"Heirs of the Heart" (Pondphuwin, Geminifourth, Joongdunk)

Chapter:03_A Day in the Life of Unlikely_

"Gem, what's your plan today?" the beautiful old lady asked as her youngest grandson joined her for breakfast.

"As usual, Granny. Visiting the company and inspecting the showrooms this afternoon," Gemini replied, flashing a rare, genuine smile.

"And why do you ask, Granny?" Gemini inquired, his curiosity piqued.

Granny's eyes sparkled with mischief. "I'm planning a visit to the temple to make some offerings and I want you boys to join me. Your brother Pond and Joong have an important meeting with a Korean client at noon, so they can't go. But if you're free, you can accompany me."Grandma replied in a warm tone.

"Of course, Granny. My schedule's clear. I'd love to join you," Gemini agreed warmly.

"That's my good boy," she said, kissing his cheek. She rose and bustled into the kitchen to bring the prepared breakfast for her favorite grandsons.

As soon as she was out of earshot, Joong's demeanor changed. "Gemini, why did you come home at 3 AM last night?"

"Uh, P'... I was—"

"I know where you were. Just make sure Granny doesn't find out. She'd be heartbroken," Joong said sternly before heading to the office.

Their eldest brother, Pond, weighed in with a sigh. "Joong's right. You need to change your ways. Stop fooling around and get serious."

"I know, P'," Gemini said quietly. "Everyone wants me for my money and fame. What am I supposed to do?"

Pond shook his head, feeling the weight of his younger brothers' contrasting paths. One, the idealist; the other, a carefree spirit. And he was caught in between.

Meanwhile, across town, Chain and Dunk's bakery was buzzing with activity. "Dunk, we've got a big cake order for a corporate event. Their anniversary cake. They've sent over their design and theme,fever..." Chain began, but his words trailed off when he noticed Dunk staring blankly out the window.

Chain sighed. Ever since Dunk's mother was paralyzed in a road accident last month, and his father had died, Dunk had been struggling.

"Dunk," Chain said softly, patting his friend's shoulder.

"Huh?" Dunk snapped out of his daze.

"Everything will be alright. Don't stress about it," Chain repeated the comforting words he'd used since the accident, feeling helpless.

Chain wished Dunk would cry, to release the bottled-up grief. But Dunk never did, instead drifting into silent, pensive spells that worried his friend deeply.

--

"What's up, P' Boun?" Phuwin greeted as soon as he spotted him in front of their faculty building. Boun, waiting for his boyfriend Prem, who also happened to be Phuwin’s best friend, grinned and said, "I'm doing well. How about you, Nong?" He wrapped an arm around Prem's waist, pulling him closer.

Phuwin sighed dramatically, "Just another usual day. Your boyfriend is a real pain sometimes." Prem shot him a glare.

"Okay, okay, no fighting," Boun interjected with a chuckle. "We're about to have lunch together. Wanna join us?"

Phuwin waved them off. "No thanks. I don't want to feel like a third wheel. Bye, Prem. P'Boun."

As Phuwin walked away, the couple laughed at his antics.

"Hey, you brat! Are you blind? Watch where you're driving!" Phuwin shouted, dodging a car that splashed muddy water all over him. The driver stopped a few meters away and yelled back, "Why don't you watch where you're walking?"

Phuwin, now drenched and fuming, snapped back, "You drenched me with mud and now you're blaming me? Fine!" In a fit of rage, he pulled an anti-cutter from his bag and punctured the car's rear tire.

"What the hell is this maniac doing?" The driver, a strikingly handsome guy, stepped out and stared in disbelief. "What the fuck have you done? Why did you do that?"

Phuwin smirked, holding up the anti-cutter. "Sorry, I’m blind. Didn't notice my anti-cutter might cause some damage." With that, he climbed into a just-arrived public bus, leaving the driver stunned and speechless behind him...

But little did Phuwin realize, this chance encounter would propel him into a whirlwind of danger and passion beyond anything he'd ever imagined.

Unbeknownst to Phuwin, fate had woven a thread that would entangle him in a web of intrigue and peril..