Autumn is a second spring

67. Punishment

"That's a lot of shopping for a birthday," Kao commented seeing all the paper bags on his bed.

Earth, who was applying body lotion on his skin after a bath, glanced at his husband through the mirror. "Don't worry. All those aren't for me."

He had a huge smile on his face. Shopping could always put him in a good mood.

"I didn't say it like that," Kao knew better than to comment on his husband's shopping craze. 

"You don't have to say it out loud," Earth smirked. He knew exactly what was going on inside his husband's head. "Those are all the children's stuff. Art's, Bew's, and twins. I only got a bag for myself." He was really proud of himself for limiting his shopping for the day.

"Another bag?" Kao said subconsciously. His husband just loved collecting bags. He was sure the younger guy already had more bags than the number of hair strands on his head.

"Why? You have a problem?" Earth huffed.

"No, baby." Kao hugged his husband from behind. "I have no problem with you buying more bags na. In fact, I was even considering changing our guest room into a walk-in wardrobe to store all your bags."

"You don't have to be so sarcastic," Earth pouted. He did his best not to look at any of the stores that he usually visits. But in the nick of time, he glanced at a store and his eyes fell on the beautiful Channel bag. The moment his gaze fell on it, he knew... that the bag and he were meant to be. He could feel it. It was destiny.

Kao chuckled seeing his husband sulk. It was way too cute. He pulled Earth onto his lap. "I was not being sarcastic. I am serious. It's not a big deal to convert one of those rooms. I know how much you love your bags, alright?"

"Does that mean that you don't have a problem if I buy more bags?"

"Of course, no. You can buy as many bags, as many clothes, and as many accessories as you want. Phi is willing to pay for all of it Kha."

"You don't have to pay. I can pay for myself," Earth said fiddling with his husband's hands.

"I know, Kha." Kao stole a kiss on his husband's cheeks.

"Don't you want to see what I bought today?"

"Of course."

Earth slid down from his husband's lap, and headed to the bed, pulling Kao along. "P' Boun and Prem were confused about what outfit they should get for Bew to wear on his birthday. They called me for help." He smilingly picked up a paper bag. "This is the one I chose. What do you think?"

Kao looked at the Burgundy three-piece suit that Earth was holding. "It would suit him very much."

Earth beamed at his words. "I know and these," He picked up other paper bags. "These are for him to wear when he meets P' Merlin."

Kao looked at the clothes and then at his husband. "I thought you hated Merlin."

"Why would I hate her, phi? The one I hate is Shelly. Not P' Merlin." Earth answered as he folded the clothes and placed them back inside the paper bags.

"Is that why you allowed Art to bunk classes and join us on the Paris trip?"

Earth froze upon hearing the question.

"What are you worried about, Earth? Why are you being so affected by the news that she is coming back to Thailand?" Kao had long heard that his ex-wife would be returning with her new husband. He didn't expect the news to reach Earth as well.

Earth slumped on the bed with a helpless expression. "How can I not be worried, Phi? She is Art's mom, na."

"So?" Kao knitted his brows. "So, what if she is Art's Mae?"

"I am just worried that she would play dirty while we are away."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, I heard that she is having issues with her current husband, and they are undergoing procedures."

This was news to Kao. He didn't pay much attention to his ex-wife's news.

"I am afraid she would target Art now. Given her gambling habits, it won't be long till she finishes all of her savings. Then, she might approach Art."

"Are you worried that Art would choose her over us?"

"We can't completely rule out the possibility, right? He was just a baby when you two split ways. Don't you think that he might have a soft corner towards her like Bew has for P' Merlin? Plus, your mom. She is dead set on preventing our wedding from happening. I am sure that she would be happy if Shelly created trouble for us."

Kao sat behind Earth and massaged his tensed shoulder. "Don't stress about it too much. Art knows everything. I have told him everything about us. Starting from how we ended up getting married and how it ended. I never hid it from him. I am sure that he will make choices wisely."

"You are underestimating the manipulation power of your mom and ex-wife. Art is a kid. He might end up falling into their trap." Earth replied.

"The one underestimating is you, baby. You should have more trust in our son. He is very intelligent even though he is young. He is a good judge of character. He will be able to see through them if they attempt such a stunt."

Earth was still unconvinced. More than Shelly, he was worried about Jane. If Jane helped Shelly reach Art via her, it would be troublesome. No matter what, Art would never defy his grandmother.

"Plus, he has my blood, the Dechaphatthanakun blood, running through his veins. He won't be fooled easily."

"Says the person who knocked up his Mae while dating me," Earth scoffed mockingly.

Kao was speechless. "In my defense, I didn't knock her up on purpose. I was drugged!"

"Why? Did your Dechaphatthanakun blood not see that she might add drugs to your food when you saw it at your cousin's wedding?" Earth questioned further, enjoying the constipated look on his husband's face. He loved teasing his husband.

Shelly drugged Kao on Merlin and Alan's wedding. He had indeed had his guard lowered during the wedding as most of the people there were relatives or close acquaintances. He hadn't anticipated Shelly's arrival at the wedding nor being drugged by her.

Earth giggled silently seeing his husband brooding. "Aww, is my daddy not going say anything?"

Kao glanced at Earth sharply and in a swift motion, flipped him over and pinned him to the bed. "Are you teasing me?"

"P' Kao, what are you doing? Phi, let go of me." Earth said without the slightest bit of remorse in his tone.

"You were teasing me, right?" Kao started attacking his husband with sniff kisses.

"P' Kao, stop. That tickles," Earth shrieked in laughter.

"I am not going to stop until you learn to respect me," Kao continued his attacks.

A few minutes later Earth was starting to feel breathless from all the tickling. He had to admit defeat in the end.

Kao had a smug look on his face as he got off the bed. Earth used the opportunity to grab a pillow and shrug it at his husband in revenge. 

However, Kao dodged the attack and turned around. "Today, you have no escape!" He grabbed Earth who was standing and the bed and picked him up like a sheep.

Bouts of laughter echoed in the room as the couple got busy with the 'punishments'.