Autumn is a second spring

28. Secretary

"Now you tell us, what's going on in your life," Kao said eyeing his cousin.

"What about my life? My life is fine" Boun answered nonchalantly. There was pretty much nothing happening in his life. It was the same old things happening every day. 

He would go to work in the morning and come back to find his son making a mess at home. The only good thing was that his Pao was staying at home and not in the national team dormitory. Other than that there was nothing new.

Kao sighed "I heard you punched Khun Kora at the negotiation meeting." 

It had practically become the talk of the town that Boun had punched one of the biggest investors of Guntachai industries right in his face.

"Oh, that? That bastard was harassing my staff!" Boun was burning in anger as he thought of that day. He didn't regret punching the old man even for a bit, even though he lost the deal.

"Harassing your staff? Which staff was it that you got so worked up" Ohm found it odd that Boun suddenly lost his temper and attacked someone.

Even though his cousin had been a troublemaker in the past, he had been very tamed in recent years. After having taken on the responsibility of Bew and the Guntachai family, this was the first time he was causing trouble.

"James, my secretary. You know, that old bastard tried to grope him while he was peeing." Boun felt absolutely disgusted at the memory. Kora's behaviour reminded him of his father who enjoyed being inappropriate with his staff.  

Boun explained how Kora had been trying to take advantage of James and had been making the latter feel uncomfortable every time they had a meeting.

"Boun, don't you think you are being too concerned about this particular staff?" Ohm asked.

"Of course I am concerned. He is one of my best staff." Boun started praising James.

Kao and Ohm made eye contact and kept silent, letting Boun continue rumbling about James.

Boun noticed the weird silence from his cousins. "Why are you two so silent?"

Kao took in a deep breath and said "Boun if one day we have to choose between you and Prem, we will side with him."

Boun blinked at the statement. "What makes you say that?"

"Nothing. Just saying." Kao sipped his drink leaning against the backrest of the lounge chair.

"Tell me what it is, phi" Boun knew that his cousin wouldn't say that without any reason. He turned to Ohm "Ohm, you tell me what it is. I know something's up."

Ohm raised his head to look at Boun. "We were just saying it in case."

"In case what, Ohm?"

"In case you decide to break up with Prem, we would support that kid," Ohm replied.

Boun let out a chuckle of disbelief. "If you two haven't realized it yet, I will tell you, my Pao is my life, okay?"

"Is he? Boun?" Kao asked with a sarcastic smirk.

"What is that supposed to mean, phi?" Boun asked with a frown on his face.

"We just feel that your priorities have been changing these days that~"

"Pao had always been my priority, phi." Boun interrupted Kao. "And he always will be!"

"We will believe that if that's what you say" Ohm shrugged.

Boun looked alternatively between Kao and Ohm. He was so sure that those two were mad at him. But he found it unreasonable. He felt that he was the one who should be mad at them in the situation.

Despite his anger, he wanted to know what triggered both his cousins even to think that he was going to break up with his Pao. "Just tell me directly what you guys want to say."

Ohm met his gaze with a stoic expression. "You want us to tell you directly? Alright! Just answer this one question honestly. What is going on between you and James?"

Boun was bewildered by the question. "What do you mean by 'what is going on between me and James?'"

"Just answer the question, Boun" Ohm said.

"Seriously?" Boun couldn't believe that his cousins were asking him such a question.

"Boun, we are your phi-nong we won't judge you for anything. So, tell us honestly, what is going on between you and your secretary?" Kao was at his wit's end as he asked this. He wasn't planning on opening the topic that evening. But somehow he did.

He had long wanted to sit down and have a talk with Boun about his relationship as he, as an outsider could clearly see the rift that was growing between the couple.

As Boun's cousin and someone who watched Prem grow up, he couldn't actually take sides in the matter if they fell apart. He could only use his brain and think logically before siding with Prem, who was at a disadvantage in the whole relationship.

"Are you guys out of your mind? What kind of question is that? There is nothing going on between me and James! He is my secretary for god sake!" Boun didn't even realise that his pitch was rising with each word.

"You don't have to yell, Boun" Ohm said without an ounce of emotion in his voice.

"I WASN'T YELLING!" Boun grabbed Ohm by his collar. His eyes were welling up with tears of anger as he stared at Ohm.

Ohm too grabbed Boun's collar. In the past two years, his relationship with Prem had grown really deep as both of them had two people they cared for the most in their lives. One was Fluke and the other was Boun.

He had developed a protective brotherly instinct towards Prem and the latter welcomed the approach with open arms. As a single child, Prem had always wanted a big brother and when Ohm volunteered to fill in to that position, he was more than happy. 

"Boun, Ohm, what are you doing?" Kao was stunned by the turn of events. He just wanted to peacefully have a talk about the matter with Boun. He didn't expect his younger cousins to get into a fight because of this. "Let go of each other! I said let go!"

He forcefully pulled his two cousins apart. "What the heck is wrong with you two?"

Ohm and Boun glared at each other as they patted their clothes as if dusting off the dirt. They have never gotten into an actual physical fight before. This was the first time they raised hands on each other, other than in the training ground.

This was exactly what baffled Kao. He couldn't even imagine Boun and Ohm locking horns like this before that day.

"You are asking what is wrong with me? You two are bloody accusing me of having some kind of improper relationship with my secretary! Was I supposed to stay calm and listen to you two talk bull shit about me?" Boun was extremely hurt.

Kao and Ohm were the closest people to him after Prem. He was having a hard time digesting the fact that they thought of him like that. Especially Ohm, who was not just his cousin but also his best friend. It was unbearable to see the distrust in his eyes.

"We wouldn't have asked if you hadn't been neglecting Prem so much and spending all your time with your secretary." Ohm retorted angrily.

Kao massaged his temples. He knew that things were going to get rough for the night.