Autumn is a second spring

84. Eighteen

Boun sat beside Ohm's bed, his eyes tracing the soft rise and fall of Ohm's chest as he breathed. It had been a torturous wait—every hour stretched out as if it were an eternity, and the days bled together in a dizzying haze of worry and guilt. 

Ohm's surgery had been successful, but the lingering tension refused to ease. He was finally out of the ICU, transferred to a VIP ward that felt oddly impersonal despite the privacy it offered. 

But the fact that Ohm had woken up earlier that day was a sign of hope, and Boun clung to it with everything he had.

Yacht, his brother-in-law, stood beside him, his hand resting on Boun's shoulder. "Boun, listen to me," Yacht said gently. "You've got to stop being so hard on yourself. Accidents happen. You know that as well as I do."

Boun gave a faint nod, glancing away. "I know, Phi, but I... I just feel like I could have done more. Should have noticed, or—"

"You did everything you could," Yacht interrupted, squeezing his shoulder firmly. "And you are still here, looking out for him. That matters more than anything."

"Khrab" Boun managed a small smile. "Thank you, Phi. I appreciate it."

At that moment, James appeared at the door, looking around before spotting Boun. "Khun Boun," he said with a slight bow, "the doctors are here for their check-up on Khun Ohm."

Boun nodded, rising from his seat. "Thanks, James."

James stepped aside, letting Boun enter the room as the medical team followed, led by the head surgeon, Doctor Tae Darvid. 

Tae was young, his white coat crisp and spotless, yet his reputation preceded him. He was known as one of the best surgeons in the country, and Boun had trusted him implicitly throughout Ohm's treatment. He nodded respectfully to Tae, who acknowledged him with a polite smile before turning his attention to his patient.

"Khun Ohm," Tae greeted, his tone professional yet kind. "How are you feeling? Any discomfort?"

Ohm looked up, his face stoic, though the bruises and bandages gave him a vulnerable appearance. "Nothing too bad, Khrab" he replied in a low, calm voice. "Just a bit dizzy at times."

"That's normal," Tae assured him, his pen tapping lightly against his clipboard. "The dizziness is likely due to the medications you are on. I recommend you take more bed rest—it will help with the healing."

Ohm gave a small nod, his face unreadable.

Boun watched Ohm intently, noting the neutral expression on his face, one that he hadn't seen in years. It was like a glimpse into the past, a time when Ohm had been more guarded, before life had brought them together and allowed him to see Ohm's softer, warmer side. 

Now, seeing that old, emotionless mask resurface gave him an uneasy feeling he couldn't quite explain.

After a few more routine questions, Tae straightened and gave a satisfied nod. "Your recovery is looking promising," he said, his tone calm and confident. "But I need to run one more test before we wrap up here."

Ohm's brow creased, a hint of impatience slipping into his voice. "Another test? What more do I need to do?"

"It's not a physical test, don't worry." Tae offered a reassuring smile. "All you have to do is answer a few questions."

Ohm hesitated but eventually nodded. "Alright. Go ahead."

Tae glanced at his clipboard and began with the first question. "What's your full name?"

"Ohm Thitiwat Ritprasert," Ohm answered without hesitation.

"Good," Tae said, noting down the response. "Now, can you tell me your parents' names?"

"My father's name is Seth Satdha Ritprasert," Ohm said, pausing before he continued, "and my mother's name was Ann Anaya Dechaphatthanakun."

"And how old are you, Khun Ohm?"

Without missing a beat, Ohm replied, "I am eighteen."

Boun's eyes widened, and he exchanged a quick, surprised glance with Yacht, who stood nearby. Eighteen? Ohm hadn't been eighteen in years. 

They waited, watching Tae for any reaction, but he stayed calm, only nodding and writing something down.

"Alright," Tae continued evenly, "are you a high school student?"

Ohm shook his head. "No, I am not in high school. I am a freshman in the Faculty of Business Administration at Chulakorn University."

Boun felt a chill crawl up his spine as Ohm answered. This wasn't just a small slip in memory—it was as if Ohm truly believed he was still a teenager.

 Tae didn't react outwardly, simply continuing his questioning, but Boun could sense he was evaluating each response carefully.

"Can you tell me about your family?" Tae asked.

A flicker of reluctance passed over Ohm's face, but he answered. "I am the eldest child of my parents. I have a little sister, Dream."

Tae nodded, glancing at his clipboard and checking a few boxes. Beside him, one of the interns was jotting down every response, her face a mask of professional concentration, though Boun could sense a hint of sympathy in her expression.

The questions continued, covering a range of topics that seemed to stretch back into Ohm's teenage years. 

Boun felt his heart twist as Ohm spoke about events from over a decade ago as if they had just happened. It was like he was looking at an old version of Ohm, one he hadn't met, and it left an unsettling emptiness in his chest.

Finally, after half an hour, Tae closed his clipboard and looked at Ohm with a reassuring smile. "That is all, Ohm. You did great. I will let you rest now."

Ohm gave a slight nod, his face softening just a bit as he waied. "Thank you Khrab, Doctor Darvid."

Tae turned to Boun and motioned toward the door. "Khun Boun, could you join me in my consultation room for a moment?"

Boun felt his pulse quicken. He didn't know what to expect, but he had a sinking feeling that Tae's evaluation was more serious than he had initially thought. Giving Ohm a gentle pat on the shoulder, Boun whispered, "I will be right back, okay?"

Ohm gave him a faint nod, his gaze distant as Boun followed Tae and his team out of the room.

Boun sat down in the quiet, sterile office, his gaze fixed on Tae, who was seated across from him. Tae took a deep breath, studying Boun with a seriousness that made Boun's heart pound a little faster.

"Khun Boun," Tae began gently, "what you witnessed back in the ward— Khun Ohm's responses—they are due to a temporary memory loss. He seems to have forgotten about nine years' worth of memories."

Boun's eyes widened. "Nine years?" His voice came out in a strained whisper. 

Tae pulled out a CT scan of Ohm's head, pointing to a specific area. "Khun Ohm suffered a concussion, and it's pressing on a nerve that's crucial for memory function. That is what caused the temporary amnesia."

Boun, feeling the weight of the information, swallowed hard. "Is there... is there any way to treat it?"

Tae leaned back, his expression steady but cautious. "There are two options," he began. "The first is surgery to relieve the pressure on that nerve."

Boun frowned, waiting.

"But," Tae continued, "I wouldn't recommend surgery. Khun Ohm's just been through multiple major surgeries, and his body's in a fragile state. Adding another procedure now would be very risky."

Boun's face tightened with worry. "So... what is the other option?"

Tae looked at him reassuringly. "The second option is medication. It's a longer path—one that could take days, weeks, months, or even years. The memory may return gradually, or it may take time to come back fully."

Boun took a shaky breath, struggling with the decision. "I don't want to put him through more pain," he murmured, more to himself than to Tae.