Shattered (PONDPHUWIN)

Chapter 6: A Confidante Emerges

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the café, the warm light filtering through the large windows as Phuwin stirred his coffee absentmindedly. The usual comfort of the familiar place, where he and Gemini had spent countless hours talking about everything under the sun, was absent today. Instead, Phuwin felt a gnawing sense of unease, as though the walls were closing in on him.

Gemini sat across from him, his eyes full of concern as he watched his friend. Phuwin had been unusually quiet since they had met up, and it didn't take a genius to see that something was weighing heavily on him. Gemini had known Phuwin for years, and he could read him like a book. Whatever it was, it was serious.

"Phuwin," Gemini began gently, his voice cutting through the silence. "What's going on? You've been so distant lately. I know something's wrong."

Phuwin looked up, his eyes meeting Gemini's. He hesitated for a moment, struggling to find the right words. He had kept so much bottled up inside, trying to handle it on his own, but the weight of his doubts and fears had become too much to bear. Gemini had always been his confidante, the one person he could talk to about anything, but this—this was different. This was about Pond, the man he loved, the man he was supposed to marry.

"I... I don't know what to do, Gem," Phuwin finally admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm so confused."

Gemini leaned forward, his expression serious. "What's going on? Is it about Pond?"

Phuwin nodded, a lump forming in his throat. "I think he's lying to me," he said, the words tumbling out before he could stop them. "I don't know for sure, but there have been so many little things... and I just can't shake the feeling that something's not right."

Gemini's brow furrowed in concern, and he reached across the table to place a comforting hand on Phuwin's. "What kind of things? What makes you think he's lying?"

Phuwin took a deep breath, then began to recount everything that had happened over the past few weeks—the text message from the unknown number, the vague answers, the inconsistencies in Pond's stories. He told Gemini about the confrontation, about how Pond had explained everything away as a misunderstanding, how he had played the role of the caring fiancé to perfection. And he told him about the doubt that still lingered, the trust that had been shaken to its core.

Gemini listened intently, his expression growing darker with each detail. By the time Phuwin finished, there was a look of deep concern in his eyes. He squeezed Phuwin's hand, trying to offer some measure of comfort, but he knew that words alone wouldn't be enough to ease his friend's pain.

"Phuwin," Gemini said softly, "I don't want to jump to conclusions, but it sounds like Pond might be hiding something. I know you want to believe him—I get it, you love him. But if you're feeling this way, if your gut is telling you something's wrong, then maybe there's more to this than what he's saying."

Phuwin swallowed hard, his eyes dropping to the table. "But what if I'm wrong? What if it really is just a misunderstanding? I don't want to accuse him of something he didn't do."

Gemini nodded, understanding the turmoil Phuwin was going through. "I know you don't. And that's why you need to find out the truth—one way or another. You can't keep living like this, constantly questioning him, questioning your relationship. It's not fair to you, and it's not fair to him either."

Phuwin looked up, his heart pounding in his chest. "But how? How do I find out the truth?"

Gemini hesitated, clearly uncomfortable with what he was about to suggest. "Phuwin, I don't say this lightly, but... maybe you need to follow him. See where he goes when he says he's working late. Find out if he's really telling the truth."

Phuwin's eyes widened in shock. The idea of following Pond, of spying on him, felt wrong—like a betrayal of everything their relationship was supposed to be built on. But at the same time, the doubts that had been eating away at him couldn't be ignored. He needed to know, one way or another.

"I don't know if I can do that, Gem," Phuwin said, his voice trembling. "What if I find out something I don't want to know? What if... what if it's true?"

Gemini squeezed his hand again, his gaze steady and reassuring. "I can't tell you what to do, Phuwin. But I do know that living in doubt is worse than knowing the truth, no matter how painful it might be. At least if you know, you can decide what to do next. Right now, you're just stuck, and it's tearing you apart."

Phuwin felt tears pricking at the corners of his eyes. He blinked them back, trying to stay strong, but the fear of what he might discover was overwhelming. "I'm scared, Gem," he admitted, his voice breaking. "I'm scared of losing him, of losing everything we've built together."

Gemini's heart ached for his friend. He wished he could offer more comfort, wished he could take away the pain Phuwin was feeling. But he knew that the only way out of this was through it—through the doubt, through the fear, and finally, through the truth.

"I know you are," Gemini said gently. "But whatever happens, I'm here for you. You don't have to go through this alone."

Phuwin nodded, taking a deep breath as he tried to gather his strength. He knew Gemini was right—he couldn't keep living like this, caught in a web of uncertainty. He needed to know the truth, even if it meant risking everything.

"Okay," Phuwin said, his voice firm despite the fear that gripped him. "I'll do it. I'll follow him and find out the truth."

Gemini gave him a reassuring smile, though his eyes were filled with concern. "I'm proud of you, Phuwin. I know this isn't easy."

Phuwin nodded again, feeling the weight of the decision settle over him. His heart was heavy, his mind filled with dread at what he might discover. But he knew he couldn't turn back now. He had to see this through, no matter where it led.

As they left the café, Phuwin felt a sense of resolve take hold. It was a fragile thing, easily broken by the fear that loomed over him, but it was there. He would find out the truth, whatever it was, and he would face it head-on.

But as he walked back to his car, his steps felt heavier than ever. The truth was out there, waiting for him. And as much as he wanted to believe that everything would be okay, a part of him knew that this journey might lead to a place from which there was no return.