"Welcome," invited the secretary.

Phana and Wayo entered the spacious office area and followed the polite woman to the CEO's room.

"Khun Mew is waiting for you, sirs," stated the woman and let them in the room after getting a 'come in' from the other side.

"How are you, Phana? Long time no see," said Mew as he hugged Phana and Wayo.

"We are good, P'Mew. How have you been? How's everybody at home?" asked Phana as they sat around the sofa.

"All are doing well. Look at you with the white and pepper style," joked Mew.

"You aged like a fine wine too, P," commented Wayo, smiling.

"Fine wine?! You should check his health, Uncle Pha. Dad complains about his weak bones nowadays," stated Bane as he entered the room with a tray full of refreshments.

"Is that Nong Bane, P'Mew?" questioned Wayo in surprise.

"Yes, he is," answered Mew as he smiled at their reaction.

Of course, they are surprised. The last time Phayo met Bane, he was barely a pre-teenager. Now he looks more mature and aged.

"Long time no see, uncles. I missed you all," stated Bane as he hugged them.

"You have grown a lot. Wow, time sure does fly," said Wayo in astonishment.

"P'Mew, I'm sure you didn't contact us to meet for a casual catch-up. What did you find, P?" asked Phana, straight to the point.

Mew and Bane exchanged looks before Bane stood up to close the office door and closed the slides.

"Remember the explosion at the oil ship which took our loved ones' life?" asked Mew.

"Yes," replied both Phana and Wayo, slowly.

"It was an intentional blast. It was to destroy the evidence of Blue Flames' dirty work," added Bane.

"Oh my god," exclaimed Wayo as he closed his mouth with his palm to stop the upcoming tears.

"How did you find that?" asked Phana in his serious tone.

"Forth once discussed this with my dad and me. He requested my dad find out about a chemical called DDT. He asked dad to check the details about its leaking and its effects on ecosystems," continued Mew.

"Apparently, the oil company Forth worked for was not only getting oil and exporting it to the mainland and other countries, but it also seems to do something illegal under the surface," stated Mew.

"What do you mean?" asked Phana, tensed.

"What do you guys know regarding DDT?" questioned Mew as Bane listened to them quietly.

"Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) is an insecticide used in agriculture. The United States banned the use of DDT in 1972. Why did P'Forth ask about it, P'Mew?" asked Wayo.

"It's true that chemical got banned in the USA. It's illegal in our country as well. But beneath our ocean, on the sea bed of Phuket, are 36 000 barrels of that chemical discarded.

The barrels did not get purposely abandoned there. It got buried under the ocean due to an accident at the ocean centuries ago. Our government didn't bother much since it wasn't an issue and soon got forgotten by the people," explained Mew.

"What does that have to do with my friend's death?"

"Blue Flames has been retreating those illegal chemicals from the ocean bed and exporting them to the foreign countries. We figured they used those chemicals to make new drugs to treat various illnesses.

But the results were not favourable. It only made the condition worst. Since it's illegal chemicals, The Blue Flames CEO will be behind bars if the case details reach the press," added Bane.

"On the day Forth died, he contacted dad and me. Since dad couldn't take the call, I attended it. He said something about the barrels and Blue Flames. It was not clear with loud noise from the other line. The line got cut before I could ask him for more details. By instinct, I contacted the nearby navy police to get information about Forth's company ships. But I was too late. That's the last time I heard his voice," said Mew sadly.

"So, our friends died trying to expose his illegal works. How did Beam reach there? Did Forth share the information with him as well?" questioned Phana in confusion and sadness.

"Only Forth and Beam could answer that question, Phana. I'm sorry," replied Mew, discouraged as well.

It is too much information for him. If only he knew about this sooner, at least he could have done something sooner. Tears of helplessness escaped Phana's eyes like a waterfall.

"P'Pha," called Wayo softly as he tried to console his husband, who was crying silently.

"So all the evidence was gone in the explosion?" Yo anxiously asked.

"Yes, and since then, the Blue Flames company withdrew from the industries. They had no bad images, no illegal business on papers and no bad records under the police," clarified Bane.

"But what they did was a crime! They caused death to innocent people!" exclaimed Yo angrily.

"Is there nothing we could do, P'Mew? We can't let this go," said Phana in a grave tone.

"Remember when I said my dad had his research and lawyer team to look into this? He gathered some crucial facts about Blue Flames company. After the withdrawal of Blue Flames Company, the sister company took over.

We filed a case about the DDT and the explosion in court six years ago. But the lawsuit is still in discussion, and the former CEO of that company is still in a coma after a terrible car accident 20 years ago. The sister company is managing the issues right now," ascribed Mew.

"Blue Pheonix is the sister company, isn't it, P'Mew?" questioned Phana, heated.

"We got information that the new CEO of Blue Pheonix has taken over the Blue Flames and merged with them years back," answered Mew calmly.

There is no point in being angry after all these years. They need to be more composed and collected than emotional.

"Are they helping the Blue Flames to hide the truth?" asked Wayo.

"No, they are not, uncle Yo. All the details about the explosion were collected and investigated by them as well. But they didn't appear to defend or support Blue Flames with that evidence.

Our investigation team spotted the new CEO visiting the explosion place and a medical campsite around that area a few weeks ago with some people. Though he didn't do anything after that, it's suspicious," said Bane.

"Maybe we didn't know what's he up to, not him doing nothing after the visit," stated Phana.

"I think the same too, Phana. That's why my investigating team is still on the roll. I asked them to watch every step of the CEO and the people who visited that place with him. If we could find out what he is up to, we could win the lawsuit in court and put them behind bars for a lifetime."

"What can I do to help, P'Mew?"

"As we said earlier, the CEO visited the explosion spot and a medical camp site. I want you to use your medical expertise to get the details about the medical camp site. I also suspected the explosion 40 years ago must have caused leakage in the ocean. If that's the case, I want to know if DDT has any effect on people there," requested Mew politely to Phana.

"I'll see what I can do to find out, P'Mew. We have to stop this no matter what," replied Phana.

"Yes, we have to for a better future for our grandchildren and future generation," said Mew softly.

"Hopefully, all ends well," added Wayo as well.

All stay seated in silence to digest the intense conversation they just had. Bane breaks the silence first.

"Uncle Pha and Yo, how is Sun? I haven't met him in a long time. How are Uncle Kit and his family as well?" enquired Bane excitedly like he would in his childhood.

"They are all fine.

Kit finally went on a vacation with Ming last month after his daughter blackmailed him with his research papers.

They will return in two weeks.

Sun barely stays at home.

Too busy with Ulsang's new line of medicine manufacturing," said Phana with a proud smile.

"Uncle Yo, Sun took over your company? I didn't know about that. Is Ulsang still manufacturing medicine for diabetics and ulcers?" he questioned again.

"Yes, we do. We are also working on a cure for other diseases. Sun didn't want to become a doctor since childhood, so we let him take over the company instead," Wayo answered.

"What about the hospital? Who will take over after you, Pha?" asked Mew.

"It got taken over by my daughter-in-law already," replied Phana with a deep sigh.

"Is that a bad thing, uncle Pha?" asked Bane worriedly, looking at Phana's exaggerated reaction.

"It's not, Nong Bane. Your uncle is sulking because our daughter-in-law didn't allow him to work there after P'Pha's retirement. That rules made him bored to death, and he blames her for that," answered Yo with an unamused look as he shook his head at his husband's childish behaviour.

"You should rest now, Phana. You are not getting any younger, remember that," advised Mew as he chuckled at his attitude.

"P'Mew, I'm planning a family gathering in three weeks. Ai'Kit will be back from his vacation, and our grandson will return home during semester break. Please join us in this family gathering.

Bring P'Gulf and Nong Bane's wife and children as well. It's been so long since we all met," invited Phana warmly.

Mew and Bane exchanged looks at the mention of meeting the grandchildren. Mew is sure Phana will be delighted to meet Beam. But Beam is not an old friend of theirs. He is someone new with no memories of the past or Phana. This Beam is his grandson, who he wants to protect with all his heart.

Wayo, who noticed the sudden solemn atmosphere, asked Mew on his behalf.

"We want you to meet our grandson, P'Mew. We think it's the time for our families to meet once again," added Wayo.

"We will be there. We want you to meet Bane's son too," added Mew, finally deciding to meet them.

"That would be great. If the boys like each other, we could let them date too," suggested Wayo jokingly.

"If they don't pull each other's hair out first," said Bane with an awkward smile as he imagined Beam's angry face.

His son is a trouble with a big and bold 'T'.

~

"Hye Beam, did you wait so long?" asked Forth as he kissed Beam's hairline, which caused the former to blush like usual. Forth sat opposite Beam in the medical cafeteria.

Beam agreed to meet Forth for a lunch date at the campus, given the facts he needs to complete his assignment. It's been a few weeks since they started to date and officially agreed to become boyfriends.

Initially, none asked to make it official, but their chemistry was so natural that they almost looked more like a married couple than most dating people.

So, Forth gathered all of his wills and confessed to Beam during one of their campus dates. Beam agreed with him, as he loved that guy even before he met him in real life.

Things got so much better for both Forth Beam and Leo Fiat as they became couples too.

"I just got here. I figured you'd be hungry, so I ordered Tom yum soup for you," stated Beam casually.

"How did you know my favourite food?" questioned Forth, excited and curious. Forth never mentioned food preferance to Beam before.

"Wild guess," commented Beam as he smiled.

He can't say that he saw this same situation with the same chemistry in his dreams. The only difference was their attire, but the kiss on the hairline, the sweet smile and the gesture were all the same.

"Beam, Are you available next weekend, Saturday? I wanted to bring you to an official date," asked Forth, too formal for Beam's liking as he held his hands gently.

"Maybe yes, maybe no. I don't know, Forth. Perhaps you should ask my lecturers instead. They love to surprise us with sudden quizzes," said Beam playfully.

"Owh, I see," replied Forth, dishearted.

"May I know, what's the reason for the sudden date out plan?" asked Beam jokingly to enlighten the gloomy face of his boyfriend.

"You asked me out first.

You contacted me by phone first after the campaign.

You always come before me and order for me.

I want to do something for you too.

I'm not a romantic person. I don't know how to deliver my feeling through words. So, I want to show it by my actions. I want to protect and be with you forever if possible," said Forth with a pout. He has no idea what his simple confession does to Beam's heart.

Beam was stunned by the sudden confession. He used to get love proposals here and there back in Canada, but he never felt anything about it. But, Forth's honest confession makes his heart beat fast like he just completed a marathon.

"You said you're not good with words, but you took my breath away with yours now. You don't have to do anything special to make me feel treasured.

You rush to my faculty to have lunch with me despite your busy schedule as hazers each day. You call me first thing in the morning and talk to me for hours before bed. You are romantic enough for me, Mr Jaturapoom," said Beam with blushing cheeks.

"You sure want to give your surname to me, don't you?" teased Forth as he chuckled happily.

That's when Beam realized what he had just done. He addressed Forth as Forth Jaturapoom, like how he named the other in one of his dreams.

The smile which decorated his face all this time vanished in a second. Forth, who was so happy with the new nickname, ate his lunch happily while Beam lost his appetite.

His anxious mind narrates a different story in his mind which got not filled with rainbows and unicorns. It's scary, and he fears the outcome if he listens to it.

Nowadays, with dreams, Beam hears a small voice at the back of his head. The small voice causes him to have a dilemma about many things. One of them is his relationship with Forth.

He knows that the 'Forth Jaturapoom' he sees in his dreams and this 'Forth Kongtanin' in front of him are different people with similar characteristics.

Though, sometimes, he wonders who he really loves?

Is that the guy in his nightmares or his current boyfriend who makes his heart beat fast?

"So, where are you bringing me?" asked Beam as he played with the food than eating it.

He didn't want his thoughts to get a hold of him. He wants to enjoy and remember this moment as it is, without any troubling thoughts.

"Somewhere fancy and special," said Forth flirtishly.

"Do you want me to dress up and all?" joked Beam as he chuckled at Forth's flirting.

"You'll be stunning no matter what you wear. I'll fetch you at your house," asked Forth casually, trying his luck.

"And you're ready to die in my grandpa's hand? Although my mom gave a green signal to our relationship without meeting you, my grandpas and dad didn't know about it yet.

I don't know how they'll react when they know their cute grandson is dating a muscled, handsome guy. I want you to live and love me longer. It's better to meet at the restaurant than facing him," suggested Beam smiling at the now pouting Forth.

"Sure, I'll send the location later," replied Forth sadly.

"Don't be sad, my little wolf," teased Beam as he messed Forth's hair.

"Hmm. I won't. Do you want to watch Netflix and chill after this at my dorm?" asked Forth as he fixed his now messed hair.

"Nice try, MR. I have a study group meeting with Leo and others. Maybe next time," said Beam, which caused Forth to huff in displease again.

"Let's just eat and chill here," consoled Beam as he switched seats and sat beside Forth as he rested his palms on Forth's thigh.

"Alright, let's eat, and you may rest a bit before you go back home," said Forth as he kissed the side of Beam's temple and continued eating.

They enjoyed their meal as they chatted about anything under the sky like they were the only people left in their small world.

_________________

End of Chap 9.

TBC.

_________________

~

Here is the next update, as I promised. I wrote more than 5K words today. Damn, that's a lot, and my eyes hurt.

I might be away for a while as my finals are nearing. I need to focus more on that. I hope you guys can wait till I return.

After that, I'll try to update as frequent as I can. I'll try to complete this story before my next semester begins.

Don't forget to vote and comment about your thoughts about this update.

Till we meet again, I hope all of you are safe and healthy.

Buh-Bye.

~