Autumn is a second spring

11. Divorce

"I am planning on getting a divorce with P' Kao," Earth announced.

"Why the heck is everyone dropping bombs on me today?" Prem complained.

"You can't be serious, Earth!" Fluke said in astonishment.

"I am dead serious. I have already met with Jie Nami to discuss this matter." Earth said affirmatively.

"But why???" Sammy asked. "Did P' Kao do something that you are suddenly thinking of getting a divorce?"

"He didn't do anything," Earth said softly.

"Earth" Fluke placed his hands on Earth's shoulder  "Did Pa Jane say something to you when you went to drop Art off at her place?"

Earth was quiet.

Fluke scooted closer to him and side-hugged him. "Earth, no matter what she said to you, you shouldn't let it get to you." He raised Earth's chin with his finger. "All you have to know is that P' Kao, your husband, loves you and he is willing to risk it all for your sake."

"I know, Fluke! That is exactly what I don't want him to do!" Earth said with teary eyes. "Me entering his life had always meant destruction to his happiness. He lost his family because of me."

As Kao's parents had firmly said that they wouldn't accept Earth or their marriage, Kao had turned his back on them. If not for the position of the family's head bestowed to him by his dead grandfather, Kao would have long cut all ties with his parents.

"He didn't lose his family, Earth. He just built a new one with you." Sammy sat on the other side. "You, P' Kao and Art. You three are a happy family."

"We are not a happy family as you think." Tears streamed down Earth's cheek.

"Hey!" Fluke knelt in front of Earth "Why are you crying, Earth?"

Earth bit his lips and answered "You know, ever since P' Kao married me, Art had been drifting away from us. He has been deliberately keeping a distance from us. Or else why would a six-year-old ask to be sent to a boarding school? He doesn't want to live with us." He sobbed feeling increasingly guilty towards Art.

Fluke cupped Earth's face and made him look at his face "You are so stupid, Earth"

"Huh?" Earth was confused.

"Art didn't move out because he didn't want to live with you or dislike the idea of his Dad marrying you. He loves you more than anyone else damn it." Fluke said with a chuckle.

"Then?" Earth blinked.

"When he suggested the whole boarding school thing, I sat him down and had a good talk with the kid." Fluke sat back on his legs. "And guess what he told me?"

"What did he say?" Earth was in no mood for the guessing game.

"He told me that he wanted to move to the dorms so that you and P' Kao could get more space on your own," Fluke revealed.

Earth was shocked to hear the revelation. He never expected a six-year-old to think like that.

"He once overheard from someone in the main mansion that you broke up with P' Kao back then because his Mae was pregnant with him. He then went ahead and asked P' Boun. And you know P' Boun. He told the kid the whole story about Shelly getting pregnant behind P' Kao's back and forcing him to marry her for the child's sake."

Fluke gently squeezed Earth's hand and continued "He started feeling guilty that he was the reason you two split up. He wanted to make it up and started trying everything to bring you two together. And I swear Earth, Art must have been the happiest person to hear the news of you two running off to Vegas and getting married on a random day."

"If he is so happy about it, then why didn't he want to stay with us? What made him think that he would be a disturbance to us? Doesn't he know how much I love him?" Earth asked in between sobs.

Prem got him a whole box of tissues and sat down to listen to what Fluke was about to say

"Of course he does! But as a newlywed couple, you two needed your own space as well, na." Fluke smiled "Also, he started feeling that if he stayed with you guys might be reminded of your previous break-up and the related bad memories. He did plan on going back to the main mansion to live with Pa Jane. But when he heard her badmouthing you, he backed out."

Earth felt a lump in his throat. He was so touched by the thought Art had put into their relationship.

"Both your son and your husband love you so much, Earth. So, be strong and fight for what belongs to you. All the people you care about, be it us or our parents, every single one of us will support you wholeheartedly." Fluke wiped Earth's tears.

Earth lunged forward to hug his best friend and started sobbing harder.

Fluke chuckled and slowly rubbed his back in a consoling manner. "If you want, I will talk to Art and convince him to transfer out of the boarding school and be admitted to a local private school so that he can stay with you two."

Earth sat straight, wiping his tears off. "No, Fluke. I should be the one doing the talking. I will talk to him. I think I should have long had a heart-to-heart talk with him."

Fluke smiled proudly. "You are an amazing parent you know?"

Earth smiled. But there were still matters in his mind that bothered him to the point of considering a divorce. He didn't say them out loud.

"All three of you are amazing parents." Sammy pouted.

The three men looked at her in amusement.

"Even Prem, who had been the worst with the kids amongst us is raising one now!" Sammy clenched her hair. "How am I going to perform? I am going to be the worst parent in the group!"

Sammy was freaking out like any other new mother would do. "I have no idea how to change a baby's diaper or even how to hold a newborn. What am I going to do?"

The other three looked at each other and smiled.

Prem moved closer to Sammy "Sam, you are only one month pregnant. You have nine whole months to figure out what to do."

"Yes, Sammy. If you are that scared, there are places that train new parents how to take care of their babies. You can look into that and take part in their training with P' Ton." Fluke suggested.

"But still I am not going to be as good as you, Fluke! All kids love you!" Sammy whined.

Fluke scratched his chin awkwardly  "It can't be helped. It's a personal charm."

"Narssistic bitch!" Earth scoffed.

"I am only stating the facts, alright? Kids love me because of the charm I extrude. And that is not just kids who love me, even adults adore me!" Fluke said smugly.

Earth and Prem rolled their eyes and got up to go to bed.

"Hey! What's with that reaction? I am charming, alright?" Fluke said sitting on the floor.

"Yeah yeah, you are charming. Please keep your charm for your boyfriend and fans and spare us the misery" Earth said as he walked away.