𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐞

Episode 50

The taxi hummed with an uneasy silence, the city lights blurring past the window. Dunk and Phuwin, their hearts pounding in their chests, tried to process what they had just witnessed.

Dunk was the first to break the silence. "I can't believe we saw them," he whispered, his voice filled with a mixture of astonishment and longing. The years of separation had done nothing to quell the feelings he harbored for Joong. If anything, the distance had only intensified them.

Phuwin, his eyes glistening with unshed tears, nodded in agreement. The sight of Pond had stirred a tempest within him. The boy he had once loved, the boy who had held his heart in his hands, was now a stranger. Yet, the pain of their separation was as raw as ever.

"It's like a dream," Phuwin murmured, his voice barely audible. "Seeing them after all these years… it's surreal."

Dunk squeezed Phuwin's hand, offering silent comfort. They were both caught in a whirlwind of emotions – shock, longing, and a profound sense of loss. Their lives had diverged, their paths leading them down separate roads. And now, in a cruel twist of fate, they had found themselves face to face, their hearts aching with the weight of unfulfilled dreams.

The taxi ride seemed to last an eternity. With each passing moment, the reality of their situation sank deeper. They had seen their past, their loves, their lives that could have been. And now, as the taxi pulled up to their temporary residence, they were faced with the daunting task of picking up the pieces and moving forward.

The future was uncertain, filled with both hope and despair. But one thing was clear: their lives would never be the same again. The ghosts of the past had returned, haunting them with the echoes of what could have been. And as they stepped out of the taxi, they knew that their journey, both individually and as a couple, had taken a dramatic turn.
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As Dunk and Phuwin exited the taxi, their hearts still pounding from the shock of seeing Joong and Pond, they were unaware of the watchful eyes that had been following their every move. A discreet figure, hidden in the shadows, had captured their arrival on camera, their faces clearly visible in the harsh, unforgiving light.

A sinister smile played on the man's lips as he reviewed the footage, his eyes gleaming with a cold, calculating intensity. He had been searching for them for years, a relentless pursuit fueled by a dark secret, a secret that tied him to their past.

With a swift motion, he sent the images to a designated recipient, a message accompanying the photographs: "I found them."

The man leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the city skyline, a storm brewing in his eyes. The game was on.
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The wedding was a spectacle of opulence and love, a celebration of two souls finding their happily ever after. Win and Bright, radiant with joy, moved through the crowd, accepting blessings and congratulations from their loved ones.

Amidst the festivities, Joong and Pond found themselves the target of well-meaning advice. Relatives and friends, their faces beaming with warmth, offered suggestions on finding their own soulmates. "You two are next," they would say, their voices laced with a playful tease.

Susan and Maya, their maternal instincts kicking in, joined the chorus of matchmaking enthusiasts. "You're not getting any younger, you know," Maya would remark, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

Mark, however, was lost in his own world. Amidst the joyous celebration, he received a call that sent a shockwave through him, his face contorting into a mask of disbelief and anger. With a hasty excuse, he left the venue, leaving his family bewildered.

Joong and Pond, sensing the sudden change in their father's demeanor, exchanged worried glances. They knew something was amiss, something that had clearly shaken their father to the core.

"Dad seemed really upset," Joong murmured, his voice filled with concern.

Pond nodded, his brow furrowed. "Maybe it's work-related?" he suggested, trying to find a plausible explanation.

Susan and Maya, their faces mirroring their sons' worry, offered words of comfort. "Don't worry, boys," Susan said, her voice trembling slightly. "Your father can handle anything."

Joong and Pond exchanged another glance, their hearts heavy with concern. They knew their father better than anyone. This wasn't just work stress. Something more sinister was at play, something that had thrown their father into a tailspin.

As the wedding festivities continued, Joong and Pond found themselves caught between the joy of their brother's union and the growing concern for their father.

They knew they had to find out what was troubling him, but they also knew that they couldn't force it.

For now, they focused on celebrating Bright and Win's love, hoping that by the end of the night, their father's mood would improve.

But deep down, they knew that the storm brewing within Mark was far from over.
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As the late afternoon sun began its descent, casting long shadows over the city, Phuwin and Dunk were settling into a quiet evening.

The adrenaline rush from the wedding had subsided, replaced by a sense of contentment. Phuwin, his stomach rumbling, suggested making noodles, a simple yet comforting meal.

Dunk, always eager to please, headed out to the nearest market to buy the necessary ingredients.

As he walked, his mind wandered, lost in thoughts of the wedding, of Win and Bright's newfound happiness. Little did he know, a twist of fate awaited him just around the corner.

A speeding car, its driver seemingly oblivious to the world around him, careened out of control, crashing into a nearby tree. The impact was jarring, the sound echoing through the quiet neighborhood.

Dunk, drawn by the noise, rushed to the scene.

The car, a mangled wreck, lay crumpled against the tree. A man, seemingly in his late forties or early fifties, was trapped inside, unconscious.

With a surge of adrenaline, Dunk sprang into action, his medical training kicking in. He carefully assessed the situation, prioritizing the man's safety.

After ensuring the man was stable, Dunk helped him out of the car.

The man, dazed but conscious, thanked Dunk profusely. As he reached for his phone, Dunk offered his own, the screen displaying a photo of him and his aunt.

The man's eyes widened in shock, his gaze fixed on the photo. A flicker of recognition passed across his face, replaced by a chilling intensity. "Nothing," he muttered, his voice barely audible, before taking the phone and making a call.

Dunk, sensing the man's distress, offered to wait until he finished his call. The man nodded, his eyes never leaving Dunk's face. As Dunk stood there, a sense of unease crept over him. There was something unsettling about the man's reaction, something that hinted at a hidden secret.

Finally, the man ended the call, his face a mask of emotions. He thanked Dunk once again, his voice trembling slightly, before hurrying away. Dunk watched him go, a wave of confusion washing over him.

He couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss, that he had just stumbled upon a piece of a puzzle he didn't understand.