Shattered (PONDPHUWIN)

Chapter 5: The Confrontation

Phuwin could no longer escape the tightening grip of suspicion that had been squeezing his heart for weeks. Every time Pond smiled at him, every time he kissed him goodnight, the unease gnawed at him, threatening to tear him apart. He had tried to ignore it, to push it aside, but the tension between them had grown too unbearable. The text message, the inconsistencies, the vague answers—all of it weighed heavily on his mind, turning every moment of silence between them into a chasm of doubt.

One evening, as they sat together on the couch, the weight of unspoken words hanging between them, Phuwin knew he couldn't keep it inside any longer. Pond was scrolling through his phone, a soft smile playing on his lips as if everything were perfectly normal. But to Phuwin, it felt like a cruel mockery of the trust they once shared.

"Pond," Phuwin began, his voice trembling slightly. He tried to steady himself, to keep the emotion out of his voice, but it was impossible. "I need to ask you something."

Pond looked up from his phone, his expression immediately softening with concern. "What is it, babe? You look upset."

Phuwin took a deep breath, forcing himself to meet Pond's gaze. "A few weeks ago... I saw a message on your phone. It was from an unknown number. It said, 'I miss you too.'" He paused, watching for Pond's reaction. "Who was it from?"

For a moment, Pond's face was unreadable. Phuwin's heart pounded in his chest as he waited for an answer, the silence stretching out between them. But then Pond's expression softened, his eyes filling with what seemed like genuine concern and regret.

"Oh, that," Pond said, letting out a sigh as if relieved to finally address it. He put his phone down and reached out to take Phuwin's hands in his. "I'm sorry you saw that and worried about it, Phuwin. It's nothing to be concerned about, I promise."

Phuwin's throat tightened, but he forced himself to ask, "Then who was it?"

Pond's grip on his hands tightened slightly, his gaze steady and reassuring. "It was from a colleague at work. She's been going through a really tough time lately—relationship problems, family issues, you name it. I've been trying to be there for her as a friend, but I guess she's become a bit more attached than I realized. That's all it was, Phuwin. I swear."

Phuwin searched Pond's eyes, looking for any sign of deceit, any hint that he was lying. But Pond's expression remained open and sincere, his tone filled with concern for both Phuwin and the colleague he claimed to be helping. It was exactly the kind of response that should have reassured him, but the doubt that had taken root in Phuwin's mind refused to let go.

"Why didn't you tell me about her before?" Phuwin asked, his voice quiet, almost pleading. "Why didn't you mention any of this?"

Pond sighed again, releasing one of Phuwin's hands to run a hand through his hair. "Honestly, I didn't think it was important. I didn't want to worry you over nothing, especially with everything else going on. I thought I could handle it on my own, but I see now that I should have been more open with you. I'm sorry, Phuwin. I never wanted to make you feel like you couldn't trust me."

The sincerity in Pond's voice was almost overwhelming. Phuwin felt a lump in his throat, his emotions swirling in confusion. He wanted to believe Pond, wanted to accept his explanation and let go of the doubts that had been tormenting him. But no matter how much he tried, something still didn't sit right. There were too many unanswered questions, too many moments that didn't add up.

But as he looked into Pond's eyes, filled with what appeared to be genuine remorse and affection, Phuwin felt his resolve crumbling. This was the man he loved, the man he had planned to spend the rest of his life with. How could he not believe him? How could he let his doubts destroy what they had?

Phuwin nodded slowly, his heart heavy. "Okay," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I believe you."

Pond's relief was palpable. He pulled Phuwin into a tight embrace, holding him close as if he never wanted to let go. "Thank you," Pond murmured into his hair. "I promise, I'll be more open with you from now on. You're the most important thing in my life, Phuwin. I never want you to doubt that."

Phuwin closed his eyes, leaning into the embrace, trying to absorb the warmth and comfort Pond offered. He wanted to let himself believe that everything was okay, that this was just a misunderstanding, a bump in the road that they could move past. But as much as he tried to convince himself, the doubt lingered, like a dark cloud on the horizon.

They spent the rest of the evening together, Pond doing his best to make Phuwin laugh, to reassure him with tender touches and sweet words. But Phuwin couldn't fully relax, couldn't completely shake the feeling that something was still wrong. Pond's explanation had been smooth, almost too smooth, and it left Phuwin wondering if he had just been played.

That night, as they lay in bed together, Phuwin found himself staring at the ceiling, sleep eluding him. Pond's breathing was slow and steady beside him, a comforting rhythm that should have brought him peace. But Phuwin's mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions—love, fear, doubt, and the nagging feeling that he was missing something crucial.

He had chosen to believe Pond, to trust in the man he loved. But that trust was no longer the solid foundation it once had been. It was fragile, cracked, and Phuwin couldn't help but wonder if it would ever be whole again.

As he finally drifted off to sleep, Phuwin clung to the hope that maybe, just maybe, everything would be okay. But deep down, he knew that the shadow of doubt would never fully disappear. And in the quiet of the night, as Pond slept peacefully beside him, Phuwin's heart ached with the realization that their love was no longer as unbreakable as he had once believed.