Autumn is a second spring

97. Bath

Fluke pushed open the door to his suite, already bracing himself for the encounter he knew awaited him.

The sight of Ohm sitting on the couch, arms crossed and a stormy expression etched onto his face, didn't surprise Fluke. What did surprise him, however, was the sharp pang of nostalgia that hit him like a punch to the gut. He took a steadying breath, carefully masking his emotions as he stepped inside.

"Khun Thitiwat," Fluke said, his tone neutral, betraying nothing. "What are you doing here?"

Ohm's eyes snapped up to meet his, dark and piercing. "I was told," he began, his voice low but steady, "that you are my ex."

A flicker of surprise flashed through Fluke's eyes, quick as lightning, but he smothered it just as fast. He wasn't quick enough, though. 

Ohm's sharp gaze caught it, and a faint smirk tugged at his lips.

Fluke leaned against the doorframe, his expression cool and unreadable. "What if we are?" he asked, pushing off the frame and making his way to the refrigerator. He grabbed a bottle of water, twisting off the cap with his good hand.

Ohm leaned forward slightly, his voice tinged with frustration. "Why did we break up?" he demanded. "Was it because I did something wrong? Was I a bad boyfriend?"

Fluke paused, his fingers tightening briefly around the bottle before he brought it to his lips and took a long sip. 

Setting the bottle down on the counter, he turned to face Ohm, his tone calm but distant. "You didn't do anything wrong, Ohm," he said. "And no, you weren't a bad boyfriend."

Ohm's brow furrowed. "Then why did I get dumped?"

Fluke's lips curved into a faint, almost bitter smile. "Because I was the bad boyfriend," he said simply, his voice devoid of emotion.

Ohm let out a quiet laugh, almost a scoff, muttering under his breath, "Yeah, I can see that."

Fluke's gaze snapped to him, his frown deepening. "What did you just say?"

Ohm sat up straighter, his voice louder now. "I said, I can see that. You must have been a terrible boyfriend if you couldn't even visit me in the hospital after I nearly died."

Fluke's jaw tightened, but he forced himself to remain composed. "Are you here to insult me, or is there another reason you have shown up unannounced and created ruckus?"

Ohm shook his head, his expression softening. "No," he said quietly. "I am here because I need your help."

Fluke raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. "Help with what?"

Ohm hesitated, the confident façade slipping as he looked away. He fidgeted with his hands, his gaze darting around the room before finally settling back on Fluke.

The silence stretched, but Fluke waited patiently. He knew Ohm well enough to understand that whatever he was about to ask wouldn't come easily.

After what felt like an eternity, Ohm finally spoke, his voice hesitant. "We...we dated for almost three years, right?"

Fluke nodded slowly, curious where this was going.

Ohm raised his eyes to meet Fluke's, his cheeks tinged with a faint blush. "So...did we ever...you know, do 'it'?"

Fluke blinked, caught off guard. "Do what?" he asked, though he had a sinking suspicion he already knew what Ohm meant.

"It," Ohm repeated, his voice barely above a whisper. He gestured vaguely, clearly too shy to elaborate. "you know... the thing that couples do."

Realization dawned on Fluke, and he couldn't help the small smirk that crept onto his face. "Are you asking if we slept together?"

Ohm didn't reply, but the deepening flush on his cheeks was answer enough. 

Fluke exhaled quietly, leaning back against the counter. "Yes, we have slept together," he said simply.

Ohm bit his lip, his gaze dropping to the floor. "How many times?" he asked, his voice so quiet it was almost inaudible.

Fluke shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "I didn't keep count. Neither did you. I don't think anyone would keep count of that" he said. "Why? What does it matter now? What kind of help exactly do you want from me that you asking such questions?"

Ohm's shoulders slumped slightly, but he didn't reply. Instead, he shifted uncomfortably before blurting out, "I want to take a bath."

Fluke stared at him, baffled. "What?"

"I want to take a bath," Ohm repeated, louder this time.

Fluke frowned. "Did your doctor allow you to take a bath? Your injuries aren't completely healed yet, right? You might infections if you wet those wounds."

"I know," Ohm met his gaze, a hint of defiance in his eyes. "A sponge bath, then," he clarified. "I...I need your help with it."

For a moment, Fluke didn't say anything. He simply stared at Ohm, trying to process what he had just heard. "Why me?" he asked finally. "Don't you have nurses for that? Or your family? P' Kao, P' Boun—anyone else?"

Ohm shook his head, his voice tinged with frustration. "I don't want to bother them. I already bothered them so much till this point and I don't want to burden them" he said. "And I don't want strangers doing it, either. That's why I came to you."

Fluke raised an eyebrow. "Khun, I am a stranger to you now," he pointed out. "You don't remember me."

"First of all, stop addressing me as Khun, it is getting on my nerve. Second, it's not the same," Ohm said quietly, his gaze dropping again.

Fluke pressed him lips together. Addressing Ohm as Khun was a habit he developed over years. He often addressed Ohm as Khun when he was trying to prove him point to Ohm in the past.

Some old habits rarely die. 

Fluke sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Did you forget I have a hand injury?" he asked, holding up his bandaged hand as a reminder.

Ohm glanced at the injury, guilt flashing across his face. "You can wear rubber gloves," he muttered, barely meeting Fluke's eyes.

Fluke groaned softly, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I have meetings lined up all day, P' Ohm," he said. "I don't have time for this."

"It won't take long," Ohm argued. "You can do it after you are done with work. You are staying here anyway, right?"

Fluke opened his mouth to protest, but then Ohm hit him with the ultimate weapon: puppy eyes.

Fluke groaned again, this time louder. "P' Ohm..."

"Please na," Ohm said softly, his voice almost pleading.

Fluke exhaled heavily, crossing his arms. "Fine," he said reluctantly. "But you are waiting until I am done with everything."

Ohm's face lit up with a small, triumphant smile. "Deal."

Fluke shook his head, wondering how he'd gotten himself into this. "You are impossible," he muttered, but there was no real bite to his words.

As Ohm settled back into the couch, Fluke turned away, hiding the faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips.