Chapter Text
Kongpob never knew that supermarkets could be this emotion inducing. Or rather, it was the fact that he was watching his boyfriend struggle with both his phone as well as lots of chaotic pointing to finally get a hold of all the products he wanted to get a hold of. Kongpob leaned upon the trolley handle, gazing fondly at the other who was now busy thanking the poor confused supermarket aunty. The elderly lady smiled and patted the elder of the two on the shoulder, clearly amused by the other’s antics.
Finally satisfied, Arthit made his way back to Kongpob with his various bags of meat and dropped them into the trolley. Pointing at each bag, he mumbled under his breath before turning on his heel once again to march himself down yet another aisle. Shaking his head, Kongpob sniggered to himself as he trailed after the other close by.
When Arthit had mentioned going by to the supermarket, this was most definitely not what he had been expecting. He had watched Arthit load up the trolley that was now getting increasingly full for the past hour. Following his boyfriend, he was surprised that the other had strolled down the medical aisle, throwing various medications for headaches, flus and many other common illnesses along with multiple bottles of vitamins.
“Phi? Are you feeling unwell?” Kongpob frowned, concerned. He hadn’t noticed anything amiss with the other. Had he been that oblivious?
“Huh? No?” Arthit answered confusedly before he returned right to his agenda of picking up items and tossing them into the trolley.
“Then what are all these for P’Arthit?”
“Oh. They’re for you.” Arthit hummed. “Come come, we still have to get you some insect repellents and we’re done.”
Kongpob froze slightly as he watched his boyfriend stride away. This entire trolley of things then.. Were they for him as well? Shaking his head slightly, he chased that thought away. It was impossible that Arthit would buy this many things for him, surely some had to be for himself to take home.
“Kong! Hurry! We still gotta pack all these before I leave.” Arthit hollered, waving Kongpob over to him.
“Ka, P’Arthit,” Kongpob called in response as he quickly plodded over.
“Why were you daydreaming? We have so much to do when we get back!” Arthit chided as he dragged the trolley by the front, making sure his boyfriend followed.
~***~
Kongpob grinned absentmindedly to himself as he unpacked the many items from the plastic bags they had barely managed to carry home. It was his studio apartment wasn’t it? So why was it Arthit who had kicked him out of the organisation of things and rendered him to merely unpacking as he watched the other place item after item in his cupboards, fridge and freezer.
“P’Arthit, you’re packing everything away, what about your things?” Kongpob asked, folding a plastic bag to put away.
“These are all for you.”
“Huh?”
“Let me put them all away, then I’ll show you where everything is,” Arthit quipped as he continued packing things into containers to place into the freezer.
After a good half an hour of Arthit nagging and Kongpob following instructions, the pair was finally done. Pulling the younger one by his hand, Arthit stood in front of the fridge, pointing at the various things inside.
“Okay. So you’ve definitely got enough eggs to last you for a while. There’s the other basic spreads for bread if you don’t have time to grab food in that compartment. Sauces are by the side as well as milk. Try to drink a little less coffee, especially when you get your migraines.”
Then opening the freezer, he pulled out a small container. “I’ve packed these for you so you can make yourself quick meals. Don’t skip them. Just pull out one of these and make a quick stir fry or soup. The noodles and rice are all in the cupboard over there so you can cook them together.”
Dragging Kongpob a little further down, he began opening each cupboard, listing the various contents in them, reminding him to always start using the products from the front to the back as they are arranged by expiration date.
Finally stopping at the small shelf that was closest to the outermost of the kitchen, Arthit turned to face Kongpob.
“And these, these are the things you have to take every day, okay? There are multivitamins of various kinds here, I’ve asked my mum, these are the more trusted brands. And over there are all the other medications in case you get sick..”
At the word sick, Arthit’s voice broke slightly and he stopped talking almost immediately. Blinking a few times, he shook his head. “No, don’t use this section. Just let them rot and expire here.”
“Phi..”
“You have to take care of yourself na Kong?” Arthit’s voice reduced to a whisper. He knew perfectly well the younger boy was more than able to take care of himself. But he also knew how hard his boyfriend pushed himself when it came to the things he wanted to achieve, sometimes at the expense of his own health. Kongpob spent most of his time taking care of him, making him meals, and ordering food for him when he got home late. But Arthit couldn’t help but worry that he would not give himself the same attention.
Kongpob’s dam of emotions broke as he drew Arthit in close for a hug. So that was what all that had been for. Arthit had really gone through all that trouble just for him. How was he going to let him go tomorrow when Arthit had to return to Thailand?
Having his boyfriend here had been such a dream the last few days. Even though all they did was get Kongpob settled into his apartment and they barely even had the chance to sightsee around the area, Kongpob had loved every moment of it. Truth be told, he wasn’t all that confident as he had seemed, flying off to China on his own for his scholarship studies. But having Arthit here to make sure everything was okay calmed him down immensely.
“What about heart medication Phi?”
“Huh? Kong what are you saying? What’s wrong with your heart?”
“You’re taking my heart back to Thailand with you, don’t I need medication for that?”
“Kongpob!” Arthit exclaimed, “don’t say things like that! You scared me!”
“Aw, but it is true Phi. What am I going to do without you?” Kongpob nuzzled in all the closer, burying his nose tight into the crevice between Arthit’s neck and shoulder.
There was a moment of silence before Arthit replied softly. “You are going to take care of yourself, you are going to ace your studies, then you are going to come back to me.” He said slowly but surely, his words warming Kongpob’s heart.
“Besides, you have my heart with you, you will be fine.”
Kongpob grinned, pulling back to watch Arthit’s flush climb slowly from his neck to his face and then his ears. He nodded enthusiastically, “en, I will hurry back to you. Phi, you will wait for me right? We will call every night and I’ll come back during all the holidays.”
Arthit flicked Kongpob’s forehead lightly. “Don’t be silly, you can’t come back for all the holidays. Just the long ones will do. And I’ll.. I’ll try to come too. And at the end of it all, I will be right here waiting for you to return. You remember right? You promised me that if one day we were to be separated, all I have to do is wait for you to come back to me. So that’s exactly what I’m going to do. I’ll count the days till you return to me.”
“Phi.. you can’t say things like that..” Kongpob whined.
“Why?”
“Because now I’ll need both medication and CPR.”
“Huh?”
“Because you just took my breath away.”
“KONGPOB!!”