Autumn is a second spring

89. Plan

Boun glanced at his phone screen for the umpteenth time that day, his brow furrowing in annoyance. The same number had been calling him persistently for days. Each time he picked up, the line was dead—no sound, no response, just silence. 

At first, he thought it might be a technical glitch, but now, it was beginning to feel more like a deliberate nuisance. 

Frustrated, he blocked the number, slid the phone into his pocket, and let out a sigh.

Walking through the glass doors of his office, Boun immediately noticed something unusual. 

The staff, usually scattered across the open workspace, were huddled together near one of the desks, their heads bent low as they spoke in hushed tones. 

There was an air of secrecy around them, like children whispering about a mischief they weren't ready to share with an adult.

Curious, Boun approached the group, his footsteps soft against the carpeted floor. "What's going on here?" he asked lightly, startling everyone. 

A collective gasp escaped them, and a few even yelped in surprise.

Boun blinked, taken aback by their exaggerated reaction. "What's with you all? Did I turn into a ghost or something?" he teased, watching as the employees visibly relaxed and began patting their chests dramatically.

Meg, a bubbly yet outspoken member of the team, was the first to respond. "Khun Boun! You nearly gave us a heart attack!" she exclaimed, glaring at him, though her tone was more playful than scolding.

"Me? You are the ones acting suspicious," Boun shot back with a smirk. "What were you whispering about that made you scream like that?"

Pae, a quiet but observant member of the team, gestured for Boun to step closer. "We thought you were James for a second," he explained, his voice low as though the name itself carried a weight.

Boun's confusion deepened. "James? Why would that scare you?"

Without another word, Pae tugged Boun into the circle. A sleek MacBook sat open on the desk, and Pae pointed to the screen. "Look at this."

Boun leaned in, frowning as he took in the images displayed. 

The photos showed a man and woman in a series of intimate poses—laughing, holding hands, and leaning into each other with an almost theatrical display of affection. 

The vibrant captions and hashtags added fuel to the obvious narrative.

Meg's voice cut through his thoughts. "Khun Boun, don't you recognize them?"

Boun glanced up, shaking his head. "Should I?"

Pae sighed, exchanging a look with Pon, the youngest of the group. Rang, who rarely spoke out of turn, finally chimed in. "It is P' James's ex-boyfriend... and his fiancé."

Boun's jaw tightened as he processed the information. He swiped through the photos, each one more blatant than the last. His heart sank a little for James. 

Though James had always kept his personal life guarded, everyone in the office knew he'd recently ended a long-term relationship. To see the ex-boyfriend so shamelessly flaunting a new romance so soon—it was downright cruel.

"They are bold," Boun muttered, handing the MacBook back to Pae. "Posting this online, knowing James might see it."

"Bold? More like trashy," Meg scoffed, crossing her arms. "They don't even look good together! And look at these captions. Who does that?"

Rang, who was the office's self-appointed empath, sighed deeply. "I feel terrible for P' James. He really didn't deserve this."

"None of us deserves that," Pae added quietly, shaking his head.

Meg, ever the firebrand, suddenly straightened, her eyes gleaming with determination. "We have to do something for N' James. He is clearly hurting, even if he is trying to act normal. We can't just sit by and do nothing."

"Do what exactly?" Rang asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I don't know yet," Meg admitted, turning to the group as though seeking approval. "But we need to cheer him up. Show him that we are here for him."

Pae nodded. "That's a good idea. It's obvious he is putting on a brave face. He needs support, even if he won't say it."

Everyone murmured in agreement, their earlier whispers now turning into an excited brainstorm. Pon, Pae, and Rang tossed out suggestions, each more outlandish than the last. 

A surprise karaoke night, an elaborate prank on James's ex-boyfriend, even a group vacation—all were eagerly discussed and just as quickly dismissed.

Meg, clearly unimpressed, finally held up a hand to silence them. "No, no, no! These ideas are all over the place. We need something meaningful, not just random fun. Something that shows we care."

Her gaze landed on Boun, who had been quietly observing the discussion with an amused expression. "Khun Boun," she said, her voice turning imploring, "you must have some ideas. You are always good at this kind of thing."

Boun shrugged, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Don't look at me. I have got nothing. But you all seem pretty determined—take your time and come up with something. Let me know once you have a solid plan."

Meg frowned. "So, you are not going to help us?"

"Of course, I will help," Boun replied, his tone reassuring. "I will be there for whatever you decide. Just make sure it is a good plan."

Meg still looked skeptical. "You are not going to back out at the last minute, are you?"

Boun laughed. "I promise I won't. Just keep me posted."

At that moment, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out and saw James's name flashing on the screen. "Excuse me," he said, stepping back a little to take the call. "James? What's up?"

James's voice came through, calm but slightly hurried. "Khun Boun, I am in the parking lot. P' Koi is going to be late so we will have to pick Bew up from kindergarten."

"Yeah, that totally slipped my mind.  I am on my way," Boun replied. "I will be there in a few minutes."

As he ended the call, he turned back to the group. "That's my cue. James is waiting for me downstairs. I need to pick up Bew."

Meg's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "You are not using that as an excuse to avoid helping us, are you?"

Boun gave her an exasperated look. "I already said I will help. I will be part of whatever plan you come up with. Just don't expect me to come up with the ideas, okay?"

Meg huffed, but her lips curved into a grudging smile. "Fine. But don't you dare ghost us when it is time."

"I wouldn't dream of it," Boun said, shooting her a playful wink before jogging toward the elevator.

As he stepped inside and the doors slid shut, Boun felt a mixture of emotions. His employees' camaraderie and care for James warmed his heart, but the situation with James's ex left a bitter taste. 

If anyone deserved happiness, it was James. Boun resolved to support the team's efforts fully, hoping they could lift James's spirits in whatever small way they could.