2013
(K19, A18)

The neighborhood was very peaceful and quiet in contrast to the busy streets that they had passed by after getting off the bus. The roads and the side pavements were not in the best condition. There were cracks and potholes here and there, but the streets were very clean. From a distance, a colorful sign 'Pakkred Babies' Home' could be seen at the end of the street.

Arthit looked around as they approached the yellow building. He wouldn't be able to tell you how he got there if asked him. Arthit was too focused on other things the whole way there. Like the racing of his heart over a simple brush of their hands. The way their knees touched during the whole bus ride. The sound of Kongpob humming to his favorite tunes while sharing one pair of earbuds with him. The scent of Kongpob's body wash that wafted through the air every time there was a breeze. The flashes of Kongpob's lips on his own. The butterflies that were tumbling in his stomach the whole time. So, Arthit was very much preoccupied.

The yellow build was quite big, and there were a few smaller ones behind it. To the side was a fenced in playground. The place looked very well kept and organized. This is Arthit's first time visiting an orphanage, and for some reason, this was not what he was expecting.

As they reached the front of the orphanage building, Kongpob turned around making sure Arthit was okay. He was pretty quiet during the whole trip here. Was it something he said? When he agreed to be boyfriends, he meant it even though he doesn't know what boyfriends are supposed to do. Hopefully, Arthit won't be too disappointed to spend his day at the orphanage with him.

Over lunch earlier, they agreed to keep their new found relationship a secret. They decided it would be easier this way, and no one would question them. In front of everyone, they would just be good friends. Friends that had sleepovers. Arthit had already decided that he would sleepover at Kongpob's house as much as possible. Especially after finding out that Aim slept over quite often. No wonder Kongpob said his parents wouldn't mind. With Kongpob being the only child, his parents loved it when he had company over.

"Hey, we're here. Are you okay? You look kind of flushed?" Kongpob raised his palm to touch Arthit's forehead. He was afraid that Arthit might have caught something from last night's rain.

Arthit shyly looked up through his lashes at Kongpob. Kongpob stepped a little bit closer to get a better touch. Arthit's breath hitched at their closeness. Kongpob's warm touch, and action made his butterflies tumble again. Is this feeling still normal for boyfriends? Arthit grabbed Kongpob's hand from his forehead and squeezed it. They gazed into each other's eyes, and for a moment that was all they could see. Arthit's heart raced sensing another kiss coming. He could see Kongpob leaning closer, and his heart thumbed even faster.

"P'Heng! You're late!"

Poof. The moment was gone in an instant. The two boys immediately dropped their hands, and turned towards the source of the sound.

*** Josie ***

A young girl with long brown hair in a black top and denim shorts came running out of the orphanage. She wrapped her arms around Kongpob on her tippy toes. Kongpob smiled, and gave the girl a pat on the back.

Arthit was startled to say the least. It happened so sudden, and so fast that he didn't know how to react. All he knew was his boyfriend was suddenly being hugged by a girl in front of him. Who is she? How long does she plan to hang on to Kongpob like that? A frown promptly made its way to his face.

"Josie, I can't breathe." Kongpob said to the girl.

"P'Heng, why are you so late? You had promised to come help me with the preparations." Josie released Kongpob from her bone crushing hug, but then hooked her arm around Kongpob's jovially.

"I was a little busy, but we still have plenty of time. Look, I brought help too. This is my friend Arthit. Arthit, this is Josie."

"Hi." Arthit flatly greeted the girl. He knew he was probably being silly. She was just a little girl, but he didn't like the way she was looking at Kongpob with her eyes all sparkly. And not to mention the way she is clinging to him.

"Hi P'Arthit. You're the third friend of P'Heng's I've met now. Nice to meet you." Josie said. She is actually not that happy about P'Heng bringing a friend today. She was hoping to have more alone time with P'Heng. After all, this might be her last time meeting him before he leaves for two years. However, it looks like P'Heng will have to spend some time with his friend too.

"Oh, I am huh? Who are the other friends?" Arthit asked while looking pointedly at Kongpob.

"P'Aim and his sister Jane of course. They come with P'Heng sometimes when we have fundraising events. Anyway, let's go inside." Josie pulled Kongpob by his arm to enter the building.

Arthit followed just a step behind. Kongpob turned around to steal a glance at Arthit, in which the latter stuck his tongue out at him. Kongpob chuckled at seeing Arthit's cute and annoyed face.

There were many rooms inside the building. All separated by age groups. Arthit saw some children taking their naps through the door window. Only the older kids were going to the BBQ picnic. So, they entered the big kid's classroom.

"Surprise!" All the kids yelled holding up a great big 'Good Luck' banner they made. Then all the kids dropped the banner, and rushed over to Kongpob for a group hug. Many spoke at the same time telling him how they will miss him when he is gone.

"I'll miss all of you too. You all have to behave while I'm gone, and don't give Miss Eva too much trouble."

Arthit smiled at the heartwarming sight. He was just being silly to be jealous over these kids who were no older than twelve.

"Okay guys! I brought a friend to play with you guys today. His name is Arthit." Arthit shyly waved to the kids, and the kids enthusiastically waved back.

"Where's Miss Eva? Do you guys have everything you need for the picnic?" Kongpob asked, looking around for the class counselor.

"Miss Eva is packing the bus outside. We have all our games, and equipment ready. We were just waiting for you." Josie answered enthusiastically with her hands clasped together, rocking on the balls of her feet.

"Okay, let me go help Miss Eva. Why don't you stay, and watch everyone since you're the oldest." Kongpob told Josie, and gently pried his arm from Josie's grip.

"Come on Arthit! I'll introduce Miss Eva to you." Kongpob grabbed Arthit's hand, pulling him back out of the classroom door they just came through. Kongpob wasn't aware of the smile that Arthit had on, nor was he aware that Josie was pouting behind them.

They walked down the hallway all the way to the back of the building, and through a set of metal doors to the parking lot. There was a short blue bus parked to the side. A woman was struggling to pick up a cooler from the ground.

"Miss Eva! Let me help you!" Kongpob quickly dropped Arthit's hand, and dashed over to the woman's side. Arthit quickly followed behind.

"Heng! You're finally here. I thought for sure I was going to break my back." Miss Eva wrapped her arms around Kongpob, giving him a big hug. She is really going to miss the kid when he is gone. Kongpob returned her hug, wrapping his arms around her tiny waist, almost picking her up off the ground.

Arthit was standing there watching yet another person hug his new boyfriend. This woman was probably in her mid twenties. She's pretty, and very petite. Kongpob practically towered over her.

Kongpob let's go of the counselor, and straightened up. "Okay, let me load all this stuff. I brought a friend with me today. His name is Arthit. Arthit, this is the class counselor Miss Eva."

Arthit smiled, and before he knew it, Miss Eva was hugging him too on her tippy toes. Maybe this is a normal thing he didn't know about.

"It's nice to meet another one of Heng's friends. I'm sure all the kids are excited to play with another big brother." Miss Eva said, releasing Arthit.

"Uh... I'm happy to be here too. Let me help you with these boxes." Arthit went to gather all the boxes next to Kongpob.

"Okay, I'll leave these to you boys. I'll go get everyone ready then." Miss Eva left the boys alone to finish loading the bus.

At the park, all the kids were playing and running around freely. Earlier, they played some organized group games like stomp the balloons. Everyone was paired up with their ankles tied together, and a balloon tied on to their other foot. Kongpob was paired with Josie, and Arthit was paired with another boy named Timmy. It was blue team versus red team. Arthit's blue team won, but he wasn't too happy seeing Josie toppled over Kongpob when they fell to the ground laughing together.

Arthit was actually having a good time with the kids. Someone brought a guitar with them, so he played a couple of songs for the kids. All of them were so impressed with P'Arthit, and showered him with compliments. Some kids even begged him to come back and visit them when P'Heng is abroad. Arthit told them he would try if he had time. Arthit loved watching Kongpob being so playful with the kids. The only thing that made him sad was the fact that this was a going away party for their P'Heng. A few kids cried when they talked about what if they got adopted while P'Heng was away. Then how would P'Heng ever find them. Apparently, P'Heng has grown up with most of these kids since they were babies in their diapers. Kongpob said he started coming to the orphanage since he was six with his grandpa every weekend. Kongpob teased a few kids that he used to feed them their bottles, and changed their diapers. The more Arthit learned about Kongpob, the more he fell for him.

Arthit was laying out the food containers on the picnic table when Josie came by to give him a hand. Arthit only smiled without saying much to the girl. He is actually surprised the girl wasn't glued to Kongpob at the moment.

"So P'Arthit, do you hangout with P'Aim too? Do you know her sister P'Jane?" Josie asked while she took out the plastic utensils.

"Uh, yeah. I know Jane."

"Do you know she likes P'Heng? I don't like her at all. I can't wait to grow up, and be with P'Heng." Josie said looking at Kongpob on the other side starting the grill with Miss Eva.

"Uh, aren't you too young for him?" Arthit asked, looking at the girl across the table staring dreamily at his boyfriend.

Josie turned back to face Arthit. "I'm going to be thirteen in four months. So, P'Heng is only about six years older. That's not really a lot when we are older. We just have to wait till I'm eighteen to be together. By then, P'Heng will be twenty-four. So really, we're not that far apart. And all that matters is we love each other." Josie beamed, and shyly looked at Kongpob again.

"But maybe he already has someone else, or he might find someone else before you grow up." Arthit tried to stay calm about what he was hearing from this little girl.

"No. P'Heng says he will focus on his studies. And...and we already shared our first kiss. So, I think he will wait for me too. Don't you think?"

~~~~~~
AN: Sweets, here's another late update. With everything that's going on, I needed to find time and the mood to write this. I hope this update finds everyone safe and healthy. Please take care. ❤️

Side note, only one reader remembered that Kongpob had actually had his first kiss stolen already before his kiss with Arthit. This was mentioned back in chapter 6. 😜

Facts: In 2017, November 15th, Krist_Warm Wish fanclub bought an ad in NYC's world famous Times Square to celebrate his graduation and birthday. Krist was very touched, but was also a little embarrassed thinking people in NY must be so confused about who he was. But hey, Sotus is on Netflix now, maybe people will recognize him now if another ad is placed in Times Square. 😉