2013

The sheer curtains are pushed aside to let the bright light into the room. Every step shuffling around make a little creak that was muffled by the soft old music playing in the background. Books and trinkets were strewn all around. Boxes and boxes were being filled.

Kongpob opened his closet, and pulled out a blue suitcase. It's his grandpa's dusty old blue suitcase that have no wheels. The screws on the handles had already rusted. Kongpob looked around his room, and the chaos he has created. Pushing his glasses back, he eyed his empty bed as the only suitable space. The suitcase was heavy even when empty, but it's even heavier since it is not. Kongpob laid the suitcase down, and pushed on the tabs from both ends of the suitcase lock. It opened with two clicks.

Kongpob has seen the content inside many times throughout the years. It was a fully packed suitcase with his grandpa's clothes and two pairs of shoes from the 1950's. Kongpob has never seen his grandpa wear any of these clothes as it was clothes trending back when his grandpa was in his twenties. With a little smile, Kongpob reached his hand through the elastic band into the side pocket of the suitcase to pull out a little red pouch, and a sealed letter that had a returned stamp across the front of it. It's his grandpa's promise, and his promise.

Flashback

2002 (K8, A7)

"Heng, everyone should have a dream. You should have one too." Grandpa said as he cast his fishing line into the river.

"What about you grandpa? What's your dream?" Little Kongpob asked.

"My dream is far away. A broken promise that I wish everyday I could have kept."

Pulling on his fishing line, little Kongpob frowned. "I don't understand grandpa. Is it a dream or a promise?"

"It is both. My dream was to keep that promise. You will understand when you are older."

2006

"Heng, can I...ask..you..to do...something...for...me?" Grandpa spoke softly. Pausing almost after every word.

"Anything grandpa. Anything." Kongpob said with tears streaming down both cheeks. His mother told him the doctor said his grandpa will be leaving soon. Tonight may be his last night.

"Go inside...my room...closet. There's...an...old...blue...suitcase. Find a...letter...and...a pouch. Can you...help me...deliver...them...to the...person...for...me? I'm...afraid...I can't...deliver...them...myself."

"Yes grandpa. I will deliver them. I promise." Kongpob held his grandpa's hand tightly slouching in the plastic chair next to his grandpa's bed.

"My...dream...never...came...true, but...maybe...I can...still...keep...my...promise. Thank...you...Heng." Grandpa closed his eyes. His eyelids are getting too heavy.

"Grandpa, please don't leave me. I don't want you to go." Kongpob held his grandpa's hand against his tear soaked cheek.

"Heng, I...will...always...be...with...you. Take...care...of your...mother...for...me."

"I will grandpa. I will. You don't have to worry."

End of flashback

Kongpob picked up the handwritten letter, and the little red pouch to place inside his own suitcase that was open on the floor.

The address on the returned letter was all the way on the other side of the world. When he was twelve years old, he really didn't know how he was going to keep his grandpa's promise. He just knew he had to. So, he started saving all his money. He was ready to fly across the world to deliver his grandpa's letter and the pouch. Kongpob has not opened the pouch, or read the letter. They were both still sealed. They were not for him, so he didn't look. He searched online and all social media to try to locate the addressed person. It took him years to find the person, and now he can finally keep his promise.

Ngk. Ngk. Ngk.

The ajar door opened wider to reveal Kongpob's mother.

"Kongpob, Aim is outside waiting for you. He said you won't pick up your phone." Kongpob's mother said sticking her head into her son's messy room.

"Oh, I forgot to take the silence off my phone this morning. I will be right down." Kongpob quickly grabbed his keys and wallet to head downstairs.

He promised to spend as much time as possible with all his friends before leaving. That includes a lot of people. Even staff from his school. Tonight, he even promised to stop by the bar next to his mother's restaurant to visit their long time customer before leaving.

"Kongpob, you better clean up your room when you get back." Kongpob's mother said while fixing his shirt's collar.

"I will mom. I will see you later. Bye." Kongpob kissed his mother's cheek before closing the door behind him.

Kongpob walked up to his best friend's car to find the passenger seat already taken. So, he climbed into the back seat.

A collective "Hi" was uttered by all the occupants in the vehicle.

"Kong, why didn't you answer your phone? We really have to get going before Wad complains about missing the new movie trailers." Aim said as they pulled out of the driveway.

"Sorry. I forgot my phone was on silent."

"Hey P'Heng, this is my brother Arthit. I don't know if you two have met, but you saw him at my house the other day, right? He has nothing to do today, so he wanted to go see the movie too." Krystal said from the passenger seat.

"Oh, that's cool. It's nice to officially meet you Arthit." Kongpob smiled, and turned to Arthit.

"Yes, it's nice to meet you too P'....eh Heng or Kongpob." Arthit awkwardly put his hand out. That's what people do right? Stick their hand out for a handshake, right?

Kongpob smiled, and took Arthit's hand for a quick shake. Arthit looked really nervous for some reason. Is he not feeling well? He looks sweaty.

"Aim, can you turn the AC higher? It's hot back here." Kongpob asked.

"Okay, I'll try. This car is old, you know." Aim turned the little knob to the left. It's a miracle that his dad's hand me down old car still runs.

Arthit faced the window, and looked at the reflection of Kongpob with a little grateful smile. He doesn't know if it was a good idea or not to be here today. When he heard his sister tell their mother she was going to the movies, he purposely slumped on the sofa in front of his mom. And of course his mother asked his sister to bring him along so he doesn't sit around all day like a potato.

"P'Aim, P'Wad says they are already there. He has all our tickets too." Krystal read her text from Wad.

"Tell him we are five minutes away. I'm so excited to see Pee Mak. I've been waiting for it to come out since last year." Aim said stepping on the gas pedal.

"What is it Pee Mak about?" Arthit asked curiously. He has no idea what they were going to watch.

"It's a horror film with Davika Hoorne and Mario Maurer." Kongpob answered turning to Arthit.

"Oh." Arthit swallowed, and looked away. He is really not a fan of scary movies, but it's too late to back out now. He wondered why his sister didn't say anything about it. But he still would have come even if she had said anything.

Kongpob could sense Arthit's uneasiness, so he nudged his arm with his elbow, and Arthit looked back up to Kongpob. Kongpob silently mouthed "sit with me" to him. Arthit gave a gentle smile and a little nod in return. His face flushed with a light blush. Little butterflies fluttering in his stomach.

At the movies, Kongpob had discreetly manage to sit between Aim and Arthit. Krystal sat on the other side of Arthit, but she huddled with her other friend Mia the whole time. Arthit held onto Kongpob's forearm to his left with both hands whenever a scary scene came up. Sometimes he would even jump, and duck his head behind Kongpob's shoulder.

When the scary scenes passed, Kongpob would whisper in Arthit's ear to let him know it's safe to watch again. This went on during the whole movie. During funny scenes, Kongpob found himself watching Arthit laugh instead of the movie playing on the big screen. The sound of his laugh was contagious. The light bouncing off the silver screen highlighted Arthit's innocent smile, and it was beautiful. Neither was ready for the movie to be over when it ended.

"Arthit, can you go home by yourself? I want to go with P'Aim to see Jane at their house." Krystal asked her brother. She wanted to check on her heartbroken friend.

"Yeah, I can catch the bus on my own." Arthit replied.

"Well, my car is full heading home. Kong, can you manage?" Aim asked. His car is now full of girls going to see his sister. He wasn't really complaining though.

"Kong, I can give you a ride on my bike." Wad offered.

"That's okay Wad. You live on the opposite end of town, so it's okay. I will take the train. Besides, I'm going to stop by the restaurant. Thanks though. I will see you guys soon. Come on Arthit. The train is near the bus stop." Kongpob said as he waved, and turned around to head out the doors.

Arthit nodded, and waved to everyone before following Kongpob out the door. They walked in comfortable silence for a while. The bus stop was at the end of the mall.

"So, did you like the movie?" Kongpob asked breaking the silence.

"Yeah. It wasn't too bad. The comical parts made it better for me. Sorry for clutching onto you like that." Arthit smiled awkwardly, and bit his bottom lip. It was embarrassing, but he didn't regret watching it at all.

"That's okay. I liked the movie too." Kongpob said with his hands in his pockets.

They were quickly approaching the bus stop, and Arthit didn't want to separate yet. He still doesn't know where and why Kongpob is leaving for two years. Yet, he doesn't know how to just ask someone he barely knows. Does he even have the right to ask? He looked up at the trains. When will be his next chance? What if he doesn't get another chance?

"What train are you taking?" Arthit finally asked.

"Oh, I'm taking the BTS green line. My stop is Thong Lo." Kongpob didn't want Arthit to leave yet either. But there's really no reason to stand around.

"Are you hungry? Wanna eat together?" Kongpob asked sounding hopeful. Maybe they can eat at his mother's restaurant if Arthit is hungry. It's really not that far from Arthit's home. It's like halfway.

"Huh?" Arthit was a little confused. He was about to say he can take the train too, but he didn't expect the second question.

Kongpob stopped walking, and asked again looking at Arthit, "do you want to join me for dinner?"

"Uh, sure. I am getting kind of hungry." Arthit was so elated to be able to spend more time with Kongpob. Although, he might be too nervous to eat, but he doesn't care. He doesn't know why he is so excited, or why he is so nervous. He just knows there's a lot of foreign feelings and emotions whenever he sees Kongpob.

They walked happily together to the train. Their ride was quiet, and filled with stolen glances at each other. Soft smiles whenever their eyes met. They sat next to each other, careful not to touch. Ten stops came and went.

"Where are we going?" Arthit looked around as they got off the train.

"You're going to meet my mom." Kongpob said casually tossing his head so his hair would move to the side.

"What? Why?" Arthit was so confused. Why was he meeting Kongpob's mother? Weren't they going to have dinner?

Kongpob chuckled at seeing how confused and lost Arthit looked. He grabbed Arthit's wrist, and pulled him along.

"My mother will feed us. Don't worry. She likes all my friends." Kongpob said smiling, and continued to pull Arthit all the way to the end of the block. He was completely oblivious to all the butterflies that were running wild inside Arthit. Arthit just looked shy and adorable to him. Just like that day at the kissing booth.

Kongpob's simple touch caused Arthit's heart to pound so loud that he couldn't hear anything else around him. Arthit watched as Kongpob turned to say something to him. It was as if it happened in slow motion. Kongpob tilted his head, and smiled  softly looking into his eyes.

"We're here."

~~~~~~
AN: They are both full of unknown feelings. What do you think will happen next? Does this count as their unofficial date?

Odd Facts: Based on interviews. Despite Singto being a quiet and reserved person, he is very optimistic. He doesn't worry about much, and believes everything will just work out. However, Krist is the complete opposite. Even though he may seem cheerful and smiley, he is actually a pessimist. He worries more than necessary. Everything and anything can go wrong according to him. They truly are yin and yang to each other.