Autumn is a second spring

151. Talk 2.0

Seth continued, his voice steady but carrying the weight of old memories. "Staying with the family during the pregnancy wasn't the issue," he said. "At first, it was fine. Ann was treated like a queen. Khun Pu Tuat made sure she got everything she needed."

Ohm leaned back against the counter, arms crossed loosely over his chest, expression unreadable.

"But things changed," Seth said softly. "Especially as the pregnancy got close."

He paused, choosing his words. 

"Your mom," Seth went on, "had always been conscious of her weight. She was a model then—her body was basically her treasure. So, when she started gaining pregnancy weight, even the normal kind, she panicked. She began holding back on eating. She denied her cravings. She tried to control everything."

Ohm frowned. "She didn't have to. That doesn't even make sense."

Seth let out a dry exhale. "Khun Pu Tuat thought the same. And he scolded her for it. He told her she wasn't eating for one person anymore—that the baby needed nutrients. He reminded her that a few extra kilos wouldn't kill her, and she could always work out after delivery."

Ohm nodded in agreement.

Seth continued, "He even brought in a whole team of dieticians. Created a meal plan, enforced it with military precision. Fruit and vegetable juices on schedule. Nuts, meats, supplements. It was a good plan—very good, actually—but Ann hated every second of it."

"And then came the exercises," Seth said. "Walking, prenatal yoga, pelvic stretching—you name it, he arranged it. He even hired separate instructors. He was... excited about your birth, Ohm. Excited in his own strict, overwhelming way."

Ohm looked confused. "If he was that considerate, why was she complaining?"

Seth chuckled quietly. "Because she felt jailed. People were always watching her—always. Khun Pu Tuat didn't want even a tiny thing going wrong. But Ann... she wasn't used to being monitored every hour of the day. She felt suffocated."

Ann swallowed, her eyes dropping to the floor.

"That's why I let her move in with Tessa for a while," Seth said, "and later to the Dechaphatthanakun mansion for the final stretch. But even there... Khun Pu Tuat's rules followed."

Ohm raised an eyebrow.

"He made her read ancient history books," Seth said, half amused, half exhausted. "Spiritual books. Long, boring ones. He believed what a mother did while pregnant shaped the baby's mind. Thought reading smart books would make the child brilliant."

Ohm tilted his head. "Well... maybe that's why I am brilliant."

Seth laughed softly. "Maybe. But your mom hated reading. She would fall asleep after half a page. And then get scolded again."

He ran a hand over his face and continued. "What I didn't understand then—what neither of us understood—was how much all those small pressures were piling up. We didn't see the signs until after you were born."

Ohm lifted his chin, mildly defensive.

"At first," Seth said, "when Ann was distant from you... when she didn't want to breastfeed... nobody panicked. There were plenty of people around to help. You were a calm baby. You hardly cried. Everything seemed manageable."

Ohm gave a faint, surprised smile. "I wasn't a crybaby?"

"No," Seth chuckled. "You were unnervingly quiet."

But the amusement faded from his face as quickly as it had come.

"The real problem happened about a month after your birth," Seth said quietly. "One day, no one was home except Ann and the nanny. The nanny stepped out to wash your clothes. You woke up hungry and started crying."