Autumn is a second spring

148. Family dinner 2.0

Mintra's study felt too quiet for the storm she knew was coming. The air conditioner hummed lazily above them, moving warm air that did nothing to ease the heaviness settling between her and her grandson.

"Ohm," she began gently, fingers twisted together in her lap, "have you really... made up your mind?"

Ohm didn't hesitate. His answer came like a clean, sharp cut.

"I have. And I am very sure of the decision I made."

Mintra exhaled, long and heavy, as though she had been holding the breath for weeks. "I understand you are upset with your mom and dad. I do. But cutting ties with the whole family? That isn't necessary."

Ohm didn't flinch, didn't soften. His voice was strangely calm—too calm—layered with a coldness Mintra had never heard from him.

"Everyone, including you, was no better than them, Khun Yaay."

Her lips parted, eyes widening in quiet shock.

He continued, steady, precise. "You never corrected mom or Dad when they ignored me. You never tried to set things right. Don't act hurt now, Khun Yay. Everything that is happening is happening because you never stopped them. Not once. Not when they practically abandoned me to raise everyone else's children."

Mintra's throat tightened. She tried to speak—"I—"

"And don't say you didn't notice," Ohm cut in. "You noticed everything. You just let it happen."

She felt the prickling sting behind her eyelids. He'd never spoken to her like this.

"Ohm..." she whispered. "I— I can't believe you have turned out like this."

He let out a low, humorless chuckle. "No. You mean you can't believe your 'favorite grandchild' is finally talking back."

Her mouth trembled. "That's not— that's not what I meant—"

"It's exactly what you meant," Ohm said. "Do you even know why I was your favorite? Because I behaved. Because I studied. Because I didn't smoke, didn't drink, didn't get into trouble, didn't embarrass you. I lived my whole life like the ideal grandson. And the moment I decided to stand up for myself, I became the bad guy."

Mintra swallowed hard, but the words didn't come. He wasn't yelling, but each sentence landed with the weight of years. "Is this how you repay the love we gave you?"

"Love? You didn't bring me up out of love," Ohm said, his voice quieter now—too quiet. "You brought me up out of obligation. To cover up that your own daughter and son-in-law failed at parenting their biological son."

She visibly winced.

"I am not trying to get attention. I am not creating drama. That is why I waited until after P' Kao and Earth's wedding. I just... feel sick of it all. And I want out."

Mintra closed her eyes. "You are making a mistake."

"No. Not leaving sooner was the mistake, " Ohm said simply. "For once, I am making the right decision."

She opened her eyes again, slow and heavy, watching him as if seeing an entirely different person in front of her.

"It took nearly dying," Ohm whispered, "for me to finally understand where I stand in everyone's lives."

Mintra sucked in a breath.

"The people I called family," Ohm said, "don't give a damn about me."

"That's not true," she murmured desperately. "Your parents really love you—"