Everlasting (PONDPHUWIN)

Chapter 16: The Reunion

Nueng walked through the quiet streets with a heavy heart, the weight of his decision pressing down on him with every step. The confrontation with his parents had left him emotionally drained, but there was no going back now. He had made his choice—to be true to himself, to fight for his love for Palm, even if it meant losing everything he had ever known.

The night air was cool, carrying the distant sounds of the city, but Nueng felt isolated, as if he were walking through a dream. His thoughts swirled with the harsh words exchanged with his father, the tears in his mother's eyes, and the overwhelming sense of loss that threatened to swallow him whole. But beneath the pain, there was also a glimmer of something else—something that felt like freedom.

As he approached Palm's house, Nueng's steps slowed, uncertainty gnawing at him. He had no idea how Palm would react when he told him what had happened. Would Palm see him as reckless, foolish for throwing away his family's support? Or would he understand that Nueng had made the only choice he could?

The house was dark, save for a single light in one of the upstairs windows. Nueng hesitated for a moment before gathering his courage and knocking softly on the door. He waited, his heart pounding in his chest, until he heard footsteps approaching from inside.

When the door opened, Palm stood there, his expression a mixture of surprise and concern. "Nueng? What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice filled with worry. "It's late, is everything okay?"

Nueng didn't trust himself to speak just yet. Instead, he stepped forward, his hands trembling as he reached out to Palm. The moment their fingers touched, Nueng felt a wave of emotion crash over him, and before he could stop himself, he was pulling Palm into a tight embrace, burying his face in the crook of Palm's neck.

Palm hesitated for only a second before wrapping his arms around Nueng, holding him close. "Nueng, what happened?" he asked softly, his voice filled with concern. "Why are you here?"

Nueng took a deep, shaky breath, trying to steady himself before he spoke. "I told them," he whispered, his voice muffled against Palm's shoulder. "I told my parents about us. About how I feel."

Palm stiffened slightly, and he pulled back just enough to look into Nueng's eyes. "You... you told them?" he asked, his voice filled with a mix of shock and admiration. "What did they say?"

Nueng swallowed hard, the memory of his father's cold words still fresh in his mind. "They... they didn't take it well," he admitted, his voice trembling. "My father... he said I'm no longer part of the family. That I'm on my own now."

Palm's eyes widened in shock, and he tightened his grip on Nueng, his expression filled with both anger and sorrow. "Nueng, I'm so sorry," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I can't believe they would do that to you."

Nueng shook his head, tears slipping down his cheeks as he clung to Palm. "It's okay," he whispered, even though it wasn't okay. "I knew it might happen. I knew this was the risk I was taking."

Palm reached up, gently wiping away Nueng's tears with his thumb. "You didn't have to do this alone," he said softly. "You should have told me. We could have figured it out together."

Nueng let out a choked sob, leaning into Palm's touch. "I didn't want to drag you into it," he confessed. "I didn't want you to have to deal with the consequences of my decisions. But I couldn't keep living a lie, Palm. I couldn't keep pretending to be someone I'm not."

Palm's expression softened, and he leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to Nueng's forehead. "You're not alone, Nueng," he whispered. "You'll never be alone, not as long as I'm here."

Nueng closed his eyes, letting the warmth of Palm's words wash over him. In that moment, he felt a sense of peace, a sense of belonging that he had never felt before. It was as if all the fear, all the pain, had been worth it—worth it to be here, in Palm's arms, with nothing left to hide.