From Something To Everything (Bounprem)

150. Rage

"Prem might have forgiven Boun because he is blinded by love. But do you think Boun deserves to be forgiven with a mere apology? Is that all that Prem deserves?" Ann's waterproof makeup was stained with tears. "Prem is a human being with feelings and thoughts, Tessa. not a toy whom Boun can treat the way he likes. At the moment, they may be okay with everything. But it is only a matter of time before Prem realises his worth. By then, it might be too late for Boun to make amends."

Tessa was frozen at her spot. She was still processing everything. Other than having the fear of Boun losing the one he loves; she was shaken by the fact that her son turned out to be someone who is abusive with the people around him.

"How can we blame someone from Prem's side? If it was the other way around, if it was Boun who was being raped and beaten up, would we want him to be in such a relationship? Won't we do everything within our power to save our child?"

Ann's words finally sunk into Tessa's mind. She covered her face with her hands and started crying. "How did things end up like this? I sent Boun away from our family to stay with my parents at a young age because I never wanted him to get influenced by his dad. Whatever I did to date was for his own good. But in the end, he turned out just like his dad."

Tessa still had fresh memories of the nights when Saen would force himself on her despite her refusing him. If she ever tried to resist him, he used to beat her up mercilessly. She found it hard to believe that Boun had gone down the same path. "Boun was-"

KNOCK KNOCK

The two women were startled by the loud knocking on the door. It was as if someone was banging their fists against the door. They quickly wiped their tears.

Ann answered the door to see Ohm standing in front of it with an ice-cold expression. "Ohm, what are you-"

Ohm completely ignored his mother and strode into the room. He walked up to the wooden table and picked up a small black device.

"What is that, Ohm?" Ann asked.

"This one? It's a listening device that Fluke's dad's company developed. I found it pretty cool that I gave one to Dad." Ohm answered without looking at his mother.

"Why is there a light on it?" Tessa pointed at the red blinking light on the black device.

"The light shows that it is 'on'. It can transmit sound to the listener." Ohm tapped the air pod in his ear.

The women looked at each other. They understood that Ohm had heard their entire conversation and that explained his anger.

Ohm was just about to walk out of the room, when he paused at the door, looking back at the two women. "Can I ask something of the two of you?"

He was trying his best not to sound rude. "What makes either of you think that you are in a position to judge Boun?"

He eyed the two women who were returning his gaze in utter shock. "I mean, neither of you have any clue on what Boun have been through in the last few years. Then what makes you think that you have the right to talk absolute nonsense about him, huh?"

"Ohm we-" Ann wanted to defend herself but was interrupted by Ohm.

"Especially you, mom. You just said that your parenting went wrong. Your upbringing went wrong and stuff like that. What parenting, mom? What upbringing? I don't remember getting any of it from you. And as far as I know, neither Boun nor Dream received any as well." Ohm stared at Ann curiously as if expecting her to answer his question.

Suddenly in chuckled in mockery. "Don't tell me that what you call parenting is the time when you attended our parent-teacher meetings as both of our parent? Or the few hours you spent with us on your rare days off work, because you had nothing better to do? Or is the time you spend reading us bedtime stories once in a blue moon? Which one was it? I clearly don't remember."

Ann looked at Ohm in horror.

"Why are you looking at me like that, Mom? Am I not telling the truth? When have you been a parent to three of us?" Ohm's voice started cracking. "Yes, you did spend a little bit of time more on Boun than you did on me and Dream. Other than that, what have you done as a parent?

Did the three of us have any place in your life, Mom? If we had to talk to you, we needed to make appointments with your secretary. Do you think that's parenting?"

Ohm scoffed. "For you spending time with us was no lesser job than doing charity, Mom. And the three of us were like beggars who felt fulfilled just by getting your attention."

"OHM!" Ann exclaimed angrily.

"You don't need to get so worked up Mom." Ohm's eyes reflected his disappointment. "I understand my case, na mom. I was a mistake, an accident. My birth cost you a chance to act in that award-winning movie. I understand your attitude towards me. But what about Boun and Dream? Especially Boun? Wasn't he born because you insisted that Pa Tessa should give birth to him despite her wanting an abortion? Why didn't even spare the effort to raise him?"

Ann was beyond shocked to hear about the misunderstanding Ohm had about her. It was true that she regretted not being able to be part of that movie. But she never regretted giving birth to Ohm. The moment she first laid eyes on the baby Ohm, she was totally in love with the little being. She had never stopped loving him.

The same went for Boun. Even though she had felt disappointment about Boun's inappropriate behaviour towards Prem, that didn't mean that she loved him any less. "Ohm, things are not the way you think. Please let me explain."

"I don't need an explanation, mom. But I really want to know why you claim to love us when you don't give a damn about our lives, Mom. I really want to know." Ohm could feel the lump in his throat. He was never the kind that liked to ask questions or openly express his emotions. But the way Ann and Tessa were talking about Boun irked him so much.

"I do love the three of you and I do care about your lives," Ann said defensively.

"You care? Where were you when I got into an accident when I was six years old and was bedridden for months? Where were you when I received my first award? Where were you when I graduated from university? Where were you, Mom?  Where were you when I was growing up? You were nowhere. You were nowhere in my life."