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Part 17

My knees were shaking and I could barely drag myself forward to meet the tennis ball that was hurtling forward at the speed of 50km/h. Not surprisingly, I missed it.

"What are you doing??? Stop lazing, run faster! That's it! As a punishment, go and run round the court another five times!" Mike roared at me. Gosh, he was taking practice way too seriously. I was almost ready to collapse on my face, but I struggled to drag myself to the side of the court and started to half-stagger, half-jog around the court.

"Great improvement over there..."

My head shot up and I gazed in disbelief at Kongpob Suthiluck standing in front of me, his hands in his pockets as usual. What was he doing here? It wasn't even his practice day — the school representative team is meant to be training tomorrow. Then his words sank in and I frowned —how could he still rub it in like that? Obviously he doesn't give a damn about my feelings at all.

"Kongpob! Great, you're here. Do you want to play a game or are you too scared to play with me?" Mike was rubbing his hands in anticipation. I saw a frown cease Kongpob's forehead for a moment. That was Mike, always wanting to provoke him into a match even though he knew that Kongpob Suthiluck's tennis skills were superior to his. I guess he hopes to beat Kongpob Suthiluck one day — just as I hope that Kongpob Suthiluck would like me one day. For a moment, I felt sorry for Mike.

"Sure..."

"We'll play doubles."

Before Kongpob could answer, Mike was gesturing to Jessica. "Jessica will be my partner and Arthit will be yours."

"Whaaat???" Both of us exclaimed at the same time and my jaw dropped open. Me? That's it, Kongpob Suthiluck would definitely lose this time round. I glanced at him. It was rather obvious that he was thinking somewhere along the same lines. His eyebrows were knitted together in a frown. However, to my surprise, he didn't protest.

"Don't hit any of the balls," he said to me before we stepped into the court. I nodded and silently heaved a sigh of relief.

"Please pretend I'm not in the court," I said to Jessica as she headed for the opposite end of the court.

"Even if I hit it to you, you wouldn't be able to return my ball," she threw me a sarcastic look and left me grinding me teeth.

What??? That bi—

Control Arthit, control! I tried to calm myself down. After all she was only telling the truth.

However, the truth always hurts...

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I knew that this was not going to be my day when Mike picked Arthit as my partner. For revenge of course. Putting the best player together with the worst in one time was a recipe for disaster and ultimately his victory.

"So sorry, so sorry," she stammered as she helped me up as I shoved his hand aside roughly.

"Next time, please move AWAY from the ball and not in the direction of the ball," I gritted out between clenched teeth. Even if he is not quite up to my intellectual level, isn't it common sense that one should avoid the ball if one isn't going to hit it?

Then it was Jessica's turn to serve. This time, the baka quickly moved aside. However, he moved so fast that he tripped and fell flat. His racket clattered onto the floor directly in front of me, causing me to trip as well.

That was another point for Mike and Jessica.

I won't go into details of how many disasters happened during the game and how they occurred but it was obvious that Mike and Jessica were winning big time. I was furious when I saw Mike practically leaping up and down in joy — how could he be so thrilled if he won by foul means? What does that prove? Sometimes, I just don't understand more intellectually challenged proportion of my species.

The "highlight" of the game was the last ball that made us lose the match. I don't know why that baka suddenly decided that he wanted to have a go at the ball in spite of my strictest instructions. Not only did he miss the ball, he smashed his tennis racket into my face when he swung it back to hit the ball.

I was still sitting on the ground, seeing stars, when Mike screamed that they had won the match.

"You aren't unbeatable after all Kongpob," he smirked and walked off.

The next thing I saw was Arthit's anxious face near mine and his repeated apologies. I gave him an angry stare and started lashing us about his recklessness and stupidity for making us lose the match.

I was going to say more, but again tears started shimmering in his big doe eyes, so I bit back the rest of what I was going to say.

I knew I was growing soft...

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I was watching the tennis match in a corner — I looked at Arthit who was looking extremely cute in his white tennis shirt and matching shorts. Ooh, how I missed him! I only wished that he was my son.

This wish can easily be fulfilled by Kongpob, however, that arrogant son of mine is always so damn stubborn and uncooperative when it comes to admitting his feelings. I sighed heavily as I continued to watch both of them — it was so obvious that they were made for each other.

"Hi, are you Mrs Suthiluck?" I saw two cute little girls standing near me.

"Yes and you are?" I was trying to place their faces.

"We came to your house to study with Arthit and you made us snacks!"

"That's right! How are you?" I beamed at them. They saw that I had been looking at Arthit and Kongpob. "They look cute together don't they?"

"Arthit's always had a crush on Kongpob."

"Yes, I think it's gotten worse ever since he kissed him."

0_0

WHAT???

What the—??? OMG!!!

Wait, who kissed who???

No, it doesn't matter! THEY kissed!!!

OMG

OMG

Kongpob has KISSED Arthit!

Hope isn't lost!

My son does like Arthit after all!!!!

Immediately, the rusty little wheels in my brain started churning again. Now, let me think of some more of my little schemes to get them back together. This has given me new hope that one day Arthit will officially belong to our family...

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I sat on the train, next to Mike, staring out of the window. Kongpob and Jessica were sitting behind us. I was straining to listen to their conversation. However, fortunately, Kongpob Suthiluck didn't appear to really want to talk and it was largely Jessica chatting on about inconsequential things.

I was really delighted that the tennis club organized this resort trip — this is the first time I had an opportunity to go camping with Kongpob Suthiluck. Fine, so we aren't exactly going to be alone. However, it's much better than nothing.

I was soon chatting with Mike. He's really a nice person, so long as he isn't playing tennis. After getting to know him better, I have decided to be his friend because his normal behavior more than makes up for his spurts of madness on the tennis courts. After all, who is perfect and who was I to judge?

"...Arthit will be in charge of cooking and Jessica washing and cleaning up..."

My mouth fell open when the duties were divided. Me??? Cook? Not again! The entire club would be poisoned.

I saw a small frown on Kongpob Suthiluck's face as well. He was probably worried for his own health as well as for the rest.

"By the way, we'll be having a doubles match a few days later. Me and Jessica will be playing against you and Arthit." Mike exclaimed, winking at Kongpob.

I snuck a peek at Kongpob Suthiluck's now black face. He looked quite scary like that.

"Arthit," I flinched as he turned to me. "We must win the match this time, do you hear me?"

I nodded dumbly and he strode off angrily.

Oh dear!

Suddenly, the hairs at the back of my neck pricked up and I had this sensation of being watched. I spun around but I was totally alone. It's your imagination Arthit, I tried to tell myself convincingly as I quickly ran after the rest of the club members.

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I was standing in the kitchen, staring at the pile of washed vegetables on the table — onions, carrots, cabbages, tomatoes... the list goes on and I wanted to cry. How was I going to even cut this much, not to say to cook it? I had no idea how to start.

Eventually, I picked up an onion and a knife and started to cut it. Soon, tears were streaming down my face — partly the side-effects from chopping up onions and partly from frustration.

"...Arthit it's time to train..." Kongpob Suthiluck's voice died away and he paused as he took in the pathetic scene in front of him — my streaming eyes and the pile of vegetables almost untouched in front of me. Like the genius he was, immediately he turned, ready to dash out.

Too late!

"Kongpob Suthiluck!" I called out to him and caught hold of his sleeve. "Please help me!"

He stiffened.

"Please, please please..." I felt more hopeful when I saw that he was not running for the door yet. "Imagine what a terrible dinner you would all have to eat if I was cooking..." I gazed at him with what was probably an extremely pathetic look. If only I wasn't so useless at cooking — then again, what was I good at?

He paused for what seemed to be the longest time, then he nodded reluctantly.

"Yay!" I started jumping up and down in joy, clapping my hands excitedly.

"Only on one condition..."

I was nodding my head madly before he even finished his sentence. "Anything, anything!" I would have gladly kissed his feet.

"You are not going to tell a single living soul that dinner was prepared by me," he was rolling up his sleeves even before his sentence was completed.

I nodded quickly. "Of course not! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Kongpob Suthiluck, what a god-send you are!

I watched with worshipful eyes as he started to cut the vegetables with swift even strokes.

Gosh, can he be even more perfect?

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