Autumn is a second spring

162. Island

Earth lay stretched out on the lounge chair beneath the enormous cream-colored camisole, its fabric fluttering lazily in the sea breeze. The shade it cast was dappled and cool, a welcome contrast to the warmth of the afternoon sun. 

From where he was, he could see the shoreline clearly—the pale sand, the turquoise water, and a chaotic cluster of children running back and forth, their laughter carrying over the sound of the waves.

For a moment, Earth simply watched.

This island—his island now—felt unreal. Kao had bought it in Earth's name as a wedding gift, casually, as if gifting an entire private island was no different from buying flowers. Earth still hadn't fully processed it. Maybe he never would.

They had arrived three days early, long before the guests, under the excuse of "settling in" and "relaxing," though Earth suspected Kao simply wanted time—time without expectations, without eyes on them, without ceremony looming over their heads.

A sudden shout pulled him out of his thoughts.

"Aa Blake!"

Earth turned his head just in time to see Blake jogging toward the lounge area, his hair still damp, skin sun-kissed, a wide grin plastered on his face. He grabbed a coconut from the small cooler by the chair, popping the straw in with exaggerated flair.

"Blake," Earth called dryly, "stop flirting with Art."

Blake paused mid-sip, then took an intentionally long gulp before lowering the coconut. "Flirting?" he repeated, affronted. "I was showing affection to my nephew."

Earth scoffed. "You were batting your lashes at him."

Blake gasped dramatically. "How dare you, Phi. I am a loving Aa."

Earth rolled his eyes. "It's good you remember he is your nephew."

Blake turned back with a grin that immediately spelled trouble. "It doesn't matter na," he said lightly. "We are not blood-related anyway."

That was it.

Earth grabbed the nearest cushion and hurled it at him.

Blake yelped, ducking just in time, the cushion sailing past him and landing in the sand. He winked at Earth, blew him an exaggerated kiss, and then took off running back toward the children, who immediately welcomed him back into their game with shrieks and cheers.

Earth groaned, sinking deeper into the lounge chair.

Kao appeared beside him, handing him a cold drink. "You know he is doing it on purpose," Kao said gently.

Earth accepted the drink with a pout. "He is becoming more and more like Fluke."

Kao chuckled. "That's not a bad thing."

"It is when he enjoys annoying me," Earth muttered. "Fluke used to do the same thing when we were kids. The only difference is that Fluke had some sense of ethics."

Beside them, Prem lay sprawled on the neighboring lounge chair, arms crossed tightly over his chest, expression dark. He had been quiet for a while now, and Kao noticed.

"Can you not talk about Fluke?" Prem said suddenly, sulking.

Earth turned his head. "How long are you planning to stay mad at him?"

Prem huffed. "I don't know. Probably forever." Then, more quietly, "Not that he would even notice. I am not exactly important."

Earth frowned. "That's not true."

"He didn't tell me anything," Prem snapped. "Nothing."

Boun, sitting on the edge of Prem's chair with his sunglasses pushed up into his hair, sighed. "Ohm didn't tell me anything either."