Everlasting (PONDPHUWIN)

Chapter 23: Palm's Sacrifice

The success of the fundraiser brought a sense of relief to Palm and his family. The money raised had been enough to pay off a significant portion of the shop's debts, giving them some much-needed breathing room. For the first time in months, there was hope on the horizon—a sense that maybe, just maybe, they could turn things around.

But even as the immediate crisis began to fade, Palm couldn't shake the feeling that more needed to be done. The shop was still struggling, and despite the temporary relief the fundraiser had provided, the long-term challenges remained. Palm knew that if they were going to secure the future of the business—and his family's livelihood—more sacrifices would be necessary.

One evening, as Palm sat at the kitchen table going over the shop's financial records, the weight of the situation pressed down on him like a heavy blanket. His mother had gone to bed early, exhausted from a long day of work, and the house was quiet except for the occasional creak of the old wooden floors.

Palm stared at the numbers on the page, his mind racing as he tried to come up with a solution. The debts were still significant, and while they had bought themselves some time, the shop wasn't bringing in enough revenue to make a lasting difference. They needed a new strategy, something that would ensure the shop's survival in the long run.

But every time Palm thought he might have an answer, the reality of their situation crushed his optimism. The shop had been a staple in their community for generations, but times had changed, and competition was fierce. Customers were going elsewhere, to larger stores with more variety and lower prices. Palm knew that if they didn't adapt, the shop's days were numbered.

The thought of losing the shop—the heart of his family's legacy—was unbearable. Palm had spent his childhood in that shop, helping his mother and uncle with the daily tasks, learning the ins and outs of running a business. It was more than just a place of work; it was a symbol of his family's history, their resilience, and their love.

Palm sighed, rubbing his tired eyes as he pushed the papers aside. He needed to clear his head, to think about something else for a while. Without a second thought, he reached for his phone and sent a quick text to Nueng.

**"Can we meet? I need to talk."**

Nueng's response was almost immediate.

**"Of course. Where are you?"**

**"At home. Want to come over?"**

A few minutes later, Nueng arrived at Palm's house. Palm opened the door to find his boyfriend standing on the porch, concern etched on his face.

"Hey," Nueng said softly, stepping inside. "What's going on?"

Palm led him into the kitchen, where they sat down at the table. For a moment, Palm didn't speak, simply staring at the worn wood surface, his mind racing with a thousand thoughts.

Nueng reached out, placing a gentle hand on Palm's arm. "Palm, you're scaring me. What's wrong?"

Palm looked up, his eyes filled with a mix of determination and sadness. "Nueng, I've been thinking a lot about the shop, about everything that's been happening. And I've come to a decision."

Nueng's heart tightened, fearing what Palm was about to say. "What kind of decision?"

Palm took a deep breath, steadying himself before he spoke. "I'm going to sell the shop."

Nueng's eyes widened in shock. "What? Palm, are you serious? After everything we've done to save it?"

Palm nodded, his expression resolute. "I know it sounds drastic, but I've thought it through. The shop... it's not sustainable anymore. Even with the money from the fundraiser, we're still barely scraping by. And if we keep going like this, we'll just end up deeper in debt."