Autumn is a second spring

93. Hospital director

Inside the VIP ward, Ohm sat upright on the bed, his back supported by the raised headboard. A slight frown marred his face as he absentmindedly listened to Atom's excited recounting of the earlier chaos in the general ward.

 Atom's voice, paired with dramatic hand gestures, filled the room as he described the scene in vivid detail, embellishing every moment for effect.

"...and the knife! It was so sharp, I swear it glinted like something out of an action movie, Phi!" Atom exclaimed, nearly toppling the chair he was leaning on. "I thought the man was going to stab someone for real!"

"Atom," Poom interjected, shaking his head as he adjusted his glasses. "Things like this aren't exactly uncommon in emergency wards. Families get emotional, and sometimes they lash out. You are just in shock because you are new to this. Trust me, you will get used to it."

Atom turned to Poom, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Get used to it? Are you serious, Phi?"

Poom chuckled, leaning back on the couch. "It is all part of the job, my dear Nong."

Unlike Atom, Poom carried an air of calm pragmatism, the result of years in the medical field. He had been one of Ohm's closest friends during high school, alongside Linlalin. 

Though their lives had diverged when Poom moved abroad for higher studies, fate—or perhaps coincidence—had brought them back together at the same hospital where Linlalin worked. Now, Poom often dropped by Ohm's ward to hang out.

"I still can't stop thinking about the person who caught the knife," Linlalin mused aloud, breaking the conversation's rhythm. She leaned against the wall, her expression contemplative. "He wasn't a security guard or a patient's family member, and no one I have spoken to knows who he is. I have asked around, but it's like he vanished after the whole thing."

Ohm remained quiet, staring down at his hands. The image of the man's bloodied palm flashed in his mind, vivid and unsettling.

A knock at the door pulled everyone's attention. 

The doctors exchanged puzzled looks; it wasn't time for the regular rounds, and Ohm's family usually came and went without knocking.

"Come in," Ohm called out.

The door opened, revealing two men in crisp suits. The man in front stepped inside with a composed air, his gaze sweeping the room before settling on Ohm. 

Ohm's eyes widened as recognition struck—it was him. The same man who had intervened in the ward and caught the knife with his bare hand.

Atom, Linlalin, and Poom immediately rose to their feet, their expressions a mix of awe and confusion.

The man offered a polite wai, his bandaged hand catching everyone's attention. "Swadee Khrab, Khun Thitiwat," he began, his voice steady and formal. "I am Natouch Siripongthon, the Hospital Director of Sirene Hospital. I have come to personally apologize for the incident earlier in the general ward. On behalf of the hospital, I take full responsibility for what happened and extend my sincerest apologies." He lowered his head slightly, his hands pressed together in the wai gesture.

Ohm blinked, momentarily taken aback by the unexpected formality. "Khun Natouch, there is no need to apologize," he replied, his tone gentle. "I am doing fine, really. It wasn't the hospital's fault or the staff's."

Natouch straightened, his expression unwavering. "I am relieved to hear that you are well, Khun Thitiwat. However, we must ensure such incidents do not occur again."

Ohm hesitated for a moment before his gaze fell on the man's hand. "How is your hand?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.

Only then did the others in the room notice the bandages wrapped around Natouch's palm.

 Linlalin let out a soft gasp, and Atom's eyes widened in shock.

Natouch glanced at his hand briefly before replying, "It's healing well. The doctors here have done an excellent job, as I expected."

Ohm frowned slightly. "But it looked pretty deep, considering the amount of blood—"

"I assure you, it's nothing to worry about," Natouch interrupted, his tone professional. "Thank you for your concern."

Ohm felt a wave of gratitude. "Thank you for saving my life. I really don't know how to express how grateful I am."

Natouch inclined his head slightly. "I was only doing what I should. That said, I do have a request to make."

Ohm's brow furrowed. "Of course. Please, go ahead."

Natouch's gaze sharpened. "Given your identity, I must ask you to refrain from walking around in general wards or easily accessible areas of the hospital. Paparazzi and fans, often disguised as patients or visitors, frequent these spaces. If you are recognized, it could cause disruptions that the hospital might not be able to manage effectively."

Ohm chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. "I understand. I will keep that in mind." It was easy for him to forget his celebrity status in moments like these.

Natouch's eyes flickered to Linlalin and the others. 

They quickly nodded in agreement, Linlalin speaking up. "We will make sure to remind him too. We are the ones who encouraged him to take strolls, so we will be more mindful."

Satisfied, Natouch gave a small nod. "Thank you, Khrab. If you will excuse me, I have other patients and families to meet."

Ohm watched as Natouch turned to leave, his posture still as composed as when he entered. "Take care of your hand, Khun Natouch," Ohm called after him.

Natouch paused briefly, glancing back. "You as well, Khun Thitiwat." With that, he exited the room, followed by the second man in the suit.

The door clicked shut, and for a moment, the room was silent. Then Atom and Poom collapsed back onto the couch, exhaling loudly.

"That was terrifying," Atom muttered, his face pale.

Ohm raised an eyebrow, amused. "Terrifying? He was perfectly polite."

"You don't get it!" Atom exclaimed, sitting up. "Khun Natouch is practically a demon in human form. No one messes with him—not the staff, not even the board of directors. He has kicked so many people out of this hospital!"

Poom adjusted his glasses again, his tone more measured. "He is not as bad as people make him sound. The ones he has kicked out were involved in illegal activities—taking bribes, black-market organ trafficking, that sort of thing."

Atom gasped. "How do you know all that?"

Poom shrugged. "I heard it from a Phi. He handled it all in secret to protect the hospital's reputation. The people involved were arrested and handed over to the police. I am sure that Khun Natouch paid a hefty sum to keep it all under wraps."

Linlalin nodded thoughtfully. "It makes sense. His Khun Da [1] founded the Sirene group of hospitals. He is clearly very dedicated to protecting the legacy."

Ohm listened quietly, his admiration for Natouch growing. Keeping such a scandal a secret required immense power and influence.

The door suddenly burst open, startling everyone. Tee strolled in like he owned the place, heading straight for the refrigerator. 

Grabbing a bottle of water, he turned to face the group while taking a sip. "What's the doctor squad talking about now?" he asked casually.

"It's about our Hospital Director, Phi," Atom replied. "Khun Natouch just visited here and we were talking about the changes in the hospital after he took charge."

Tee spat out the water, coughing as he stared at Atom in shock. "What? Did you just say Khun Natouch?"

"Khrab, Phi," Atom replied, confused. "What happened?"

Tee set the bottle down, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. "I need to step out for a few minutes," he said, already heading for the door.

Ohm watched him leave, a sense of foreboding settling in his chest. "What is he up to now?" he muttered.

[1] Khun Da- Maternal grandfather