Shattered (PONDPHUWIN)

Chapter 2: A Shadow of Doubt

The soft hum of laughter and clinking glasses filled the cozy café where Phuwin and Gemini had met for their regular catch-up. The place had always been their sanctuary, a spot they'd claimed as their own during college and never let go. It was here, over countless cups of coffee, that they had shared their dreams, fears, and everything in between.

Phuwin stirred his latte absently, lost in thought as he listened to Gemini recount a funny story from work. But despite the lightheartedness of the conversation, Phuwin's mind kept drifting back to Pond. He hadn't seen much of him lately; their schedules seemed to be at odds more often than not. Pond's late nights at the office were becoming a regular occurrence, and though Phuwin tried to brush it off, it was starting to weigh on him.

"Earth to Phuwin," Gemini's voice cut through his thoughts, bringing him back to the present. He looked up to see his friend's concerned eyes fixed on him. "You okay? You seem a million miles away."

Phuwin forced a smile, shaking his head as if to clear away the lingering doubts. "Yeah, sorry. Just thinking about the wedding. There's still so much to do."

Gemini raised an eyebrow, not entirely convinced. "You sure that's all? You've been a bit distracted lately."

Phuwin hesitated, debating whether to share what had been on his mind. Gemini was his closest friend, the one person who knew him inside and out. If there was anyone he could talk to, it was him. But part of Phuwin didn't want to voice the doubts that had started creeping into his thoughts. Speaking them out loud would make them real, and he wasn't ready for that.

"It's just Pond's been busy with work," Phuwin finally admitted, trying to keep his tone light. "He's aiming for a promotion, so he's been putting in a lot of extra hours. I barely see him these days."

Gemini nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. "That's tough, especially with the wedding coming up. But... does it feel like more than just work?"

Phuwin frowned, not understanding what Gemini was getting at. "What do you mean?"

Gemini leaned in slightly, lowering his voice as if he were about to reveal a secret. "I mean, does it feel like he's pulling away? Like there's something he's not telling you?"

The question hit Phuwin like a cold breeze, sending a shiver down his spine. He opened his mouth to deny it, to laugh off Gemini's concern, but the words caught in his throat. Hadn't he been feeling the same thing, even if he hadn't wanted to admit it? The late nights, the vague explanations—they had all planted a tiny seed of doubt in his mind, one that was growing despite his efforts to ignore it.

"Gemini, I know you're just looking out for me, but I really don't think it's anything like that," Phuwin said, trying to sound confident. "Pond's just under a lot of pressure right now. He wouldn't lie to me."

Gemini's gaze softened, and he reached across the table to place a hand on Phuwin's. "I'm not saying he is lying, Phuwin. I just want you to be careful. Sometimes, when people are under stress, they make mistakes. They do things they wouldn't normally do."

Phuwin felt his stomach tighten. He wanted to brush off Gemini's concerns, to assure him that everything was fine. But there was an edge to Gemini's voice, a seriousness that made it hard to dismiss. "Do you really think there's something going on?" he asked, his voice quieter now, betraying the fear he hadn't wanted to acknowledge.

Gemini hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "I don't know, Phuwin. But I've noticed Pond's been a lot more... distant lately. And I just don't want to see you get hurt. Maybe it's nothing, but maybe it's something. Just... keep your eyes open, okay?"

Phuwin nodded, though his heart wasn't in it. He didn't want to doubt Pond; he didn't want to believe that the man he was about to marry could be hiding something from him. But as much as he wanted to trust Pond completely, Gemini's words lingered in his mind, refusing to be dismissed.

They finished their coffee in a companionable silence, but the lightness of their earlier conversation was gone. As Phuwin walked back to his car, he couldn't shake the unease that had settled over him. He tried to convince himself that Gemini was just being overly cautious, that Pond's absences were nothing more than a product of his demanding job. But a small voice in the back of his mind wouldn't be silenced.

That night, as Phuwin lay in bed waiting for Pond to come home, the seed of doubt that had been planted earlier began to take root. He found himself glancing at the clock more frequently, counting the minutes until Pond's return. When Pond finally walked through the door, exhausted but cheerful, Phuwin forced a smile and tried to act like everything was normal.

But it wasn't normal. Not anymore. The doubt had taken hold, and no matter how much Phuwin wanted to ignore it, it was there, lurking in the corners of his mind. As Pond climbed into bed beside him, wrapping an arm around him and pulling him close, Phuwin tried to find comfort in the familiar embrace. Yet, as he drifted off to sleep, the unease lingered, casting a shadow over his dreams.

For the first time since they had met, Phuwin found himself questioning the one thing he had always taken for granted—their love. And that was a feeling he didn't know how to handle.