Everlasting (PONDPHUWIN)

Chapter 11: A Harsh Reality

The sun was setting as Palm made his way home, the sky painted in shades of orange and pink that reflected off the tall buildings of the city. He walked slowly, his thoughts heavy with the events of the past few days. The weight of the rumors and the growing tension at school had taken their toll on him, but he had tried to stay strong for Nueng. Now, as he approached the modest apartment building where he lived with his mother, he felt a sense of dread settle in the pit of his stomach.

His mother, Mrs. Tangsakyuen, was a woman of quiet strength, someone who had always been there for Palm, providing for him and supporting him through all the challenges life had thrown their way. But she was also fiercely protective, and Palm knew that the rumors swirling around him and Nueng would not sit well with her.

As he entered the apartment, Palm found his mother in the small kitchen, preparing dinner. The familiar scent of stir-fried vegetables filled the air, but today, the warmth of home felt distant and cold.

"Palm," his mother greeted him with a small smile as he walked in. "You're home early."

Palm forced a smile, trying to hide the anxiety gnawing at him. "Yeah, I finished my work at school early."

His mother nodded, her attention focused on the stove. But Palm could see the tension in her posture, the way her shoulders were slightly hunched as if she was carrying a heavy burden. He knew she had heard the rumors; it was only a matter of time before she brought them up.

They ate dinner in near silence, the usual conversation replaced by an unspoken tension that hung in the air like a thick fog. Palm could barely taste the food, his mind too preoccupied with what was to come. Finally, as they were finishing their meal, his mother set down her chopsticks and looked at him with an expression that was both concerned and stern.

"Palm," she began, her voice calm but firm, "we need to talk."

Palm felt his heart drop, but he nodded, bracing himself for what was coming. "Okay, Mom."

Mrs. Tangsakyuen folded her hands on the table, her gaze steady as she looked at her son. "I've been hearing things," she said carefully. "About you and that boy from school—Nueng."

Palm's breath caught in his throat, but he forced himself to remain calm. "What have you heard?" he asked, though he already knew the answer.

His mother sighed, her expression softening just slightly. "People are saying that you're... involved with him. That you're spending too much time with him, and that it's causing problems."

Palm looked down at his hands, his heart pounding in his chest. "Nueng is my friend," he said quietly. "He's a good person, Mom. He... he means a lot to me."

Mrs. Tangsakyuen's expression tightened, and she reached out, placing a hand on Palm's arm. "I know he's your friend, Palm, but you have to understand how dangerous this could be. People talk, and in our world, rumors can destroy lives."

Palm swallowed hard, the reality of his mother's words hitting him like a punch to the gut. He knew she was right—knew that the rumors could have serious consequences for both him and Nueng. But he also knew that he couldn't just walk away from Nueng, not after everything they had been through together.

"I care about him, Mom," Palm admitted, his voice trembling. "I don't want to lose him."

Mrs. Tangsakyuen's grip on his arm tightened, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and concern. "Palm, I understand that you care about him, but you have to think about your future. You have to think about the consequences of being associated with someone like him."

Palm looked up, his eyes filled with defiance. "What do you mean, 'someone like him'? Nueng is kind, and smart, and he treats me with respect. Why should that be a bad thing?"