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Part 41

Mike has been really enthusiastic about building up the team spirit between members of the tennis club by organizing lots of different activities. Currently, we're off again to admire the blooming of the Sakura blossoms in the countryside.

I have a sneaky suspicion that this is partly to allow him to be in the company of Jessica, but since he has forced Kongpob Suthiluck to be present as well (otherwise Jessica may not have turned up), I'm fine with his arrangements.

It should be noted that Mike is once again the captain of the tennis club for new semester. And guess who is his right-hand man or rather woman? Yes, it's his favourite Jessica. I must say that Mike had broken quite a few of the club rules, for example the one that doesn't allow the same person to head the club two years in a row. However, he over-ruled all the objections and I guess in the end most people didn't really care that much anyway.

Quite frankly the only potential candidate other than Jessica would have been Kongpob Suthiluck. I still remember his reaction when the other members complained to him about Mike and wanted him to sign the petition.

A slight frown appeared on his forehead and I could tell that he was pretty irritated by the situation, "So what if Mike wants to be captain again? Is that any business of mine? He is a good captain, so let him be! I have better things to do than to sign such inane petitions," he walked away leaving the other members staring at him with their jaws hanging open as I gazed dreamily after him.

That was simply sooooooo cool, soooooo handsome Kongpob Suthiluck ... ... sigh ... ...

It's true though, with helping Mr Suthiluck with the business, keeping up with his studies (which isn't difficult for him I must say), playing tennis and reading up on medicine in his own spare time, he doesn't have much time for the frivolous administrative matters in heading such clubs. In fact, I could see that his eyebrows were drawn together deep in thought as he sat in front with Jessica chattering away like a magpie next to him. It was pretty obvious that he didn't want to come for this "compulsory" outing at all.

We were sitting under this huge Sakura tree, singing songs and having our picnic when I saw Jessica whispering something to Kongpob Suthiluck. Then to my horror, he stood up and walked off with her. What on earth was she trying to do?

Krystal who was sitting next to Mike spoke up at this moment, shocking me even more. "I was wondering when Jessica would make her move."

"What move?" Mike voiced my thoughts out loud.

"Sis has been in a pretty bad mood, because Kongpob moved back home and transferred to Medicine department without telling her. So I guess she's simply taking this opportunity to have it out with him and probably tell him how she feels about him." Krystal shrugged rather nonchalantly as both both Mike and I turned from white to red.

Without another word, we both leapt to our feet simultaneously and ran quickly after them. Krystal's eyes widened at our actions, then she continued sipping her drink calmly. Somehow along the way she had dropped out of the race for winning Kongpob's heart. I suspected that a certain good-looking intelligent first year guy called Nat played a great part in her gradual change.

I was happy for them. Honestly, they would make a really smart and good-looking people.

And well, one less competitor for me to fight with, even better! Hehe...

"Shit!" Mike swore when we saw Kongpob and Jessica disappearing in Jessica's car. I was equally distressed, but less vocal then him. We went hailed a taxi and asked the cab driver to trail them, getting a few suspicious look from the driver. "Are y'all detectives or something?"

"No, this is something that we always do." I explained hastily, keeping my eyes on the car ahead of us.

"Yes, we're private detectives." Mike and I both spoke up simultaneously and glared at each other. I told you that we weren't exactly the most convincing liars.

"Fine, but did you bring enough money for this?"

Warning bells ran in my mind – I only had a couple of bucks because I didn't expect to need money on this picnic and didn't want to bring too much just in case I lost my wallet. Mike had a similar sheepish expression on his face. We both quickly pooled out all our money and gave it to the cab driver.

Within moments, we found ourselves on the roadside as an angry cab driver drove off in search for other passengers with more money. Apparently, we didn't have enough to even cover the upfront cost.

But guess what? Like the determined private detectives we were, Mike and I ended up running after Jessica's car!

Fortunately fate was on our side, the traffic was rather heavy and Jessica couldn't drive fast. Also, she stopped pretty soon, so we didn't have to run too far. In spite of that, would you believe that Mike had to stop halfway to catch his breath, because he couldn't run anymore? To my shock I was more fit than he was – probably because I had trained myself up last time when I was competing against Kongpob Suthiluck's class and continued jogging on a regular basis. With no time to waste, I kept running, leaving Mike behind, sounding like Darth Vader behind me.

I saw Kongpob and Jessica getting out of the car and walking to a park. By the time I had caught up with them and hid behind a tree, they had sat down on a nearby bench and Jessica had already started talking to Kongpob Suthiluck. I tried to get as close to them without being noticed, so I could hear them – I could see Kongpob Suthiluck's profile but Jessica's back was facing me. My heart almost jumped out of my chest and my mouth suddenly felt very dry when I heard Jessica's voice more clearly now.

" ... ... so Kongpob tell me what you feel about me, or is Arthit the one you truly like?"

"I don't know." Kongpob Suthiluck's expression didn't even falter at Jessica's confession and his voice was just as emotionless as ever. "Currently my only interest is in medicine..." Then a slight pause, "...as for you, I've always treated you only as a friend."

To my horror, at this moment, Jessica suddenly flung her arms around Kongpob Suthiluck, hugging him tight. "I can't give up on you, Kongpob! I really really like you, so I can't!" There was a tinge of hysteria in her voice. Then she moved closer to Kongpob Suthiluck's and I think my heart stopped beating. I bit my lip very hard as I clenched my hands into fists and let jealousy consume me. No, I couldn't bear to watch them kiss, yet there was nothing I could do but stand there frozen like a statue, watching the unbearable scene unfold in front of me, a terrible ache stabbing my heart.

To my surprise, Kongpob Suthiluck removed her arms and moved away from her before she could kiss him. "Are you feeling better now that you've gotten this off your chest?"

I could see from Jessica's rigid stance how shocked she was by this cold rejection.

"I'm sorry, I don't want to have a romantic relationship with you." For once, Kongpob Suthiluck's expression was slightly apologetic. I could imagine that Jessica must have looked rather devastated at his rejection. I knew well how that felt...

"Why?" Her voice was rather low and dejected.

"I...I have kissed someone before." I saw Jessica's head jerk up to look at him. Something flickered in his dark eyes before he said, "Yes, it was Arthit."

OMG!

Did Kongpob Suthiluck just admit to kissing me??? I thought he would keep that unwanted fact forever a secret from others?

"Do you...?" Jessica began asking something, but Kongpob looked at her with a deep intense look in his eyes and shook his head. Oddly, that was enough to render Jessica speechless as her eyes widened and she bit her lip nervously.

I didn't understand what was going on. Why was Jessica not speaking and why Kongpob looked so serious all of a sudden.

Whatever Jessica wanted to ask from Kongpob, I never found out, because she directed her eyes to the ground. "I understand," she spoke in a very quiet voice and I had to strain my ears to hear her. "However, this doesn't affect what I feel for you. I just need some time. I-I will be heading back first if that's okay." She turned and quickly ran away from Kongpob Suthiluck as fast as she could.

I couldn't tell if she was crying, but if I were in her position, I would be bawling like a newborn baby. Somehow, I suddenly felt very very sorry for her. I mean I still remember how I felt when Kongpob Suthiluck rejected the letter that I had written for him. Trust me, I had been and probably still am in the same boat as her - both our love for Kongpob Suthiluck is unrequited.

Yet I was extremely relieved that Kongpob Suthiluck didn't kiss her. If he did, I wouldn't know what I would do. With a sigh, I leant my head against the tree trunk nearby, letting the physical and emotional weariness overcome me.

"What are you doing here?" I jumped and spun around, finding myself staring right at Kongpob Suthiluck.

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I suspected that Arthit would be somewhere around, especially when my sharp ears caught the faintest sigh nearby. Indeed, I caught sight of a familiar shoe sticking out behind the tree nearest to me and strolled up to the tree, finding Arthit leaning his head against the tree trunk.

"What are you doing here?"

When I revealed my presence to him, he stared at me with those impossible big doe-like eyes, resembling those of an animal caught in a trap.

"Er ... er ... ah ... I ... I ..." he was stuttering hard, his pale cheeks visibly blushed.

"Obviously eavesdropping on other people's conversation." I simply cut him off, saving him the pain of killing more brain cells in the process of coming up with some pathetic non-believable excuse.

He turned bright red and fidgeted uneasily before finally saying softly, "I was worried for you."

"Fine, just continue worrying for me then." I turned and walked towards the road, intending to hail a cab. I knew he would follow me back and as expected, he meekly trailed behind me.

"Kongpob?"

"Yes?"

"Er ... ... could I please share your cab?" He stuttered a little. "I didn't bring enough to afford my own."

I shook my head in despair as I opened the cab door and gestured for him to get in. "I can't believe you followed us when you didn't have any money." I said as I sat beside him. He looked down in shame and I simply couldn't help but ask, "Well...are you happy that I didn't kiss Jessica?" I looked at him intensely, no, anxiously waiting for his reply.

I could see his face brightening up instantaneously and he nodded quickly, a satisfied smile spreading over his lips.

Gosh, just that happy smile from him was enough to make me all calm and satisfied again.

There was a short pause and then, "Kongpob Suthiluck?"

"Yes?"

"When you told Jessica that we've kissed, you're talking about what happened really really long time ago, right? It's like two years ago..." there was a distant and slightly dreamy look in his large dark eyes as he stared at me with anticipation.

I quickly turned my head away, so that he couldn't see the smile on my lips as I answered him, "That's true, two years ago was our first kiss..."

...and then we kissed again just a few weeks ago, I thought to myself as my secret smile grew wider.

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Author's note: Aww you cold-hearted yet adorable brat Kongpob...