Autumn is a second spring

158. Advice?

Fluke turned his full attention to Boun then, his expression grave and unyielding.

"Do you understand," he asked slowly, "what the aftereffects of that proposal on live are going to be for Prem and his career?"

The room seemed to shrink.

Fluke didn't raise his voice, but the weight behind his words was crushing. "Prem is going to get hate. He's going to be targeted. He will be scrutinized, discriminated against, and picked apart by people who don't even know him." His gaze sharpened. "You of all people don't need me to explain what that feels like."

Boun's throat tightened. He nodded slowly, eyes dropping to the floor. It had been the same reason that held him back from making their relationship public all this while.

"Good," Fluke said. "Then this time, knowing how big a risk Prem took, I expect you to take this seriously." His tone hardened. "Not just let destiny take its course the way you did when Prem asked for a breakup."

Shame flooded Boun's face. His shoulders slumped, head bowed.

"When either of you make a decision now," Fluke continued, "it won't just affect the two of you. You have gone public. You got engaged on live." He paused, then added quietly, "And more than that—it affects Bew."

Both Boun and Prem stiffened.

"That child was terrified when you broke up," Fluke said. "Now he is over the moon, thinking you are finally getting married. If you two can't find real solutions to the problems in your relationship, then you shouldn't even consider marriage."

His words were blunt, unforgiving.

"Getting married without fixing those issues is like stepping into quicksand," Fluke said. "You will sink slowly, and it will take your joy and peace with it. Marriage is far more responsibility than dating. Life will throw challenges at you that you haven't even imagined yet."

The silence that followed was heavy.

Boun swallowed and spoke first. "We will work things out. Together."

Prem nodded. "We will."

Fluke studied them for a long moment, then gave a single nod. "Good." He crossed his arms. "So. Care to tell me why are both of you upset right now?"

Prem exhaled sharply and looked at Boun, irritation flashing across his face. "Because Hia thought my proposal was part of the script," he said. "He thought I was acting and had said yes."

Boun immediately shook his head. "No. That's not— I didn't say yes because of that," he insisted. "I said yes because I want to marry you. It was only after—after everything settled—that the thought crossed my mind."

Prem stared at him in disbelief. "How could you even think that?" he snapped. "Didn't you see P' Ton? Everyone else? If it was scripted, do you really think they would be that shocked?"

Boun let out a bitter huff. "Sorry if I missed everyone's reactions," he said dryly. "I was too busy panicking about having to lie about our relationship to notice anything else."

Prem scoffed and turned to Fluke, pouting openly. "Fluke, tell him he is wrong."

Fluke didn't hesitate. "I think P' Boun is right."

Prem's head snapped back. "You are seriously supporting him?"

"I am not taking sides," Fluke replied calmly. "I am saying his confusion makes sense." He raised an eyebrow. "You both spent the days and nights crying over your breakup until early morning today. Being miserable. And suddenly you propose on live. It's normal for him to feel confused if you are serious or not."

He glanced at Prem pointedly. "You told me yourself just minutes ago that you knew P' Boun loved you. So why are you surprised that he was confused?"

Prem opened his mouth, then closed it. He pouted, arms crossing over his chest, but didn't argue.

Boun let out a small, shaky breath. A faint smile of relief tugged at his lips.

Fluke's phone buzzed in his hand. He glanced at the screen. "Earth's waiting. We should go." He looked up at the two of them. "And you both look awful. Wash your faces. Fix yourselves. Don't make everyone worry more than they already are."

They nodded obediently.

Fluke opened the door and stepped out.

Barely a second later, a sarcastic voice drifted down the hallway. "Giving marriage advice now? While ignoring your own husband?"

Fluke froze.

He turned to see Ohm leaning casually against the wall beside the door, arms crossed, amusement dancing in his eyes.

"What are you doing here, P' Ohm?" Fluke asked flatly. "Aren't you supposed to be with P' Kao?"

Ohm chuckled and slid his hands into his pockets, strolling closer. "I missed my cute husband," he said lightly. "So I came looking for him."

Something flickered through Fluke's eyes—too quick to be named—before it vanished behind indifference.

Ohm leaned closer, bending slightly. "Before giving others relationship advice," he murmured, "shouldn't you try following it in your own marriage?"

Fluke turned to leave.

Ohm followed. "If things change after marriage," he continued, voice deceptively casual, "why does ours still feel exactly the same?"

Fluke stopped abruptly and spun around, glaring. "What do you want from me, Phi?"

Ohm suppressed a smile, adopting an exaggeratedly pitiful expression. "I am just... a little jealous na," he said. "Everyone around us is finding love. But all I get from my spouse is a cold shoulder."

Fluke's jaw tightened. He turned away again.

That was when the door behind them creaked open.

Before Fluke could react, Ohm stepped in close. One arm wrapped firmly around Fluke's waist, the other covering Fluke's mouth as Ohm lifted him effortlessly and pulled him behind a nearby pillar.

Fluke stiffened in shock.

They watched silently as Boun and Prem exited the room, faces clean, eyes clearer, walking side by side. They didn't notice the two hidden figures and continued down the hallway.

Once they were gone, Ohm slowly removed his hand from Fluke's mouth, keeping both arms wrapped around his waist. He rested his head against Fluke's shoulder, gaze fixed on the disappearing figures.

"Looks like they will work things out," Ohm said quietly.

Fluke stood still for a long moment before speaking, voice calm and controlled. "Let go of me."

Ohm chuckled softly. "Why? Is your heart beating pretty fast after being held by me?."

Fluke rolled his eyes. "What the hell are you trying to do, Phi?"

"Oh?" Ohm shrugged. "Just trying to have a romantic moment with my spouse."

Fluke gritted his teeth. "This is a contract marriage," he said flatly. "For the sake of the children. What you are doing is a breach of contract—and against your own words."

Ohm laughed outright. "I don't remember signing anything that said I couldn't pursue my love," he said. "The contract said we were allowed to pursue love. And if we wanted someone else, we wouldd split."

His grip tightened slightly. "I have no intention of letting that happen."

Fluke stared at him, disbelief swirling in his eyes.

The man holding him felt unfamiliar—too confident, too sincere, too dangerously earnest.

It was nothing like the Ohm he thought he knew.