Shattered (PONDPHUWIN)

Chapter 3: The Unexpected Discovery

The night was quiet, the only sound in the apartment being the soft patter of water from the shower. Phuwin sat on the edge of the bed, absentmindedly scrolling through his phone. The TV flickered in the background, a show playing that he wasn't really paying attention to. His mind was elsewhere, replaying Gemini's words over and over again, the seed of doubt growing stronger with each passing day.

Pond had been distant, but he had brushed it off as stress from work. They had talked about it, and Pond had reassured him that everything was fine. Yet, Phuwin couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. It was an intuition, a gut feeling that gnawed at him whenever Pond wasn't around.

He glanced toward the bathroom door, hearing the faint sound of Pond humming a tune as he showered. Normally, the sound would bring him comfort, but tonight it felt like a reminder of how disconnected they had become. Phuwin sighed and set his phone down, trying to push the uneasy thoughts out of his mind. He needed to trust Pond. They were about to get married, after all. Trust was the foundation of everything they had built together.

As he reached for the remote to turn off the TV, a soft chime interrupted his thoughts. He looked around, confused, before realizing the sound had come from Pond's phone, which was lying on the nightstand beside him. The screen had lit up with a new message. Phuwin's heart skipped a beat as he glanced at the phone, curiosity piqued.

He shouldn't look. He knew that. But the small seed of doubt that had been planted in his mind urged him forward, compelling him to reach out and pick up the phone. He hesitated, his fingers hovering over the screen. What was he doing? This wasn't him. He trusted Pond... didn't he?

But then his eyes caught the preview of the message on the lock screen, and his breath hitched in his throat. The message was from an unknown number, and it read simply: "I miss you too."

Phuwin stared at the words, his mind racing. I miss you too. Who could it be? A friend? A colleague? But why the "too"? Why the familiarity, the intimacy in those three simple words?

His heart pounded in his chest as a thousand scenarios played out in his mind. He could feel the walls of his world closing in, the security he had felt in his relationship crumbling away. His hand trembled as he placed the phone back on the nightstand, his thoughts spinning out of control. He wanted to confront Pond immediately, to demand an explanation, but something held him back.

Phuwin knew that if he asked Pond about the message now, he might get a quick, plausible explanation. Or worse, he might get a lie. And how would he know the difference? He needed to be sure before he acted, needed to know whether his worst fears were true or if it was all just a terrible misunderstanding.

So, he made a decision—one that felt foreign and uncomfortable. He wouldn't say anything to Pond. Not yet. Instead, he would watch, observe, and try to piece together the truth on his own. It was a choice that made him feel sick, like he was betraying Pond's trust even as he suspected Pond of betraying his.

The shower turned off, and a moment later, Pond stepped out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist and steam curling out from behind him. He smiled when he saw Phuwin, his expression relaxed and content.

"All clean," Pond said, running a hand through his damp hair. "Want to join me in bed?"

Phuwin forced a smile, hoping it didn't look as strained as it felt. "In a minute," he replied, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him. "Just finishing up a text to Gemini."

Pond nodded and climbed into bed, pulling the covers up around him. He reached for his phone, and Phuwin watched as he quickly scanned the screen, his expression unreadable. Pond didn't react to the message, didn't seem to even acknowledge it as he placed the phone back on the nightstand and turned toward Phuwin.

"Everything okay?" Pond asked, his voice soft, genuine concern in his eyes.

Phuwin's heart clenched at the sight. He wanted so badly to believe that nothing was wrong, that this was just another moment in their life together, a life that would continue to be full of love and trust. But the words on the screen echoed in his mind, a cruel reminder of the doubt that had taken root.

"Yeah," Phuwin replied, slipping into bed beside him. "Everything's fine."

They lay there in the darkness, Pond's arm draped over Phuwin's waist, his breath slow and even as he drifted off to sleep. But Phuwin's mind remained wide awake, churning with questions and fears. He replayed the message in his head, analyzing every possibility, every potential explanation that wasn't the one he dreaded.

But no matter how much he tried to rationalize it, the feeling of unease wouldn't go away. Instead, it grew stronger, feeding off his uncertainty and the nagging thought that there was more to Pond's late nights than just work. Phuwin had always prided himself on his ability to trust, but now that trust felt fragile, hanging by a thread.

As he lay there, staring into the darkness, Phuwin realized that his relationship was no longer the fairy tale he had once believed it to be. There was a shadow hanging over it now, a shadow that threatened to consume everything if he didn't find the truth.

And so, he resolved to keep watching, to stay alert for any sign that could confirm or dispel his suspicions. It was a choice that filled him with dread, but he knew it was the only way to protect himself from the heartbreak he feared might be coming.

Phuwin closed his eyes, but sleep wouldn't come. Instead, he listened to the sound of Pond's breathing beside him, each breath a reminder of the man he loved and the trust that was slipping away.