In the gripping tale of "Bonds of Fate," the paths of two worlds collide. On one side, there are Phuwin and Dunk, orphaned brothers, guided by their loving aunt in the warm embrace of a small-town restaurant. On the other, there are Pond and Joong...
The classroom air hung heavy with a suffocating silence. Pond, his gaze fixed on the textbook in front of him, felt a familiar knot of frustration tightening in his stomach. He hadn't seen Phuwin enter the classroom, his attention completely hijacked by Naomi's sudden appearance. Naomi, oblivious to the tension simmering beneath the surface, continued to chatter, her voice a grating melody against the backdrop of Pond's pounding heart.
Just then, a bell rang, signaling the end of the lecture. Naomi, finally releasing her death grip on Pond's arm, bounced out of her seat. It was her way of announcing their "relationship" to the class, a constant reminder that officially, Naomi was still Pond's girlfriend.
Pond slammed his textbook shut, the sound echoing through the emptying room. He couldn't take it anymore. He needed to find Phuwin, to explain the ridiculous situation before the misunderstanding festered any further.
He scanned the room, his gaze landing on the empty seat next to Phuwin. Panic clawed at him. He had messed up, badly.
He rushed out of the classroom, his heart hammering a frantic rhythm against his ribs. He found Phuwin walking down the hallway, his head hung low, his shoulders slumped in defeat.
"Phuwin!" Pond called out, his voice laced with desperation.
Phuwin stopped and turned slowly, his eyes red-rimmed and filled with a hurt that sent a pang through Pond's chest.
"Can we talk?" Pond pleaded, his voice barely a whisper.
Phuwin hesitated for a moment, his gaze flickering with uncertainty. Then, with a small nod, he moved to the side, indicating for Pond to follow him.
They found themselves in a secluded corner of the campus, hidden from prying eyes. Pond took a deep breath and launched into a frantic explanation. He told Phuwin everything - how Naomi had barged in and wouldn't leave, how much he hated the charade, how his only desire was to be with Phuwin.
As Pond spoke, his emotions spilled out, a torrent of guilt and frustration. He watched Phuwin's face, his heart sinking with each passing second. Phuwin listened silently, his expression unreadable.
Finally, when Pond finished his frantic explanation, an agonizing silence descended upon them.
"Why didn't you sort things with Naomi yet?" Phuwin finally asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Pond looked down at his shoes, shame gnawing at him. "I was... I don't know, scared, I guess. Scared of how you'd react."
Phuwin let out a humorless laugh, the sound echoing through the empty hallway. "So you used Naomi to test me?"
Pond recoiled. "No, never! I..." He stammered, searching for the right words. "I just needed you to know how I feel, Phuwin. I messed up, I know that. But please, believe me..."
Phuwin cut him off, his voice shaking with emotion. "Believe you? You said you wanted to take things slow, that you were scared of society's judgment. Yet you sit there with your 'girlfriend,' making a mockery of my feelings." He gestured towards the hallway, his voice thick with hurt. "All that talk... about wanting to be with me... was it just a lie?"
Tears welled up in Pond's eyes. "No, Phuwin, it wasn't! Please don't think that. You are the one I want, the only one. But this... this whole thing with Naomi, it's a mess, a leftover from the past I haven't been able to clean up."
Phuwin stared at him, his eyes filled with a mixture of pain and betrayal. In that moment, Pond could see his fragile trust in him shattering. The guilt threatened to consume him whole.
"Let me fix this," Pond pleaded, reaching out to take Phuwin's hand. But Phuwin flinched away, his eyes hardening.
"There's nothing left to fix," Phuwin said, his voice devoid of emotion. "You made your choice, Pond. And it wasn't me."
With that, Phuwin turned and walked away, leaving Pond standing there alone, his heart sinking into a bottomless pit of despair. The silence was deafening, punctuated only by the echo of his own shattered dreams. . . . . . . . .
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The pulsating music throbbed through the air, a bass-heavy rhythm that vibrated in Phuwin's chest. The senior's house was a cacophony of laughter, flashing lights, and bodies gyrating on the makeshift dance floor. He'd arrived with Ethan and Emma, his two closest friends, seeking a night of carefree revelry. Ethan, ever the party animal, had already disappeared into the throng, leaving Phuwin and Emma to navigate the social minefield.
Emma, ever the social butterfly, had quickly flitted off to join some friends, leaving Phuwin feeling adrift in a sea of unfamiliar faces. He weaved his way through the crowd, his gaze scanning the kitchen counter for something non-alcoholic. The red plastic cups, overflowing with an unknown concoction, held little appeal.
Suddenly, a hand clamped down on his shoulder. Phuwin turned to see a burly senior, his face flushed with intoxication, looming over him.
"Hey there, freshman," the senior slurred, shoving a red cup towards Phuwin. "Want some punch?"
Phuwin politely shook his head. "No thanks, I don't drink."
Phuwin politely declined, explaining he didn't drink. The senior, however, wasn't taking no for an answer. He shoved a red plastic cup filled with a murky liquid towards Phuwin. "Come on, loosen up a little. One sip won't hurt."
Phuwin's apprehension grew. He was about to refuse again when a hand materialized out of nowhere, snatching the cup from the senior's grasp.
"He said no," a voice laced with icy calm cut through the air. Phuwin's eyes widened as he saw Pond standing before him, a dark scowl etched on his face.
Pond turned to Phuwin, concern flitting across his features. "Are you alright?"
Phuwin, momentarily speechless, stared back at him. The unexpected intrusion, the memory of their fight fresh in his mind, left him cold.
The unexpected encounter left a lump in Phuwin's throat. He stared at Pond with a mixture of annoyance and confusion. He didn't want Pond's intervention, especially not after their tumultuous conversation earlier.
"What are you doing here?" Phuwin finally managed, his voice clipped.
Pond replied, his voice calm despite the tension in his posture. "This isn't exactly the safest place for someone like you."
Phuwin bristled. "Excuse me? I can take care of myself. And besides," he added, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "I thought you were busy entertaining Naomi."
The mention of Naomi sent a pang of jealousy through Pond, though he quickly masked it with a sigh. "Look, about Naomi..."
"Don't," Phuwin interrupted. "There's nothing left to say. You made your choice, Pond. Now let me enjoy my night."
He turned to walk away, but Ethan, ever the party animal, stumbled after him, his arm slung around Phuwin's shoulder.
"C'mon, Phuwin! Let's hit the dance floor! Loosen up a little!" Ethan slurred, pulling Phuwin towards the throng of bodies pulsating to the music.
With that, Phuwin turned away, leaving Pond rooted to the spot. He watched as Phuwin navigated the crowd, his heart heavy with a mixture of regret and frustration. He had messed up, badly, and Phuwin was right - he had no right to lecture him now.
