(Mutual pining + Arranged marriage)
The uniting of the Rojnapat and Suthiluck families was an event long anticipated by many. Arthit just never expected to have to be the one getting married, much less to a man he’d never met. Kongpob Suthiluck was two years his junior, but his list of accomplishments was far from small.
In fact, Arthit had taken to tuning out conversations whenever Kongpob’s achievements were the topic of discussion. There was no possible way someone so young had managed to accomplish so much. If pressed, Arthit usually replied that he’d be impressed when Kongpob demonstrated his capabilities as opposed to going in biased. There was never any word if Kongpob found Arthit at all interesting or was impressed by his achievements, so Arthit refused to give the younger man the satisfaction.
Regardless of Arthit’s inability to be impressed or Kongpob’s unexpected indifference, both families expected it to be a good match. Kongpob and Arthit were both educated and both families were of similar backgrounds, even if the Suthilucks had been fortunate enough to move up the social ladder in recent years.
Arthit was far from helpless, but through all the arrangements and formalities, the only thing Arthit hoped for was that Kongpob was as kind as people said. What else could make an arranged marriage bearable?
The day of the wedding came sooner than Arthit had expected.
Kongpob was finally introduced to Arthit and he was exactly as described. Perfectly handsome, perfectly polite and gentlemanly, and perfectly perfect. It irritated Arthit to no end.
Kongpob offered his hand whenever Arthit had to step up. He pulled out Arthit’s chair. His wedding presents for Arthit were the kind of puzzles and books Arthit adored. The cherry on top was Kongpob’s infuriatingly perfect and charming smile.
Arthit refused to acknowledge his heart skipping beats whenever he saw that smile.
What soon surprised Arthit was Kongpob’s mercurial attitude. Kongpob had been perfectly polite and respectful during the ceremony, but once they were alone, he was awfully cheeky.
“Will you share your thoughts with me,” Kongpob asked during their ride to his home. It was decided that Arthit would move in with Kongpob as he had his own home already while Arthit had still been living with his parents. “P’Arthit looks like he’s got such large thoughts brewing behind his eyes.”
“You cannot make me share if I do not want to.”
“I shall find a way to make you comfortable enough to share.”
“And how will you do that?”
“I will charm you until you are happy.”
“They say that if you take care of your wife well, she will confide in you. I have already made you my wife, I need only make you happy.”
It was the little things that slowly added up and changed Arthit’s mind and heart. Cups of his favorite drink. Dinners where Kongpob did his best to stomach Arthit’s too spicy favorite dish. Nights of quiet companionship.
Kongpob never made any overt advances, the only kiss they had shared was on their wedding day. But the small touches to Arthit’s waist and wrist were all the more potent in making Arthit’s heart flutter because of it.
“Would I ever be able to persuade you, P’Arthit, to fall in love with me,” Kongpob asked one evening.
Arthit’s face turned pink before he yelled, “Not in your wildest dreams!” When Kongpob frowned slightly and turned back to his dinner, Arthit whispered to himself, “Maybe I already have…”
Five months after their marriage, Kongpob asked for a divorce.
“I cannot keep you here, as selfish as I have been,” Kongpob said gently. “Perhaps I was too foolish.”
“What can you possibly mean!? I haven’t complained once!”
“You do not remember me, do you P’Arthit?”
Kongpob turned to look out the window of his study. “It was many years ago and we were just barely older than children. Our families had introduced us to each other. It was when they were arranging our marriage.”
“I… I don’t remember that day very well. I fell sick shortly after.” Arthit frowned. “I remember a lot of visitors, my parents going into the office for a talk… A smile, warm and bright.”
Kongpob at last smiled a little. “I fell in love with you that day, P’Arthit. I had just turned ten. You were the most amazing person I had ever met.” Kongpob turned around to face Arthit again and took Arthit’s hands in his. “So when my parents told me I would be marrying you, I was so happy. I thought I could make you fall in love with me too.”
“I confess, I haven’t tried as hard as I could… You’re an intimidating man P’Arthit. And you’re hard to impress.” Kongpob stroked his thumb over Arthit’s knuckles. “But every day I see you, and I see that I have not been able to change your heart.” Kongpob shook his head. “I want you to be happy P’Arthit. If being here with me makes you unhappy, then I should let you go.”
“Kong, wait.” Arthit pulled Kongpob close by the front of his shirt and kissed him. Kongpob was stunned into silence. “I… I’ve never been good at expressing myself.”
“Don’t file for the divorce.” Arthit played with Kongpob’s tie.
Kongpob’s smile was wide and bright and Arthit was struck with the force of it. “Will you say it properly for me, P’Arthit?”
“Well…” Kongpob pulled Arthit closer, hands on his hips. Arthit leaned in and whispered into Kongpob’s ear, his face burning red. “I love you, Kong. Don’t file for the divorce.”
“In your dreams!” Arthit shoved Kongpob off and stormed out. “I’m not saying it again!”
“Wait P’! I haven’t replied properly yet!”
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