Autumn is a second spring

81. Operation

The hospital hallway was too bright for the somber mood that enveloped the two cousins. 

Kao's heart raced as he looked at the crumpled consent form in Boun's trembling hands.The ink was smeared in places, a result of his cousin's shaky signature. 

Ohm's life now hinged on this piece of paper, an authorization for emergency surgery. 

Kao had stayed calm, but the weight of the situation was suffocating. He patted Boun's shoulder in a futile attempt to comfort him. 

Boun looked at Kao with wide, tear-filled eyes, still dazed, as the resident doctor took the signed form from his hands.

"We need to proceed immediately," the doctor said, his voice steady but urgent. "Please make sure the bills are settled soon."

Kao gave a short nod. Boun was still staring blankly at the form as the medical team wheeled Ohm down the hall towards the operating theater. His tall, broad-shouldered cousin, who normally exuded confidence and life, now lay unconscious, his face pale and covered with an oxygen mask.

"I will handle the bills," Kao muttered, trying to keep his voice from cracking. 

Boun didn't respond. He just sat down, pressing his hands over his face, trying to stifle the sobs that were slowly taking over him.

As Kao left to find the billing office, the sterile white walls seemed to close in on him. It was a dizzying realization—just hours ago, everything was normal, and now, Ohm was teetering between life and death. He tried to shake the thought from his mind as he approached the payment counter.

"Relation to the patient?" the receptionist asked.

"Cousin," Kao replied, though he felt the words stumble out awkwardly. Ohm's parents were halfway across the world, and he and Boun had to be the ones to step up. The thought of Ohm's parents getting that call—that dreadful call—chilled him to the bone.

By the time he returned to the waiting area, Singto, Ohm's paternal cousin, had arrived. 

Kao watched as Singto, with his jaw set and eyes dark, crouched in front of Boun, his hand gripping Boun's shoulder tightly.

"What happened?" Singto demanded, his voice hushed but firm. His tall figure loomed over Boun, who looked more fragile than ever.

Boun shook his head, tears now streaming freely down his face. "I don't know, P' Sing," he stammered between sobs. "All I got was a call from the paramedics... they said Ohm... Ohm was in an accident... and I rushed over. That is all I know."

Singto gritted his teeth, fists clenched at his sides. 

Kao could see the anger bubbling beneath the surface. Singto was a man of few words, but when he spoke, the words carried weight, often sharp and cutting. 

Kao had never seen him like this—silent, but trembling with rage.

Kao stood still for a moment, watching as Singto dialed someone on his phone, pacing back and forth in the hallway. His back was rigid, muscles tense. When the call connected, his voice was low and controlled at first. But after a few moments, his restraint broke.

"What the hell were you thinking?!" Singto's voice cracked like a whip, loud enough to startle Boun, who flinched at the sudden outburst.

Kao hurried over, just as Singto ended the call with an audible curse, his face flushed with frustration.

"What happened?" Kao asked softly, though his stomach churned at the thought of the answer.

Singto's eyes flickered with a mixture of anger and pain as he turned to Kao. "I spoke with one of Ohm's subordinates," he began, the words heavy on his tongue. "They found traces of Fluke in Europe a few days ago."

Kao's heart sank at the mention of Fluke, the name that had caused so much anguish for Ohm.

"Ohm... was drunk," Singto continued, voice cracking just slightly. "He was so excited to get the lead on Fluke's whereabouts that he rushed to the airport."

Kao felt a wave of nausea wash over him. So that was it. That was why Ohm had been driving so recklessly. He was chasing Fluke again.

Boun, who had been quietly sobbing, suddenly stood up, his face twisted with rage. "It's all Fluke's fault!" he shouted, fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. "If he hadn't left—if he hadn't—" His voice broke, and the anger quickly dissolved into more tears.

Kao reached out, resting a hand on Boun's arm. He didn't say anything, but his silence was an effort to steady Boun, who was unraveling under the weight of his emotions. 

Inside, Kao was torn. He understood Boun's pain, but blaming Fluke wouldn't change anything. Fluke had left for his reasons, and Ohm... Ohm had made his own choices.

The hours dragged on. None of them said much after that. They sat together, Boun's head resting on Kao's shoulder while Singto paced, occasionally glancing at his phone, eyes filled with frustration. 

The hospital was eerily quiet now, the waiting area almost deserted. It was well past midnight, but none of them dared close their eyes. They couldn't—Ohm was still in surgery, and every second felt like an eternity.

Finally, after what seemed like an endless stretch of time, the doors to the operating theater swung open. A team of doctors emerged, led by the surgeon, who looked weary but composed.

The three cousins scrambled to their feet, rushing over to the doctor, anxiety etched on their faces.

"Doctor—" Boun started, his voice shaky.

The doctor held up a hand to calm them. "The surgeries went well," he said. "But I must tell you, Ohm is still in a critical condition. We have done all we can, but he is not out of danger yet."

Boun inhaled sharply, and Kao felt a lump form in his throat. Singto clenched his fists again but remained silent.

"We will be moving him to the SICU[1] for close observation," the doctor continued. "If he stabilizes over the next 48 hours without any further complications, we will move him to the normal ICU. But for now, we need to monitor him very closely."

The relief was palpable, but so was the lingering fear. They had gotten through the surgery, but the fight wasn't over yet. Kao could feel his legs weakening from the overwhelming emotions, but he nodded, trying to maintain his composure.

"You got him here just in time," the doctor added. "If you had been even a minute later, we wouldn't have been able to save him."

Tears welled up in Boun's eyes again, and this time, Kao didn't try to stop him from crying. Singto, usually stoic, let out a long, shaky breath.

"Thank you, doctor," Singto said, his voice low but sincere. Kao and Boun echoed the sentiment, their gratitude mingled with fear for what the next few days would bring.

As the doctor walked away, the three cousins stood there, still processing everything. There was relief, but also a deep sense of helplessness. Ohm's life still hung in the balance, and all they could do was wait.

[1] SICU-  Surgical Intensive Care Unit - The SICU is dedicated to patients who have undergone major surgical procedures that require close post-operative monitoring due to the potential for complications.