Autumn is a second spring

153. Talk 4.0

Seth's jaw tightened as he leaned forward, eyes narrowing. "Don't tell me you were behind Bew getting attacked too," he asked, voice low and simmering with anger.

Ohm immediately realized his father wasn't just mildly upset anymore—he was furious. He straightened, hands raised as if surrendering. "It wasn't just me. P' Kao, P' Tee, and Bew were in it too. Actually, it was Bew's idea."

Ann's gasp came out like a squeak. "What?!"

Ohm nodded, looking almost guilty yet oddly impressed. "Bew was very sad about his Dada and Dami's separation. He wanted them to get back together. He is the one who suggested we orchestrate something big to bring them close again."

"You mean the three-year-old suggested a fake attack?" Ann asked, utterly dumbfounded.

"Originally," Ohm corrected, "Bew suggested a kidnapping. But I felt that was too complicated. P' Kao agreed. So we settled for an attack instead. Way simpler."

Ann and Seth stared at him as though he had grown two heads.

"How can a three-year-old come up with something like that?" Seth demanded.

Ohm shrugged. "Maybe he saw it in some movie or series. He is really smart. Brilliant even. Way smarter than his parents. And he has amazing acting skills." Then he grinned, tapping his chest proudly. "Obviously, he got it from me."

Ann smacked his hand before he could bask in his self-praise.

"Ow—Mom!" Ohm hissed, rubbing his hand. "You were just preaching about peace! Hypocrite."

Ann ignored his complaint. "How could you follow a TODDLER'S plan? You and Kao are adults! You are supposed to STOP him, not help him!"

Ohm sighed. "We didn't do it to be bad. We just wanted to help Boun."

Seth was still processing the insanity. "So you and Kao seriously arranged everything? How?"

Ohm finally sat up straighter, explaining as though giving a business presentation. "We hired the guy who played the attacker. We informed the police beforehand. The doctors were prepared by Dr. Tae, the one who did the surgery on me —P' Tee's boyfriend."

Seth blinked. "How about the teachers and kids at the kindergarten?"

"I didn't inform them," Ohm replied easily. "We wanted genuine reactions for realism. I didn't expect the kids to get involved."

Ann whacked his arm this time.

"Ow! Violence again!" Ohm yelped dramatically. "And I am the one acting like a thug? You are the one throwing punches!"

Ann glared. Ohm immediately shut up.

He softened his voice as he continued. "We only wanted to help. Things were going exactly the way we needed. Because of our push, Boun and Prem are living under the same roof. They just have to talk and clear their misunderstandings. We KNOW they love each other. They just need space to communicate like adults."

He paused, glancing at Ann, who looked worried and conflicted.

"And P' Kao told me Earth has been stressed about their breakup," Ohm added. "With the wedding so close, Earth wants everyone to be happy. We were just trying to make that happen."

Ann's shoulders slumped. The anger melted, replaced by familiar worry for the two boys she loved like her own. Ohm noticed and reached out, gently squeezing her hand.

"We only want what's best for them," he whispered. "That's the only reason we pushed them. We are not forcing them to be together. We just didn't want silence to ruin something so good."

Ann breathed out slowly, eyes misting. Seth rested his hand on her back.

"We will never fix Boun's low self-esteem for him," she said softly. "That boy has carried so much alone... I don't know if we will ever be able to help him."

Seth gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "He will do it himself," he said firmly. "He is a good, smart kid. Heis stronger than he thinks."

Then he turned back to Ohm, stern once again. "How about Linlalin? You practically ruined her life."

Ohm scoffed. "She ruined her own life. She publicized the photos. She gave Bew's private information to a bunch of obsessed fans. We only rushed to contain the damage. If P' Kao and I hadn't acted, Bew could have been targeted."

Ann muttered in disbelief, "I thought she was a good girl. I was hoping if not Fluke, then maybe you'd end up with her..."

Ohm almost choked. "Never, mom. It's Fluke or no one. There is no replacement."

He shook his head with conviction. "I never saw Linlalin as anything more than a classmate. Fluke is... irreplaceable."

Ann sighed. "I know. I just wanted you to find someone who loved you as much as you loved them."

Ohm smiled quietly. "Fluke does love me. Even after we broke up, when I was hospitalized... he took care of me secretly every day."

Seth leaned forward again. "Did Fluke tell you why he broke up with you?" Ohm's expression softened with sadness. He shook his head. "No."

Ann spoke gently, "Then there must be a good reason. Or Fluke would never leave you."

Ohm nodded, trusting her words more than his own uncertainty. It was then Seth's eyes sharpened, studying him closely.

"It feels like you got your memories back," he said.

Ohm smiled. That small, mischievous smile he had always carried. Confirmation.

Ann gasped, then wrapped her arms around him tightly. "I am so happy! Ohm!"

Ohm hugged her back and looked at Seth over her shoulder. "Aren't you going to congratulate me too?"

Seth folded his arms. "I am questioning whether you ever lost your memory at all. Maybe you were pretending."

Ohm's face reddened. "I DID lose my memory! It just came back gradually. I pretended a little longer because... Fluke found out immediately. He knows me too well. I can't hide anything from him."

Ann laughed softly. "Good for him. I still can't tell when P' Seth is playing tricks on me."

Seth chuckled, wrapping an arm around her waist. "I would never do that to you," he said, kissing her cheek.

Ann blushed and pinched him. Ohm groaned loudly. "Ugh, not again. Spare me."

Just then, the front door opened. Dream stepped inside, freezing mid-step as she took in the lovey-dovey scene.

"Well," she said dryly, "looks like the party started without me."

Ohm grinned. "Here comes the cry baby."

Dream snatched a cushion and threw it at him. Ohm caught it, laughing, then walked over and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

"Let me see your eyes," he teased, tilting her chin up. "Did you cry a lot?"

Dream pouted. "It's your fault! P' Boun yelled at me! P' Boun has NEVER yelled at me!"

"Oh please," Ohm snorted. "There is a first time for everything."

Dream glared, puffing her cheeks like an angry hamster. Ann stepped in quickly. "Enough teasing her, Ohm."

Ohm surrendered immediately. "Okay, okay." But he still pinched Dream's cheeks on purpose.

"P' OHM!" Dream shrieked.

Ann watched them all with a full heart and whispered to herself, "I really should thank Fluke one day... he turned my ice block into a human."

She never imagined this day would come—Ohm laughing, teasing, smiling freely, surrounded by people he loved and people who loved him just as fiercely.

And at that moment, the house didn't feel strict, cold, or military at all.

It felt like family.