Pond's got a secret crush on his BFF, Dunk, but life's got other plans. Struggling with poverty, he takes a risky deal to be a fake boyfriend to the rich Phuwin. Meanwhile, Dunk's caught in a hot competition with the equally dreamy Joong. And then t...
"Ugh, not again," Pond groaned, pulling the covers over his head. It was barely four in the morning, and his body was screaming for more sleep. But the shrill cry of his stomach, reminding him of the empty fridge, was a powerful motivator. His family's juice shop was their only source of income, and fresh fruits and veggies were the heart of their business.
With a sigh, he swung his legs out of bed and stumbled to the bathroom. A quick splash of cold water later, he was ready to face the pre-dawn world. The market was a cacophony of early morning hustle. Vendors were setting up their stalls, shouting out prices, and haggling with customers. Pond had to be sharp, quick, and tough to get the best deals.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Uncle Tom, how about a better price on these apples?" Pond pleaded, his hands gesturing towards the crates.
"Come on, boy, I'm giving you the best price," the vendor replied, but a sly grin hinted at a possible discount. After a few more minutes of friendly banter, Pond managed to knock off a few baht. Back at the shop, he scrubbed the counters, swept the floor, and arranged the empty shelves. His mom would be here soon, ready to start juicing.
"P'Pond!" a high-pitched voice called out. It was his little brother, Pat. Pond ruffled the boy's hair.
"Morning, champ. Want to help me make breakfast?"
Pat's eyes lit up. "Can I fry the eggs?"
Pond chuckled. "Sure, but don't burn them!"
As the aroma of fried eggs and toast filled the small apartment, Pond's mind drifted to the day ahead. Today was his first day at university. He'd worked hard for this scholarship, and he was excited to start a new chapter in his life.
"I can't believe I'm actually going to university," he said to Pat, who was munching on toast.
Pat looked up, his mouth full. "You're gonna be smart, like Dunk?"
Pond smiled. "Even smarter," he boasted, though a pang of missing his best friend tugged at his heart.
It was time to get ready. He wore his white shirt and his engineer coat, a pair of jeans, and his lucky sneakers. As he looked in the mirror, he felt a surge of pride and anticipation. This was it. His future was about to begin.
🐻
I stared at myself in the mirror, trying to decide if I am okay. People said I was good-looking, but all I cared about was what Dunk thought. He had a way with clothes, even though we didn’t have much money.
I grabbed my bag and headed out. The old junction was where it all started. This was where Dunk and I first met, way back when we were kids. We always met here to go to school together. Now, we were meeting here to start university. Even though he was going to be a doctor and I was studying computers, we were still going to go together every day.
