Chapter Nine

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* Five years later *

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* Ring... ring... ring... *

"Hello? Is this Ponk's number...?

"Who would like to know, and why?"

"I- I remembered your number and thought I'd give you a call... it's been a while, I'm so sorry."

"I asked who you were, not for your sob story."

"Oh, sorry, I completely forgot- I thought you'd recognize my voice, Ponkie... it's Sam... heh, remember me...?"

* silence *

"...the sad sack who caved and called the suicide hotline? The one who, by chance, got the best operator and befriended him...?"

"Wh-" *shaky inhale* "Why didn't you return my c-calls?" *Ponk's voice is incredibly shaky, as if he's on the verge of tears*

"Your calls...?" *slight pause* "OH! I remember now! I'm so sorry about that, Ponkie, I-"

"Don't call me that."

"Oh..." *longer pause* "Sorry..."

"You left without a trace /five/ fucking years ago, leaving me behind- leaving me to believe you were dead! Someone fucking reported you as missing, Sam! I called you so many times! I left so many voicemails that I filled your inbox, I even continued to call you after that until your phone disconnected...! How /could/ you?"

"I... Ponk... I'm so sorry... I didn't mean to leave you in the dark like that... I got a promotion in an odd situation and had to leave immediately, it was like a form of training for - how do I describe it? - like the army? Lots of hands on, physical training... I thought that when I came back... you might have been happy for me... but I never considered how you may feel about my disappearance..."

"Sorry isn't enough, Sam. Hell, even /Foolish/ helped me look for you! My own fucking husband! He encouraged me to- to-" *sharp inhale* "gahh!! He encouraged me to face the fact that I fucking loved you! I had loved you more than a friend, I would have wanted a relationship with you! Damnit, Sam! I bent over backwards for you! I- I-" *Ponk breaks down crying, unable to get any more words out*

"Ponk!? Oh my, Ponk, please don't cry! I'm here now! Maybe not necessarily beside you, but I can-"

* An unfamiliar male voice can be heard on Ponk's end of the line. It sounded agitated and the slightest bit protective. *

"Hello? Who is this?"

"P-Ponk??? Who is /this/??"

"Ponk's husband. Now who are you and what do you want with him? Can't you tell you clearly upset him?"

"Hus- damnit! Tell him- Ponk - that I'm sorry. I'll call him back later."

"What do you-"

* click *

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