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Part 16

I clung onto my handbag tightly, mustering all my courage to hold onto my thin thread of self-control as I stood next to Dad outside the house.

The entire Kongpob family was seeing both of us off. Kongpob's parents both looked extremely sad. Mrs Kongpob was clutching a handkerchief in one hand and she dabbed surreptitiously at her eyes when she thought that no one was looking.

However, Daniel was wearing this huge grin that was threatening to split his face in two — I can't blame him. He must be overjoyed to have his room back again.

Finally, I swallowed hard and glanced at Kongpob Suthiluck. He was standing slightly to the side looking rather bored as he gazed at the moving car that we'd hired, his hands in his pocket.

I didn't expect any fond farewells from him — but surely he could pretend that he cared even a little?

Looking at him again, he seemed as uninterested and expressionless as always.

I guess miracles don't happen after all.

"Thank you so much for your hospitality," Dad said bowing at them one by one as I hastily copied his actions. "You must come and visit us next time!"

"Yes, thanks so much for having us here Auntie and Uncle," I repeated politely, barely getting through it without crying. "I apologize deeply for all the trouble that I have caused you." I bit my lip and lowered my head to the pavement.

Suddenly, a pair of arms were flung around me and Mrs Kongpob was hugging me super tightly.

"Take care of yourself and your Dad, Arthit," I looked into her eyes that were brimming with tears. "I will miss you dearly — you've been just like a third son to me!"

"Auntie!" I hugged her back, tears already trickling down my eyes. However, I almost gritted my teeth angrily when I heard something like a snort from Daniel. Obviously, he was not pleased of the idea of a second older brother.

After all this time, I couldn't get him to warm up to me and the basketball incident had made things even worse...

Finally, I moved away to stop hugging Auntie.

I turned again to face Kongpob Suthiluck — for the last time? I guess so...

He finally moved his gaze to my face filled with puffy red eyes and tears of sorrow.

"I'm so sorry for messing up your life, Kongpob Suthiluck. Please forgive me." I bowed deeply to him. The dark eyes gazed at me for a couple of seconds in silence.

"Bye."

Short, sweet and final.

My heart was breaking at his monosyllabic answer.

No "I forgive you", no "it's okay", no "take care and see you again"?

What more could I expect from him?

Sigh...I guess in Kongpob Suthiluck's cold eyes I was not even worth that much.

I fake-smiled at him as I turned and got into the car with Dad.

Tears were endlessly flowing down my cheeks as we finally drove away from the Kongpob household.

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"Yippee!!!" Daniel broke into a loud celebratory cheer and started jumping up and down as soon as the car had vanished into the distance. I looked at him and knew that he was going to be in deep trouble.

"How can you be so rude Daniel!" That was Dad already scolding him before mum could even begin. I looked at my watch, it was already noon. Perhaps, I could get Daniel off the hook by distracting them.

"Time to eat," I turned and headed back into the house.

"Kongpob, it's all your fault!"

I froze and turned to face my mother. She was actually blaming me for Arthit's departure? How fair is that?

"If it hadn't been for your rude behavior, Arthit would have never have left! You should have been nicer to him..."

I paused, thinking about it. Is it true that it's all because of me that he left? I have no idea. no, I don't think so. They were here temporarily anyway.

However, thanks to that Baka, I had to endure one of the most severe scoldings that I have ever had before in my life from my usually calm mother. I sighed and ground my teeth together as she ranted on.

Gees, even when the baka was not here, he still managed to make my life miserable.

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"My room smells of strawberry soap — just like Arthit..."

Daniel complained loudly as we were both cleaning up his bedroom and moved his belongings from my room back to his. His nose wrinkled in distaste as he looked at the blue curtains that were still hanging on the window still and at his now blue walls. I grunted hoping that he would take the sound as agreement as I pulled out a couple of boxes from under the bed. Arthit must've forgotten these behind.

Daniel came over to inspect the contents of the boxes.

"...That Baka actually forgot this, so stupid..." Daniel grumbled again as he threw a stack of papers into the box in front of me.

I picked up the papers and noticed that there a few words scribbled in a strangely familiar handwriting in between Arthit's script — it was my handwriting! I was holding onto the test papers that I had written for Arthit when I was tutoring him for the exam.

"She was revising his examination." I found myself explaining to Daniel.

But before I could stop him, Daniel crushed all the papers up in a ball and flung them into the bin.

As I looked at the crumpled papers, I recalled the delight that had appeared on Arthit's face when he realized that he could do his very first sum on his own.

I sighed to myself — somehow the house seemed so quiet without him.

In spite of his constant complaints, I could tell that Daniel was feeling the same as he sat on his bed and just stared into space.

As the afternoon passed, we stopped complaining about Arthit as we set about tidying the room quietly, replacing Arthit's belongings with Daniel's.

I felt distracted the whole evening and by the time I returned to my own room, I found myself expecting to hear the baka's loud voice, happy laughter and whining.

It was just a matter of habit...right?

I'll get used to this empty feel — no, I corrected myself quickly.

This is peace and quiet again, exactly like I wanted since the day he moved in.

...

...

Then why did I still feel so anxious about it and spent the night reminiscing of our times together?

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"I have left Kongpob Suthiluck's house," I told May and Aya the next day at my father's restaurant.

"Hurray!" A loud cheer nearly burst my eardrums and I turned to frown at Max who was practically crowing with delight.

I shook my head as he started capering around and gave up trying to talk any sense into him. "Oh my god, this is the best day every!!! Arthit is freeeeeee!"

However, I should have known that he was up to no good as usual as he ran off with a wicked glint in his eyes.

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The next day, I was strolling down the corridors at the university, chatting with Aya and May when we realized that everyone was looking at us and whispering. Or rather, the attention appeared to be focused on me — again.

I turned to my friends. "Have I got something on my face?"

They gave me blank stares.

"Oh!" Aya smacked herself on her head suddenly.

"What happened?" Both May and I looked worriedly at her — did she lose her mind suddenly???

"The noticeboard!"

My eyes widened and immediately, we all rushed to the noticeboard. My heart sank as I saw a large crowd standing in front of the board.

Don't tell me I made "headlines" yet again.

I pushed my way through the crowd and my eyes nearly popped out of my head when I saw the new notice that Max was putting up himself!

"Arthit Rojnapat has declared that he has given up on Kongpob Suthiluck."

That idiot! I could feel my blood rushing up to my head. Wait till I get my hands on him!

"How did you like my handiwork Arthit," Max asked, walking up to me with a smug smile. He really isn't even smart enough to keep away from me when I was about to murder him. I turned and he stepped back immediately when he saw the murderous look on my face.

"You idiot! How could you put up a notice like that?" I hissed between clenched teeth. "What if Kongpob Suthiluck sees it?"

"He has already seen it," Max said with a smug smile and I followed the direction of his finger, looking up to see a pair of cold eyes looking back at me.

My throat went dry as I swallowed nervously. "K-Kongpob Suthiluck," my voice sounded so weak. "It's not my fault — I-I didn't have anything to do with this. I never said anything like that — I only said that I had moved out from your house."

Wait...

Did something flicker behind that emotionless face?

No, he was still looking as calm as ever.

"You don't have to explain. It's none of my business."

Those emotionless words tore into me with the force of a small hurricane.

I stared at him with hurt, shocked eyes and our gaze held for a few moments before he turned and walked away.

Jessica gave me a cold smug smile that was almost a sneer before she quickly caught up with him and walked off beside him.

I stood there looking after him helplessly, my pain reflected in my eyes and squeezing my heart tightly.

"Arthit..." I finally turned and looked at May who was gently tugging at my sleeve.

I flinched at the concern and pity in her eyes.

"...We're going to be late for our next lesson."

I nodded at her wordlessly, allowing myself to be led away.

Kongpob Suthiluck, that's another blow that you have given me...

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Mum has not been feeling well lately.

She's just staring into space and not doing any housework. I can't believe that Arthit's absence has had such an impact on her.

In the end, Dad, Daniel and I had to split the chores between us. Dad is very worried about Mum and so are we. She's so different from her usual self, who was always bustling around, laughing at anything and nothing, chatting nineteen to dozen — rather like Arthit himself actually. No wonder they get along so well.

Daniel was in my room complaining about Arthit, again.

"Why are you always coming into my room? Didn't you get your own room back?" I couldn't help asking Daniel. He was just as taken aback by my question as myself.

"I have no idea," confusion was evident on his face as he lied down on my bed.

What on earth is happening to our household?

"It's that baka's fault."

He muttered softly and I swore he sounded sad and disappointed when he finally left my room.

I sighed in relief, but then my eyes fell on the small electronic gadget that was sitting on my desk.

Somehow, I found myself picking it up and I turned it around in my hand gazing at it.

This was the Christmas present that Arthit had given me.

He actually had to work in a restaurant after school in order to buy it for me.

Even though I didn't need it, he had gone through great lengths to earn the money and buy it for me...

I lied down in my bed, not feeling in the mood to read my book and just...somehow, found myself looking at it for quite a while, thinking about Arthit...

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