Secret (PONDPHUWIN)

Chapter 4: The Wife's Suspicion

Phuwin could feel the tension in the air the moment he entered the office that morning. The atmosphere was heavy, almost suffocating, as if the walls themselves were holding their breath, waiting for something to happen. He tried to shake off the unease, but it clung to him like a shadow, darkening his thoughts as he settled into his routine.

For weeks now, he had lived in a constant state of anxiety, the thrill of his secret affair with Pond tainted by the growing fear that someone might discover the truth. It wasn't just the guilt that gnawed at him, though that was certainly part of it; it was the fear of what would happen if the carefully constructed facade of their lives came crashing down. He had seen the way Pond's wife, Priya, had started watching him—her eyes lingering on him a little too long, her questions a little too probing. It was subtle, but Phuwin could sense it: the creeping suspicion that something wasn't right.

That morning, Pond had arrived later than usual, his expression unreadable as he swept through the office with his usual air of authority. But there was something different about him, something in the way he avoided Phuwin's gaze, the way his shoulders seemed to carry an extra burden.

Phuwin's heart sank. He knew that look, knew it all too well. Something had happened, something that threatened to unravel the delicate balance they had managed to maintain. And as much as he wanted to ask, to demand answers, he knew this wasn't the time or place.

The day dragged on, each minute feeling like an eternity as Phuwin tried to focus on his work, but his thoughts kept drifting back to Pond, to the tension that radiated off him in waves. It was almost a relief when Pond finally summoned him to his office, the usual mask of professionalism slipping just enough for Phuwin to see the strain in his eyes.

"Close the door," Pond said, his voice unusually curt.

Phuwin obeyed, the click of the door shutting them off from the rest of the world echoing in the silence. He turned to face Pond, his heart pounding in his chest, a thousand questions swirling in his mind.

Pond was standing by the window, his back to Phuwin, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the silence stretching between them like a chasm. Then, without turning around, Pond finally broke the silence.

"She's starting to suspect something," he said, his voice low and strained.

Phuwin felt his blood run cold. He had known this day would come, but he hadn't expected it to happen so soon, hadn't expected the reality of their situation to hit so hard.

"What makes you think that?" Phuwin asked, trying to keep his voice steady, though it wavered with the fear he couldn't quite hide.

Pond sighed, his shoulders slumping as if the weight of the world were pressing down on him. "She's been asking questions, looking at me differently. Last night, she confronted me about the late nights, the missed dinners, the way I've been distant."

Phuwin's heart sank further. He knew he was part of the reason Pond had been distant, part of the reason for the late nights and the tension that had crept into Pond's marriage. And as much as he hated himself for it, he couldn't bring himself to regret the time they had spent together, the moments they had stolen from the world.

"What did you tell her?" Phuwin asked, though he wasn't sure he wanted to know the answer.

Pond finally turned to face him, his expression conflicted. "I told her it was work, that things have been stressful at the office and I've been dealing with it the best I can. But I don't think she believed me."

Phuwin nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. He knew Priya wasn't someone who would let things go easily, especially not when it came to her family. She was smart, intuitive, and fiercely protective of the life she had built with Pond. And if she suspected something was wrong, she wouldn't rest until she uncovered the truth.