Autumn is a second spring

94. Reunion?

The door to Ohm's hospital room swung open abruptly, and Boun stepped in, his face flushed from exertion. It was evident he had rushed over, likely the result of one of Tee's cryptic phone calls. 

Ohm, propped up against the bed's headboard, frowned at the sight of his cousin's hurried entrance. 

The VIP ward was filled with a strange, unspoken tension. 

Ohm leaned back against the pillows on his hospital bed, his sharp eyes scanning the room. His family and friends—Kao, Earth, Yacht, Boston, and even Boston's heavily pregnant wife, Sammy, —stood scattered around, looking far too casual to actually be casual. 

The sheer number of visitors would have been heartwarming under normal circumstances, but something about their collective demeanor set Ohm on edge.

Each time he asked why they were all there, they evaded the question, offering excuses that didn't sit right with him.

"We are just here to check on you," Earth said, smiling in a way that felt more nervous than reassuring.

Ohm wasn't buying it. Not for a second. Something was up. He could feel it. It wasn't like all of them to just 'drop by' at the same time—especially Sammy, who he had never even met before today. His frown deepened, and his probing gaze lingered on Kao, who had always been the easiest to crack.

"What is really going on?" Ohm demanded, his voice steady but carrying the weight of suspicion.

Kao shifted awkwardly under the scrutiny, clearing his throat. He glanced at Boun, who had just hurriedly entered the room, slightly out of breath. Taking advantage of the moment, Kao latched onto the distraction. "

Boun," Kao said, forcing a bright smile, "did you come to check on Ohm after hearing about the attack?" He gave a subtle gesture to Boun, clearly signaling for him to play along.

Though confused, Boun quickly picked up on Kao's cue. "Uh, Khrab! Of course," Boun said, his voice slightly rushed. He turned to Ohm, his expression softening. "How are you feeling?"

Ohm's frown persisted, but he nodded slowly. "I am fine," he said, though his tone made it clear he still didn't believe them. "A little sore, but fine."

"That is good to hear," Boun said. His voice was calm, but his eyes flickered with something—something Ohm caught but couldn't quite place.

Kao clapped his hands together suddenly, startling everyone. "Boun, I actually need to talk to you about something important. Can we step outside for a minute?"

Boun blinked at Kao but nodded. "Sure, Phi" he said, giving Ohm a quick smile. "We will be back soon, na."

Ohm watched them leave, his eyes narrowing as the door closed behind them. Something was definitely up, and he didn't like being kept in the dark.

In the VIP lounge not far from Ohm's ward, Kao paced back and forth while Boun leaned against the armrest of a couch, his arms crossed.

"Alright, Phi," Boun said, his tone sharp. "What the hell is going on? Where is Fluke? When I got a call from P' Tee, I thought that he was here. But where did he go now?"

Kao stopped pacing and sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I am not entirely sure myself," he admitted. "But from what the doctor squad told me, Fluke has been working here at the hospital for nearly a month now. And..." He hesitated, glancing at Boun. "He has taken over as the hospital director. Temporarily, at least."

Boun straightened up, his eyes widening. "What?"

"Yeah," Kao said with a grim nod. "Apparently, the previous director passed away almost two months ago, and Fluke stepped in to fill the role."

Boun's mouth opened and closed, as if struggling to process the information. "You mean to tell me Fluke has been here this whole time? Right under our noses? And none of us knew? We had been searching for him like crazy!"

"Exactly," Kao said. "And get this: Ohm told me he and Fluke bumped into each other around the time Fluke started working here."

Boun's jaw dropped. "Wait. Ohm saw Fluke? Did he recognize him?"

Kao shook his head. "Obviously no. Remember, Ohm lost his memories of Fluke. He didn't recognize Fluke at all."

Boun's face darkened. "And Fluke? Did he know about Ohm?"

"I would bet anything that he did," Kao said. "If he has been working here, there is no way he wouldn't have known about Ohm's condition. He probably knows about the memory loss, too."

Boun's hands clenched into fists. "So, he knew. He knew Ohm was here, knew he lost his memories, and still didn't care to visit him? He just... stayed away? Does he not care about Ohm at all?"

Kao's expression was troubled. "It seems that way."

Boun's gaze snapped to Kao. "Then why the heck did he suddenly show up today? To show off? Asshole!"

"Calm down na, Boun" Kao hesitated again before continuing. "Fluke did show today to visit Ohm. But... he didn't reveal his identity. He came as the hospital director visiting a VIP patient. And he made sure to pick a time when none of us were there."

Boun's teeth gritted audibly. "That bastard," he muttered under his breath. "He had no intention of reconciling with Ohm. If he really cared, he wouldn't have hidden like this."

Kao sighed, his shoulders slumping. "I don't think he wants to reconcile. If anything, it feels like he is avoiding all of us... avoiding Ohm."

Boun pushed off the couch, pacing angrily. "Are you seriously planning to just sit back and do nothing?" he demanded, his voice rising.

"What else can we do?" Kao shot back, his frustration evident. "The doctors warned us not to stress Ohm's brain. If we tell him about Fluke, it could do more harm than good. The shock alone might..." He trailed off, shaking his head. "We can't risk it."

Boun's fists clenched again, but this time, he took a deep breath to calm himself. "I understand that we need to protect Ohm. I do. But I can't just let this go. Fluke owes us an explanation. He owes Ohm an explanation."

Kao's expression softened. "I get it," he said quietly. "I feel the same way. But whatever we do, we have to be careful. We can't let Ohm find out until we are sure it's safe."

Boun nodded, his jaw set. "I just want what is best for Ohm," he said. "I want to see him smiling again. And if talking to Fluke can help make that happen, then I will do it."

Kao placed a reassuring hand on Boun's shoulder. "You are not alone in this," he said. "I will be with you every step of the way."

Boun offered a small, grateful smile before turning his gaze toward the door, his determination clear. Somewhere in this hospital, Fluke was waiting. And Boun wasn't going to let him slip away without answers.