Who the hell is she? How many more are there?

Can they just come out all at once? Where's the bus?

Arthit stood there not really sure what's the proper reaction he should display. Should he shout, and demand to know who the hell is the woman that Kongpob is all over? Or should he politely let them know his presence? Maybe being polite would be better. He should give Kongpob a benefit of the doubt right? Right. And just when he was about to get ready to clear his throat, Popeye scurries over to Kongpob barking.

Woof  Woof

Kongpob looks down smiling at Popeye, and bends down to pick him up. He noticed Arthit's presence, and smiled brightly.

"Good morning Arthit." Kongpob said while he nuzzled his nose into Popeye's neck.

No wonder why his pup is such a traitor. Look at the way he is melting into Kongpob. Back to the problem at hand. The woman still had her back towards him, and didn't even bother to turn around. Kongpob is not showing any reaction to him walking in on whatever they were doing either.

"Good morning. Uhm, do you need any help?" Arthit nervously asked.

Kongpob turned around to the woman, and spoke too soft for Arthit to hear over the exhaust fan that was running in the background.

The woman didn't really respond much other than waving her free hand a few times while she continued to stir whatever she was making with her other hand.

All Arthit can see was that she had mid-length brown hair tied in the back.

~~~~~~

Arthit's POV

Kongpob walked up to me with Popeye in his arms.

"Kongpob, who is that? That's not Sachi is it?" I spoke softly raising an eyebrow at him.

"No. I wish it was, but it's not. Just whatever you do, stay calm. Don't let the fear show. She feeds on fear. She's my mother." Kongpob tried to whisper.

Dun Dun Dun. I literally heard that in my head. What the fuck! I looked at Kongpob, and started to panic. Is he kidding me? I agreed to be his boyfriend for less than 24 hours, and I have to meet the parent already?

"What should I do? I've never had to meet my boyfriend's mother."

A flash of irritation flitted across Kongpob's face. I probably should stop mentioning my ex in front of him.

"Just stay calm." Kongpob said, and then he turned around pushing me forward.

"Mom, I want you to meet Arthit. He is my boyfriend."

What the fuck did Kongpob just say? Why don't he just feed me to a pack of wolves? How can he just detonate a bomb like that? I wanted to be buried right then and there.

The woman finally turned around carrying the pot she was stirring. She settled it on the countertop, and looked straight into my eyes.

***Sonya Suthilak***

The woman was strikingly beautiful. Do all the women in Kongpob's life look this beautiful? She finally spoke, and that broke the awkward eye contact.

"Boyfriend?" She looked from me to Kongpob. Not giving away much with her straight face.

"Yeah. I'm going to go shower and change now. You guys can talk." Kongpob said as he handed Popeye over to me.

Oh my God. Is he really leaving me with his mother? He pecked me on the cheek, and turned to leave. Why did he kiss me? Fuck. He is really leaving me.

"Kongpob. Kongpob." I tried to call him back. I even wanted to stomp my foot in protest.

I turned back around at the sound of her voice.

"Don't be scared. I don't bite. At least not yet. Come over here." Kongpob's mother said.

I put Popeye down, and cautiously walked closer to the kitchen. She watched me the whole time.

"Hi. I'm Arthit Ronajpat." I extended my hand across the counter for a handshake.

"I know who you are. I know everything about you. I just didn't think you would become my son's boyfriend."

She studied me and my extended hand for a while. Her piercing eyes sent chills down to my core. She smirked, and then walked around the counter that kept us apart. I can feel my knees going weak. I put my neglected hand down, and nervously pivoted my body towards her.

"My son. My one and only son who has sworn to be a forever bachelor suddenly has a boyfriend. What should I make of this Arthit?" Kongpob's mother walked from my front to my back. I feel so naked under her scrutiny. I can totally imagine her dangling that bully upside down now.

"I.... I don't know ma'am. It just....ah happened." I'm so nervous, I'm trying really hard to not freak out.

"Call me Sonya. I'm Sonya Suthilak. So, tell me. What are your intentions Arthit? Are you really his boyfriend? Don't lie to me. I let my guard down for one second, and he runs off to Japan, and comes back with a boyfriend. You really are something." Sonya walked back to the other side of the counter. She laid out a few bowls.

"I am." I said softly.

"You are going to have to speak louder. I can't hear you." Sonya says without looking at me. I can feel my hands get clammy.

I took a deep breath, and tried to muster all my courage. "Yes, I am Kongpob's boyfriend. I have no other intentions ma'am." I said as loud and clear as possible. I squeezed my hands into fists.

"Arthit, do you know who my son is? Are you ready to be his boyfriend?" Sonya asked as she used a ladle to scoop the jok into the bowls. She then pushed a bowl towards me.

"I know he is Kongpob Suthilak, but that's not the reason why I'm with him. We can be discreet ma'am. No one has to know about us." I told her, hoping she won't try to ask me to leave Kongpob.

"Sonya. Call me Sonya. Discreet? Are you ashamed of my son?" She drops the ladle in the pot glaring at me. If looks could kill, I would be dead this instant. Which is probably preferable at this moment.

"No! No, Sonya. That's not what I mean. I'm not ashamed at all. It's unbelievable that Kongpob wants to be with me...."

"Kongpob wants to be with you huh? So, are you saying you don't want to be with my son?" Now Sonya crossed her arms across her chest.

"No! I really like Kongpob. Of course I want to be with him. I just don't want people to know so soon, and it will probably bring too much unnecessary attention for Kongpob. And I don't...."

Kongpob came up behind me, and grabbed my hand, stopping me from continuing my defense. He pulled me to sit down on one of the counter stools. He is completely unaffected here.

"Mom, please leave him alone. Just let him be. I'm comfortable if he is comfortable." Kongpob says as he dragged a bowl of jok towards himself, and pushed my bowl closer to me. "Mmm....this is really good mom. I miss your cooking."

For the first time, Sonya breaks out into a smile beaming at her son. She quickly scooped more jok into Kongpob's bowl. Her smile made her cold demeanor disappear. I wished my mother would look at me with so much adoration.

"Here, have some more sweetie. You are too skinny. You should come home more often. And just so you know, if I have to take another call from Nina about you've gone missing, I'm going to smack you." Sonya said as she watched her son eat contently.

Kongpob nodded without saying anything to that.

"Arthit, you should eat too. We should get going soon. I can drop you off around the corner of the building if you want." Kongpob offered.

"Uh, yeah. That would be great." I didn't really think that was necessary since I've been going in the office with him these past weeks, but maybe he is just being cautious. See, he wants to keep it a secret too.

I picked up my spoon to eat, and Kongpob is right, this jok is really good. I'm not a big fan of jok, since I don't usually eat it unless I'm sick. It's usually too bland for me, but this is very tasty.

"Thank you for breakfast. It's very good." I said honestly.

"You're welcome. This was Kongpob's favorite jok when he was little." Sonya said as she started to eat too. I made a note of that.

"Kongpob, remember this coming Saturday. Don't be late." Sonya suddenly chimed.

"Mom, maybe I should skip this year. I mean, what about Arthit?" Kongpob said as he continued to stuff his face with jok and fried dough.

"You have to go. You are one of the main reasons people come." Sonya said, and then she looked at me for a second. "Arthit, you can come too. You guys want to be discreet, then you can be my date." She eyed me challengingly.

"What's going on Saturday? Where are you going?" I nervously asked Kongpob.

"It's a charity auction. My mom is one of the board members." Kongpob said.

"Yes, and Kongpob goes every year." Sonya added.

"Uh, I can just stay home. I don't have to go." Oh, please let me stay. I'm begging the gods in the heavens. Whoever is writing my fate, let me pass on this one.

"Don't be silly. Are you turning me down? You don't want to be my date? I promise you will have fun. And besides, if you're going to be my son's boyfriend, then you better be ready to attend all these functions." Sonya said with a smile that's scarier than her glare.

I looked to Kongpob for help, and he just shook his head.

"Okay, I'll go."

Do I really have a choice when she puts it like that? I don't know what I have gotten myself into this time. Maybe being his boyfriend isn't such a good idea now.