Autumn is a second spring

87. Return

Kao jogged briskly, struggling to catch up with Earth, who was storming down the hallway with long, furious strides. Finally matching his pace, he reached out, his voice strained but soft. "Earth, calm down—"

Earth whirled around, his face flushed and teary-eyed, and his expression carved with anger and hurt. "How am I supposed to calm down, Phi?" he shouted, his voice trembling. "P' Shelly, she has already visited Art's school. She went there and met him! How could your mother let this happen?"

Kao swallowed, his gaze faltering as Earth's words struck deep. This was his worst fear realized, and he felt a pang of guilt, even if he hadn't been directly involved. Shelly, who hadn't cared to reach out in years, had suddenly reappeared. And not just anywhere—she had gone straight to Art's school.

Kao followed Earth into the living room, where Earth slumped onto the couch, burying his face in his hands. His shoulders began to shake as he tried to hold back sobs. 

Kao hesitated, then sank into the single-seater beside him, feeling utterly helpless. He didn't know what words would ease Earth's pain.

Earth spoke through his fingers, his voice muffled but choked with frustration. "We should have seen this coming. Only two people could ever keep your Mom in line—Khun Yaay and Fluke. But with Khun Yaay on her pilgrimage and Fluke..." He trailed off, shaking his head. "She just couldn't resist, could she?"

The mention of Jane, made Kao clench his fists, a mix of resentment and helplessness flooding through him. He knew about Jane's deep-seated disapproval. 

She had never accepted Earth as his spouse, and even now, as Kao and Earth prepared for a wedding ceremony to celebrate their union officially, she was doing everything in her power to drive them apart. And now, teaming up with Shelly, it seemed she had finally taken a step too far.

Earth's voice cracked as he continued, each word biting with years of hurt. "P' Shelly doesn't care about Art. She never did. She abandoned him when he was a baby. Now she just wants to ruin everything because she can't stand seeing you with me. It's all just a game to her."

Kao leaned forward, his voice low and earnest. "I know, Earth, and I promise you, none of this will affect us. I will handle it. Shelly and my mother won't have a chance to hurt our family."

But Earth only shook his head, his tears slipping through his fingers. He was past the point of reassurance; all he could feel was the dread of years past clawing back to life. 

Just then, they heard the sound of the front door creaking open, and Art's voice calling out. Kao's heart skipped a beat as Art ran into the room, his small face filled with concern.

Art hurried over to Earth and climbed into his lap, wrapping his arms around him tightly. "Papa," he said softly, "it's okay. Don't be sad. I don't care if she is my mom. I will always love you more."

Earth looked down at Art, his face crumpling with emotion as he gently brushed his fingers through Art's hair. "Art..." His voice was barely a whisper, a mixture of gratitude and heartbreak.

Art smiled up at him, his eyes earnest. "If someone asked me to choose, I would choose you, Papa. You are the best parent I could ever have, and we are family, even if we are not related by blood."

Hearing these words, Earth's heart felt like it was being wrapped in warmth and light, and he held Art close, pressing a kiss to his son's forehead. 

Kao joined them, resting a hand on Earth's shoulder, his expression filled with determination.

"No one is going to ruin our family," Kao said firmly. "We are in this together." He gently wiped Earth's tears, feeling a flicker of relief as Earth's breathing slowed, his emotions finally settling.

After a while, Kao got up to return to the office, his earlier work left unfinished when he had gotten Earth's frantic call. 

Art, too, slipped away to his room, leaving Earth alone in the quiet of the living room. But as the silence enveloped him, Earth felt the earlier surge of pain creeping back.

He slowly walked to the bedroom, closing the door behind him. Slumping down onto the floor, he took out his phone, his fingers trembling as he scrolled to Fluke's number. He pressed 'Call,' holding his breath, but all he heard was the automated response—the number you have dialed is currently out of service.

"Come on, Fluke... please," Earth whispered, pressing 'Call' again. But the line was still dead.

As he sat there, clutching the phone to his chest, the tears he had tried so hard to hold back came rushing out. "Fluke..." he choked out, his voice barely a murmur. "I need you here. I don't know if I can do this alone."

The memories flooded back—the first time he had met Shelly, her words slicing into him like a blade. She had laughed, mocking the very idea of Kao marrying a man, her face twisted with contempt. 

Jane had been no better, dismissing Earth as though he was a mere inconvenience, someone unworthy of her son. He had endured it all back then,  burying his hurt because he believed in Kao and Art, believed in the family they were building together. 

But now, with Shelly back in their lives, dredging up all that pain, Earth felt like he was back in that same place, vulnerable and uncertain.

He wrapped his arms around himself, his whole body shaking. If only Fluke was here, his best friend who had always known the right thing to say, who had been there for him through every difficult moment. 

Fluke would have been able to calm him, would've reminded him of his strength. But now, Fluke was nowhere to be found, his number unreachable, and Earth felt like he was spiraling.

The memory of Fluke's reassuring words echoed in his mind. "No one can break you, Earth. You are stronger than they will ever know."

But right now, he didn't feel strong. He felt terrified. 

What if Shelly's presence shattered the life he had worked so hard to build? What if Jane finally succeeded in tearing them apart? 

He loved Kao and Art more than anything, but a gnawing fear whispered that maybe he wasn't enough to hold their family together.

Earth's sobs grew quieter, the room cloaked in stillness. Somewhere deep inside, he knew he couldn't let his doubts show to Kao or Art. They relied on him, needed him to be strong. He couldn't allow them to see the fear that lurked in his heart, the doubt that Shelly had brought back to life with her return.

But Fluke... I need you. I don't know how to handle this without you.

He stayed there on the floor, his hands clutching his phone tightly, as if willing his best friend to return. But the silence on the other end remained unbroken.