Everlasting (PONDPHUWIN)

Chapter 20: Future Plans

The days following Uncle Wisit's unexpected intervention brought a sense of calm that Nueng hadn't felt in a long time. Chopper, seemingly cowed by Wisit's warning, kept his distance, and the school returned to a semblance of normalcy. The tension that had hung over Nueng and Palm began to ease, replaced by a cautious optimism. It was as if the storm had passed, leaving them to pick up the pieces and start rebuilding.

But with this newfound peace came new questions—questions about the future that had been lurking in the back of Nueng's mind but were now impossible to ignore. He had made his choice, had walked away from his family's expectations, but what came next? What kind of life could he and Palm build together?

One afternoon, after school, Nueng and Palm decided to visit a small, cozy café that had become one of their favorite spots. It was tucked away in a quiet part of town, far from the prying eyes of their classmates, and it offered a sense of privacy that they both cherished. As they settled into a corner booth, the warm scent of coffee and pastries filling the air, Nueng couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment.

They ordered their drinks and talked about the day, sharing stories and laughing together, but Nueng could tell that Palm had something on his mind. There was a certain tension in his posture, a thoughtful look in his eyes that made Nueng's heart tighten with concern.

"Palm," Nueng said softly, reaching across the table to take Palm's hand in his. "What's going on? You seem... distracted."

Palm looked up, surprised by the question, but then he smiled, a little sheepishly. "I've just been thinking," he admitted. "About us. About what comes next."

Nueng's heart skipped a beat. He had been thinking the same thing, but he hadn't known how to bring it up. "Me too," he confessed. "I've been wondering about our future, about what we're going to do now that... now that everything's changed."

Palm nodded, his expression serious. "We've been through so much, Nueng. We've fought so hard to be together, but I know we can't just keep floating along, hoping things will work out. We need to start making plans, real plans, for our future."

Nueng felt a surge of emotion at Palm's words—love, fear, hope, all mixed together. "What do you want to do?" he asked quietly. "What do you see for us?"

Palm took a deep breath, his gaze steady as he looked into Nueng's eyes. "I want us to build a life together, somewhere we can be happy, without all the pressure and expectations. I want us to find a place where we can just be ourselves, where we don't have to hide or pretend."

Nueng's heart swelled with hope, and he nodded, his voice trembling slightly as he spoke. "I want that too, Palm. But... how do we make it happen? What do we do next?"

Palm squeezed Nueng's hand, his expression filled with determination. "We need to start planning for the future, Nueng. We need to figure out what we want to do, where we want to go. It's going to take time, but we can do it. We just have to be patient and work together."

Nueng smiled, feeling a sense of warmth and security in Palm's words. "Okay," he agreed. "Let's start planning."

They spent the next hour talking about their dreams, their hopes for the future. They discussed the possibility of moving to a new city after they graduated, a place where they could start fresh. They talked about their careers, about what they wanted to do with their lives. Nueng had always been interested in art and design, and Palm had a passion for teaching. The idea of combining their talents, of building something together, filled them both with excitement.

As they talked, Nueng felt the weight of the past few months begin to lift. The fear and uncertainty were still there, but now they were tempered by a sense of purpose, a sense of direction. They were no longer just reacting to the world around them; they were starting to take control of their own destinies.

At one point, Palm reached into his bag and pulled out a small notebook. "I've been jotting down some ideas," he said with a shy smile. "Just some thoughts about what we might want to do, where we might want to go."

Nueng took the notebook, flipping through the pages. It was filled with notes and sketches, lists of potential cities, ideas for future businesses, and even a few doodles of what their dream home might look like. Nueng felt a lump form in his throat as he realized how much thought Palm had put into this, how seriously he was taking their future together.

"This is amazing, Palm," Nueng said, his voice filled with emotion. "You've really thought about all of this."

Palm nodded, a little self-conscious. "I just want to make sure we're ready, that we're thinking ahead. I don't want us to get caught off guard."

Nueng leaned across the table, pressing a soft kiss to Palm's lips. "I love you," he whispered. "And I'm so grateful to have you by my side. I know we can do this, Palm. I know we can make our dreams come true."

Palm smiled, his eyes shining with love. "I love you too, Nueng. And I'm not going anywhere. We're in this together, for the long haul."

---

As the weeks went by, Nueng and Palm continued to work on their plans for the future. They spent hours researching potential cities, looking into different career paths, and saving up as much money as they could. It was a slow process, but it was also empowering. For the first time, they felt like they were truly in control of their own lives, making decisions based on what they wanted, not what others expected of them.

They also continued to lean on each other for support, finding strength in their relationship as they navigated the challenges that still came their way. Chopper remained a distant threat, but he had largely backed off, cowed by Uncle Wisit's intervention. The whispers at school had quieted down, and while there were still those who disapproved of their relationship, Nueng and Palm found that they were able to ignore the negativity more easily now.

One evening, as they sat together in Nueng's room, working on their future plans, Nueng felt a sense of peace settle over him. The past few months had been some of the hardest of his life, but they had also brought him closer to Palm than he had ever thought possible. They had faced down fear, judgment, and rejection, and they had come out the other side stronger and more determined than ever.

As he looked at Palm, who was scribbling notes in the notebook with a look of concentration on his face, Nueng couldn't help but feel a swell of gratitude. Palm had been his rock, his source of strength and comfort, and Nueng knew that he was incredibly lucky to have found someone who loved him so deeply and unconditionally.

"Palm," Nueng said softly, drawing his boyfriend's attention. When Palm looked up, Nueng smiled, feeling a warmth spread through his chest. "Thank you. For everything."

Palm's expression softened, and he set the notebook aside, reaching out to take Nueng's hand. "You don't have to thank me, Nueng. I'm just doing what feels right. I love you, and I want us to be happy. That's all I care about."

Nueng felt tears prick at the corners of his eyes, and he leaned in, pressing a tender kiss to Palm's lips. "I love you too," he whispered. "And I know we're going to make it. We're going to build the life we want, together."

Palm smiled against Nueng's lips, deepening the kiss as he wrapped his arms around him. In that moment, Nueng felt a sense of certainty that he hadn't felt in a long time. The future was still uncertain, still filled with challenges and obstacles, but he knew that as long as he had Palm by his side, they could face anything.

They stayed like that for a long time, wrapped up in each other, savoring the quiet intimacy of the moment. The world outside might still be difficult, but in each other's arms, they found the strength and courage to keep going.

And as the night wore on, and the city outside began to quiet down, Nueng knew that they were on the right path—that their future, while still uncertain, was filled with promise and possibility.

Together, they would build something beautiful, something lasting. And that thought gave Nueng all the hope he needed to keep moving forward.