a lot of things now. I bet it’s not easy to transition from a mere employee to the one steering the company. He may have had training but dealing with it is a different thing altogether. And didn’t you tell us just a week ago that he even forgets to eat his meals? He must be really busy right now…” Knot consoled.
His anger immediately deflated at his friend’s statement. It was true, the younger had been dealing with a lot of things for a few weeks now, ever since he took over the reins of their company. The board members, for some reason, seemed to have it out for the young CEO, deciding to test his boyfriend for his competence by assigning him impossible thresholds, making his competent junior pressured and stressed out.
Of course, his father, Kerkklai, had been very vocal against those tasks when he came to know about it, but Kongpob, ever the hero, told him that it was okay. That he had accepted the challenge posed by the board. His stubbornness was frustrating him and his family but they couldn’t do anything about it.
Kerkklai had even resorted to pleading to him to talk to his son, but even he, himself, couldn’t change the younger’s mind. He had to back off because he didn’t want to fight with his then already tired boyfriend. He could only watch him as he worked himself to the ground since he kinda understood what he was going through.
He knew that it wasn’t a very good practice, though, and it was better to nip this bad habit of driving-himself-to-the-ground at the bud.
After, he told himself. He would let this go on until after this current international deal that the young CEO was working on only.
Speaking of…
"I really should get going, guys. I just got reminded again that that boy doesn't know how to take care of himself. I need to check up on him–"
"No!" yelled Em frantically. His eyes widened when he met Arthit's stare.
"I mean– uh P'... Just stay here for a moment P'. You– we don't want you to stay alone at your place in your special day. You know? Just in case Kong is still at the office, working."
"Working?! At this hour?" Prem exclaimed. "It's nearly twelve! Nong Kongpob wouldn't be that much of a workaholic. Right Arthit?"
Arthit wanted to sob. He couldn't even deny his friend's question because it had happened multiple times already.
"Arthit?"
"Oh my god. Is he that workaholic?!" This time it was Tutah who exclaimed in disbelief. Arthit nodded his head slowly.
"That's not– that's not good, Arthit! How is he even coping! You should warn him about this now or else, his health would be compromised."
"I agree with Tutah. Tell him, Arthit. Now that this bad habit is only starting. Don't let him get used to this kind of setup."
"I will. Just– not today and any day in the near future. I want him to at least finish his projects be successful first so that those bastard board members wouldn't have anything to say against him."
"Should we host an intervention?" asked Knot.
"That's actually not a bad idea…"
The others pitched in with their ideas for an intervention, even their juniors. They were pretty excited about the concept. They wanted to reprimand Kongpob too. It wasn't nice to have them worried.
After a while, Em excused himself as he took a call outside. The conversation had dwindled down and had been diverted to a different topic already.
Arthit joined in occasionally with their talks but most of the time, he stayed quiet. Bright's bar was closed for the night to make way for this very gathering they were in to celebrate his birthday. He was very thankful to his friend for this and for organizing this surprise gathering.
He felt guilty however because he couldn't enjoy his evening even through the efforts his friends did to make his day special. He knew what he was missing but what could he do? Aside from wallowing in self-pity, there was none.
Half-listening to their conversation, he nursed his drink until his glass was empty. He was about to refill his drink with the bottle at the table when suddenly, there were arms that wrapped themselves around his neck from behind. The familiar perfume enveloped him next and he just lost it.
"I'm sorry, I'm late," the husky voice said as his tears cascaded down his cheeks.
He was aware that all conversations had stopped and that the attention was on them. He couldn't see them clearly because of his blurry eyes but he just knew. And he didn't care. Not at all. He didn't even care that even his juniors were seeing this– this not so tough side of their ex-head hazer, the one that easily cried.
"You're here," he answered, his voice cracking.
"I'm here. On your special day. Happy birthday, my sun."
"Wow, great timing Kongpob! You're the last one to greet our crybaby here!"
He didn't know if Bright was being sarcastic or not. He didn't care. His lover was here and he didn't forget.
"I'm really sorry, I'm late, P'. I just– I had to get the cake and the baker I commissioned couldn't deliver it and I had to get it from Nonthaburi of all places and just– I'm really sorry…"
"Kongpob?! You drove that far for something trivial as cake?! I would've preferred it if you just spent the time traveling to take a rest instead!" he exclaimed as he turned around on his seat to look at the other furiously.
"I–I–"
"You–! You infuriate me sometimes." He deflated. He raised a hand to caress the younger's cheeks, clicking his tongue in the process. He didn't like what he was seeing after all.
"Too sunken," he muttered. "Your cheeks aren't squishy anymore."
His comment broke the tense atmosphere. He flushed, getting shy as his friends started to tease him and with how Kongpob had grasped his hand and kissed his palm. The younger smiled sweetly at him as he nuzzled his not-so-fluffy cheeks on it.
"P'Arthit?"
"What?"
"Let's not waste the cake that I went so far to fetch."
"Who told you to go so far as Nonthaburi to fetch it anyways?"
"Please, na khap. Na~"
"Tsk."
Arthit stood up as Em approached them with the dessert with lit candles. He handed it to his boyfriend and the latter gingerly held it in front of him. He must admit that the cake did look good. Too cute to be eaten in fact.
Kongpob called out to the others and asked them to sing the birthday song for him, even through his protests. As one, they sang the popular song, as enthusiastically as inebriated people got, complete with the off key singing. They ended it with a cheer and Arthit couldn't help the wide smile thay graced his lips.
"P'Arthit," called Kongpob. "I know that I've been neglecting you lately. And I am deeply sorry for that. I know that it's frustrating you along with mae and por. But just a few more months– just a few more. I'll finish this project and I promise, I won't be goaded into another challenge again. I will manage my time more efficiently. Like how por did when he was still CEO."
Arthit softened at his boyfriend's words. He didn't think that the other noticed his frustration but it seemed like he was wrong. He forgot how his boyfriend was so observant, especially when it came to him.
"I'll hold you to that," he answered softly. Kongpob beamed in happiness, and oh. How he missed that.
"Make a wish?" Kongpob said, raising the cake.
He stared at the younger, who was smiling at him happily.
I just wish that you take care of yourself more. But if you can't then I'll just pick up the slack and stay beside you. Now then, maybe I could wish that we stay together for a long time so that I could fulfill this role as long as I can. Hmmm. That's a pretty good wish…
He took a deep breath and…
And followed the cake that was being moved away from him?
He snapped himself into attention when he heard Kongpob growling at someone. He looked to the side only to find Bright grinning sheepishly as he skulked away from the irate CEO. He looked around to see if anybody noticed his blunder and flushed red when he met several phones directed on them. Behind them were the grinning faces of his friends and juniors.
"P'Arthit, now you can blow the candles," Kongpob said to call for his attention.
"Then maybe you could blow something else later on!"
"P'BRIGHT!"
"Oh, oh, oh. My dearest nooooongs! You should save our dear Kongpob from this grumpy monster we call a friend! He's rubbing off on him!"
"Well, they are boyfriends, P'Bright. So rubbing off is quite the regular occurrence, don't you think?"
"N'PRAE!"
"PRAEPAILIN!"
Who would've thought that their campus star could be this mischievous? When he got her number years ago, he definitely didn't think that at all. He thought she looked innocent. Well, not so much, it turned out.
"Just blow the candles, Arthit! Your video is taking all of my phone memory!" yelled Prem, who had his phone up surprisingly.
He turned around and repeated his wish in his head before blowing the candles. Cheers erupted and another round of greetings filled the space.
Now he could finally celebrate his birthday happily, even though it was the day after already.
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