Everlasting (PONDPHUWIN)

Chapter 22: A New Challenge

The days following Palm's difficult decision to help his family were marked by a quiet determination. Nueng and Palm had always known that their journey wouldn't be easy, but now the weight of reality was pressing down on them even harder. The shop's financial troubles loomed over them, casting a shadow on their plans for the future.

Despite the gravity of the situation, Palm remained focused. He balanced his schoolwork with the increasing demands of the family business, often working late into the night to help his uncle with bookkeeping or to stock shelves. Nueng watched with a mix of admiration and concern, knowing that Palm was pushing himself to the limit, but feeling powerless to lighten the burden.

One evening, as Nueng walked into the shop to find Palm still working, his heart ached at the sight. Palm was hunched over the counter, deep in concentration as he counted the day's earnings—an amount that seemed painfully inadequate given the debts they were facing.

Nueng approached quietly, placing a gentle hand on Palm's shoulder. Palm looked up, his tired eyes softening when he saw Nueng standing there.

"Hey," Palm greeted him, his voice weary but warm. "You didn't have to come by. I know it's late."

Nueng smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I wanted to see you," he said softly. "You've been working so hard, Palm. I'm worried about you."

Palm sighed, setting down the ledger he'd been working on. "I'm fine, really. It's just... there's so much to do, and I feel like I'm barely making a dent. But we have to keep trying, right? We can't just give up."

Nueng nodded, his heart heavy with empathy. "I know. And I'm so proud of you for everything you're doing. But you don't have to do it all alone. I'm here for you, Palm. We're in this together, remember?"

Palm gave him a small, grateful smile and reached out to take Nueng's hand. "I don't know what I'd do without you," he said quietly. "Just having you here makes it all a little easier."

Nueng squeezed Palm's hand, wishing he could do more to ease the burden his boyfriend was carrying. "We'll get through this," he said firmly, trying to infuse his voice with as much confidence as he could muster. "I believe in us, Palm."

Palm nodded, but Nueng could see the worry etched in his features, the toll that the constant stress was taking on him. As they sat together in the quiet of the shop, Nueng knew that they couldn't go on like this forever. Something had to change, but he didn't know what.

---

The next day, during lunch at school, Nueng brought up his concerns with Ben, hoping that his friend might have some advice.

"I'm worried about Palm," Nueng admitted as they sat together in the cafeteria. "He's pushing himself so hard, and I don't know how much longer he can keep this up. But I don't know how to help him."

Ben listened carefully, his expression thoughtful. "I've noticed that he's been more stressed lately," he said. "It's like he's carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. But you're right—he can't keep going at this pace. It's not sustainable."

Nueng nodded, his brow furrowed with worry. "I just don't know what to do. The shop is in so much debt, and I feel like we're running out of options."

Ben was silent for a moment, then he looked at Nueng with a determined expression. "What if we tried to find a way to raise money for the shop? I know it won't solve everything, but maybe we could at least buy some time. Give Palm a chance to catch his breath."

Nueng's eyes lit up with a spark of hope. "That's a great idea, Ben. But how? We're just students—how can we raise enough money to make a difference?"