My cupcakes, here is the other part of the family gathering.

I highly recommend you guys refer back to the character and cast reveal from the previous chapter before you start to read this one.

Here we go.

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The gathering went smoothly as all the family members were having lunch or desserts at the long table as they chatted about their lives. During that time, one hotel staff approached them to deliver a message.

"Greetings, sirs and madams. There is a man outside saying he is with you guys. Shall I invite him in, sirs?" questioned the staff politely.

The ringing of Phana's phone interrupted their conversation as he picked up the call.

"Grandpops, I'm outside with the staff. They won't let me in without your permissions," complained Forth through the call.

When Forth didn't reach the hotel in half an hour as he promised, the Kongtanins assumed he bailed out from the gathering. Unknown to them, Forth now has a valid reason to be there and was only late due to the heavy traffic in these peak hours.

"I didn't invite any extra-" P'Mew was going to answer them when Phana stopped him.

"It's okay, P'Mew. He is with us. That's my grandson out there," replied Phana to the hotel staff on behalf of the others.

"Your Champ's here? I haven't seen him in ten years. How is he?" asked Kit to Phana excitedly.

"You'll know when you see him, Kit. Before he comes here, I want to tell you guys something about my grandson. He is...," Phana tried to give them a heads up before Forth appeared in front of them.

But luck was not on his side as Forth walked into the room with a gentle, polite smile.

"Sawadee Khrab," Forth's polite greeting took everybody's attention away from Phana's statement.

The entire room becomes pin-drop silent as they see Forth standing tall and alive in front of them after so many years. Apart from the Kongtanins, the others were shocked by the sudden surprise. They don't know if they should be happy, surprised or terrified.

"Mama, Isn't that Uncle Forth?" asked Summer, confused to Stella on her side.

Summer remembers seeing a man similar to this guy in a photograph at their home. In fact, her grandparents have talked about him so extensively to them many times.

"Nice meeting you all. I'm Forth Darvid Kongtanin, son of Sun and Jane Kongtanin. How are you all?" Forth said once again as he noticed the weird reaction he gained from the others.

'What's with everybody's reaction today?! My parents' reaction at breakfast and now them?!' as Forth doubted his decision to join this gathering, Rain ran to him, and he shook his hands happily.

"You're the head hazer from the engineering orientation, right, P'Forth? I'm a big fan of yours. You were so cool during the speech for the high schooler, Phi. I want to join engineering and become your nong too. I want to be like you, Phi," Rain concluded his speech happily with excited little jumps.

It was funny how Ming's grandson was a replica of him when it concerned their P'Forth.

"Sure, nong. All the juniors are our nongs anyway," Forth replied with an awkward smile.

Unlike Summer, Rain didn't remember Forth at first glance. They were kids the last time they focused on the photo from the family album. He only remembered him as a senior he met during the university tour his school organized.

"Rain, Summer, Why don't you guys bring P'Forth to the dining area to get some food? We have to talk about something. We will be back," said Kit as he smiled at his grandchildren before gesturing for Phana to follow him outside.

"P'Mew, P'Gulf, Ming, Yo, why don't you follow us too? Sun, you keep others company here," said Phana as he symbolically mentioned him to entertain the others here while they were gone to have the much-needed talk.

P'Mew couldn't take his eyes off Forth as he stared at him longingly. His younger brother is alive in front of him after forty-plus years. All his prayers to meet him again in front of his eyes finally got blessed. He thought only Beam was reborn. It looks like heaven made an exception for his baby brother too.

Unlike P'Mew and P'Gulf, Bane didn't hesitate to engulf Forth in a tight hug. If eyes could speak their language, Forth would have understood why these new people were looking at him longingly and with so much love in their eyes. He returned the hug with a gentle smile as he watched the reaction of the others.

"Welcome to the family," Mr Bane said with a sweet smile, which Forth reflected like a mirror.

P'Mew followed Phana out after he patted Forth's shoulders with a sad smile.

P'Gulf was speechless to say anything as he followed the others too.

As soon as Phana walked out of the family room, he asked for a separate meeting room at the hotel for them. Since they are the hotel's VVIP guests, the management staff prepared the section for them in a limited time.

While the elders left the room with his grandparents, Forth was left behind with a hyperactive bunny and a super shy girl. His parents left his side to entertain the remaining adults and answer their questions. But, the one person Forth wanted to meet was not here, and Forth was disappointed about it.

As he sat with the twins and started to chat, Forth suddenly had his visions back.

He saw himself playing with a toddler with Beam at a beach house.

He saw himself with grandpa Pha and Kit teasing Beam at a bar.

He saw himself running from a puppy as Beam laughed his ass off.

He saw himself throwing a tantrum at an aged woman for almond muffins at the beach house.

He saw himself with the people he met a while ago, but at a much younger age.

As the visions kept coming at him, he experienced a terrible headache that he had never experienced.

He had never experienced headaches with the flashes in past years.

He had never gotten the gleams outside his dreams before.

Now was the first time.

Forth didn't know if he should stop the headache or force the flashes to continue.

"Are you okay, P'Forth? You are turning pale?" questioned Summer worriedly as she saw him sweating in the heavily air-conned room.

"I'll get you a cup of water, Phi," added Rain as he ran towards the drinks section.

"I'll call my mom, P'Forth. She is a doctor. She could help you," stated Summer in concern as Forth stopped her.

"I got to go," said Forth as he held his head and rushed out, leaving the poor worried girl behind.

~

"Before you guys start asking me questions, let me say my part of the story first," said Phana as he waited for a reaction from the others.

As he noticed none say anything, he started talking after taking a motivational look from his husband, Yo.

"I named my grandson Forth when he was born. I had no additional intention or meaning behind it. I only anointed him as such cause I thought that name might suit him well. He was a strong baby since the gestation period.

But my family and I liked calling him Champ. That's why Kit doesn't know the real name of my grandson. Yo and I noticed the similarity of our grandson to our late Forth as he grew up.

He looked more like Forth as he entered his teenage years. Kit got busy with his research, and we were not in contact during that time, P'Mew. That's why you guys didn't know about this," said Phana as he looked at P'Mew.

"We need to talk, Phana!" said Kit as he threw draggers in his eyes.

"Can that wait? or we may talk here so that you won't hit me," requested Phana with a blameworthy look.

"I'll still hit you even if we are inside here with others," said Kit as he threw a plastic cup at Phana, which he avoided.

"How could you hide him from us, from me? Yes, I was sad and depressed when Beam died. But that doesn't mean I hate Forth, Pha~. Forth was a good friend, and your grandson didn't even have the past memories!!!" scolded Kit heatedly.

"Forth does remember the past. Only it's that Forth is not aware of it as memories. Forth thinks of it as phobia reflects and nightmares," argued Phana.

"Forth has a phobia?" asked P'Mew for the first time since he got here with the others.

"Yes, P'Mew. Forth started to have these weird flashes and developed a phobia when he was sixteen. He was diagnosed with Thalassophobia when he fainted on the shores during one of our family gatherings at Phuket beach, Phi," Wayo stopped to see their reaction.

"That explains a lot," murmured P'Gulf as he shared a stare upon the revealing of the phobia.

P'Mew looked at P'Gulf with a 'we will talk later' look.

Wayo continued the story as all paid attention to his words.

"Since that incident, my son and daughter-in-law forbade him from going anywhere near the vast ocean. But, P'Pha and I believed it was a sign. We consider that P'Forth was back as our grandson.

We cleared things with my son and his wife before we took the next step.

They didn't believe in a miracle like us.

My son is not a science guy. He needed proof for everything, but he trusted us.

My daughter-in-law and son only wanted their only son safe.

They didn't bother about the past or the present incidents.

Therefore, we helped him get therapies to overcome his phobias and hoped for him to remember everything on his own. Forth doesn't know that his parents knew about his therapy sections," said Wayo sadly.

"But, our grandson is not Forth. At least not 100%. He gets the flashes of the past but doesn't know the meaning behind them. He remembers events and experiences the emotions from his flashes but only sees those flashes as a nightmare. A trick his brain plays.

I didn't plan to hide him from you guys. I was worried about his safety with those criminals on the loose.

Forth started to have flashes about Beam recently, which made me reach out to you again, P'Mew. Beam was a family to us. If Beam were alive, I would have wanted to meet him whether he remembered me or not.

That's the reason why I called for this gathering. Even if my grandson doesn't know about his past life, I wanted to introduce him to you guys. I wished to bring him back to his family, even if he doesn't have a complete memory of his past.

I'm sorry for bringing your brother back late, P'Mew. Please forgive me for being selfish," Phana said with a sad, guilty look.

In contrast to Phana's expectations, P'Mew hugged him tightly with teary eyes.

"Thank you for bringing him back to us. Thank you for keeping him safe all this time. Thank you so much, Phana," he said with teary eyes.

P'Gulf shed a few drops of tears in happiness, and so did the others.

All were happy with the turns of the event, even if the main person didn't remember them.

"Phana Kongtanin, I would have kicked you if only not for my weak, old bones!" shouted Kit at Phana angrily.

He understands why Phana did what he did. But, Phana could have told him sooner. At least they wouldn't have grieved for two people in that case.

For some weird reason, Kit felt that the Jaturapooms are hiding something too. He looked at P'Mew and P'Gulf with his dagger eyes, with accusing looks.

"If your promise to reveal your grandson soon is related to this, P'Mew, I would throw stuff at you too, and P'Gulf, you're next," he warned with a scary stern look before he left the meeting room.

Ming could only smile awkwardly at them and apologize for his husband's sudden warning. After all these years, his P'Kit Kat still looks for trouble and doesn't cease to impress him with his temper.

~

"Found it!" shouted Beam happily after an hour of sticking himself to the laptop.

"What now?" asked Leo without much interest as he had his second slice of cake and third cup of coffee.

He has concluded that Beam is not joining his other family members in the gathering, and he won't get free lunch. So, he decided to load his stomach with sweet delights rather than starving.

"I'm heading out. You may join the others in the family room above," said Beam as he quickly packed his things.

"Owh, owh, owh, wait up. Where are you going?" asked Leo, tensed cause he promised not to let Beam out of sight.

"I found the information I've been looking for all this time. I have to head somewhere to collect it and go back home to clarify it," replied Beam in a rush as he finished up the last bite of his favourite fruit custard.

"If you're going back home, I'll follow you," added Leo.

"No, Leo. I'm going back home, not the mansion. By chance, if my dad or grandpa asked about my whereabouts, you tell them that I'm heading home. They will know," said Beam calmly this time.

"What about me?" he asked more like sulking than a question.

"You stay and enjoy the gathering. Bye," replied Beam and walked out of the cafe without sparing him another glance.

"The weather broadcast warned about a storm tonight. At least promise me that you won't get into trouble or get sick again," shouted Leo from his seat, to which Beam just waved his hand above his head on his way out.

"Now what?" murmured Leo as he settled the bill and left the cafe.

~

As the elders left the meeting room and rejoined the gathering, their daughters and sons were clear about the whole ordeal.

Sun and Jane had filled in the information to make them understand the situation undoubtedly.

P'Mew wanted to meet his younger brother again, and this time, he wanted to give him a tight hug, like his son. But they couldn't spot Forth anywhere in the gathering room.

Summer runs to her mother to inform her about their new brother as the elders join them.

"Mom, P'Forth was~," her statement was stopped by her twin brother.

"Where is P'Forth? Where did he go before I come with his drink?" asked Rain in concern.

"Kids, where is your P'Forth?" asked Ming, confused.

Did he leave early? But why?

"Grandpa Ming, P'Forth got sick. He suddenly started to sweat so much and looked so pale," addressed Rain as he looked at his grandpa worriedly.

"And, it looks like he started to have headaches too. He held his head too hard and grunted in pain, Grandpa," added Summer.

"Did he hyperventilate, kids?" asked Jane as calmly as she could.

"No, aunty. But, he looked like he was about to faint. He squeezed his eyes and shook his head like he was seeing something," Summer added.

This situation seemed similar to the Jaturapoom. That's how Beam fainted when his memories resurfaced all at once.

"We need to find him," ordered P'Mew as he led the other elders out of the gathering room.

"Kids, stay with your uncle and aunties. Stella, make sure all are here or bring them back to our house," responded Ming before he left with P'Mew.

All of them run to the elevator to reach the lobby soon. If Forth was in the same situation as Beam a week ago, they need to stop him from leaving. Or else he might faint somewhere.

Phana was worried beyond words because he could guess that his grandson was getting his memories back. But what would happen then? He has a new boyfriend now, and the memories won't bring him any good.

Phana was sure that Forth stopped having the flashes.

How did the flashes return?

Did the memories resurface after meeting his old family?

With a troubled mind and many doubts, he followed P'Mew to the elevator. At least Phana has to clarify his grandson's safety before he feeds his mind with answers.

~

As Leo entered the lobby from the west wing door of the hotel to join the others in the gathering, a very cluttered Forth got out of the elevator.

He looked similar to Beam during one of those flashes reface times.

Right at that time, Leo heard a loud thunder from the outside. He is sure it is going to rain cats and dogs in minutes. Leo didn't expect to watch Forth stagger by the thunder sound and almost drop to the floor.

"Ai'Forth!" Leo called out and caught him on time.

As Forth noticed the presence of Leo, he looked past him to search for Beam.

"Where is he?" he asked with a weak voice as he couldn't find Beam anywhere near them.

"Forth, you need to get help. You look like you're going to faint," added Leo concerned as he tried to escort Forth to the couches in the lobby.

"Leo, please tell me where Beam is. I need to see him now," pleaded Forth.

"I don't know where he is heading now, Ai'Forth. Beam said he is going back home, although I don't know where it is," replied Leo worriedly.

Why does he have to handle his friends in these kinds of states? They both are stubborn and won't listen.

"I need to go," reacted Forth as he tried to walk out of the lobby.

"Meng, you can't. At least, not in these states. You're not in your good fit, and it's going to rain soon," Leo tried to convince Forth.

"No, I have to go. I have to go back home to Beam," said Forth one last time as he pulled away from Leo and got out of the lobby.

Leo got again left by his friends, and he doesn't know to whom should he seek help.

As he was so close to calling Beam and reporting what happened, he saw Grandpa Mew with others run out of the elevator.

"Nong Leo, did you see someone leave the hotel weakly? He is tan and tall. About your height," asked Grandpa Mew worriedly as he provided details about Forth.

"Grandpa Mew, I don't know if you know him, but my friend Forth just left the hotel, as you mentioned. What happened, Grandpa?" he asked, confused.

"Did he say where is he going?" asked others with unease.

"Forth asked where Beam went, and he left saying he had to go back home to Beam," delivered Leo with a confused look.

He could hear the surprised gasps from the others as Grandpa Gulf gave him a sad look.

"What is this, P'Mew? Who is this boy talking about, and how does he know you? Who is Beam? Is he our Beam?" asked Kit, surprised and angry.

"Beam is our grandson, Nong Kit. It seems like you guys will get to meet your friend sooner than he wishes. I couldn't give him the time he requested," replied Grandpa Mew as he watched the surprise on the other's face.

Grandpa Gulf and Grandpa Mew heaved a deep sigh as they couldn't avoid the topic anymore.

Leo, who witnessed all the ordeal, was confused beyond words and was stressed by the gloomy atmosphere. If possible, he wants out.

Why can't they give him a heads up before going all mystery?!

Yes, he loves his best friend and treats his family as his own, but he didn't sign up for this when he left Canada with Beam.

~

Beam drives to the home he built and lived in with Forth after collecting the documents from his secret locker. As Leo warned, the weather drastically changed as he left the hotel.

It's been more than four hours since he left the hotel. The place he searched was far, and it took him time to reach there and return.

But, the downpour didn't stop. It turned from drizzling to hail heavily with thunders and lightning.

After immersing himself in the laptop for hours, he found the bank locker account where he stored his important files. It was an international account which operated from overseas.

This international bank account has its unique locker secretly set up in a place unknown to commoners and managed with so much protection.

Beam knows about it because his mother was one of the investors in that bank, and she managed the accounts while she lived.

She was the great Lian Baramee, after all.

After leaving Leo at the hotel, Beam drove to the secret place and collected the confidential documents from the bank lockers.

The bank kept his papers and details safe and confidential all this time. The account will get opened with his fingerprint only.

Without his fingerprint, none could access it. If they tried to access them without the fingerprint, all the documents and the values kept there will get burned with their inbuilt technology.

Beam was internally praising himself for making a copy of the DDT-related papers in this locker in his past life.

Even if he got the documents, he was not ready to risk the paper getting leaked or snatched from him. Therefore, he decided to bring it back to his home, where he felt most safe and go through it.

But as he drove into the front yard of his home, he saw a figure sitting crossed-legged with his head down in the heavy hail. From inside the car, Beam couldn't guess who it was and was alarmed by the presence of an unknown stranger at his home.

As he got out of the car, the figure stood straight and ran towards him. Beam was ready to attack the intruder when the stranger brought him into his warm embrace and hugged him tightly as if his life depended on it.

Beam inhaled a familiar scent from the stranger. Despite being drenched by the hail, Beam felt the warm embrace of the stranger, and he recognized the stranger as his Forth.

Though, he doesn't know how this Forth knows this place. Only a selected people have been to their home before.

Leo can't mention this place since he doesn't know this place. Then how did Forth reach here? It's not possible.

But the following words said by Forth made him lose his breath for good.

"I'm sorry, baby. I'm sorry for being late. I'm sorry for dying first. I'm sorry that I left you behind. I'm finally home, love," Forth whispered the words into Beam's ears as he hugged him more tightly, as if it was humanly possible, before he fainted in Beam's arms.

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End of Chap 16.

TBC.

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~

My cupcakes, I can't believe this chapter went above 3.5K words even after dividing it into two different parts.

Anyway, what do you guys think about the turns of events?

Is it too fast forward or just right?

What do you guys think about this update?

Do let me know your thoughts in the comment section below, and don't forget to vote and share.

Till we meet again, see you guys.

Buh-Bye.

~