𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟐𝟐

*Quan's cremation day

Author's POV:

One by one, they threw flowers as condolences to the grave of Fourth's father where his body was cremated.

Fourth couldn't help but cry while his mom was leaning on his shoulder, and Pond was just standing behind while stroking Pan's back to comfort her.

Gemini's POV:

I was standing at a distance while watching Fourth, I wanted to approach him to hug and comfort him but he might just drive me away again if he saw me.

I am saddened by the loss of Uncle Quan, if I had not accepted the wine that Mint gave me, we would not have reached this situation.

"I'm really sorry uncle Quan, if I failed the will you wanted for Fourth." I said in my mind.

While I was looking at Fourth in the distance, I saw Mark walking towards Fourth, when Mark was standing next to Fourth, Fourth suddenly hugged him and started crying for Mark.

"I should be the one comforting you. I should be the one you hug. I should be the one you cry to. I should be the one there." My voice regretted.

Author's POV:

After the ceremony they decided to go home, when Mark came out of the temple with Fourth he saw Gemini standing in the distance under a tree.

"Get in the car first, I'll go after." Mark's comforting Fourth.

"Khab. P' Mark." Fourth answered frugally.

Mark immediately turned his way towards Gemini, when he got close to Gemini, he suddenly punched him hard to the point that Gemini was out of balance with the force of the punch.

"What are you doing here?" Mark asked haughtily.

Gemini grabbed his jawline and the side of his lip when he saw the blood on his thumb, Gemini immediately lifted his body and stood in front of Mark.

"If you can speak as if you have rights, why are you and Fourth?" Gemini grinned when he asked.

"You don't have rights to Fourth either, do you?" Mark's reverse.

"I didn't come here to fight." Gemini's voice was calm.

Mark didn't respond anymore but I just waited for him to speak.

"There are too many shortcomings that I gave to Fourth, I know you can fill them all. Please, take care of Fourth." Gemini indulgence.

Mark was rendered speechless by what he heard from Gemini, so he just listened to everything he was told.

"Fourth's feelings are sensitive, so don't make him cry. Don't do things he doesn't want. Don't waste the trust he gave you. Love him more than the love I gave...

This time I'll swallow my pride... Don't hurt Fourth, I'm begging you." Gemini's frustrated voice.

Gemini added, "just don't mention to Fourth that we talked."

A few minutes later, Gemini saw Fourth walking and he knew that Fourth was heading towards the two of them, Mark was about to speak but Gemini turned his back on him and walked away.

Mark was about to take another step to chase Gemini but Fourth suddenly came and stopped him.

"P' Mark, what are you doing?" Fourth asked cluelessly.

Mark was still thinking about whether he should tell the truth that he had talked to Fourth, but suddenly what Gemini had talked to came to his mind.

"Nothing. My manager just called me." Mark made an excuse.

"Can we go to see Ford, I'm worried. He didn't go to Dad's cremation, and I haven't been able to contact him yet... I have a bad feeling." Fourth's voice sounded worried.

Mark didn't answer anymore, instead he just nodded at Fourth.

While the two of them were walking away, Mark couldn't help but turn his back to glance at Gemini, but Gemini completely left.

Fourth's POV:

When we arrived at Ford's condo, we knocked on his door several times but no one opened, because of the nervousness I felt, I begged the staff of the condo to open Ford's door.

When I went inside, I didn't see anyone else but here it was dark and quiet covering the four corners of Ford's condo, I immediately looked for him in the entire condo out of great concern.

"Ford, where are you?!" I shouted across the room due to the restless I felt.

When I twisted his room, I screamed in shock when I found him sitting in a daze on the bed while holding a blade aimed at his wrist, the capsules of various pills were scattered on the floor as well as on his bed.

"Ai' Ford! You're fucking shit!" I shouted as I approached him and tried to take away the blade from his hand.

He didn't want to let go of the blade in his hand, instead he kept pressed and aiming to cut his wrist.

"Ai' shia Ford! stop!! Let go of the blade!!" I shouted while taking the blade by force.

our blood keep dropping on the white sheet as I tried to snatch the sharp blade from him even I feel prickly to my wounds, until I forced him and threw the blade on the floor.

I immediately hugged him tightly and caressed his back to calm him down, until I felt him start crying on my shoulder and hugged me tightly in fear.

"Fourth." Ford's frustrated voice while weeping.

"Do you have a problem? Tell me. Don't attempt your life!" I scolded him to make him come back to his senses.

"Why are you so kind to me!!" He shouted at me while hitting my back.

"Ford. I've lost the love of my life once, I don't want to lose another love of my life again." my trembling voice.

When Ford calmed down, I invited him out of the room and made him sit on the couch to rest. While I was at the kitchen counter preparing food for Ford, P' Mark immediately came to me carrying the first aid that I ordered him to bring.

"Fourth, are you all right? How is your wound?" He asked in concern as he held my hand to check it.

I turned to Ford but he avoided looking at me, so I immediately remove my hand that Mark was holding.

"I'm alright." I avoided P' Mark and took the food to serve to Ford.

I approached Ford and sat next to him with the food that I had cooked.

"Ford, eat first. So I can treat the wound on your hand and you can rest." My voice is calm.

"Why are you doing this? Why are you being so nice to me?" He asked me when he glare at me.

"I'm doing this because I'm your friend, what are you talking about?" Fourth wondered.

"I wasn't a good friend to you. I'm murderer, why you're so kind to me?" Ford's shivering voice.

"No, you're not-

"I killed my own mom! Aren't you scared that I might kill you!!" Ford reprimanded when he shout.

"that's not your fault. What happened to your mom was an accident! Stop blaming yourself Ford." I speak well.

"I was able to attempt your life, now you tell me that I'm not a killer." Ford questioning me as he stood up.

I was so dumbfounded when I was surprised by what I heard from Ford, I couldn't speak while staring at him. Until I didn't realize that the plate I was holding had slipped from my hand.

"Ford-

Ford stepped away from me and turned to me, he took a deep breath and stared at me intently.

"Do you remember the night someone came into your room and strangled you in an attempt to take your life?" He comprehend.

He added, "It was me. I made an attempt on your life that night, because I was very invious and jealous of you!!"

"I don't believe it, I know you can't do that." I still can't believe.

"Fourth. What the hell!! Don't be so stupid. If you know I can't do that, why do I know someone made an attempt on my life? You didn't tell Prom and I about that before, right?" It will make me realize it.

"Ford." I answered calmly.

I stood up and tried to take a step to approach him but he suddenly stopped me.

"Stop, don't come close to me." he trembling voice.

"Don't be like this, please. I know that you can't hurt me." I tried to hold back my tears while walking slowly toward to Ford.

Ford suddenly lost his anger and took away the breakable items that were placed on the shelf, I almost got hit because the vases fell near me.

"Ai' Ford." I calmly called him.

"Ford, that's enough!" Mark yelled at him.

Mark immediately grabbed me and stood in front of me to cover me with his back, fortunately Mark was not hurt by the things that Ford was throwing.

Ford's POV:

Because of Mark's act of being so attentive in protecting Fourth, I became even more angry and hot headed, I went straight into the room and slammed the door shut. I heard Fourth's voice calling me but I kept walking.

Fourth's POV:

"Ai' Ford! Ford!" I called him loudly.

I immediately let go of Mark's hug to follow Ford who left the room straight away.

"Fourth, stop following him." Mark's voice was calm when he grabbed my arm to stop me.

"P' Mark, Ford is my friend. I know Ford likes you, that's why he acts like that." I turned to Mark and let go of his grip.

I immediately ran out of the room to follow Ford, I even caught a glimpse of him entering the fire exit so I hurried to chase after him.

Until I reached the rooftop of the condominium, I stopped in my tracks when I saw Ford standing at the edge of the fence.

"Ford." I calmly call him in tears.

"Ai' shia Fourth! What do I have to do to make you angry with me!! Stay away from me!!" He shouted at me when he turned.

"I will never be mad with you. I've forgiven you... You are the one who should forgive yourself. Get down there, please." I try to calm him down.

"I almost killed you, because of my admiration for Mark. Isn't enough reason for you to stay away from me, You cdoesn't deserve a friend like me!!." Ford resentment with frustrated voice.

"I will never walk away from you, because I know you can't do that. So please, stop thinking that you're a killer..." I plead.

"When I'm gone I won't hurt you anymore and I won't make any more attempts on your life-

"What the fuck!! Stop talking nonsense Ford-

"Fourth we both know that Mark likes you and Mark will never like me because of you!" Ford chide at me.

"Ford, I only think of Mark as one of my friend-

"Shut up! Did you ask Mark if he just sees of you as a friend?" Ford asked in reverse.

I was not able to answer what Ford said because it was true that Mark was interested and confessed to me then.

"See... You can't answer because it's true! Even if you keep telling me that you don't like Mark, will anything change? Can I change Mark's feelings for you?!" He yelled reproachfully.

"Ford, we don't need to lead to this situation because of the man! Yes, he confessed to me before... But I refused it because I love Gemini even more!

You don't have to be jealous or envious of me! I should be the one who is envious and jealous of you... because you still have a dad, which I wish I still had." My weakling voice as I burst in tears at what I said.

Ford couldn't speak to what I said but stunned, so I took the moment to slowly stepped closer to him properly.

"I don't want us to end up like this." I beg you to be calm.

When I finally got close to him, I immediately held him by the hand to pull him. But instead of dragged him, he suddenly get loose in struggling. because of the force of his struggle, he suddenly out of balanced and fell into the fence.

"Ford!" I screamed in shock.

I quickly reached his hand and grabbed him again when he fell on the fence, my arm was in so much pain because my wound with a cut from the blade has been squeezed and my hand keept bleeding again so I was struggling to hold Ford while he was hanging in my hand.

"Fourth, Just let me go. the wound on your hand is bleeding." Ford's voice was sluggish when he looked up at me.

"No! I won't let you go. I don't care about my wound compared to your life." my vocie getting weak.

It's hard for me to hold Ford's hand but I still don't let go even though my foot is rising from the ground. Ford's hand slowly slips from my hand because of the blood flowing through our hand, not until someone suddenly grabs Ford's wrist.

"N' Ford, hold on." Mark answered when he helped me save Ford.

Author's POV:

While Ford was resting on the patient bed, Fourth spoke to the doctor to ask for an update on Fourth's condition.

"Doc, how's the patient?" Fourth asked worriedly.

"You..." The doctor's questioning tone.

"I'm his brother." Fourth quickly answered.

"Have you noticed anything strange about your brother lately? Like being restless, easily tired, feeling anxious." The doctor asked him.

"Nothing, it's normal. Why doc, is there a problem?" Fourth's polite voice.

"Based on my examination of the patient, he has been harboring depression and anxiety for a long time, and his mental health might be affected in the long run.

If it's not taken care of, it can get worse or worst, he might hurt himself and lead to committing suicide." The doctor informed.

"Doc, what must we do to deal with such a disorder?" Fourth asked thoughtfully.

"There is nothing else you can do but make the patient feel that he is not alone, support him so he can compose himself. He needs to be active again, and practicing meditation for his mental health." The doctor answered him.

"Khab, Thank you Doc." Fourth paid respect before the doctor left.

After a while, Ford's dad arrived and Fourth immediately approached him.

"Sawadee khab, uncle." Fourth put his palm together and bow a little to show some respect.

"Sawadee, N' Fourth. How is Ford doing?" Ford's dad was worried when he asked Fourth.

"I talked to the doctor... He said that Ford is dealing with anxiety and depression right now." Fourth's polite voice.

"What?" Ford's father was too stunned to speak.

"I think one of the reasons for the depression is that he still blames himself for Auntie's death, I'm sorry for mentioning it." Fourth asked for a apology.

ford's dad immediately approached his son and held his hand out of concern, so Fourth decided to leave the room for a moment for the two of them.

When Fourth came out of the room, he saw Mark standing on the side near the door as if he was waiting to go out.

"How's Ford?" Mark asked.

"Ford has depression and anxiety disorder now." Fourth looked wilted.

"What does the doctor say?" his follow-up questions.

"He needs meditation treatment so that his mental health will not be affected." Fourth's frustated.

Mark's POV:

At night, I drove Fourth to their house when we got home from the hospital, when I parked the car in front of their house I took that time and had the courage to confess.

"Fourth, there's something I want to confess to you." I'm still hesitated.

"About what?" Fourth asked cluelessly.

"About Gemini..." I said bluntly.

"P' Mark, I'm tired now. If you don't want me to get mad at you, stop mentioning his name.

Thank you for sending me at home, be careful on your way home." Fourth's voice was frustrated and he immediately got off the car.

"I would like to say that Gemini and I met earlier outside the temple." My voice was disappointed as I followed Fourth into the house.

Fourth's POV:

Upon entering the house, I saw mom and Pond still awake and sitting in the living room, I immediately approached them both and paid respect.

"Fourth, how's Ford doing?" Mom asked me in concern.

"He's okay mom." I assuredly smiled.

"What happened to your hand? why there's a bandage on it?" She asked me out of confusion.

"Nothing, I accidentally cut my hand while I was cooking food for Ford." I excuse with it even though I really had a blade fight with Ford earlier.

"By the way, do you have a plan to do? You already graduated now." Mom consulting me.

I sat on the single couch and had a good conversation with mom and P' Pond.

"I want to take a Juris doctor degree in Switzerland to become a professional lawyer." Fourth clarification.

"How long you will be there?" P' Pond asked.

"three years." I straightfoward said.

"Are you certain of your decision?" Mom asked me reassuringly.

"I'm sure. I want to leave here so I can forget the bad memories I experienced here.

I want to start a new life in Switzerland while I taking a Juris doctor." I answered clearly.

"When are you going to leave?" My mom asked.

"Next week, when I complete my requirements at the airport." I speak in hesitation.

"Huh?! It seems to be fast." My mom's confusion.

"Mom, I'll come home here every summer or special events. You can go on vacation in the province, P' Pond will take care of you." I plead when I reached her hand to hold it.

"Fourth. You're not in a hurry, right? you should stay here for at least 2 weeks or 3 weeks... for me. I'm not used to you being away from me." She plead for me to stay.

"I'm sorry, mom.

I passed the school's board exam. Actually, I was supposed to leave this week... I just begged to reschedule my flight because I want to go to dad's cremation ceremony." I admit it even I was hesitating.

"Okay. I'll support you wherever you want." Mom look so dissagree and walked away.

"Mom." I used a frustrated voice when I tried to talk to her but she was keep walking straight away.

"It's okay, Fourth. I'll help you, aunty will understand you too." P' Pond patted my shoulder to enlighten me before he left to follow mom.

I was left alone in the living room depressed and frustrated, because of my mom's disappointment with my decision without her permission.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to calm myself down as I rested on the couch.

Fourth's POV:

The next day, I decided to go to my ex-husband's house for the settlement of the house. When I left the house, I saw Mark's car parked in front of the house, he immediately got out of the car and approached me.

"what are you doing here? don't you have work today?" I asked as he came closer to me.

"No. That's why I came here because you might be doing something... I can accompany you." Mark offered to me.

"P'Mark..." I made him understand.

"I understand, just as a friend promise." ensuring it.

"I will go to my ex-husband's house to settle the sale of the house." I informed him.

"Come on, I'll bring you." he offered me.

I didn't answer anymore, instead I just nodded and walked towards the car. P' Mark is still attentive as before, he opened the car door for me to take me in which is I like that kind of treatment. Not to P' Mark... but Gemini, I hope Gemini also made me feel comfortable with the treatment.

Author's POV:

When they arrived at the house, Fourth and Mark immediately got off the car to go inside, the Attorney and Gemini were stunned and looked when they saw Mark with me.

"I'll just wait outside." Mark acted awkwardly when he whispered to Fourth.

Fourth's eyes widened in shock when Mark suddenly pressed his cheek to Fourth's cheek in front of Gemini before leaving the house, Gemini and the attorney looked away from what Mark did to Fourth in a very awkward way.

Fourth slowly walked closer to the living room and sat on the single couch facing Gemini, the three of them didn't say a word for a few minutes because of the awkwardness that surrounded the entire corner of the living room.

"can we start now?" the attorney's consolation to turn away the awkwardness.

"No." Gemini answered.

Fourth glanced at Gemini when he heard him object to what the attorney said, Gemini stared intensely at Fourth as if he didn't like what he saw.

"Maybe that's why you're rushing to get a divorce because of him. Wow! You're moving on so fast." Gemini grinned as if he couldn't believe it.

He added while staring at me, "You didn't even wait for me to move on. You can extend it, just at leave a few month. Not the few weeks we just got divorced... and you already have new one."

"Gemini enough..." the attorney pleaded.

"I hope you at least give me a little respect, even if not as your ex-husband... as a person, I'm also hurt Fourth." Gemini's voice trembled while holding back tears.

"You're hurting? That's not even enough of all the pain you made me feel before, you have no right to be hurt... because cheaters have no feelings." Fourth's insulting voice.

"Ai' Fourth!!" Gemini shouted as he stood up.

Gemini added, "Okay, believe what you've seen... I'm tired of explaining my side."

Gemini took the paper held by the attorney and signed it one by one, he immediately walked out and went up to the second floor to go to the bedroom and pack the rest of his clothes. While Fourth was left in the living room with the attorney, Fourth tried to stop his tears from falling but they flowed down his cheeks and wiped the tears to pretend to be obdurate.