Autumn is a second spring

106. Plan 2

 Happy Ohm Day everyone💙🐻💙

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I did plan for a mass update but due to time restraints I couldn't write much. Hence a double update.

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Ohm scoffed. "Can you guess what the first thing my dad said when I gained consciousness? He yelled at me for drunk driving. Said it could have caused a scandal. That it could have affected their stocks." He looked at Fluke, his expression hollow. "Tell me, Fluke. What kind of parent yells at their child, who just woke up from a near-death experience, about a scandal?"

Fluke had no answer.

"I spent years trying to earn their love," Ohm murmured. "But I failed miserably." He exhaled, closing his eyes. "That's why I decided to give up."

Fluke felt a lump rise in his throat.

"I want to live for myself now." Ohm opened his eyes, staring straight into Fluke's. "I don't want to be tied down by so-called familial obligations anymore." His voice was quiet, resolute. "I want to release them from being my parents. I want to release myself."

Fluke wanted to tell him he was wrong. That it didn't have to be this way. But looking into Ohm's eyes, he saw years of exhaustion, of a child who had spent his entire life running after love that was never given to him. And for the first time, Fluke couldn't bring himself to say anything at all.

Ohm sat still for a moment, his fingers lightly tracing the edges of the bedsheet as he gathered his thoughts. He finally looked up at Fluke, his dark eyes shining with something that was neither sadness nor happiness—just a deep, quiet emotion that Fluke couldn't quite name.

"I was happy when I was told that you were the one who confessed to me," Ohm said suddenly, his voice soft, almost vulnerable.

Fluke stiffened, not sure how to respond. He wasn't expecting this. His throat went dry as a wave of confusion washed over him.

Ohm shook his head slightly, a small smile playing at his lips, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "It made me feel good to be chosen... to be loved."

Fluke remained silent, his mind whirling. He hadn't thought about it that way. Ohm always seemed like someone who had everything—success, admiration, status. It never occurred to him that Ohm could have felt insignificant in his own life.

"You know," Ohm continued, staring at the ceiling, "all my life, the people around me made me feel like I was just an insignificant side character—someone who could be easily overlooked, neglected. It was only onscreen that I became someone important. Only onscreen was I a hero, someone others loved." He exhaled slowly. "No matter how much I tried, no matter how good I became at things, no one really paid attention to who I was. Just what I could be for them."

Fluke's chest tightened as he listened. He never realized just how deeply Ohm had been hurting, how invisible he had felt despite the spotlight he lived under.

Ohm turned his gaze back to him. "So thank you... for loving me."

The weight of those words settled between them. Fluke swallowed hard, feeling an ache in his chest. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. What was he supposed to say?

Ohm chuckled softly, almost to himself. "I don't remember what it feels like to actually be loved by someone... but I know it must have been amazing." His fingers fidgeted with the edge of the blanket. "That's also why I feel like I can rely on you more than my own family."

Fluke's heart clenched. "P' Ohm... I didn't even visit you in the hospital." His voice was quiet, almost ashamed. "Compared to your parents, I was here the whole time... but I never came to see you."

Ohm smiled, a small, wry thing, and shifted the conversation without warning. "Lunch was really tasty today."

Fluke frowned, caught off guard. "What are you talking about?"

Ohm's lips curled into an amused smirk. "I just wanted to thank you for cooking for me every day."

Fluke inhaled sharply. His mind raced, trying to come up with an excuse, but Ohm had already seen through him. "I don't know what you are talking about," He muttered, looking away.

Ohm tilted his head, clearly enjoying Fluke's discomfort. "Come on, don't deny it. I figured it out. Ever since I bumped into you, the meals got better—perfectly to my taste, exactly the way I like them. It was nothing like the hospital food I had been eating before." He tapped his chin. "And when I asked the nurses about it, they said the chef had changed. Of course, they didn't mention that the new 'chef' was actually the hospital director himself."

Fluke clenched his jaw, realizing there was no point in lying anymore. Ohm's smirk widened.

"I also found leftovers of the same food stored in your fridge when I was in your room the other day."

Fluke sighed, knowing he was caught. "You are reading too much into it," he said, rolling his eyes. "Before you were my boyfriend, you were my friend and an excellent mentor to me. Just because we broke up doesn't mean that those relationship ended too."

Ohm's smile softened, his teasing expression fading into something gentler. "Still... thank you. I was getting so sick of the hospital food, I was actually thinking of running away if I had to eat it one more time."

Fluke swatted Ohm's shoulder lightly, relieved to see Ohm joking around again. The air between them had lightened, but before Fluke could say anything else, a knock sounded at the door.

"Come in," Ohm called out.

The door swung open, and Kao walked in, followed by Earth, Tae, and Tae's assistant. Kao's expression was unreadable, his posture stiff. He didn't even glance at Ohm as he spoke.

"Ohm was hit on his face. Check on him."

Ohm understood immediately—Kao was still mad at him. He was worried but didn't want to talk to Ohm directly. Tae stepped forward, giving Ohm a thorough examination. Ohm sat still, letting him do his work without protest.

After a few moments, Tae straightened up. "He is fine for now, but try not to get hit again until you have fully recovered."

Ohm forced a sheepish smile. "I will be careful."

Tae nodded, then turned to Kao. "I have a surgery scheduled. I will take my leave."

Kao walked him to the door, thanking him. Once Tae was gone, he turned back to Ohm, his expression hardening.

"Tomorrow, after you are discharged, you all be staying with Earth and me at my lakeside villa."

Ohm blinked, taken aback. "What?"

Kao turned to Fluke. "You are coming too."

Fluke immediately shook his head. "I can't. I am flying back to the States."

Kao's eyes narrowed. "Did you forget that you promised to help Earth plan the wedding? Are you planning to break your promise to Earth as well?"

Fluke opened his mouth to protest but stopped himself. He could see the determination in Kao's eyes. This wasn't a request—it was a declaration. If he said no, Kao would not let it slide.