Beam put his bag on the sofa and took off his socks. He felt very tired, after a day of handling two major surgeries and facing an emergency in the emergency department because there was a series of accidents on a highway.
"Forth, where are you?" Beam asked, staring at the second floor. His and Forth's room was sealed shut and he didn't see Forth anywhere. Where did Forth go? He had said nothing in his message a few hours ago before Beam ignored his cell phone to be called to the emergency department.
Beam opened all the doors of the rooms in the apartment but couldn't find Forth anywhere. He took out his cell phone and made a call. The Forth phone is in an inactive state. What happened to Forth? This isn't what it used to be.
Beam called Lam. "Hello Beam, what's up?" asked Lam matter-of-factly.
Beam shook his head. The ice prince never changes, even though he ends up marrying the engineering group clown--Park.
"Lam, where are you?"
"At the office. There's a meeting with a client from Japan in an hour. Why are you asking?"
"Is Forth there too? He turned off the phone."
"Forth? No. He just came here this morning to sign some paperwork, give some new material for the project, then left with Geny. He's not home yet?"
"He went with Geny?"
"Yeah. Looks like they have a job together. Forth looks like he's in a hurry."
"Ah, fine. I was probably too worried."
"Maybe he ran out of battery on his phone, Beam. Just wait."
"Lam, you're coming to my party, right? Next week? How are Max and Tul?"
"Of course we'll come, Beam. Anyway about the party, if you need any help, just tell me."
Beam hung up after saying a few other things. He sat on the sofa and stared at the wall in front of him.
Forth lied to him. Forth's last message said that he was home and would wait for Beam to come home. Was he mad that Beam came home late and didn't tell him?
The chaos in the emergency room makes Beam have to delay his return and forget to notify Forth. But why did Forth have to say he was home, when it turned out that he wasn't home at all.
Whose house is he referring to? Geny? That hot-bodied woman who likes to wink at Forth in that flirtatious style? Well, he was a good accountant at Forth, but Beam didn't like his flirtatious style.
Beam bath to refresh the body, then make fried rice for dinner. It was almost 11 pm when Beam got into bed. Forth wasn't home yet and his cell phone was still off. Beam was restless, but feeling tired and sleepy made Beam finally fall asleep.
Forth opened the bedroom door carefully at 2 am, trying not to make a sound and wake Beam. He took his clothes from the closet and took a shower in the bathroom downstairs. He was already wearing comfortable pajama pants when he finally climbed onto the bed next to Beam.
He looked at Beam and smiled at the wet tip of Beam's nose. Forth's hand reached out to wipe the sweat away, then he leaned in and kissed Beam's forehead.
"Forth, you just got home?" murmured Beam, squirming. He opened his heavy eyes and looked at Forth.
"Ssh... Baby, go to sleep," Forth whispered as he kissed the tip of Beam's nose. He stroked Beam's silky hair.
"You have eaten?"
"Yes. You make good fried rice."
Beam smiled gently and pushed himself closer to Forth, seeking the coolness from Forth's bare chest. Forth grabbed Beam's slender waist against his body and hugged him tightly. He kissed Beam's hair until he heard a soft snoring sound from his husband.
Beam woke up late the next morning. Forth's embrace made him comfortable and fell asleep very soundly. He saw the side beside him was empty and when he came downstairs after taking a shower, he only saw the dishes on the dining table. Tuna spaghetti, egg and cheese salad, orange juice and a piece of chocolate cake.
Beam sat on the dining chair and picked up a small piece of paper next to the salad bowl.
"Baby, I prepared breakfast for you. Finish it before you leave for the hospital. Sorry I didn't wake you. You slept very well and I had to leave early in the morning. I have something to take care of. Drive safe, my dear. I love you."
Suddenly Beam felt bad in his heart. It was not Forth's habit, to come home very late and leave very early, without saying anything to him.
"Kit," Beam said, calling Kit.
"Beam? What's wrong, calling me so early?"
Beam biting his lower lip, when he heard Ming's voice in the background, called out to Kit and asked where Kit put his shoes.
"I... no, Kit, sorry to interrupt your morning. Say hello to Ming."
"Hey Beam, is this about Forth?"
Beam is stunned and cancels touch mode to disconnect.
"Err... why do you ask that?"
"You promise you won't think anything of it if I say it, Beam?" Kit's voice sounded cautious.
"Just say it."
"I saw Forth yesterday, with a woman. Two days ago, Ming also saw him with a woman, and heard Ming's description, it seems to be the same woman."
Beam's heart sank. He felt his hands and feet begin to shake.
"Kit, I have to go to the bathroom, I forgot to turn on the hot water tap. I'll call you later."
"Hey, Beam, call me right away if...." Beam hung up before Kit finished his sentence.
Beam stared motionless at the dinner table, trying to unravel the confusion in his mind. What Forth was doing with the woman, which Beam believed must be Geny. They were together a lot these days and Forth never said anything to him at all?
Beam pulled out a salad bowl and started to scoop, when his phone rang and a message came in.
Beam looks at his phone and reads Phana's name as message sender. Beam opened the message and was stunned.
Phana sent a photo of a screen shot and a sentence in capital letters. [BEAM! WHAT'S THIS? DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS?"]
Beam stared at the picture Phana had sent him. An article with photos. Forth and a woman are seen sitting together in what looks like a restaurant, their heads pressed against each other. The photo was taken from behind and the caption reads, "Forth Jaturapoom, the guitar King with a sexy woman. Where is doctor Beam? Is their relationship okay?"
Beam's tears slid down his cheeks imperceptibly.
*****
