"What about your friends? I bet they all will be down to go out."
                          
"Ummm....they all have dates tonight."
                          
Ok, that does it! I am tired of seeing him act like a grumpy grandpa. The man needs to go out on a date. Falling in love is the best way to get over a break up. And luckily for him, I know tons of pretty girls who would die to get their hands on him. Now I just need to work on the hard part and convince P'Arthit.
                          
But for tonight I gave in, and we threw in a movie while munching on the cake and finishing the bottle of champagne surprisingly swiftly. And when we were ready to head to bed, I didn't hesitate for a split second to follow him to his room. I guess the days you have a lot of happiness to share, are also the days you feel most lonely. But it had already been close to five months since his break up. And if I have any say in the matter, it was time for him to move on.
                          
Maybe I was spending way too much brain power debating P'Arthit's love life with myself, cause I was finding it fairly difficult to fall asleep tonight. Which proved to be a good thing since I was finally awake enough when P'Arthit began his middle of the night sneak out session. In the four months that I have moved into this apartment, I have regularly heard him make his 3 am trips. They barely last 45 minutes and he is back home in his bed before I even realize he was missing. And although my curiosity was rising every day, it wasn't really my place to pry. 
                          
Actually, it's still not my place but tonight he was definitely tipsy and its pouring out there. So once again I decided to push aside practical thought and this time I followed him. Which wasn't particularly hard. There was only one fool walking on a deserted street in this torrential rain in the middle of the night. I mean two fools. Where could he possibly be going?
                          
But he barely walked a couple of streets and came to a halt underneath a tall building. Oh hell no! If this was what I think it is, I was going to be mighty pissed. He was frantically looking around when I walked up behind him and tapped his shoulder. He turned around with a fright before he stared at my cocked eyebrow.
                          
"Kong?!? .....What are you doing here?"
                          
"Following you. What are you doing here?"
                          
"Uh...um...this isn't what it looks like...."
                          
"Hmmm? Maybe you can tell me what you are doing in the middle of the night, under your ex-girlfriend's building, drenched to the bone and I would know what to think."
                          
"I....uh....come here...because...I...."
                          
I was getting more annoyed by the second as P'Arthit dragged out his never ending sentence. Here I was planning a perfect date for him and he was pining for the evil witch every night? I was about to snap at him when I heard a loud bark, and a shaggy, unkempt, jet black dog came charging towards us. I was just about to pull P'Arthit behind me for protection when he bent down and opened his arms with an excited cry.
                          
"Batman!! I was so worried about you? Are you ok, buddy?"
                          
Batman? 
                          
P'Arthit was hugging the drenched dog, while the dog kept giving him sloppy, wet kisses. On a closer look, the dog was still just a puppy. Maybe only a few months old, but definitely some really large breed. The two of them were behaving like this was some teary reunion, where as I was pretty sure  now P'Arthit was visiting this pup every night.
                          
"Are both of you guys done? You didn't just come back from war you know. Have you been coming here every night for this little fellow?"
                          
"Yeah, when I first broke up with Nam I would come stand here hoping I would get a chance to talk to her, or just see her. I just wanted to figure out what was wrong and if I...."
                          
"Please spare me that story. My ears are sore from hearing about your ex. Let's cut to the part where the pup enters the picture please."
                          
"Uh...yeah, well, he is a stray. He came and hung out with me most of the night. So I started giving him food and water. I have been trying to find a no-kill shelter that can take him, but no luck yet."
                          
"Why didn't you just take him yourself?"
                          
"Me? I don't know anything about taking care of dogs. Plus I am away at work all day long. And you did see my state when you moved in right? I was a mess, how was I supposed to take care of another living being."
                          
"Lucky for you I know a lot of taking care of dogs. C'mon we are taking him home."
                          
"Are you sure Kong? I don't want to add extra responsibilities for you."
                          
His mouth might be saying those words but the way he was holding the pup close to his chest, while both of them were shivering, and giving me very literal puppy dog eyes, I really doubt he had any intention other than getting him out of this rainstorm.
                          
"Of course. Let's go before both of you get sick."
                          
He flashed me a wide smile. The widest I have ever seen. In fact he looked happier now than even when he told me about his promotion. He obviously cared a lot for this dog, why would he have hesitated so long in adopting him. Sometimes P'Arthit really is his own worst enemy.
                          
"By the way, P'Arthit..."
                          
"Hmmm?"
                          
"Batman? Really?"
                          
"Uhh...yeah that's cause he comes to meet me only at night."
                          
He blushed sheepishly at the ridiculous name, yet I could see his small smile dancing around his lips as he enjoyed his own word play.
                          
I swear at that moment he looked so cute all I could think of was to pinch his cheeks or......or pull him in for a kiss.
                          
Uhh....that's normal to feel between friends, right?