Autumn is a second spring

100. Day off

Prem leaned back on the high stool near the kitchen counter, idly munching on a cookie as he watched Earth move around the kitchen. The warm scent of freshly baked bread filled the air as Earth carefully sliced fruit for the kids' evening snack. It was a familiar, homey scene, but Prem's mind was elsewhere.

"You know," Prem said, his voice casual but laced with thought, "I never actually believed that P' Ohm had really lost his memories."

Earth glanced at him, amusement flickering across his face. "Oh?" he prompted, setting down the knife. "And what did you think was happening?"

Prem shrugged, popping the last of his cookie into his mouth. "I thought he was faking it," he admitted. "Like, putting on an act to lure Fluke out or something. You know, just the way it happens in movies or something. P' Ohm is an amazing actor after all."

Earth chuckled as he wiped his hands on a dish towel. "That thought crossed my mind too, honestly," he said, "but then we saw the scan reports. The blood clot was real."

Prem hummed in acknowledgment. He had visited Ohm earlier at the hospital before coming here. His half-day off, thanks to escorting an injured teammate to the hospital, had given him some free time. He had spent part of it with Ohm, then made his way straight to Kao and Earth's place.

Spending time with Boun was out of question as he was closing a very important deal and Prem didn't want to disturb him from work. 

Boun had promised to join him for dinner at Kao and Earth's place after closing the deal.

Earth continued, "The reason the doctors are keeping him in the hospital is because of that clot. They are worried it might press against his motor nerves. If that happens, he could lose balance, fall, and get hurt. It kind of freaked me out when the doctors told us all this. Thankfully P' Kao and P' Boun was there to handle everything."

Prem nodded, taking in the information. "That makes sense," he admitted. "Still, it is a bit unsettling. Ohm is the type to be so strong and independent. Seeing him weak and helpless all of a sudden... it is worrisome."

Earth let out a deep sigh, leaning against the counter. "That is life, isn't it?" he said softly. "You never know what is going to happen."

Prem exhaled heavily and let his head drop forward, resting his arms on the counter. "He didn't recognize me when I visited," he muttered. "I had to introduce myself as his favorite Nong."

Earth raised a brow. "You? P' Ohm's favorite Nong?"

Prem snorted and sat up straight, the corners of his lips quirking up. "Guess what he said when I told him that?"

Earth shook his head, curious.

Prem smirked. "He asked me, 'Isn't my favorite Nong Fluke?'"

Earth's expression faltered. The light mood that had begun to settle between them evaporated instantly, leaving behind a heavy silence.

For a few seconds, neither spoke, both lost in thought.

Ohm and Fluke's breakup.

It had caught everyone off guard. Their relationship had been so stable, so smooth, that no one had ever considered the possibility that they would split up. But then, out of nowhere, it had happened, and neither of them had ever explained why.

Prem was the one to break the silence first. He cleared his throat and asked, "Did you get a chance to talk to Fluke?"

Earth sighed and nodded. "Yeah. But I got nothing out of it. He was vague, though. Distant." He paused, frowning slightly as he thought back to their conversation. "Every time I tried to ask him about himself, he changed the topic. It was like he didn't want to talk about anything personal."

Prem sighed again, his fingers drumming against the counter. "Why is he being so secretive? Aren't we his friends? Does he not trust us at all?" he murmured to himself before looking at Earth again. "Do you at least know where he is staying now? P' Ohm mentioned that Fluke isn't staying in his office anymore."

Earth nodded. "Yeah, he is living in one of his villas in Bangkok. He is staying there with the surrogate."

Prem blinked, caught off guard. "Wait—he actually went through with it? The whole plan of hiring a surrogate mother to carry a child and stuff?"

Earth shook his head. "Not exactly. It wasn't his plan—it was Dad's." He let out a humorless chuckle. "After Dad found out about Fame's pregnancy, he started pressuring Fluke to find a surrogate and have a baby."

Prem rolled his eyes dramatically. "Of course. That sounds just like him." He grabbed another cookie and took an aggressive bite out of it, as if venting his frustration on the baked good.

Then, as if on cue, Fame's name registered in his mind, and his expression darkened. "Ugh," he groaned, "I can't believe Fluke is even interacting with her. You know I have hated her since we were kids. She is such a two-faced bitch. She acts all innocent and cute in front of Fluke and when she is with us, she shows her real colors. Hmph."

Earth smirked. "Oh, I know." Then, his eyes twinkled mischievously as he leaned in slightly. "Speaking of Fame... I heard something interesting."

Prem perked up. "What?"

Earth lowered his voice as if sharing a juicy secret. "A friend of mine in Taiwan told me that Mist is divorcing Fame and taking the baby."

Prem's jaw dropped. "No way."

Earth nodded, grinning at Prem's reaction. "Yes way!."

Prem's excitement kicked in immediately. "Okay, wait, wait. Tell me everything. What happened?"

Earth shrugged. "I don't know all the details, but apparently, Fame threw a huge tantrum. Made a scene in public, tried to shame and humiliate Mist."

Prem scoffed, shaking his head in amusement. "Mist deserves it," he muttered. "That's what she gets for getting close to someone like Fame. Mist is not a bad person na. Don't know why she had to fall in love with Fame of all people."

Earth chuckled, shaking his head at Prem's pettiness. "You really don't hold back, do you?"

"Why should I? It's just you and me here. No one else is going to hear what I say about her." Prem said with a shrug. "Besides, Fame has been a walking disaster since forever. This was bound to happen."

Earth hummed in agreement as he turned back to finishing the fruit slices. The conversation lingered in the air between them, heavy yet familiar.

No one knew what the future held. Ohm's injury, Fluke's secrecy, Fame's drama—it was all unpredictable. But one thing was certain: nothing was ever as simple as it seemed.

And for better or worse, they were all caught in the chaos of it together.