Chapter 18: Not a Kiss

                                    

                                          





Shuffling on his bed, Knot kicks an empty can of beer. His bad mood is evident. He has a reason to be in such a state. His date ditched him, so while watching late-night news, he decided to drink.
                          
On the screen is a news report about a ferryboat that sank earlier today in Chao Phraya River.
                          
Gulping from his can, he shakes his head as he watches the injured and other victims being put inside ambulances. It's a good thing that there are no casualties, thanks to the people that helped.
                          
As the show reports the next segment, their doorbell rings.
                          
"Pam! Get the door!" He commands his sister.
                          
Loud steps resound from the door next to his, going downstairs.
                          
His sister fixes her hair a bit before opening the door. She gasps when the person outside is revealed.
                          
"Is Knot there?" Arthit asks. He's wearing nothing. Only a thin sheet of a plastic poster that advertises a brand of bottled pink milk covers his private parts. He shyly smiles to the girl in front of him before bowing his head. "I'm his friend."
                          
Wide-eyed and with an open mouth, Pam nods at him. She closes the door before walking back slowly upstairs.
                          
"P'Knot, there's a naked man outside looking for you."
                          
Knot puts his gaze away from the TV to his sister. "What?"
                          
"There's a naked guy outside! He said he's your friend!"
                          
"Naked?"
                          
"Y-yes. Aren't you going to get your friend? He looks cold and wet." Pam says. "He's quite cute, to be honest, and that white skin... oh my god," she mumbles on her side.
                          
Knot catches it. Cute? White skin? What is Tew up to? And why is he naked outside my house?!
                          
He quickly stands up, startling his sister. "Hide in your room! Don't come out until I tell you!" He storms downstairs, preparing himself to see Tew's naked body.
                          
When he opens the door, his face resembles his sister's when she saw Arthit wearing nothing. At first, he thinks it's the beer, but of all people, he knows a can and a half won't make him lose his faculties.
                          
"Knot!" Arthit steps inside and hugs his friend, getting off his hold of the plastic sheet covering his behind.
                          
"Arthit? Is... is that really you?" Knot cups his face to check his friend's eyes, which are back to their normal black color. "How did you turn back?"
                          
"I kissed Kongpob!"
                          
"You did WHAT?"
                          
"I-it's not a 'kiss' kiss. I performed CPR on him because he drowned."
                          
"He WHAT?"
                          
"Can we get inside first? My butt is freezing here."
                          
Realizing his friend's naked and scandalous state, Knot lets Arthit inside. As Arthit gets in, he notices how slow he walks, probably not used to using his legs anymore. He leads him to the bathroom upstairs, glaring at his sister when she opens her door to take another peek at her brother's naked friend.
                          
When Arthit comes out of the bathroom, he's wearing Knot's old clothes, his clothes back when he wasn't spending too much time in the gym. Still, they are quite big for Arthit, but they are so much better than a pink milk ad.
                          
"Are you hungry?"
                          
Arthit won't say no to human food, so he nods, a bit shyly. They are in the kitchen when Knot resumes his questions.