Shattered (PONDPHUWIN)

Chapter 19: The Last Straw

Phuwin couldn't shake the revelation Dunk had dropped on him. It clung to his thoughts like an open wound, festering with each passing day, unraveling the fragile calm he had fought so hard to regain. Dunk's confession hadn't just reopened old scars—it had ripped them wide open, forcing Phuwin to confront a truth he wasn't prepared for. Everything he had thought he understood was now in question, and all he was left with was the searing need for closure.

He tried—God, he tried—to focus on moving forward, on healing, on reclaiming the progress he had made. But the betrayal gnawed at him, too overwhelming to ignore. Dunk's words had laid bare the extent of Pond's lies, and Phuwin could no longer avoid the truth: he needed to face Pond. There was no moving on without it. He had to hear it directly, demand the truth from the man who had shattered his world.

The weight of the decision pressed heavily on his chest for days, but eventually, he knew he couldn't avoid it any longer. One evening, after countless sleepless nights, he found himself standing outside the apartment he once shared with Pond. The familiar place, once filled with warmth, now felt alien—a bitter reminder of everything they had lost. His hand shook as he raised it to knock, his heart hammering violently in his chest.

The door opened almost instantly, and there stood Pond, surprise flickering in his eyes, quickly replaced by something softer—hope, perhaps. "Phuwin," he breathed, his voice low and edged with sadness. "I didn't expect you to come."

Phuwin didn't waste time with pleasantries. "We need to talk," he said, his tone firm despite the storm of emotions churning inside him.

Pond stepped aside, allowing him in. The apartment looked the same, but everything about it felt different—cold, empty, stripped of the life they had once built there. Phuwin walked into the living room, standing stiffly in the center of the space that had once been filled with laughter and love.

"What's going on?" Pond asked, closing the door behind him. His voice was tentative, wary, as if sensing the gravity of what was to come.

Phuwin turned, his gaze hard. "I spoke to Dunk," he said, watching Pond's face drain of color. "He told me everything, Pond. Everything you tried to keep from me."

Pond faltered, taking a step back as his breath hitched. "Phuwin, I—"

"Don't," Phuwin cut him off sharply, his voice tinged with anger. "Don't lie to me again. I know everything now. Dunk told me how long it went on, how deep it really was. This wasn't some fleeting mistake. It was an affair, Pond. Months of lies."

Pond's shoulders slumped, his face contorted with guilt. "I didn't want to hurt you," he whispered, his voice cracking. "I tried to stop it, Phuwin. I tried to stay faithful to you, but I—I was weak."

"Weak?" Phuwin's voice rose with the intensity of his anger. "You weren't weak, Pond. You were selfish. You lied to me over and over again, made me believe I wasn't enough while you were betraying me behind my back."

Tears welled in Pond's eyes as he took a step toward Phuwin, desperation lacing his words. "I'm sorry," he sobbed. "I never wanted it to go this far. I never wanted to hurt you like this. But I love you, Phuwin. I still love you."

Phuwin's heart clenched at Pond's words, the love he had for this man warring with the rage and sorrow consuming him. "How can you say that?" he demanded, his voice thick with emotion. "How can you claim to love me after everything you've done? Love doesn't destroy people, Pond. What you did... it tore me apart."

Pond sank to his knees in front of Phuwin, his tears falling freely now. "I know," he choked. "I know I've ruined everything. I've destroyed the best thing I ever had. But please, Phuwin, believe me—I never stopped loving you. I was lost, and I made the worst mistake of my life. But I still love you."

Phuwin stared down at him, his heart twisting painfully. He had come here seeking answers, seeking closure, and now that he had them, he was more conflicted than ever. Seeing Pond like this—broken, filled with regret—made it harder to hold on to the anger that had carried him here. But the pain, the betrayal, was still as raw as ever.

"I don't know if I can forgive you," Phuwin whispered, his voice shaking. "I don't know if I can ever trust you again. You hurt me in ways I didn't even know were possible."

Pond looked up, his face streaked with tears. "I understand," he whispered. "I don't deserve your forgiveness. But if there's even the smallest chance we can rebuild... I'll do whatever it takes. I'll spend the rest of my life proving it to you."

Phuwin's heart ached. He had loved Pond with everything he had, built a future with him, and now that future lay in ruins. Could he ever truly forgive Pond? Could he trust him again after everything?

"I don't know," Phuwin admitted softly. "I don't know if I can ever get past this. I want to, but... I just don't know."

Pond reached out tentatively, taking Phuwin's hand in his, his touch light, full of emotion. "I understand," he said quietly. "Take all the time you need. But please, don't close the door on us just yet. Let me prove that I can be better."

Phuwin looked down at their joined hands, torn between love and pain. "I need time to figure this out," he said softly, pulling his hand away.

Pond nodded, tears still glistening in his eyes. "Take all the time you need," he whispered. "I'll be here, waiting."

Without another word, Phuwin turned and walked out of the apartment, leaving Pond behind. As he stepped into the cool evening air, he felt a strange sense of clarity. He didn't have all the answers yet, but for the first time in a long while, he felt like he was in control of his own future. Whether that future included Pond or not—that decision would come in time.