2013
(K19, A18)

The smell of fuel permeated the air of the busy Bangkok streets. People, cars, and buildings all blurred as the bus accelerated. Mopeds and tuk tuks cut in and out between the lanes. Everyone is in a race to their own destination.

Arthit smiled looking out the opened window on the bus. He wasn't focused on anything particular. A little breeze comfortably swept against his blushing face. For the entire ride, he kept recalling the intimate moment he shared with his young boyfriend. He still can't believe how bold he was for initiating it. He gently touched his kissed skin, and behind his ear. He grabbed the back of his neck, and smiled again. It was such an intense and foreign feeling to be kissed right there. He can almost hear Kongpob's moist mouth moving over and around it as if he was doing it right now. He has nothing to compare to, but it felt very nice and exciting. That much he knows, and he looks forward to doing it again. He wonders if Kongpob enjoyed it as well. His blush deepens.

"Oh, excuse me." A man said for bumping his knee into Arthit's while he took the seat beside him.

Hearing someone speak to him, Arthit was brought out of his daydreams. A little annoyed, but he nodded to the man next to him. Then he looked around, and noticed that the bus was currently at a stop, and people were getting on. Then he looked outside. Hey, isn't that the old bakery? Shit! Arthit immediately stood up. This is his stop. The doors closed, and the bus started to move again.

"Stop! Please stop! I have to get off." Arthit hollered loud enough for the driver to hear him from the back.

The bus driver could be seen shaking his head through the rear view mirror. But the bus quickly pulled over, and opened its doors again.

"Thank you!" Arthit shouted loudly again before making his exit. Thank goodness he didn't miss his stop after all.

Arthit checked his watch, and it wasn't even five o'clock yet. He was relieved that traffic wasn't too bad coming home from Kongpob's. He started walking briskly towards home. For some reason, he suddenly felt something was off, but he can't put his finger on what. Arthit just felt uneasy. He had texted Krystal to let her know he was on his way home over thirty minutes ago, but she didn't respond. Arthit checked his phone again to see if something was wrong with Krystal, but she hasn't texted him back.

Arthit had an urge to run home. He doesn't know why, but he felt the need to do so. So without further delay, he took off running. Why must he run again today? It's exhausting.

Arthit finally made his way to their front gate. Everything seemed calm and quiet. Nothing out of the ordinary. Catching his breath, he fished his keys out from his backpack. He stepped inside the house with a nervous feeling. Then he heard the sound of sniffling.

"Arthit Rojnapat! Come here!"

Arthit heard his father's voice booming before seeing the man himself. He hesitantly walked into the living room. His father stood up from the couch glaring at him. He looked towards the source of the sniffling, and of course it was his sister kneeling on the floor crying.

"Where have you been? You are supposed to be grounded. How dare you disobey me?" Arthit's father yelled.

"Dad, I'm sorry. But it's not Krystal's fault. Please leave her out of it." Arthit pleaded as he went to kneel beside his sister.

"She is an accomplice. Your sister lied to me, and tried to cover for you. Do you have any idea what happened today?" Arthit's father spoke in anger with his veins visible along his neck.

"No." Arthit shook his head. He has never seen his father this mad. He didn't dare to talk back at the moment. He looked at Krystal, but she had her eyes cast down on the floor.

"Your mom just came back from the hospital. She was robbed at gunpoint this morning with Araya. Luckily, she only suffered minor bruises. It could have been much worse. We could have lost her today. Thank goodness that wasn't the case."

"What? Mom got robbed? I want to see her." Arthit got off his knees, and was ready to run to his mom. His heart was racing. He can't believe what he just heard.

"Stay right there! I'm not done with you."

Arthit kneeled right back down with a loud thump, and kept his eyes looking at the floor.

"Do you know what else happened today? I found out my children are lying to me, and sneaking behind my back. How can I trust you two to become responsible adults? You two are old enough that we shouldn't have to babysit you guys. Arthit, you snuck out when you're grounded, and Krystal lied through her teeth for you."

"Dad, it's really not Krystal's fault. I asked her to help me. I'm really sorry for disobeying, but I have my reasons. I will do anything to make up for it. I can stay grounded for the whole next month, but can I just have this month free?"

"Arthit Rojnapat! This is punishment. Not a negotiation. If you were just responsible from the start, you would not have been punished at all. Do you think I enjoy punishing you two? What do I work so hard for? I just want to give my family a comfortable life. I just want my children to become responsible adults. I've never pressured you two to do anything you guys didn't want. But the least you two should do is show me and your mother some respect under our roof."

Arthit started crying, and Krystal joined her brother with a new batch of tears streaming down her face. They both felt terrible for upsetting and disappointing their parents so much.

Arthit felt the worst for dragging Krystal into all of this mess. He looked to his sister, and held her hand like they always did whenever they were punished. There weren't that many crimes they didn't commit together.

Krystal gripped on Arthit's hand tightly, letting him know that she doesn't blame him. They were in it together like always.

The sight of the twins holding hands crying made their father start tearing up as well. In his eyes, they looked like they were six again. The time the twins tried to steal treats in the middle of the night. They climbed on top of the kitchen counter to reach the top shelf to steal the stashed away treats for a party. They placed a stepping stool on top of the counter to help reach the glass container. The container ended up hitting Arthit's head before it shattered on the floor. Arthit had a huge bump on his head that lasted a few days. Luckily, the noise was loud enough to wake him and his wife up. Otherwise, the twins could have gotten even more hurt with all the glass on the floor.

"We're sorry dad." The twins said in unison.

"Go to your rooms. You are both grounded for the rest of the week. Arthit, no allowance for the rest of the month."

"Dad, can I go see mom?" Arthit asked. He really wanted to see his mom. He needed to make sure she was okay.

Arthit's father looked at him with his mouth set in a hard line, and nodded with a hum.

Krystal went back to her room, and Arthit went straight to his mother's bedroom. He knocked gently, but no one answered. He figured she was probably asleep, so he tiptoed inside. He just wanted to see her. A part of him just needed to see her breathing.

His mother had her back towards him, sleeping on her side. So he quietly walked around to the other side of the bed. He gasped when he saw the huge bruise from her temple down to her cheek on the right side of her face. Arthit slowly squatted down in front of his mom. He gingerly pushed a few strands of her long hair from her face to the back. His mother is so kind. How can such a horrible crime happen to her? He hopes the robber gets caught, and gets beat up in jail.

"Arthit baby. You're home." His mother said, opening her eyes. She tries to get up, but she winces in pain. She was still dizzy and a bit nauseous from the blow to her head from the robber. Her body aches from being harshly pushed to the ground by the robber in haste to get away.

"Yes, mom. I'm home. You shouldn't get up. Just lay down, and get some rest." Arthit said, brushing his mom's hair back again.

Arthit's mom lay back down, and grabbed her son's hand. "Arthit, talk to mommy. What is bothering you? What is going on? You have never been like this. I promise I will try my best to understand. Are you in some kind of trouble, baby?"

Arthit looked into his mother's concerned eyes that were mixed with a bit of fear. Looking down with a frown, he bit his bottom lip. He doesn't know what to tell his mother. Will it hurt her more to tell her the truth, or will it hurt more to keep up with his lies? His mother squeezed his hand to encourage him to speak to her. He looked up to meet his mother's eyes again, and there were fresh tears running down the bridge of her nose. Then he thought for a second what his father had just said earlier, "we could have lost her." If that had happened, then he would never have the chance to tell her the truth. And he wouldn't know how he would ever have the courage to tell his father the truth without his mother being there for him.

"Mom, would you...judge me? Would you...accept me...the...the way I am?" Arthit asked in a trembling voice, and he looked away again.

"Baby, what do you mean? Are you taking drugs? We can get you help." Arthit's mother said while she finally pushed herself up. The room felt like it was spinning, but she tried hard to just focus on her baby.

"No, mom. I'm not taking drugs. I...ah... I'm...ah... just... just dating. And I..."

"Dating? Is that all? Why didn't you tell me? I can understand dating. I started dating your father at your age too. I know as parents, we want you to finish school first, but it's very normal to date at your age. As long as you are responsible, and you keep your grades up, your father and I won't have a problem. We are not that strict." Arthit's mother is so relieved that her baby is not in any trouble with bad people or drugs. But she looked at Arthit's face, and she can tell it's not all of it. There's more to what's going on here.

"Is there more to it? Oh no, is she pregnant? How old is she? Does her parents know?" Arthit's mother is immediately worried. This has got to be the reason Arthit is so scared to tell her. What should they do? They are too young. What about their future?

Arthit had to quickly stop his mother from jumping to conclusions. "Mom, no one is pregnant. I didn't get anyone pregnant. I'm not even dating a girl." Arthit said, hoping his mother understands.

"But you said you're dating." Arthit's mother looked confused for a moment. Then she looked at her son staring back at her, willing her to understand the unspoken words.

Arthit kneeled down from his squat, and pulled his hand back from his mother. He doesn't look away this time. Instead, he stares into his mother's eyes pleading for forgiveness, pleading for understanding, and pleading for acceptance. He doesn't know if this means he is gay, but he knows he loves Kongpob. He has never felt this way about another person, boy or girl. Just Kongpob. But he is a boy, and that's a fact.

"Arthit, are you sure? Do you understand what this all means?" Arthit's mother reached for his hand again.

Arthit placed his hand in his mother's. "I do. I fell in love with a person, and that person is a boy. He makes me happy like no one ever has. All I can see is him, mom. Do you understand?"

A drop of tear falls down Arthit's face. He is still looking into his mother's teary eyes. She wipes away the fallen tear with her other hand, and caresses her baby's face. He looks so much like his dad when he was young. This is not what she expected to learn today. The past two nights, she and her husband have been troubled with Arthit's sudden change in behavior. They were so sure he must be mixing in with the wrong crowd. But this, this never even crossed their minds. How will her husband take this? She looked at her baby's face. Arthit is still her baby no matter what. She loves her baby, so she will love what makes her baby happy.

"I do." Arthit's mother finally said.

Arthit scoots closer on his knees, and hugs his mother tight around her waist. He buries his head against her chest. He silently thanked God for not taking his mother away from him. "I love you, mom."

~~~~~~
AN: Hello Sweets, this chapter was difficult for me. I hope the emotions I was trying to convey came through. It's sometimes really hard to judge your own work. Please give me some feedback.

So, Arthit's mother finally knows. Her acceptance is very different from Kongpob's mother, but still full of love.

What happened to Arthit's mother actually happened to mine ten years ago. Till this day my mother is still traumatized. 😢

Facts: I'm just going to let P'Sing say it. 😏

Love you lots,
Lana ❤️