Autumn is a second spring

48. Poppy

"My initial plan was to discuss with P' Ohm and then decide according to his opinion but Fame's interference messed up everything. Dad is urging me to sign up the surrogate and I don't even know how to open the topic to P' Ohm." Fluke put down his spoon next to the empty soup bowl.

"I don't think that P' Ohm will have any problem with that," Prem said as he finished his soup.

"I just don't think it is fair to him, Prem. He having to raise my child~"

"Fluke stop. Stop it right there." Prem raised his hand in the stop sign. "What do you mean it is not fair? Am not I looking after Bew even though the little one has nothing to do with me? Isn't Earth looking after Art? Why did this 'unfair' term come up when it is P' Ohm?"

"I didn't mean it like that. It's just that..." Fluke sighed. "It's just that he had already been upset about Fame's case, but he didn't say anything. If I go and tell him about this, he might agree out of his love for me. But I still feel that I would be taking advantage of him."

"What are you doing to do now?" Prem picked up the bowls and stood up. 

Fluke tried to help him do the dishes, but he declined. Fluke sat on the high stool and continued the conversation.

"I don't know. I am totally clueless. I chose one surrogate hoping that it would put Dad and Mom at ease for the time being. In the end, it triggered their urge to be grandparents and I am totally screwed."

"I really don't understand what is the problem here. Don't tell me that your parents want you to use natural methods and sleep with that surrogate?"

"What the fuck, Bub? My parents wouldn't say that! They are worried about how my relationship with P' Ohm would impact the child."

"How the fuck would your relationship with P' Ohm impact the children? I do agree that P' Ohm tends to be a bit possessive and is not really happy about letting you give all your attention to others, be it kids, me, or even Latte." Prem filled the dog bowl with food and placed it on the floor.

The three-year-old beagle ran over to the kitchen when it smelled food.

"But I don't think that there would be a problem if it is your own children." Prem settled on the high stool next to Fluke, watching his pet eat his food. "I have noticed that P' Ohm actually likes kids. As long as the kids are not stealing your attention away from him, he is really sweet to the kids. I have seen that the other day when we went to the temple, where there were so many child monks. He was really friendly to them. The children didn't want to let him leave in the end."

"Liking a kid and raising one isn't the same, na. It is a huge responsibility. My Dad thinks that gay relationships aren't strong enough to take on such a big responsibility."

"Why don't you try to show them how strong your relationship actually is? I think that would help you convince them."

"It is easy to make a normal person see something, Prem. But for a person who had tied blinds over his eyes, it would be difficult. My Dad is not even willing to listen to me."

"Dami! Poppy!" A childish scream was heard from behind.

Koi followed Bew into the house. She had picked him up from the kinder garden.

"Thank you, Jie," Prem sincerely thanked the lady, while picking up his son. He could have gone to pick the kid but he was afraid that Fluke would use the opportunity to sneak out again. That was why he asked Koi to pick Bew up.

"I will get going then," Koi waied at them and left.

"Poppy, what happened to your forehead?" Bew asked curiously.

He had picked up the habit of calling Fluke 'Poppy' from his elder cousin, Art.

"Poppy fell down and got an owie." Fluke acted as if he was really hurt and was in pain.

"Does Poppy's owie hurt so much?" Bew asked with concern.

"It does," Fluke said pitifully. "Poppy's owie will only stop hurting if Bew gives Poppy a kiss." He said tapping his cheeks and he squatted down to the little guy's level.

Bew leaned forward and gave a deep wet smooch on Fluke's cheeks. He really liked his Poppy. Poppy was fun.

"Aww. Thank you, baby. Poppy's owie is totally gone. It doesn't hurt anymore." Fluke cupped the child's face and gave him a few kisses.

"Bew, come here. You haven't washed your hands and face since you came from kinder garden." Prem said.

Fluke let the child go. Bew ran to his Dami and raised his hands upwards, asking Prem to carry him.

Prem picked him up and headed upstairs to wash the kid up.

Fluke stood back up and headed to the living area. 

"Little lady, you really need to learn how to respect your elders," He said to the black and white cat who was snuggled up in a comfortable position on the couch.

The cat was Prem's pet. Her name was Dona.

Ever since he came, Dona has paid no attention to him. She didn't give a shit about the human visitor.

Fluke made a face at the cat and picked up Latte. Since she was ignoring him, he would ignore her too.

Latte loved being petted. So, he was more than happy to be picked by the human.

Fluke settled on the lounge chair on the balcony with Latte in his arms. "I wonder how long this peace is going to last." He mumbled to himself as he started playing with the dog.

"Poppy!" Bew who was washed up and put on fresh clothes, ran over to him.

"Bew, how many times did I tell you not to run on the stairs? When will you ever listen to me?" Prem followed the toddler closely behind.

"Sorry, Dami" Bew said not-so-sincerely before rushing to play with his Poppy and puppy.

Prem sighed and shook his head. The child will only learn after he falls once and gets himself injured.

He headed to the kitchen to prepare a fruit bowl for the child. He knew the little one was hungry as he just returned from school. If not for Fluke's presence making him excited, the kid would have first gone to the kitchen to get food.

By the time he reached the balcony, the uncle-nephew-pet trio was having a good time.

"Bew, your Poppy is not well. Don't make him run around like that," He set down the fruit bowl.

"But Dami, Poppy only comes here once in a while na. I don't get to play with him so often." Bew pouted.

"Don't worry, this time, your Poppy is going to stay here for a few days." Prem fed him a bunny-shaped apple slice.

"Really?" Bew's eyes lit up.

Fluke stared at his friend.

Sensing the stare, Prem raised his head. "P' Ohm won't be home for another two or three weeks, right? Don't even think of going back home. You are staying here until you are fully recovered."