Falling Leaves

Chapter 14

"Babe, I think your laptop rang."

It's been three days since Apo got discharged from the hospital. He's well and healthy now, aside from the once-in-a-while numbing in his lower back due to the medication. Mile was insistent into letting Apo rest for another week to ensure his hundred percent recovery.

Mile just got out of the bath, his hair still dripping wet. Apo wondered when was the last time Mile got a haircut. The latter then proceeded to the table where his laptop was.

"Yeah, I got a mail."

"From?"

"I'll check it later. I gotta head to the company first. Dad called earlier this morning."

Mile continued while getting dressed. "One of our delivery trucks disappeared from the GPS. Since Dad's not here, I have to handle it myself. Can't trust Tong with it, he'll fuck it up."

Apo hummed in agreement. "When will you be back? Hope you're here before dinner."

Mile walked toward his husband, "what about you being my dinner? Good idea?"

Apo coughed. "You creep. Go now. Save your business."

Mile laughed sweetly and planted a kiss on Apo's lips. "I'll be back before you know it."

Apo couldn't settle down. No matter how much he tries, even though his medication has drowsiness as a side effect, he couldn't get his mind from the mail. His hunches are seldom wrong, almost always right. Maybe the mail is from that Alaskan Laboratory, he thought to himself. But he didn't want to invade Mile's privacy, because the latter never invaded his, too.

*****

"I'm home."

It was almost 6pm when Mile came home. His tie undone, his hands have pen marks all over, and his pants crumpled like paper. Nanny Yok gasped when she went to welcome him.

"Oh my heavens, Mile. What happened to you?"

"Oh, Nana. It's been a long day," Mile slammed his ass to the couch, "I really hate it when Dad's not here. I hate the legwork."

Nanny Yok could only sigh. "Apo is waiting for you upstairs. Be sure to comb that hair of yours, you look like someone messed you up. He might have doubts."

"Nah, that's not gonna happen," Mile walked toward Nanny Yok and gave her a slight hug, "because your favorite human being trusts me with all his heart."

*****

"Husband, I'm here."

"Mile, welcome home."

Mile went directly to Apo's bed and gave him a mild squeeze. He showered his husband with sweet kisses and inhaled his scent to remove the fatigue he got from working all day.

Apo spoke. "Can we check that mail now?"

Mile looked at his husband with so much confusion. "Have you been thinking about that mail for hours?" Mile stood up and went for his laptop. "Babe that could be just a mail from the company or from my secretary."

"Just check it."

Mile stared at Apo for a while and realized that Apo may have gone through his mail. Apo was starting to tear up.

"You've read my mails?"

"Mile... open it."

Mile's heart was beating wildly. He doesn't know what to think, he can't think of any guesses of what the mail would be. All he could think of is that he made his husband cry again.

[Dear Mr. Romsaithong,

We are so sorry to inform you that you and your partner, Mr. Wattanaghitiphat, failed to meet the standard requirements for the pilot testing of the potency cure.

The medical reports have shown that several cystic inflammation were found in...]

Mile closed his laptop. His ears rang loudly and his heart seemed to stop beating. His legs gave up and that made him fall to his knees. Apo isn't doing very well at all. He's all crunched up, his head on top of his knees looking down while his arms circled around his body. Both of them looked devastated.

"How come our previous check ups didn't pick that up?"

Apo sniffed. "I don't know."

Mile was confused. He didn't know what to do. He couldn't comfort his husband because he is equally destroyed as well.

"Po."

"No."

"I tried my best."

Apo was silent.

"Po..."

Apo raised his head, his face smothered in tears.

"Mile, I want a fucking child!"

Mile stood up rather quickly and yelled at Apo. "Do you think I asked for all of these to happen?"

Apo grew silent.

"I did my best, Nattawin! I dedicated my time and my whole life just to give you what you want! You wanted a child so badly so I went beyond my capacity and even humiliated myself just to give you the fucking life you want! Do you know how insulting it is for me to tell people I can't make us pregnant? We don't even know who's got the fucking cyst but I claimed the blame because that's how much I love you!"

Apo cried more tears. A tidal wave of emotions hit him at once. A knock on the door can be heard.

"Mile."

Mile let out a very deep sigh and headed to the door. Nanny Yok barged in to grab Apo and to bring him downstairs. But she paused in front of Mile and whispered, "Get your shit together then go downstairs so that you two can talk. I'll make chicken porridge for the both of you."

Mile was all used up. He was empty to the core. He sat down on the floor, eyes wet with tears as they continue to run down his cheeks. He was enraged by the fact that Apo failed to recognize his efforts and how selfish he has become over the years. He asked himself, am I loving him too much? Should I be the one chasing him everytime he puts distance between us?

Mile is just...done.

OMG! NOOO! Damn I was crying while writing their lines 😭

I hope Mile forgives Apo and Apo sees Mile's efforts 🥺

Anyway, more updates are coming! 💗