Work Text:
Kongpob, having done all his tasks for the day within the first hour of his shift, relaxes against his seat's backrest and looks at the remaining things on his desk, an empty folder and, beside it, his already-turned-off laptop. Working at Siam Polymer has been a great experience and has taught him a lot, but he'd like it if he has something to do most of the time. Yes, he's the company owner's son, but to him, it shouldn't mean he's just here to display himself and fill in that role. Sometimes, on slow days, like today, he can't help but feel useless and guilty because all the people around him are still busy with their tasks, like his boyfriend, who's probably sweating hard on the production department floor.
Shortly after Kongpob returned from his postgrad and accepted the position his father offered to him, he was able to convince Arthit to move too by saying that his father wanted Arthit in the company. While it's not purely Kongpob's father's idea and Arthit somehow felt he didn't have a choice, Arthit still found it to be a great opportunity, not only for his career since he'd be moving up, but also for his relationship with Kongpob. The two years of being away with Kongpob made him realize he loves taking care of him in whatever way or form, and working with him would mean more chances to do exactly just that.
That's why three weeks ago, Arthit moved in. Arthit, being the adaptive person that he is, was able to smoothly transition to his new position, impressing the higher-ups, including Kongpob's father, and Kongpob couldn't be more proud.
The computer screens around him all turn off, and Kongpob notices people shuffling and dispersing one by one. He looks at the clock, and he can't believe it's already lunch break. Kongpob has learned a long time ago that thinking about his boyfriend does that, and even after many years, it hasn't changed. With nothing else to do, he takes off his blazer and decides to pay a visit to the production floor.
Arthit has promised Kongpob he'd bring him to the new food house at the block that sells the tastiest fried rice according to his father's secretary. Kongpob has been asking for it for weeks now, but Arthit regrettably always had to bail out because of the workload in the prod floor. He also said since he's new at the company, there's a need to impress his bosses, which Kongpob completely understands but argues that it shouldn't be at his cost. This morning, however, before they stepped out of their apartment, Arthit promised Kongpob he'd finally bring him to the place, and that's the reason why Kongpob is skipping in his steps right now.
Kongpob excitedly steps out of the elevator as soon as the door opens, but halfway to his boyfriend's department, he bumps into the intern who's currently working in procurement. He expects the intern to at least greet him, but she doesn't seem to notice him. Kongpob catches the confused look on her face, and a long drawn out sigh from her stops him from taking another step. One look at the intern tells him that something is wrong. He shoots a longing glance at the door to the production floor before he decides he should probably make sure that the intern is alright. At least, he can do something today, right?
"Khun Cotton, are you okay?"
The intern visibly wakes up from whatever world she's in and stops her steps. "Oh! I... I'm sorry. Good afternoon, Khun Kongpob," she utters and lets out a nervous laugh. "I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm sorry I didn't notice you."
"Are you sure? You look really bothered. Is there something I can help you with?" Kongpob questions, frowning.
The intern shakes her head, a smile on her face now, and if Kongpob hadn't seen her just moments ago, he would believe she's fine.
"It's just..." she looks around the area like she's making sure they're not overheard before she lowers her voice. "It's the new assistant production manager."
Kongpob knows exactly whom she's referring to.
"Khun Arthit," she specifies as if she needs to.
Kongpob's eyes widen. "Him?"
What on earth could his boyfriend have done to this poor lady that made her look so lost and confused?
"Has he done something?" Kongpob asks. He's now very interested in knowing this because if Arthit had unknowingly done something to make this girl uncomfortable, he would want to know. And he's sure Arthit would want to know, too.
"No, he's... he just... I mean..." And then the words come tumbling out. "He's so dreamy! He walks around the production area looking so incredibly good in his pastel button-ups, and it's entirely too distracting. I was sent there to hand some papers to the manager, but I saw him, and I completely forgot why I was there! I had to quickly get out of there to try and clear my head before going back. He's just so...! Have you seen his smile? I asked him to hand this one document to the manager, and he smiled, and I think I almost fainted!"
Well, that hadn't entirely been what Kongpob was expecting, but he also can't blame the lady. Arthit definitely does look very good in his work attire, and Kongpob often finds himself distracted too whenever he sees him, or when they arrive home and it's time to take off the work attire in question.
When Kongpob returns from his thoughts of disrobing Arthit, he sees the intern slapping her own lips, looking terrified by what she has just admitted.
"OMG! Please don't tell him I said that!"
Kongpob smiles to try and ease the poor woman's worry. "I won't. I won't tell him."
Which is a lie.
He can't wait to tell Arthit everything. But he will only tell Arthit because Arthit will surely blush, and Arthit looks so adorable whenever he blushes, the red high on his cheeks as he ducks his head. Kongpob doesn't notice at first, but now, he's the one being distracted by thoughts of Arthit... again.
The intern relaxes at Kongpob's words. "But honestly?" she continues for some reason. "It wasn't like that in that department before. How does anyone get any work done in there now? I need tips because one look at his smile and that's all I can think about for the next hour."
"He does have a nice smile," Kongpob muses, thoughts back on Arthit and his gorgeous smile, of course.
"His lips must be soft," the intern mutters.
Yes, they are, Kongpob answers in his mind.
The intern's swooning leads Kongpob to his own musings again, and he almost forgets the situation he's in right now. Right now, his goal is to help out this woman with her hopeless crush.
"Well, good thing you don't do much of your work in the production department, so that's not 100% of your shift wasted by being distracted by him," he says.
The intern drops her shoulder, suddenly looking inexplicably sad. "That's true. I won't get to see his handsome face all day."
The laughter bubbles out of Kongpob before he can stop it. When Arthit started working at their company, Kongpob, being in the procurement department, a floor and three doors away from Arthit's department, felt exactly the same way.
"I guess you would have to ask people to have you deliver more papers to him then," he says teasingly.
The intern laughs.
Kongpob laughs too, but mostly because the intern is clueless that she's talking to her crush's boyfriend.
Technically, Kongpob believes there's no lying being done here. Everything he has said so far is true. But Kongpob can't help but feel kind of guilty, so he comes to the decision that he should break it to her. Maybe it will help her out in the long run. But before Kongpob can think of a suitable way to do it without embarrassing her or making her feel uncomfortable, they're interrupted by a figure appearing in the hallway.
"Hey, you're here," Arthit greets his boyfriend. He taps Kongpob's shoulder and then faces the intern. "Khun Cotton, nice to see you again."
The intern's eyes are suddenly lit with adoration, and Kongpob shoots her a guilty smile.
"Are you ready?" Arthit asks Kongpob. "P'Dave asked me to use the lunch breaks I didn't use this week, so we can stay in that restaurant as long as you want," he says while the intern is staring at the movement of his lips."
"Yes, I was actually on my way to get you," Kongpob responds. Instinctively, he grabs Arthit's hand and intertwines their fingers together. "Since you have time today, can we have ice cream after?"
Arthit smiles. "Of course."
"Yes!" Kongpob explains, squeezing Arthit's hand in the process.
Arthit, amused by his boyfriend's natural childishness, chuckles and tugs at Kongpob's hand. "Should we also buy a to-go box for your por? He might skip lunch again today." Arthit asks. Within the few weeks he's been here, he has learned that the CEO hates eating at the cafeteria and eating out but won't ask for help from other people to bring him food.
Kongpob nods. Completely forgetting the predicament he's in, he turns to the opposite direction and comes face to face with the intern's gaping mouth.
"I—"
"Oh—"
"I—"
"You're dating Khun Arthit?"
Kongpob stops thinking of what to say because there's no other way to explain this. This... is just this. He smiles awkwardly at her.
The intern buries her face in her hands. "You're the boyfriend they were talking about! And you just let me say all... all those things! Oh my god!" She shakes her head. "I'm so sorry!"
Kongpob laughs, hoping to ease some of the intern's guilt and embarrassment. "Don't worry about it. It's fine. Everything you said is true, so I can't really blame you for saying it."
"Wait," Arthit interrupts, the syllable in sync with the ding of the elevator. "What are you two talking about?"
Kongpob watches how the intern intensely shakes her head and quickly shoves herself into the elevator.
Kongpob can't help but laugh. He can't wait to tell Arthit.
~
"She said she likes your smile the most," Kongpob says later that night. "She was also wondering whether your lips are soft."
Kongpob's right about his prediction.
Arthit's face instantly turns red.
And of course, when his boyfriend ducks his head in embarrassment and looks so incredibly adorable, Kongpob becomes powerless to do anything but tilt Arthit's head back up with a hand under his chin and press a gentle kiss to his lips.
And yes, Cotton, they are soft.
"Maybe I need to be more obvious about who I am in your life, P'Arthit," Kongpob whispers against Arthit's lips. "There might be more like her around, and I still haven't forgotten about P'Dave."
"Kong, he's my boss!"
"And I heard him say you're cute."
At the thought of more people admiring him, Arthit's face turns even redder, and he ducks his head again in embarrassment.
And only he is the one to blame for the fact that Kongpob has to kiss those soft lips again.