Chapter 11: Wedding bells

Prapit rushed into the bar, while Chakri stayed in the car.

Chakri knew exactly what was coming, and he couldn't help but smile to himself. No one could fluster his boss like Akat.

Prapit searched the bar for Akat and spotted him sitting in a dark corner, staring intently at an empty glass.

Prapit sighed. He went and sat next to him.

"Didn't I ban you from drinking?"

Akat gave him a vacant look and diverted his attention back to the glass.

Prapit tried again, "Why did you go alone? Don't you know it's dangerous?"

Akat still looked at the glass. Prapit turned Akat's face towards him. "Look at me when I am talking to you."

Akat looked at him. "I don't want to talk to you." He turned his attention back to the glass.

Prapit was lost for words. "Did you just say you wont talk to me?!"

Akat shrugged, "I don't like you."

Prapit sat paralysed. "You don't like me?"

Akat mumbled. " It was because of you Prapit scolded me last time remember?"

"Who?" Prapit asked again, for he felt a bit lost. Akat did not respond.

Prapit looked utterly confused. "Okay, so who am I?"

Akat giggled, "When you yourself don't know, how will I know?"

Prapit pursed his lips. "Stay here, I'll pay the bill and come."

He went up to the bartender. "How much did he drink?"

"One martini." Prapit stared hard. The bartender shrugged his shoulders.

"Okay, I'll pay for it. Did he cause any damage?"

Did he kiss random people or pinch their cheeks, is what he wanted to ask.

"No. He just sat staring at the glass."

Prapit nodded. He then propped up Akat against his arm and dragged him out.

"Let me go, I don't want to play with you."

Prapit didn't say anything. People around gave him weird stares but he ignored. "Don't scream words like play out loud in a bar for god's sake. People might get the wrong idea."

Akat gave a goofy smile and pinched him on the cheeks. "Ah, we don't want others playing with my kitty."

Prapit chose to ignore that as he gently pushed Akat inside back of the car, and seated himself next to Akat. Chakri started the car, glassing at the rear view mirror to make sure they were confortable before taking off.

Akat closed his eyes and sat quietly. Prapit glanced at him. "Akat, are you okay? Are you feeling sick?"

Akat mumbled," I'm okay. Just waiting for Prapit to come."

"Are you waiting for Prapit?"

Akat nodded and lay his head on Prapit's shoulder. "I won't play with kitty today." Next second, Akat was lost to the world.

Prapit carried Akat and tucked him in bed, before laying next to him.

Akat's face looked pink, and the black curls gave him begged to be stroked. Prapit sighed, to attack a sleeping partner was unchivalrous, he reminded himself.

After a few seconds, he felt Akat snuggle close to him.

"Akat?"

"Prapit, you are here," Akat murmered.

"Why did you go alone today? Hm? What if something had happened to you?" Prapit asked him softly, stroking his hair gently. He was well aware that Akat was asleep, maybe barely conscious.

He didn't expect a reply, but Akat did, by mumbling, "I thought about how happy I was to be able to marry the guy I love, and then realised, I don't know if Prapit loves me. Am I being a burden?"

Prapit stared at the sleeping face. He felt wretched. How could Akat not know how much he really loved him?

He gently kissed him on the forehead, and whispered back, "I love you more than you'd ever love me."

Akat smiled contently as he continued to sleep.

Prapit cursed himself for not being able to tell those words when Akat was awake. Why did he feel so shy about expressing his feelings?

Twelve hours later...

Akat was in a daze. They signed the register. They were officially married.

He looked at his hand, at the white gold band.

When Uncle Maran and Chakri wished them happiness, he felt he was living a dream.

"Mom, Dad, are you watching me now? I am the happiest man alive. I wish I could share this happiness with you," Akat thought to himself.

Immediately after the wedding, they went back to their cottage.

"Akat, there are some things I need to discuss with you."

Akat, who lay lazily on his bed, sat up.

"Yes Prapit."

"For the next few months, whatever you see or hear about me, I want you to ignore it. Only trust me. Okay?"

Akat nodded. He didn't understand though.

"I don't want people to know we are married yet. There may be times that I'll have to hide it, but I don't want you to be hurt. I need to close a case that I'm working with the Chief. Once that is done, we can host a grand party and invite our close friends, but you will promise me that you won't hold a grudge against me for that."

Akat just looked at him.

Prapit tried to figure out what Akat wad thinking. Was he thinking Prapit was having another person? A good reason to not tell the world they were married. He didn't want such an impression of himself in Akat's mind. He tried to clarify himself, "Please trust me, I might not look it, but I never cheat."

Akat asked, "Will you get hurt?"

Prapit looked surprised, "Huh? If I'm in your shoes?"

Akat shook his head. "No, will you get physically hurt because of the support you are providing to the inspector?"

Prapit's expression softened. Ofcourse, Akat only thought about him. "I'll be very careful."

Akat noticed, Prapit didn't answer his question.

"I can forgive anything, bit if something happens to you, I will never forgive you." Akat said quietly.

Prapit walked to where Akat sat and gently put his arm around Akat's head, which he gently pulled towards himself.

"I won't risk making you angry again," Prapit muttered under his breath.