Chapter 42

                                    

                                          
Kong's POV

                          
P'Arthit and I might have clarified most of our misunderstandings but that didn't automatically mean that I was up to forgiving him. In fact weirdly I was even more pissed than earlier. Pissed and sad. Over reaction to something trivial was one thing, but the complete and utter lack of trust in me was on another level altogether. The fact that he could even consider the possibility that I would move countries without telling him spoke volumes about how much he thought I was invested in this relationship. And it's not like I haven't had my exes say similar things to me before, but this time it really hurt. I really, really hated feeling this way. The one thing I am not known to be is some angsty, emo kid. I don't wallow around in pity and sorrow. I charge, head straight on to fight for anything I want. And right now I wanted P'Arthit to trust me. Trust my commitment. But after one year of knowing me, months of dating me, I hadn't managed to convince him, I don't know if anything will.
                          
So I ignored him until he finally left for the night, promising to come back again tomorrow. And I sulked away the rest of my stay, simultaneously dreading and looking forward to his visit the next day. I swear I must have increased the length of my neck atleast by a couple inches with the amount I was craning it while peering towards the door. When I finally heard a soft knock and the twist of the door I hurriedly fell back on the bed schooling my expression to look as nonchalant as possible. But instead of P'Arthit entering my room, it was his mom.
                          
"Aunty? What are you doing here?"
                          
"This is the third weekend you have skipped on the morning run, so I came to make sure you had a valid excuse."
                          
"Hmmmm, good thing I actually am in the hospital then."
                          
"Oh wait, you thought getting your ass too drunk to stand up straight gives you a pass from your exercises? Next Saturday you better be running twice as much."
                          
"Yes, maam."
                          
"But I still like the bearded break up look. Next time try it without the dark circles. And of course without the break up."
                          
"You....you know...about....?"
                          
"Obviously. I don't understand why you kids think us parents are so dense. We have lived a lot longer you know. We see the two of you every weekend, we knew since the first Saturday. And also Arthit came by yesterday spilling his guts."
                          
"You aren't upset with us?"
                          
"Why would I be upset? Finally I can stop worrying my boy will end up alone, drinking his liver to oblivion. And with the bonus of showing off my handsome son-in-law to all my friends. I am going to have so many jealous mothers on my hands. It's going to be so much fun."
                          
She was gleefully grinning at me while I continued squirming in my seat, wanting to be as far away from this conversation as possible. 
                          
"Aunty I don't know if P'Arthit....uh....told you....we....uh....."
                          
"Yeah, he told me. He messed up pretty bad huh? If I was you I am not sure I would be so open to forgiving him either. But to be completely honest I would very much rather you boys get back together again."
                          
The uncomfortable silence between us stretched much longer than I could handle while she kept her steady gaze trained on me. I was already bouncing around with multiple thoughts about everything that had transpired between P'Arthit and me, but being confronted my his mom was way out of my comfort zone.
                          
"Did Arthit ever get around to telling you about the cactus story he is so embarrassed about?"
                          
"No, he said it would go to his grave with him."
                          
"Too bad for him he has a mother who loves to talk. When he was about 10 years old he would get bullied a lot in school and amongst friends cause he was the tiniest kid. He was constantly doing things to grow taller. Swimming, pull ups, anything he could think of. One day one of cousins was pulling his leg and convinced him that camels grow so tall even though they live in the desert because they eat cactus."