Shattered (PONDPHUWIN)

Chapter 10: The Ultimatum

The sun had barely risen, casting a pale light through the curtains of their bedroom, when Phuwin finally emerged from a sleepless night. His eyes were swollen from crying, his heart heavy with the weight of everything that had transpired. The air between him and Pond was thick with tension, the silence unbearable as they lay on opposite sides of the bed, as if the distance could somehow shield them from the reality of their situation.

Phuwin couldn't take it anymore. The uncertainty, the doubt, the gnawing pain of betrayal—it was all too much. He needed a decision, a resolution, something to end the torment that had consumed him since Pond's confession.

He sat up in bed, pulling the blankets around himself as if they could offer some semblance of comfort. Pond stirred beside him, his eyes flickering open to meet Phuwin's. There was no warmth in Pond's gaze this morning, only a deep sadness that mirrored Phuwin's own.

"Pond," Phuwin began, his voice barely more than a whisper, "we can't keep going on like this."

Pond nodded slowly, his expression guarded. "I know," he replied, his voice hoarse from the strain of the night before. "I don't want to hurt you anymore, Phuwin. I want to make this right."

Phuwin took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he was about to say. "If you really want to make this right," he said, his voice trembling with the effort to stay calm, "then you need to cut off all contact with Dunk. Completely. No more texts, no more meetings, nothing. If you want us to have any chance of moving forward, he can't be in your life."

Pond's eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, Phuwin saw a flash of something—fear, maybe, or hesitation. It was enough to make his heart clench, the doubt creeping back in. But he held his ground, his gaze locked on Pond's, waiting for his response.

Pond looked away, his jaw tightening as he processed Phuwin's words. The silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating, until Pond finally spoke.

"Okay," he said quietly, his voice laced with resignation. "I'll do it. I'll cut him off."

Phuwin wanted to feel relief at Pond's agreement, but all he felt was a hollow emptiness. The hesitation in Pond's eyes, the way he had to force the words out—it wasn't the wholehearted commitment Phuwin had hoped for. It wasn't the immediate, unwavering reassurance he needed to start rebuilding the trust that had been shattered.

"Why did you hesitate?" Phuwin asked, his voice breaking with the pain he had tried so hard to keep at bay. "If you love me, if you want to be with me, why did it take you so long to agree?"

Pond's shoulders sagged, and he ran a hand through his hair, clearly struggling with his emotions. "It's not that I don't want to be with you," he said, his voice pained. "But Dunk... he's been a big part of my life these past few months. Cutting him off completely—it's hard, Phuwin. I know it's what I have to do, but that doesn't mean it's easy."

Phuwin felt the sting of Pond's words like a knife to his heart. Dunk had become important to him—maybe even too important. The realization that Pond had formed such a deep connection with someone else was almost more than he could bear.

"But you're willing to do it?" Phuwin pressed, needing to hear it again, needing to know that Pond was truly choosing him.

Pond nodded, though his expression was weary, his eyes downcast. "Yes," he said softly. "I'll cut him off. I don't want to lose you, Phuwin. You mean everything to me."

Phuwin nodded slowly, but the words didn't bring the comfort he had hoped for. Instead, they left him feeling more conflicted than ever. Pond was agreeing to his ultimatum, but the hesitation, the sadness in his voice, made it clear that this was no easy decision for him. And that knowledge ate away at Phuwin's already fragile heart.

"Thank you," Phuwin said, though the words felt hollow on his tongue. "But I need you to understand something, Pond. Even if you cut Dunk off, things between us... they won't just go back to the way they were. I don't know if they ever can."

Pond looked up at him, his eyes filled with a deep sadness. "I know," he whispered. "I know I've broken your trust, and I'm so sorry. I'll do whatever it takes to fix this, Phuwin. But I understand if it's not enough."

Phuwin's chest tightened, the enormity of what they were facing weighing down on him. He had given Pond an ultimatum, but even as he had done so, he knew that their relationship had been irrevocably changed. The love they had once shared, the trust that had been the foundation of their bond, had been tainted by doubt and betrayal.

Pond had made his choice, but Phuwin couldn't shake the feeling that it was a forced decision, one made out of obligation rather than genuine desire. And that thought tore at him, leaving him with a hollow victory that brought little solace.

As they sat in the silence of the early morning, Phuwin felt the distance between them more acutely than ever. Pond had agreed to cut Dunk out of his life, but the shadow of what had happened would linger, a constant reminder of the cracks in their relationship.

Phuwin wanted to believe that they could rebuild, that their love was strong enough to survive this betrayal. But as he looked at Pond, at the man he had once trusted with his whole heart, he couldn't help but wonder if the damage was too great, if they were both holding on to something that was already lost.

"I need some time," Phuwin said quietly, his voice heavy with exhaustion. "I need to think about where we go from here."

Pond nodded, though the sadness in his eyes deepened. "Take all the time you need," he replied softly. "I'll be here, waiting. I just hope that... when you're ready, we can find a way to move forward together."

Phuwin didn't respond. He couldn't. The pain in his chest was too overwhelming, the weight of everything that had happened too heavy to bear. He simply got up from the bed and walked out of the room, leaving Pond sitting alone in the silence.

As he stepped into the cool morning air, Phuwin felt the tears welling up in his eyes again. The ultimatum had been given, the decision made, but the victory felt hollow, empty. The love he had once cherished was now shrouded in uncertainty, and he couldn't help but wonder if it was already too late to save it.

Phuwin knew that even if Pond chose him, their relationship would never be the same. The trust that had been broken could never be fully restored, and the wounds left by Dunk's presence in their lives would continue to fester, a reminder of what they had lost.

As he walked aimlessly through the quiet streets, Phuwin felt the tears finally spill over, his heart breaking all over again. He had fought so hard to hold on to the love they had shared, but now, as the reality of their situation settled in, he couldn't help but feel that he was losing it, piece by piece, with every step he took.

And in that moment, Phuwin realized that the victory he had sought was not a victory at all, but a painful acknowledgment of the love that had been shattered beyond repair.