Everlasting (PONDPHUWIN)

Chapter 8: The Honeymoon Phase

The days that followed their confession were a whirlwind of emotions for Nueng and Palm. The fear and uncertainty that had once consumed them were now replaced by a sense of euphoria and excitement, tempered only by the need for secrecy. Every stolen moment together felt like a small victory, a defiance of the world that sought to keep them apart.

They had entered what could only be described as the "honeymoon phase" of their relationship. Everything felt new, thrilling, and impossibly perfect, despite the undercurrent of tension that came with hiding their relationship from everyone around them.

At school, they continued to maintain the appearance of a close friendship, careful not to attract too much attention. But behind closed doors, in the quiet, hidden corners of the world they had carved out for themselves, their relationship blossomed.

One evening, after the sun had dipped below the horizon and the campus had emptied, Nueng and Palm found themselves in Nueng's room. The space was dimly lit, the soft glow of a single lamp casting long shadows on the walls. The outside world felt far away, the weight of their secret existence lifted, if only for a few precious hours.

Nueng sat cross-legged on his bed, his textbooks and notes scattered around him, but his focus was entirely on Palm, who was sitting beside him, leaning against the headboard. They were supposed to be studying, but their thoughts were elsewhere, lost in the warmth of each other's presence.

Palm reached out, his fingers gently tracing the back of Nueng's hand. The touch was light, almost hesitant, as if he was still amazed that this was real—that they could be together like this, even if only for a little while.

Nueng looked up from the textbook he wasn't really reading, his eyes meeting Palm's with a soft smile. "I can't concentrate," he admitted, his voice tinged with amusement. "You're distracting me."

Palm chuckled, the sound warm and comforting. "I could say the same thing," he replied, his fingers intertwining with Nueng's. "But I don't mind the distraction."

Nueng's heart fluttered at the touch, at the easy affection that had grown between them. It was still new, still fragile, but it felt right in a way that nothing else ever had. He shifted closer, leaning his head on Palm's shoulder, letting out a contented sigh.

"I wish we could stay like this forever," Nueng murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

Palm pressed a soft kiss to the top of Nueng's head, his arms wrapping around him in a gentle embrace. "Me too," he said quietly. "But even if we can't, we'll make the most of the time we have."

Nueng closed his eyes, savoring the warmth of Palm's body against his, the steady beat of his heart a comforting rhythm beneath the chaos of the world outside. For now, in this moment, everything was perfect. It was just the two of them, no expectations, no judgments—just love, pure and simple.

As they sat there, wrapped in each other's arms, the sound of rain began to tap gently against the window. The rhythmic patter of raindrops added to the cocoon of peace that surrounded them, the storm outside a distant echo compared to the calm they had found together.

After a while, Nueng shifted slightly, pulling back just enough to look up at Palm. "Do you think it'll always be this hard?" he asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Palm looked down at him, his expression thoughtful. "I don't know," he admitted, his voice steady. "But I do know that whatever happens, we'll face it together. And as long as we have each other, we'll find a way to make it work."

Nueng smiled, a soft, genuine smile that made his eyes shine with affection. "I'm glad I have you," he said quietly, his fingers tightening around Palm's. "I don't think I could do this alone."

"You're not alone," Palm replied, his voice filled with quiet conviction. "We're in this together, Nueng. And no matter what, I'll always be by your side."

Nueng's heart swelled with emotion, and he leaned in, capturing Palm's lips in a slow, tender kiss. The world outside their bubble might have been uncertain, filled with challenges they couldn't yet foresee, but in this moment, none of that mattered. All that mattered was the love they shared, the bond that had grown stronger with each passing day.

The kiss deepened, and Nueng felt a warmth spread through him, a sense of belonging that he had never known before. Palm's hands were gentle, steady, as they cradled Nueng's face, his touch filled with a reverence that made Nueng's breath catch in his throat.

When they finally pulled apart, both of them were breathless, their foreheads resting against each other as they tried to steady their racing hearts. The room was filled with a comfortable silence, the kind that only comes when two people are completely at ease with one another.

Nueng smiled, his heart lighter than it had been in days. "I don't think I'll ever get tired of this," he said softly, his voice filled with contentment.

Palm chuckled, his thumb brushing lightly over Nueng's cheek. "Good," he replied, his tone teasing but affectionate. "Because I don't plan on letting you go anytime soon."

Nueng's smile widened, and he leaned in for another kiss, his heart full to bursting with the love he felt for Palm. It was a love that had grown slowly, steadily, until it had become the most important thing in his life. And now that he had it, he knew he would do whatever it took to protect it.

As they settled back into each other's arms, the rain continued to fall outside, the world beyond their room a distant thought. In this moment, there was no need to think about the challenges they would face, the secrets they would have to keep, or the battles they would have to fight.

For now, all that mattered was that they were together, and that was enough.

---

But as the honeymoon phase continued, so too did the reality of their situation begin to creep in. Every stolen moment was tinged with the fear of discovery, every shared glance in public shadowed by the knowledge that they couldn't let anyone else see what they had found in each other.

At school, they were careful, maintaining the appearance of friends while hiding the truth of their relationship from prying eyes. But as much as they tried to keep their love a secret, there were moments when the truth slipped through—moments when their feelings were too strong to contain.

One such moment came late one afternoon, as they walked through the school's quiet corridors after hours. Most of the students had already gone home, leaving the building eerily silent, the usual hustle and bustle replaced by the soft echoes of their footsteps.

Nueng glanced around to make sure they were alone, then reached out, slipping his hand into Palm's. The touch was brief, but it was enough to send a thrill of excitement through him, a reminder of the connection they shared.

Palm squeezed his hand, his eyes filled with affection as they continued down the hallway. But as they turned a corner, they nearly collided with a teacher, who was making his way toward the exit. Nueng quickly pulled his hand away, his heart pounding in his chest as he offered a polite nod of greeting.

The teacher didn't seem to notice anything amiss, merely returning the nod before continuing on his way. But the near-miss was enough to send a jolt of fear through Nueng, a reminder of how careful they needed to be.

As they walked out of the school and into the fading light of evening, the reality of their situation settled heavily on Nueng's shoulders. He knew that as much as they wanted to be together, they would have to be vigilant, always aware of the risks that came with their love.

But despite the fear, despite the uncertainty, Nueng couldn't bring himself to regret any of it. Because every moment with Palm was worth it—worth the secrecy, worth the risk. And as they walked home together, their hands brushing occasionally as they walked side by side, Nueng knew that no matter what, they would find a way to make this work.

Because their love was worth fighting for.

And they were ready to face whatever came next.