Present - i

                                    

                                          

"Sir, would you kindly donate to the Sacred Hearts Orphanage for Christmas?" A teenage boy dressed in an elf's costume asked.
                          
Covering his phone, "maybe on my way out kid. No, I wasn't talking to you." Arthit did not spare the kid another glance.

                          
Chling. Chling. Chling. (bell over the door)

                          
The cafe was decked out in full blown Christmas decorations. All the windows had sprayed on fake snow. Icicle lights hung above the ceiling all across the place. A colorful decorated Christmas tree in the back with a train set circling around it. 

                          
"Okay, I have to go. I'll talk to you later."
                          
Arthit hangs up his phone as he has reached the cafe. He looked around with a frown. He should be in his office, and not at this cafe right now. There's so much work waiting for him. He doesn't understand why his boyfriend can't wait till tomorrow to talk. He had already promised him he won't cancel like the last two dates.
                          
Arthit sees the back of his boyfriend, and makes his way over there. He knows his boyfriend must have already ordered for him knowing that he doesn't have a lot of time. However, he is ready to tell the server to pack it up for takeaway. He really doesn't have time for this.
                          
"Have you waited long? I'm sorry, but I really can't stay." Arthit said as he sees his food waiting for him. He hasn't even looked at his boyfriend yet.
                          
"P'Arthit, can you at least sit down properly?"
                          
"Is this about your company's Christmas party? I really don't have time to attend. Can you ask another friend to go with you? Is Gina going this year? Maybe you two can go together."
                          
"No. This is not about my company's Christmas party. I won't be able to go either."
                          
"Okay. That's good. No fuss then." Arthit fixes his jacket, and reaches for his favorite pink milk. His boyfriend has never failed to get him one. Sipping his drink with his head down, he looked up through his bangs to see his boyfriend's profile. His boyfriend was looking outside the window. 
                          
All these years, his boyfriend has only gotten more handsome. No longer a boy, but now a man that has filled out in all the right places. Straight nose, chiseled jawline, killer smile, broad shoulders, and those mesmerizing eyes that you can drown in. This is one of the reasons he can't spend so much time with him. He would never be able to get any work done.
                          
The man waited for his boyfriend to ask why he had asked to meet. But seeing that Arthit didn't have anything to ask or follow-up, he had no choice but to just go on, and speak.
                          
"P'Arthit, I..."
                          
"Excuse me?" Arthit raised his hand to flag down a nearby server.
                          
The man quickly puts everything down, and comes over. "Yes sir, how can I help you?"
                          
Arthit pickups his plate, and hands it over to the server. "Can you please box this for takeaway? I need to leave soon."
                          
"Yes sir. I will be right back with this." The server quickly walked away with the untouched plate of food.
                          
Arthit turns to look at his boyfriend that has his head hung back, letting out a loud sigh.
                          
"I'm sorry. I'm really busy today. If I weren't already out of the office running errands when you called, I honestly don't think I would have even come to meet you."
                          
"P'Arthit, I have to go to Chiang Mai tomorrow. I want you to come with me."
                          
"What? I can't just leave on such short notice. I mean coming to meet you like this is already a real stretch for me."
                          
"We haven't seen each other for over a month now, and sparing me a lunch hour is too much to ask for?"
                          
"That's not what I mean. If I weren't so busy, I would give you all my hours. Happy?" Arthit said rolling his eyes. He really doesn't have time for this drama.
                          
"Not even the least bit."
                          
"What do you want from me? It's year's end, and so many projects need to be finished off. You know how hard I'm working for that promotion."
                          
"I have never stopped you from achieving your dreams, but it seems like your dream does not include me."
                          
Arthit was about to say something, but the server came back with his packed food interrupting what he was about to say.
                          
"Here you go sir. Do you need anything else?" The server asked with a friendly smile.
                          
"No, thanks. This is all I needed." Arthit said politely taking the bag from the server. The server smiled, and walked away.
                          
Arthit took a deep breath, and turned his attention back to his boyfriend.

                          
"I want to tell my parents about us, and I want you to come with me. My grandmother may not make it, and our family is flying to Chiang Mai to see her before it's too late. She is the only one that I've ever told about us, and she wants to meet you before she goes."
                          
Arthit freezes. He doesn't know what to say. He has been avoiding this for as long as possible. He has even avoided his own parents.

                          
"I don't think I can leave work. And, I mean.... shouldn't we plan more about this?"
                          
"My grandmother has no time for our plans. She is on her deathbed. Just forget it. You will never be ready. I've graduated for five years now, and every year you say next year. That's eight years together."
                          
Arthit can see the anger, and the tears that were threatening to fall from his boyfriend's eyes. He doesn't dare to move, and cast his eyes down. 

                          
"We are still young. We agreed to focus on our careers to build a better future." Arthit said without looking at his boyfriend. 

                          
"A future together, or apart? You would rather see me go on blind dates that my mother arranges for me than to come out to our parents."
                          
"You know it's only because I trust you." Arthit said, but even he isn't convinced. He hated those dates. He held his breath every time his boyfriend went on one. He feared that one day his boyfriend would realize that there's someone better out there.
                          
"P'Arthit, it's okay. Your lunch break is almost over. I still have things to do, and I still have to pack. I'm going to leave now. I've bought you a ticket for tomorrow. If I don't see you tomorrow, then I will know what your answer is."
                          
Arthit panicked, and grabbed his boyfriend's wrist. "Are you breaking up with me?" He searched his boyfriend's eyes.
                          
"No. The question is, will you break up with me?" His boyfriend pulled his hand back to leave.
                          
Arthit watched as his boyfriend got up, and walked out of the cafe, and probably walked out of his life. He looked at the envelope that his boyfriend had left him. He opened it to see a plane ticket inside for Chiang Mai. But wait, there's something else inside. The token of his love that he hasn't seen for eight years was also inside with a little note.







                          

                            

                                
                            
                              
                                  
                              
                              
                                
                                  
                                  
                                
                              
                             
                            
                            
                          
                          
                          







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AN: Hi, this will be a short story. 🤞🏼 I will try to finish this before Christmas 2019. 
                          
Stay tuned. 
                          
Please comment and vote to keep me motivated to finish this story. ❤️