Autumn is a second spring

111. Rainy Night

Rain crashed against the glass like waves against rocks. The world outside was a storm, howling with wind and water. Inside, Ohm wandered through the quiet villa, barefoot and restless. He couldn't sleep. His body felt heavy, and yet his mind ran wild. Every corner of the house felt unfamiliar. He had been here for days now, but the villa still carried shadows of memories that refused to return.

Without realizing it, his feet carried him to Fluke's room. He stood in front of the closed door, uncertain. Through these days he knew that Fluke was keeping his distance from him, setting up boundaries between them. But tonight, Kao and Earth along with Art had gone back to the Dechaphatthanakhun mansion and it was just him and Fluke who were left in the house. 

Ohm stared at the door. The sensible part of him said to walk away, to respect boundaries, but a pull inside him won over. He turned the doorknob slowly and slipped inside.

The room was dark, save for the soft light from the streetlamps outside. Fluke lay on his side, his face calm in sleep, chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. 

Ohm crept closer, careful not to make noise. For someone who always seemed composed and sharp-edged, Fluke looked surprisingly vulnerable in sleep. The sternness that often laced his voice and gaze was gone.

The difference was so huge that it almost made him feel as if the stern and strict Fluke he saw on day time and the adorable one that was fast asleep were two different people. 

Ohm crouched down, watching him quietly. Guilt stirred in his chest. He had heard from Earth and Kao about how Fluke had taken over his share of work, how he was running their company alone while also helping with Earth and Kao's wedding. Fluke had been doing everything, while Ohm was allowed to rest. It made Ohm feel useless. Yet, he also noticed how Fluke avoided being alone with him, how he kept things polite, distant.

Still, something made him move. Slowly, cautiously, Ohm lifted the blanket and crawled in. He pressed himself close to Fluke, slipping an arm around his waist, head resting against Fluke's small chest. There, listening to Fluke's heartbeat and feeling the warmth of his body, Ohm finally began to relax. He closed his eyes, trying to let go of the storm in his mind.

Fluke stirred, groaning in his sleep from the sudden added weight on his chest. "P' Ohm..."

Ohm's eyes fluttered open at the sound. Fluke had said his name. His lips curled into a soft smile. Maybe this was something they had done before. Maybe, just maybe, there was more comfort in this touch than either of them remembered.

But peace didn't last long. An awful ringtone cut through the stillness, jolting both of them. Fluke groaned again and fumbled for the phone on the nightstand.

"What... what are you doing in my room, phi?" he mumbled, blinking at Ohm.

Ohm didn't know how to answer. His cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Before he could find words, Fluke leaned over, grabbing his phone from the nightstand as if he was never expecting Ohm to give him an answer.

Ohm glanced at the screen. "P' Ja," it read.

"Who's P' Ja?" Ohm asked, frowning.

"He is my cousin," Fluke answered, already sliding to answer. 

"Why is your cousin calling you in the middle of the night?" Ohm was pretty annoyed being woken up like this.

"No idea. Probably something important if he is calling this late." Fluke replied in his just-woken-up groggy voice.

Ohm wanted to protest, but Fluke had already picked up. "Swadee Phi, what happened? Aren't you guys supposed to be on your honeymoon? How come you have the time to call me?" A pause. "An email?" Fluke's face tightened. "Okay. I will check it right away and call you back."

He ended the call and sighed. Ohm watched as Fluke gently tapped his arm, signaling him to remove the hand that was still wrapped around Fluke's waist.

Ohm let go, reluctantly. Fluke stood, walked over to a couch, and opened his laptop. Ohm laid on the edge of the bed, watching him in silence.

The light from the screen illuminated Fluke's face. Ohm saw his brows furrow, then his entire expression shift. The color drained from his face. His lips parted slightly as if to speak but nothing came out.

Ohm stood. "What is it, Fluke? Why do you look so pale?"

Fluke quickly shut the laptop. "Nothing. Just some work related stuff. I need to call P' Ja back."

He walked out of the room without looking back.

Ohm followed quietly, keeping a distance. He saw Fluke enter the kitchen, pour himself a glass of water, and down it in one go. His shoulders were stiff, posture tight.

He could see that something was terribly wrong. Before Ohm could speak again, the doorbell rang. 

The sound of the doorbell startled Fluke, snapping him out of the tensed state he was in. He checked the time. It was way past midnight and he wondered who was there at that time.

The bell rang again. This time the bell's noise was longer and sharper. 

Fluke frowned. No one should be outside in weather like this. And this villa was inside a heavily guarded compound. He knew for sure that it was neither Kao nor Earth as both of them could enter the villa without having to ring the doorbell. Whoever it was, they had clearance to enter but still chose to ring the bell.

He walked to the front door, opened it—

And froze.

Standing there in the rain, soaked to the bone, was a familiar figure. Prem.

"Bubbles?" Fluke's eyes widened. "What on earth are you doing in such a heavy rain? Why are you so drenched?"

Prem was dripping wet, look weak and pale. It seemed that he had been in the rain for so long from how wet his clothes were.

Prem didn't speak. He staggered forward, arms out, and collapsed against Fluke, wrapping him in a wet embrace.

"Bubbles? What happened?" Fluke asked, worry lacing his voice. "Is something wrong?"

But Prem didn't answer. His body went limp. He fainted against Fluke, water dripping onto the floor.

"Oh my god!" Fluke held him up as best he could. Prem fell unconscious on his shoulder. "Bubbles?" He tapped Prem's face heavily, trying to wake him up. "Bubbles, wake up!"