Chapter VI

Inside a simple looking and warm house that is clearly well-maintained, an old woman is singing along to the gentle lullaby playing from her old stereo.

"You are still listening to that song, grandma?" She suddenly heard the voice of her grandson, disrupting her singing, a wide smile forming on her face.

"Boun! You visited me!" The old woman happily said with her arms wide open, waiting for her grandson to reach her. She is old already, she has an excuse not to stand from her rocking chair.

"Yes, I am here to reorganize the house."

"Nevermind. Go back wherever you come from, Sir. My house has been rearranged by my grandson thrice already. I have had enough of him doing it, goodbye." The grandma said, gesturing for him to go away instead.

Boun laughed, hugging the old woman who hugged him back. "Four times grandma. See? You are showing your age already." teased the grandson.

"I am old, you ungrateful grandchild. Why are you visiting grandma just now? You haven't visited me for months! Are you that busy, huh?! And where is Ohm? Why is that kid not with you? Aw! What am I going to do to the both of you? Now that you have your own lot and house, grandma is not priority anymore!"

"Stop whining, grandma~ I am here, aren't I?"

"Right, why are you really here? You can't just be here for me. I bet there is another reason why you are here. Wait, are you telling me you have a girlfriend now? And you want my approval? Oh my God! Why am I just hearing this now?!"

"Grandma! That's not it! And I don't have one!" Boun loudly said, whining at his grandma as he hugged her again. "I am here to look at your album. You have one right? The one where both you and grandpa were still young and still living at the house you gave me."

"I don't know what you areー"

"I saw it already grandma. I just want to see the pictures. Uncle Boston said, both grandpa and grandma tried to replicate everything to keep the memories and everything intact. But because Ohm and I made the renovation with our vision in it, I want to see how much we changed it. I just want to see the original house."

Sighing, the old woman reluctantly nod, pushing her grandson away. "Alright, alright. I have one. You can let me go now."

"You love it when I hug you though." Boun cheekily replied, squeezing his grandmother one more time before letting her go. "You can stay seated. I know where it is. I discovered it once I rearranged your things. And I was the one who put it somewhere safe."

"What? I changed my mind! That box has many secrets!"

"No need to get flustered grandma~ some of the things in there, grandpa has already shown it to me and Ohm. Did you know he was boasting it to us?"

"That old man! Did he really have to boast to his grandsons?!"

Boun only laughed at her, going to the extended living room that he added to his grandparents house. The extension is mainly for the things that his grandparents display. His' and Ohm's pictures are also displayed there. A wedding photo of his parents are also there, a picture of them when they graduated was also displayed there. Even the picture that they took with his grandfather at the hospital was also put in a frame and displayed on the wall.

Taking the box from the upper cabinet, the first thing that Boun noticed was how it is almost the same with the box that Fluke owned. He suddenly feels heavy knowing he is going to get answers now, knowing he is going to learn things from the past.

Sitting cross-legged on the carpet, he opened the box. It is easy to open the box, it doesn't have any keys at all. Boun was taken back to when his grandfather was still alive when he saw the things inside the box. Nostalgia engulfs his being as he saw the letters that his grandmother has written for his grandpa (the letters that he boasted). The letters that his grandpa has written for his grandma are also there. A framed photo of them when they were young, and a framed photo of his grandparents with Fluke on the porch of the old house.

Taking it out, Boun gently hold it and stared at the smiling young faces in the picture. In his peripheral vision, he saw his mother walking towards him. Quietly, he asked. "I've been meaning to ask since the first time I saw it. Grandma, who is he?"

"A family, an old friend of ours." She softly replied, sitting beside his grandson.

"But why haven't I seen him before? As I grew up, I have met and have been carried by all of your friends." Boun continued asking, giving the framed photo to his grandma.

"Because he is already gone." She replied. Taking an album from the box, she said, "He is an older cousin of mine. He became an orphan at the age of 18 and the loss of his parents pushed him to work harder. Since he is already at the right age, no one in the family took him in. But brother Fluke is alright with it. He understands and he never complained. "

Flipping the album, a younger picture of the three of them was presented in front of Boun. "He is quite fond of me and your grandfather. He has always been there for us, giving us options to take. When we decided we wanted to have a place on our own, he was there to offer his house for us. We were only in our teens, not even out from high school yet. But he took us under his care and was always there until we graduated from College."

Flipping a page, four people are in a photograph together. "And this is Tayn. Brother Fluke's caretaker. He is only a year older than us. When brother Fluke became an orphan, the only thing that his parents left him is the house. And with the house, Tayn is also left behind. As the oldest, Brother Fluke even worked harder and helped him finished studying."

She flipped another page and he saw a picture of Fluke being sandwiched by his grandparents. "It started as an arranged one but being a family friend and always there for me, your grandparents fell in love, Boun. Being engaged at the young age, both me and your grandfather already decided that we are going to be together, forever. And brother Fluke, he was there to always remind us of our vow for each other. It was frowned upon by our parents when we decided to be together even though we are not yet married. But because Brother Fluke assured them he and Tayn are also around, they stepped back and let us be. Only with the promise that we are going to be wed after finishing college."

Another page being flipped and a photo of his grandparents wearing their graduation gown is there, another flip and Fluke is between them, smiling brightly. "He was very proud of us during this time."

"Grandma..." Boun called when he noticed his grandmother is tearing up.

"Don't worry. He is someone I love and respect the most. He is someone I hold onto dearly, so whenever I think of him, I cannot help but get emotional." She said, laughing as she started sniffing. Receiving a handkerchief from her grandson, she ruffled his hair and combed it with her fingers afterwards. "Thank you."

"But why did he die, grandma? Is it because of sickness? An accident?" Boun curiously asked. Unknown to his grandma, Boun has his hand fisted, waiting for the answer he has been waiting.

"We had a big fight that time. Grandma was still lacking maturity that time. And being the only woman in a house with four people, grandma was quite spoiled by them.

That time, I was blinded by the idea of finally being able to work on my own. As a new graduate and being accepted to a job I have always wanted, I rebelled. Brother Fluke is a cook, a chef; your grandpa is a forester; even Tayn is a graduate in forestry. I am the only one who took communication so that time I thought, 'They won't understand what I am feeling because they didn't take the same course as me.' Even your grandpa was against me that time. They warned me that I will get in trouble but I didn't listen. It's the work I have always wanted to have. I have always wanted to be in front of a camera so I was adamant and took it.

I left the house then.

"What are you doing here?" She angrily asked when she opened the door of her new apartment and saw her fiancé in front of her.

"I followed you."

"And? Whatever you say, I am not going back! This is my life, he doesn't have the right to control me just because he is my cousin and I am under his care. He is just my cousin! Even you cannot dictate what I want to do! I am not going back. I am going to prove all of you wrong!"

"Since when did we belittle you? Haven't we always pushed you and encouraged you that you are at the right path? And are you hearing yourself right now? Are you really saying those things about brother Fluke?" He talked back, crumpling his chest, right where his heart is. "You are hurting me right now with all of your accusations. What happened to you? If not for Phi telling me to go after you, I will let you be."

"Then go! I don't need you!"

"Unlike you, I am serious with the promise I made to you. And with the new promise I did with Phi Fluke, I am honoring my words and his trust in me on not to leave your side. Whatever you say, whatever you do to me, I will be here to protect you."

"Suit yourself. But you have no place inside this apartment." She said in anger, closing the door right on his face.

"The words that leave our mouth when we are full of anger are the words that hurt the most. But for a week, your grandfather never leave me even once despite my attitude and how badly I treated him. He endured everything and still loved me the same."

"Wait, what's happening?" She asked the police officer who is manning the front door of the small agency that hired her as a reporter.

"Are you working here too, ma'am?"

"Yes, I just got accepted last week and with all the run-through that we did, we are going to shoot my first day, today."

"I am sorry, butー Hey, Detective. There's another victim here!" The police officer called for the detective who immediately went towards them and interviewed her, taking a statement from her.

"Ma'am, this agency have been ceased. Receiving reports from a group of people, the gathering of evidence has been finalized and we are here with a warrant of arrest. This agency have been rumored for libel and slander. They have been accused of defamation for a year now. They use lies to gather money and use innocent young people to lure them in. But you look smart. How come you didn't hear any rumors?" The Detective told her. She didn't even realize the insult that the officer said, her mind too busy on believing how her dream was gone just like that.

"But my dreamー"

"Just like the young people before you, they all have the same reaction. All about their dreams evaporating through thin air. All I can advise you, there is no shortcut to success. Whatever they told you about shortcuts, young girl, they don't exist." Then he patted her on her shoulder as he walked away.

"Sam! What happened here?" The newly - arrived person jogged as soon as he saw the police cars and her standing near the entrance. He then grabbed her on the shoulder to turn her towards him. He got worried when he saw her condition. With his sleeves, he wiped the tears streaming down her face. "Are you alright? Are you hurt? What happened?"

"Prem, I am sorry" she said and bawled.

"It's alright, it's alright. Everything will be alright. You hear me?" Prem chanted, locking her in a tight hug. Rubbing her back and head alternately, "Let it all out, everything will be alright."

"It was a hoax, the offer that they made to me. I lost my money, my pride was hurt, even my dignity was almost stepped on. And I was so ashamed of myself I do not have the courage to go back to him. After all he did for me, for us, what did we exchange in return? We left him alone. Even Tayn has started a family of his own to care for.

"But Sir Fluke, I canー"

"No Tayn, I am not allowing you. You just got married. You are finally starting your own family. You are not allowed to go back here unless I really need it."

"But you do not have anyone with you, Sir. I am worried."

"You do not have to worry about me anymore." Fluke smiled, assuring the person he grew up with together, the person he had already called as his own brother. "You have entered our lives as a young orphan wanting to work for us to sustain yourself to survive. I promised my parents to support you and let you stand on your own when you are ready. And you are already ready. You have been ready for quite some time now. And who am I to hinder you?"

"Sir Fluke, why do you have to grow up too soon? You are still too young to say things that I only heard from your father." Tayn seriously asked. He is seriously sad for him.

Fluke only laughed at him. "They have all said I have become like my father now unlike when I was younger, when I laugh and am playful like my mother. You do not have to worry about me Tayn. My house is always welcome to you and your family, remember that."

"The most painful part happened a few days before our wedding. Your grandfather has been urging me to meet him especially since we are finally getting married. But I still can't face him because of shame. I know Prem continuously talks to brother Fluke and Tayn through the phone. I know he keeps them updated. That's why we received their engagement gift for us.

"Do you want brother Fluke to take the first step when he didn't do anything wrong at all?"

"Of course not! I know I am in the wrong and should take the first step! But I can't manage to walk my feet whenever I think of apologizing. The shame and fear blocks my way."

"Let go of your wounded pride and go to him. He sent us a letter and a gift! Look at how he still calls you his princess!" Prem argued, shoving the letter to her hands. He then took the music box and played it. "It's Brahm's Lullaby. Our favorite."

Congratulations to the official engagement party!

Prem, I am glad you honor your words and you truly love my Princess. Continue on loving each other and never let go of each other's hands. You might encounter more hardships and problems along the way, but as long as you hold onto each other's hand, you will get through it.

And there is a God out there listening to our prayers.

Keep thinking about each other and grow together!

Please be together forever.

I wish for your eternal happiness.

And for my Princess, let bygones be bygones.

I love you my favorite beloved cousin!

I love you too family friend! Also the most suited Prince for my Princess! (Please be aware I do not like calling you Prince, but for the sake of marrying my Princess, you are a Prince for this week. One day, you will get used to the nickname too just like how I got used with hers.)

"...brother Fluke" Samantha suddenly bawled. "I am very sorry!" She added as she hastily ran towards her husband-to-be and hugged him tight. "I want to see brother Fluke now, Prem! I missed him so much!"

"Sshh. He misses you too. He wants to see you too. But it's late at night already, tomorrow morning, we'll go and visit him, okay? Hush now." Prem softly said as he sniffled. Rocking them sideways, he teared up too. Her tears has always been his weakness. Fluke was right when he told him, A beloved's tears is a sword cutting through your heart. When they are in pain, you will feel it too. "Hush now. Everything will be alright. The both of you love each other. You are family, remember that."

Morning comes and the soon to be wed are getting ready to visit their cousin. Right before Samantha can open the car door, she stiffened. With Prem's encouraging smile on the other side of the car, she was able to take the step that she needed.

"Why? What's happening?" Prem mumbled when he saw the road to Fluke's house is being blocked by patrol cars. Properly parking the car, the couple became restless when they got out of the car and a police officer came towards them.

"Ma'am, Sir. Where are the both of you going?"

"Let us through, our cousin lives there." Prem said, pulling Samantha towards him, a hand around her waist.

The officer called for someone and they were given permission to enter the area.

"Thank you" Prem muttered, feeling how Samantha encircled an arm around his waist and is leaning on him for support. She is shaking and his heart is shaking. But stopping himself for thinking for more.

Before, they like walking the distance from the gate to the house.

But now, they dislike walking the distance and wasting more seconds and minutes just to reach the house.

A pale looking Tayn was waiting for them at the door. "You both are here." Tayn mumbled, hoarsely laughing. "Great timing."

"Tayn, what happened?" Prem asked but Tayn was only looking at Samantha blankly. Prem was about to pull his Samantha and hide her behind him, thinking Tayn is holding a hidden grudge against her. But before he can pull her, the older slowly held her hands and gravely said, "I am sorry for your loss."

The statement is a bomb that Tayn dropped to them.

"P-pardon?" Samantha asked but a tear has already escaped her eyes. Even Prem was still looking at him with wide eyes. Tayn dislikes being the carrier of grave news eversince Fluke gave him a broken smile when he told him the news about his parents death. And now, he is seeing the same look on the face of Samantha. "I think I misheard, Tayn." She added, giving him a broken smile.

Sniffing, he squeezed her hands, telling her, his voice breaking at the end, "An accident happened. He is gone, Samantha."

"No, that cannot be." Samantha denied, rapidly shaking her head. "Tayn, he just can't. I haven't...yetー" Tayn pulled her to him, hugging her as she continued. "I brought him an apology gift? Brother ー I... He still has to attend our wedding? He..."

"Samantha, Princessー"

"No... No. I do not want to be called Princess. No.. no" Samantha said, rapidly shaking her head, her hold on Tayn's shirt is strong that Prem wasn't able to pull her hands away.

"Samー"

"I haven't yet apologize to him... He just can't go!"

Prem, not knowing what to do, leaned down his head on top of her head, his body shaking as he cried silently opposite to Samantha whose sound of crying is echoing throughout the house.

Tayn, the oldest of the three, pats Prem's head in one hand and rubs Samantha's back with the other, comforting them at the same time comforting himself with their presence.

An officer briefed them that there is no sign of burglary, so that what happened was an accident. the three of them are sitting on the couch trying to digest everything he is saying. The doctor that came with Tayn told them that Fluke checked his temperature and based on the note that he left on his bedside table, his fever was going up and down, alternately until last night when it stayed up. "He was suffering from a flu. And a second infection have already occured."

They were left alone after that. Only casual sniffles can be heard from them but they are mainly staring into space. "You should go back, the bride and groom cannot be absent for their wedding. You can mourn today but tomorrow you cannot." Tayn softly said. When the couple did not reply to him, Tayn glanced at them and saw the tears silently running down their face. "Come on now, he has been looking forward for your wedding you know that. He might not be around anymore but at least, make it a happy occasion for him." The couple gave him a slight nod that he returned with a small smile.

"So Boun, always think about things carefully. Do not always be impulsive. Never let your pride get in your way of apologizing. Take that step, never let fear paralyze you. Own up to your mistakes and keep the people you love close to you because you'll never know when they'll be taken away from us. Make memorable memories as long as you can. He is my biggest regret. I have always wanted to ask for his forgiveness. Despite what Prem keeps on telling me, I cannot accept it if it's not brother Fluke who says it. I hurt him with my words, I pushed him away and insulted him. I even took your grandfather's freedom on going to him and meet him, saying it's unfair for him to go to Brother Fluke if I couldn't do it myself.

When everything is done, when everything had already happened, we cannot help ourselves but think about the 'what if' scenarios. We were all selfish, only taking and taking and taking from him. He gave us his love, he gave us his time, his house, his food, his money, everything. I regret my mistakes.

Your grandfather regrets being soft with me and not being able to rebel and drag me to meet him. Tayn, also... He has his own set of regrets too. Without him knowing, Brother Fluke named the house to him. But he could not accept the house, he could not take it as his own. He kept on saying he will remain as the caretaker. So your grandfather and I bought it from him and let him be the caretaker. But even so, I couldn't force myself to visit the house again. Because everytime I think about visiting, the remnants of the blood on the floor is the only thing I can see." Samantha ended, caressing the framed photo.

"Why not think of the happy memories grandma? Why keep dwelling on the saddening and hurting memories?" Boun asked, rubbing his grandmother's back. "You can start now, I will listen." He added, giving her a gentle smile.

Laughing, the old woman smacked her grandson on the shoulder. "Something is wrong with you today."

"Ouch. Is this how I am going to be treated by you, grandma? After listening to your story?" Boun asked, a hand on his chest, acting as if in pain. He received another smack from his grandma because of that. "Ouch! Just tell me grandmaaaa!" He added in a whiny voice.

"Act your age! You are on your late twenties already." Boun only rolled his eyes and insisted again so she gave in. "Alright, since we started talking about him, I am gonna continue. There's a place in the house that is the perfect spot to watch the sunrise. If ever you want to watch the sunrise, you can wait there. You only need to look in the garden, for the spot where you can see the field."

"Anything else? Grandma, a list of Fluke's favorites?" Boun looks eager, he was smacked again because of that.

"Where are your manners?! He might be gone but he is still my older cousin, that means he is your grandfather too!" Hearing Boun's apology, she continued, "Wait, I am thinking... Your grandma is old, it's harder to think of old things. Hmmm. Aside from being a cook, he loves flowers and trees. Both your grandpa and Tayn was influenced by him actually. But he urged them to care for the forest more. Hmm, he likes playing acting. No... it's me who liked it. It's where his nickname for me came from; Princess Samantha. I remembered him as a bright and happy child, he is Auntie's son afterall. But when his parents left, he hid that side of him and became like Uncle more than Auntie. Don't get me wrong, I am not talking bad about my Uncle, bless his soul.

There's a reason why I love visiting their family as a child; because even though Uncle is a quiet and serious person, he has a calming aura around him while Auntie is always smiling and jokes around yet make her angry and you will feel the shift in the air, literally. They are a perfect team, they have a warm household. Growing up, I always told your grandfather that we will make a home as warm and as comforting as them. And, look at us now. I guess we succeeded. It was just saddening to see him smile less and lesser when he took us under his care."

"But he is a playful and bright child in nature. That personality of him will always be there no matter how much he buried it, right grandma?" Boun said wearing a gentle smile.

"I hope so."

"Grandma...."

"Anyway! Why are we even talking about him when you were only asking about the history of the house? That's all I can tell you about its history. If you wanted to know more, ask your Uncle Boston. He is Tayn's only son. Beside the fact that Tayn always brought Boston with him when visiting the house, Tayn has lived there since he was a child. I am sure Tayn has told Boston many stories about the house."

Bidding his grandma goodbye, Boun thought of buying dinner before going home, whether his housemates have already eaten or not, he can always heat the extra for tomorrow. Stopping by at Mcdo, he bought an 8-pcs chicken box and stopped by the next door restaurant to buy pizza.

Boun sighed when he entered the gate and saw the house is still dark. "The both of them must have fallen asleep." He mumbled to himself as he parked his car properly and locked the gate before walking to the house, taking his time to look up at the night sky.

He found his housemates - the both of them - asleep on the couch with the TV still on.

He turned off the TV first before walking near them. He was about to wake Fluke up when he saw how he has his brows furrowed. Putting a finger between his brows, he whispered "Time didn't stop, life went on. There are people who learned from their mistakes and experiences and moved on together with life, together with time; life lessons they say. But there are also people who cannot let go and move on; who keep on holding on, who still hope for another chance, for one more chance. You are neither of these people but you are stuck in between." Patting him on the head, he proceeded on waking his cousin up.

🌻💐🌸🌷🌼🌻

The tweeting birds on the distance woke the person being held in an embrace.

At first, Fluke was disoriented when he couldn't move but when he noticed his body is moving alongside someone's breathing pattern, he looked down and realized he is on top of Ohm. "Why do I keep waking up on top of you, hmm?" Fluke sleepily mumbled. "When did you even come home?"

"Last night."

Fluke slightly jump, startled when he heard a reply. He turned his head and found Boun sitting on the couch already awake and sipping his coffee. "What are you doing there?" He asked, trying to shift his body away from Ohm to make the person under him comfortable. He couldn't though.

As far as Boun can remember, sleep doesn't like Ohm that much. His cousin is a light sleeper, one small movement and slight noise can wake him up but looking at him now, he is not waking up at all. Mark has called him late last night, asking if Ohm had already arrived.

"He is here now. Does it mean everything is good in Japan?"

"About that, Boun... I actually accidentally slipped about what you told me not to tell. Well, uh, I just thought, you know...? I just thought he needs to know it asap."

Boun heaved a sigh, "Thank you for that. He came right on time. Where are you and Jess right now though?"

"...we are still in Japan."

"Oh... So, you take it by heart then. What I said to you on the phone."

Mark laughed on the other line, saying "Ohm finished it. He did it. But he went home first. He was in so much hurry that he didn't listen and just dash.

Jess had to call him to inform him that we already successfully booked him a flight back home."

"Thank you, the both of you."

"No problem, Boss 1, Boss 2 needs it."

Boun rolled his eyes. "I really dislike that nickname. Didn't I ban that already? But, really, thank you."

"Really it's alright. The thing is we were actually worried about Fluke, and at Ohm's behavior. I think something happened to him during our trip. I think being away, as far as being in another country, made him realize something."

Boun can clearly see and hear the smirk on Mark's voice. With a smirk on his own, he replied "He did. He really did." Hearing the laughter from Mark and exclamation from Jess on the other line, Boun added "You still have a day for a stroll. Enjoy it well. I'll see the both of you on Monday."

"Do you want to get up already? Why don't you rest more? You are still recovering and Ohm is still tired from the trip back home."

"Did you even sleep, Boun?" Instead of answering him, Fluke asked him instead, worry seeping from his voice.

"Yes. I slept here on the couch. I am still monitoring your temperature. Even with Ohm finally being here with you, I still cannot sleep and let the two of you alone knowing he is tired from work. Thankfully, your fever didn't come back last night."

"Thank you, Boun. I am feeling better now." Fluke said, carefully feeling his head and throat. "Yes, just a bit of a headache and dry throat. Aside from that, I am feeling well."

"That's good. Here, drink some water." Boun said, going towards them carrying a glass of water. When Fluke was unsuccessful on freeing himself, Boun helped him on waking Ohm up. "Ohm, wake up. Let Fluke drink some water first, then the both of you can go back to sleep. Ohm, hey Ohm."

Groaning, Ohm finally opened his eyes. Seeing Boun in front of him, he groggily asked "What do you want?"

With an amused tone, Boun replied "Let Fluke go so he can drink water."

Fluke looked up at the same time Ohm turned his head. Catching his gaze, he shyly smiles, greeting him. "Good morning."

"Sorry," Ohm said as he released him. They both sat up then he softly replied to Fluke while the other was drinking. "Good morning to you too."

Accepting the glass Fluke gave back, Boun commented "You can go back to sleep but not before eating breakfast. I'll prepare your breakfast, the both of you can talk afterwards."

"Eh? Talk about something? Am I missing something?" Fluke asked looking confused unlike Ohm who gave Boun a nod in understanding.

"Ah, I knew it. You won't make it easy for me." Ohm commented, ruffling Fluke's hair, ignoring the scrunched up nose because of the gesture.

"What is it?" Fluke asked again, holding the hand Ohm offered to him, helping him out of bed. "Hey, tell me." He insisted again, standing in front of Ohm. He only received a chuckle in reply. Scrunching his nose in frustration, he mumbled incoherently.

"Did you just complain? Did you just swear at me?" Ohm asked laughing, pulling Fluke in front of him. "Let's go and eat breakfast. You need to fill your stomach more than I do." He murmured, encircling his arms around his shoulders and putting his chin on top of his head, backhugging Fluke.

Flustered by the action, Fluke tried to look up. "What's wrong with you?"

"I just missed you."

A simple reply that made Fluke's face feverish.

Hearing the door opened, Boun averted his attention from arranging the table. Upon seeing Fluke cupping his cheeks, the first thing that Boun asked was, "Are you alright? Are you having fever right now?"

"I'm alright! Perfectly fine! 100%!"

Boun sighed at the flustered response. "Stop teasing him, he is not well enough yet." He said, scolding Ohm.

"I was not teasing, I was just telling him the truth." Ohm replied, defending himself.

Boun only rolled his eyes but there's a smile on his face as he gave his cousin a thumbs up. Fluke, on the other hand, ignored the both of them and walked faster even with Ohm clinging to him. Thankfully, his blush subsided when they started eating.

"It's good to see you eating more than what you have eaten this past few days." Boun commented, stifling a yawn, at the same time Ohm stifled a yawn too.

Seeing this, Fluke said in concern "Boun should take this time and rest today. You have been taking care of me and have been waking me up on time for medicine. Also everytime I woke up, you are already awake. Ohm should rest today too. You have been away for work and knowing you, you pushed yourself too hard this time too."

"Fluke should take this time and rest for more too. Worry about yourself more before worrying about us." Ohm replied in concern. Then the concern shifted to a scolding one as he added "Though Boun didn't tell me how sick you were, I noticed how serious it was last night. Don't you know how worried I was? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Save the talk for later, it's time to eat right now." Boun commented, stopping the conversation. Seeing how Fluke was picking his food while glancing at Ohm with a pout, he added "Fluke, eat. Don't worry about Ohm. He cannot get angry at you for a long time. He has already cooled down, see?" Seeing how Ohm just ignored him and Fluke only gave him a disbelieving look, he added "You can always give him a kiss for compensation."

Hearing that, Ohm glared at him. "I'm done eating. Just put everything on the sink, I'll wash the dishes later."

Fluke was giving Boun a sad look. No, if one looked like brokenhearted, it is definitely how Fluke looked right now. And are those tears making his eyes shine? Suddenly, Boun was feeling very protective of him. "Yah! You! Come back here!" He shouted, glaring at his cousin. Ohm did come back. Boun watched as Ohm stopped behind Fluke, hold Fluke's face with both hands and turned his head upward. Then he gave Fluke a kiss on his forehead. The spontaneity of Ohm's action made Boun forget that he is reaching for his glass of water. He accidentally pushed the glass instead of holding it. Hastily standing from his seat, he rescued the glass and wiped the water with his bare hand while saying. "Sorry! Sorry! Continue! Continue!"

"Don't break my things. If you wanted to break things go downstairs and break yours." Ohm told Boun, still not letting go of Fluke who is currently looking at him with wide eyes. He then looked down, a smile plastered on his face. "Compensation done." He said, leaning down to kiss his nose with Fluke getting crossed eyes at the action.

"Oi! After all that you said last night!" Boun abandoned the table to wipe his hands on his shorts and told Ohm.

"You are finished eating, aren't you? Go back to your space below, Boun"

"Don't talk as if you want me gone already"

"Who was the one that said we needed to talk?"

Getting out of his shock, Fluke stutterred "Uh, I think, talk, yeah Boun" Fluke stopped, his mind finally catching up, his face immediately getting bright pink.

Boun grinned at the sight. "Why don't you take him inside to talk?" He asked, inclining his head on their room's direction. "Leave the cleaning to me. But only for today."

"Come" Ohm softly murmured to Fluke who stand up from his seat. Taking his hand to hold, Ohm said to Boun, "Something is different with you. But thanks, Boun."

Boun stares at their retreating back, one is walking confidently while the other is looking down unsure. He murmured to himself "Right now, Ohm is not afraid to get hurt. Once he put his heart to it, he will do things headstrongly. He has been consistently doing it unconsciously. Now that he has realized it..." Boun smiled as he added, "I just hope you will be selfish this time, that you will choose yourself first this time, Fluke."

🌻💐🌸🌷🌼🌻

When they entered the room, Ohm released his hold on Fluke's hand and Fluke immediately walked to the couch, hurriedly. Watching him wearing a serious face, Ohm apologized. "I am sorry. My actions earlier surprised you."

Fluke turned to look at Ohm as he told him, "This is not right. Ohm, you can't do this."

"And why can't I?" Ohm replied, walking towards him.

"I am ー you are ー we just can't. It's not right."

"People didn't stay dormant, they changed. It is not widely frowned upon if that's what you are worrying about."

"No, no. Not that. I know that, I saw it on shows, movies and series. But same sex relationship is not what I am talking to you about." Fluke said, biting his lip as Ohm sat on the table in front of him.

"What is it then? Why don't you say it clearly for me to understand what you are talking about?"

"We are not - I am a - you can't -" Fluke stopped himself. When Ohm hold both of his hand, he squeezed the other's hand and tried to say what he wants to say again. "It is not right. You and I... It's a sad ending from the start."

"Why are you so sure that it's a sad ending?" Ohm softly asked him, his thumb caressing Fluke's hand.

Biting his lip, Fluke tried not to tear up as he remembered what happened. "You said that you love me last night."

"And I mean it. I am sincere about my feelings."

"But we are not meant to be together." A tear escaped his eyes as he added, "We are from different times; centuries apart. You are living here in this world, in this time; while I am only borrowing my time in this world, in your world. You are meant to have a blissful love. And I... I will only cause you sorrow. I do not want that."

Looking him in the eyes, Ohm asked, wiping his tears. "Have you forgotten what Boun said to you a few months ago?"

"You have the right.

You are allowed to feel it;

to be in love and fall in love."

"But it's different when the reality is facing me right now." Fluke mumbled, voice wobbling. "Why are you acting to it now? Weren't everything already alright with how we treat each other?"

Ohm stared at him for a while. Staring at his face until Fluke looked down. Letting out a sigh, Ohm replied. "If this is not what you wanted then I will not force you." Combing Fluke's hair with his fingers, Ohm gave him a small smile. "Do not worry, nothing has changed. Come on, it's too early in the morning for you to cry. And you need to rest more." He added, standing up and taking Fluke's hand, he pulled him towards the bed. "Rest, alright?"

"What about you?" Fluke hastily asked when Ohm let go and started walking away from him.

Chuckling, Ohm answered "I have to wash the dishes first. Boun didn't actually specify what he is going to do; he might have only cleaned the table and not wash the dishes."

"But -"

"Don't worry, I'll come back after washing the dishes. I already told you, nothing has changed." Ohm said, giving Fluke a smile before he went out of the room.

This is not right either. Fluke has his knucles in a fist, gripping his pajama shirt as he tried not to cry out loud. So this is what Boston was talking about when he said I am not an exception. As a human, I am also full of emotions.

Fluke bit his lips as he stared at the door. How can Ohm control his emotions? How can Ohm control his expressions?

Love is out there, just in my reach. If I opened the door and reached out, I know he will be there. He has always been there for me with wide open arms. He has always been beside me all this time. I want to repay him with my love. But this is not something someone like me should feel, this is not something someone like me should have!

Suddenly, Fluke remembered Boun's passing comment when the both of them were watching a movie.

"Why do people have to think about that one possible negative outcome in the future and not enjoy what they have at the moment? Aren't they sabotaging their ticket to happiness themselves? And what do they do afterwards? They burdened their lives with "what ifs"! And they always regret their actions in the end! In the first place, isn't it their actions and their train of thoughts that made those possibilities come true? Because they kept on thinking about the negative outcomes, it manifested into their actions! See? They did it themselves! Sorrow and regret, I hope you won't feel it yourself, Fluke."

Wiping his tears, Fluke strengthened his resolve.

Ohm looked down when he felt arms sneaking around his waist. "You are a good person. How can I be selfish and keep you to me, Ohm? Why? When you can look for a more suited person other than me."

Ohm washed his hands and used a towel to dry his hands before he loosened Fluke's hold around him. Turning around to face Fluke, he noticed how red his eyes were. Lightly smiling, he encircled his arms around Fluke's waist and told him. "Why look for another when I have you here? And it's my heart, my mind, my decision to make. Not even you can change what my heart is saying."

"Ohm-"

"I still have you here, why are you already thinking about those things? Hmm? And I told you, though you rejected me. Nothing will change... maybe I am going to steal more hugs from you but yeah, I won't force you and make you sad. So don't worry about me."

Fluke looked down, mumbling to himself yet loud enough that Ohm still heard it. "Who said I am rejecting you?"

"Hmm? What was that?"

Fluke slowly put his hands on Ohm's chest, then he looked up at him and slowly said. "I am going to take my chance. I am going to take my only chance." He was rewarded with a dazzling and grateful smile from Ohm.

"Thank you, Fluke. I promise to make you happy. Today is our first day together then." Ohm said, pulling him to a tight hug. "Just to let you know, I love you." He sincerely whispered on Fluke's ear.

"Let's be together and enjoy our time together." Fluke replied, pushing Ohm to look him in the eyes. Sweetly smiling, he also said. "I love you"

Ohm gave him a kiss on the forehead and on his cheeks. "Since I am done, let's take a rest?" He suggested, pointing towards his piano. Receiving an excited nod, he can't help but hug him tight again. "Adorable." Ohm murmured before he hold Fluke's hand.

Walking together, Ohm did a double take when he saw something moving at the stairs. "What are you doing there?" Ohm deadpanned.

"Ah-aha ha haha ha." Boun tried to laugh, taking a break from the crouching that he did. He crawled from the bottom and just neared the top when he heard Ohm. "I was just... making sure that everything is alright. But seeing the both of you.. Yeah. Uh, so, yeah gonna finally take my rest. Bye!" Then he disappeared, jogging down.

Fluke awkwardly laugh, telling Ohm "Your cousin is quite unique."

"Your so called sibling is a comic in my life." Ohm replied, rolling his eyes.

In my world

Always with a bright smile

In my world

I'll hold and protect you

Fluke sat beside Ohm as he played the piano. At one time, Ohm even let him try the piano himself. When his wrists got tired, he let Ohm played the piano again, suggesting the piano piece Beloved that became one of his favorite pieces, and Allegro Cantabile that he really liked listening to.

When I tightly grasped that which was important to me

It fell apart and slipped through the cracks of my fingers

So the next time I tried to hold it softly on the palm of my hand

But it was carried away by the wind and disappeared without a sound

All throughout the day, instead of sleeping and recovering the lost energy and sleep, just like what Boun did, both Ohm and Fluke were wide awake.

After the impromptu piano concerto that Ohm did for his only audience Fluke, they decided to go on a date. So they showered and changed their clothes (but not really the outdoor/casual clothes, just their indoor clothes... usual outfit of the two) They then strolled outside the house, had a picnic in the garden, went at the back to look at the fruit trees and looked for their ripening fruits. It is a good date with a good weather.

Today is more beautiful than yesterday

So beautiful that I don't even need tomorrow

Surely I can live happily like this

If I can walk with a smile, smile

You are waiting for me somewhere

I search for love with a smile, smile

And go to your side

When it was almost time for lunch, both decided to cook for their food. They even tried baking cookies that resulted to more hugging than baking. Fluke tried to revenge and tried to steal some kisses on Ohm's cheeks too but he is not always successful. He is always the one who got embarrassed in the end.

Boun finally woke up when they were still playing and seeing the two almost kiss each other on the lips, Boun backtracked and exited the kitchen, shouting "No! Not on my space! Do it upstairs!"

Even at times when I am too sad to cry

Or when I look uncool

I can surely keep walking

If I can walk with a smile, smile

You are waiting for me somewhere

I search for love with a smile, smile

And go to your side

Since the first attempt was unsuccessful, Ohm didn't try for a second chance. Maybe later he can, or tomorrow. He ignored Boun giving him a stink eye and concentrated on taking care of Fluke.

"Here, eat this too, Ohm" Fluke said, putting a piece of meat on his plate.

"Thanks, here eat." He said, offering his spoon to the younger. Fluke opened his mouth and smiled sweetly at him.

Boun contented himself on sipping his coffee throughout lunch time.

Fighting back the tears with a smile, smile

Everyone is waiting for tomorrow

We walk as both happiness and sadness pile up

Despite his obvious displeasure of the sudden rush of sweetness from the (finally) couple sitting in front of him during lunch and sitting on the other couch as they watched TV together (Yes, Boun used the other couch and lied down lazily, occupying the whole couch.), he is quite happy for the both of them.

Seeing how Ohm cannot keep his eyes away from Fluke and how he cannot stop himself from smiling when talking to the younger, he is grateful. Enjoy your life, enjoy your time, the both of you. Because this borrowed time is all yours, Boun thought

"This is the lazy weekend I have been aiming for." Boun commented, sighing in contentment, "Let's watch the sunrise again tomorrow. Do you want too?"

"How about we watch the sunset instead?" Ohm suggested. Then he added, looking at Fluke with a smile on his face, "Our first date isn't finished yet, you know."

Boun groaned and used his pillow to cover his face. "There is no one lying here on the other couch. I am nothing but an extra."

And look at the beautiful sky

Smile, smile

(Song: 笑って笑って by 奥華子 translation by verduistering 💜)

🌻💐🌸🌷🌼

Boun stopped his car in front of a single storey modern house. Before he can take his phone to call the person he is meeting, someone has already opened the gate to meet him.

Bosston is standing there near the gate, gesturing for him to come in.

Parking his car inside, Boun greeted their family's caretaker. "You have a good house here, Uncle."

Boston laughed and lead him inside, "My sons investment." Boston offered him a cup of coffee and asked, "How are they?"

Boun sighed, "How do I say this? Well, just like any couple who are still on their first week, the sweetness is too much. The only difference is there is no shyness in there. They have no shame, Uncle!"

The caretaker gave him a smile, "You are complaining about them but you look happy."

"I am happy, Uncle. I am finally seeing Ohm letting himself be free and keeping himself in check. My cousin is a good person but he has baggages in need of attention. The first person he dated, she left him because she felt suffocated by their relationship and that time because he was too focus with her, his grades suffered. While the second one left him because he couldn't make time for her at all. He is someone who cares about other's opinion about him. He is someone you have to remind constantly not to pour all of his time in one aspect and leave the other aspects alone.

Since he stopped dating for years, he has been focused with work. Until grandma told me about the house, until Fluke appeared in front of us. I saw the changed then. It didn't happen overnight, but as the time passes us by, he is slowly changing himself. I saw it on how he cares and treats Fluke.

Everyone saw it, everyone can see it.

Gone was the Ohm who cares more about the volume of his work than caring for himself and let his body suffer. Gone was the Ohm who cares about other's opinion and is conscious about them.

He has slowly changed himself... changed himself for the better, Uncle.

And for Fluke, after what I heard from grandma, I only want one thing for him. And that is, for him to be happy and smile before he disappears."

"I understand. And I appreciate your sincere wish for Sir Fluke. Does he still cannot remember the flashbacks he had when he was sick?"

"He still can't, Uncle. He says he sees a scene somewhere but cannot remember well. He cannot remember the people in his dreams."

"I see. Then let's start about our side of the story. My father has told me many stories about his experiences serving the Chantarra household. Let me tell you my father's story.

My father suddenly became an orphan at a young age. That time, he doesn't know anyone from his mother's nor his father's side. They are a poor family living near the forest. The only house close to their house is the house of the Chantarra family. He has met the family before and greeted them whenever they passed by.

At a young age, my father can see things normal people cannot. It's a gift from his mother but he has always seen it as a curse. Because of his poor communication skills and him coming from a poor family, the people in the neighborhood didn't allow him to come close to them.

It was luck that led him to them but he sees it as his parents' wish for him.

The family was on their way home after having a vacation that time. Mr. Chantarra asked my father to help them for a while which he gladly accepted.

"Thank you for helping us." Mrs. Chantarra warmly said, serving him more food while Fluke came back from the kitchen and gave him a glass of water.

The warmth and the sudden kindness he received from the family made the young Tayn teared up. Seeing this, Mr. Chantarra who is sitting in front of him, having his own meal asked him. "What is wrong, young man?"

"My name is Tayn. I am diligent and hardworking, please let me work here. I live at the house at the end of the road. I am an honest person. I promise I will not disturb your son and talk to him. I really just need to earn money." Desperation bleeds through his voice.

The family of three looked at each other, waiting for the head of the house to come up with a decision. Receiving a nod from her husband, the wife gently said. "We don't really need it but you can help me with the household chores. And you do not have to worry about disturbing my son. I do not know what other people told you but a child should not talk as if he was the plague."

"Do you have any important things in your house?" Mr. Chantarra asked.

"Yes, Sir. My clothes and important papers my parents left to me."

"We have an extra room in this house. Take your important things and come back immediately. Though the crime rate in this neighborhood is not high, it's still dangerous for a child to live alone somewhere far from the next house. In case of emergency, your cries of help won't easily be heard. Come, I'll go with you." Mr. Chantarra said, standing from his seat.

"But Sir -"

"You do not have to worry, we will lock the area and make it a habit to visit it during the weekends. When you are old enough and is strong enough, you can go back anytime." He then turned towards his son and said, "Fluke, will you clean the room and arrange the bed for Tayn?"

"I'll do it, father!" Fluke happily exclaimed, walking to Tayn and giving him a handkerchief. "Here, for you. Wipe your tears because it's a happy day! And don't forget to drink your water!" He then ran to the room on the opposite direction of his room.

Tayn followed Fluke's words and wiped his tears and drink the water Fluke offered. Mrs Chantarra caressed his hair as she said, "Good child. You have kept it well. Why not let it out now? You have lost your mother and father at the same time."

"How did Ma'am know?" Tayn sniffled.

"We heard the news before we went out of town. I actually thought some family members will take you in. But the lost look in your face earlier is not something one should be seeing on a face of a child. I just did not expect you have been looking for work. You said you are diligent and hardworking, then you have to prove that you are what you said. We'll send you to school along with my son." Mr. Chantarra replied. In a sort of rarely shown affection to strangers, he ruffled Tayn's hair. "Chin up, young man. You have a bright future ahead of you."

My father was given another chance to have another loving family and found a brother with Sir Fluke. Both were devastated with the sudden news of their passing. Sir Fluke just turned 18, he is small in stature but already an adult in the eyes of the older generation. He took my father under his care, became his guardian and took two more people to care for.

Father said the arrival of your grandparents made the house livelier. Your grandpa and my father shared a room and your grandmother took the other one while Sir Fluke remained in the room upstairs, in the room his parents used to have.

The three of them are like the little siblings that only want to make their older brother happy. It is often, but when Sir Fluke let himself be, it is already a joyful occasion for the three younger ones.

But families have their fights, their arguments, their misunderstandings. And they are not an exception.

As the oldest person who has been around the world of the adult far longer than them, Sir Fluke knows things that the younger ones don't know yet. So his reaction when your grandma announced she has been accepted in an agency, displayed his protectiveness towards her first cousin who is under his care.

At first, your grandpa and my father did not understand, but when they knew the reason, they asked for her to think about it more. But your grandma is stubborn and stands on her ground fiercely. You see your grandma now, she is fierce right?

With the constant suggestions from the three, she got fed up and took her things and flee.

"Brother Fluke! Sam -" Prem shouted, hurrying upstairs.

"I know. Here." Fluke said, giving him a piece of paper. "Someone I know contacted me about a new person on the apartment next to her and asked me why she was there and if she was on her rebel state."

He sadly laughed and added, "She is not doing this solely because she wants the job, but also because she wants to prove herself to her parents that she is capable and old enough to make decisions on her own. That is why she holds her ground and refuses help.

It is wrong for me to say those things to her without explaining myself. It is also wrong for me that I just let her be and let her believed whatever her mind was telling her.

It is now your duty to take care of her, Prem. I trust you. She is going to be your wife soon. So stay by your wife's side and keep her safe. See this as a test for the both of you. She is still naive and quite gullible. The both of you are still on your first steps towards the world of adulthood. You have to keep on holding each other's hand.

Do not let go of each other's hand so easily. And remember, no matter how hurtful her words would be directed to you, do not fight back with angry words of your own.

Use this experience and learn from it, and grow from it, together."

Biting his lip, Prem replied, "I promise you, I will take care of her. Thank you for giving me your trust."

That time, when the engagement was announced, Sir Fluke made it his mission to give them the best wedding gift they will ever received. Together with father, they made up a surprise.

Fluke and Tayn has given the gift a week ago but scheduled it to be sent during the engagement. Since the days between the engagement and the wedding can be counted with one hand, Fluke decided on giving his actual gift during the wedding day.

But four days before the wedding, he fell ill.

When Tayn visited Fluke to catch up with him, he has already noticed how the other looked pale. When he asked him if he's sick, Fluke assured him he is not and continued practicing the new recipes he is going to present as his entry for their upcoming annual event in the restaurant he has been working for years.

"I am not sick. Just a little tired. Don't worry, I am going to call it a day after I make this dish perfect."

"Whether you win or lose, they will choose your dishes Sir" Tayn commented, truthfully.

"Don't say that!" Fluke said, laughing. "That's not true."

"You won and they let your dish be added in the menu, you lost but your dish was still added in the menu. I don't think you have noticed or you just innocently see everything as luck. But you have always been an exception, Sir."

"Sometimes you are funny, Tayn. But I prefer you this way. I can handle you this way."

"Are you talking about the story of the ghoー"

"Ah! Stop! Why do you have to tease me as soon as I said that!" Fluke whined, stopping his cooking when he had a coughing fit.

"Are you alright, Sir?" Tayn worriedly asked, getting a glass of water and giving it to Fluke to drink.

"I am alright, thanks. My throat has been itchy for a while now."

With furrowed brows, Tayn rubbed Fluke's back, suggesting "You should rest now, Sir. You are already feeling unwell. And you look pale."

"I guess you are right. Let me clean the kitchen first then I'll call it a day. You should go home too, Tayn. It's getting late already. Your wife is pregnant, don't leave her for a long time."

"I know. And I will go home after. But let me help you first." Tayn said when Fluke started coughing again.

Thanking him, Fluke immediately retreated to his room and rested for the night.

My father actually didn't know what happened to Sir Fluke. Just that Sir Fluke called him at night to ask him if he could arranged for his friend, the friendly doctor, to visit him because he is feeling sick.

Knowing that Sir Fluke sounded so sick on the phone, Father decided he will come with the doctor as soon as possible. But when they visited him early in the morning the next day, he was already gone.

Tayn knocked on the door as a habit but used the spare key the older gave him to unlock the door, knowing that Fluke must be sleeping still because he is not feeling well.

But then, he suddenly went still as soon as he opened the door.

The doctor who came with him rushed inside when he saw what Tayn saw. "Ambulance! Call an ambulance!" The doctor's shouting unparalyzed Tayn and he hurriedly call for an ambulance giving the house's address immediately. "Call Seth too." The doctor's grave voice made Tayn move automatically and called his friend, Seth, who is a police officer.

After calling him, Tayn cannot make himself walk towards Fluke's body. "S-sir. I called Tom, Sir F-fluke."

"Tayn, let's wait for the police to arrive, can you come here for a while." His friend said, giving him a sad look.

"I - yes, I can Tom." Averting his gaze from the body to the two things scattered near him, he was able to walk only to stop when he realized what the scattered things are. "Tom... how is he?" Though it is obvious and he knows the answer to his question, he cannot help but ask his friend. Just in case the other might say the opposite and that he is just having a nightmare right now. The sad look his friend is giving him crushed the possibility that he is having a nightmare. "No, this cannot be happening..."

When the police and ambulance arrived and everything has been cleared, he asked Seth for the two things that they still didn't give back. When they gave it back, he took both boxes upstairs and keep it inside the box that Fluke used as his secret box and hid it in the compartment that he knows is there.

Then he cried.

Tayn cried his heart out, loudly that the people downstairs heard him but didn't comment on it. Instead, two people grieve for the loss of someone they know. And two people grieve for their friend who is crying right now.

Tayn has already lost his parents. He has already lost the second parents who gave him a family again. And now, he lost someone important to him again. He lost the brother he grew up with.

He lost the person he promised to pay back for everything he had done for him to achieve all of the things he had now. He lost the person who gave his all; his love, his time - to the people he cares for, not even keeping anything to himself. "I am still in the process of giving back the time you have given me. I am still in the process of giving back the opportunity you have given me. No, this must be a mistake. The Heavens made a mistake when they took you. You are too young to go. You cannot be gone! No! You cannot just go! You can't just go...brother Fluke."

Did you know? According to my father, Sir Fluke is actually afraid of souls, of ghosts." Bosston chuckled, adding "Quite ironic isn't it?"

"Uncle, if grandpa Tayn could see, does this mean Fluke didn't immediately appear as a ghost?"

"No, he didn't. Every year, father and your grandparents visited his grave and give him prayers and food. They visited him during his birthday and on his death anniversary. But only father visits the house, though just like your grandparents, he cannot set his foot inside. It's sad isn't it? How afraid they are to open the house that once was their home?"

"Yes, that's too sad but understandable." Boun replied, looking at the picture Boston gave him, a picture of a child Fluke with Tayn on the stairs, smiling wide.

"When they found out Sir Fluke named the house to my father, he let your grandparents have it instead. So they had an agreement, he will visit from time to time to take care of the surrounding and keep it clean. It was during the 4th year that Sir Fluke appeared.

"It must be my imagination." Tayn thought as he continued gardening. He is planning to plant more flowers at the front too, knowing how much Fluke loves flowers.

He already have many kind of seeds to plant. "I am going to make this house beautiful so you will be happy when you suddenly visit us. You are already 30 years old now. And my son is already 4, Sir Fluke. You would love playing with him too. Maybe, you have finally found someone you love too... if only you were still here... Who's there?"

Tayn looked around again, sensing a diffent aura. He didn't find any so he went back on his chore, not until he looked up and saw a person looking down at him from the balcony. "What?" He exclaimed in shock. Tayn wasn't able to move, too shock to see a familiar person curiously looking at him from above. With heart beating fast and body slightly shaking, he gripped the necklace his late mother has given him and the person–no– the ghost at the balcony disappeared only to appear in front of him.

The ghost seemed amazed being teleported outside the place he had woken up. And he is seeing a person up close too – a living human up close. "Amazing! You can see me? Hello! I do not know why but I think I am called Fluke. It is my pleasure to meet you! What is your name?"

"S-sir Fluke..."

"Yes! That is my name! You plant all of these flowers? This place is beautiful! Are you planting for more? Please do plant more! The colorful and vibrant kind! The yellow ones, the white ones, the blue, and the violet ones!"

"H-how–?"

Fluke stopped his pacing on the garden and turned to look at the human in front of him, "I don't know. Suddenly, I was there upstairs. And then something pulled me and I am here in front of you!" He ended, smiling brightly.

Tayn let go of the garden trowel and pack of seeds he has been carrying, too shock to react to the soul he is seeing in front of him. He fell on his knees at the sudden memories that rushes to him.

"Are you alright?! Why are you crying?! I did not do anything to hurt you or did I? Mister?" Fluke tried to help but his hands only pass through.

"For the first time in my life, I am glad I have the same gift as my mother." The crying man laughed, confusing the ghost. He bowed down in front of him, crying, apologizing "I am sorry. I am so sorry..."

With the appearance of Sir Fluke, father tried to visit as often as he can. He even started bringing me with him. I remembered the first time I saw him, I tried to poke him with a stick." Bosston laughed, adding "Father didn't know I can see him, he only discovered I have the same gift as him when I went inside the house without his knowledge."

Tayn has started leaving the front door open, but he still cannot make himself step inside the house. He reasoned, it's for Fluke's sake that's why he keeps the door open.

He was busy with his gardening that he didn't notice his son has already left his side and entered the house. Fluke was at the balcony again, happy seeing Tayn taking care of the garden.

Suddenly, he heard small steps. He turned around and found Tayn's son carrying a stick, tapping the floor. "Tayn!" Fluke shouted, notifying Tayn who looked up hearing him shout his name "Why is Boston in here?!"

Seeing the head of his son trying to open the balcony, he hurriedly ran inside the house, only the safety of his son in his mind. Tayn arrived upstairs and saw how Fluke was trying to stop him on opening the balcony. "You cannot go there, Boston. It is dangerous for a child to be here unsupervised."

"Boston! What are you doing up here? What did I tell you earlier? I told you to stay outside!"

"Do not be angry at Boston, Tayn." Fluke defended the small child who only lifted his stick and tried to poke him.

"Father, does this mean I cannot play with him? I cannot hold him. My friend stick only passes through him."

"You can see me?"

"You can see Sir Fluke?"

"His name is Sir Fluke? Hello Sir Fluke!" Bosston greeted with a small smile, getting embarrassed when the strange person only stared at him.

All throughout the years, Sir Fluke has forgotten many memories. It might be a wish made by someone or by himself but he couldn't even remember how he became my only friend back then.

Father said he unconsciously suppressed the memories and keep it in a box for safekeeping. When the time comes, Sir Fluke himself is going to open the box and remember all the fragment memories he has sealed."

"Does this mean he sealed them himself?" Boun asked, stupefied. "Wait, Uncle. Is there a possibility that he will forgot about us?"

"No, it's different this time." Bosston said with a smile. "And also, you are carrying the key."

"Grandma..."

"This time, you have the strength to force her to set foot in the house and relieve her from her regrets."

"Yes, Uncle" Boun sadly said.

"She is not getting younger, Boun. When you feel the time has come, be the bridge for them to meet. The regret that your grandma is carrying is not only from her mistakes from the past, it's also how she is the only one left behind now. Your grandfather and my father has already passed away, leaving her alone.

For her right now, she made it her mission to keep the memories of Sir Fluke alive as her repentance. She smiles, she is lively and fierce, but she is carrying a burden, not letting everyone know, not letting anyone in.

So as her grandson, be the bridge and help her, relieve her from the burden she kept on carrying all these years. Be the help that she needed, remind her not to be chained from the past."

"Yes uncle" Boun said, determined

"Remember, you are not making anyone sad by doing this. You are making everyone happy. And by everyone, you are making your cousin happy too."

Boun bit his lips, hands on a fist when he heard that. "Yes, because for Ohm right now, Fluke is the most important person to him. His happiness is Fluke's happiness."

🌻🌼🌷🌸💐🌻

A/N:Finally, I have finished this chapter! Is it getting confusing? This is how I magined this chapter to be. 🤔🥺Since this is out, OhmFluke's chapters are going to be next 🥺🥺Thank you so much! Since we started reading it together, why not stay till the end? Even though we know what will happen??😭😭😭😭😭😭

No, no, no, noooo. I'm a 🧚🏻‍♀️!