Unexpected Hearts

Chapter 8

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Two months had passed since I first walked into the university gates, nervous and unsure about this new chapter of my life. But now, I was getting used to it. The campus, the lectures, even the endless assignments—I had found my rhythm.

Pond was my friend, the only one in my class I could really talk to. He had this natural way of making friends, and soon enough, he introduced me to Perth. Perth was just as funny as Pond, and even though I wasn’t as close to him, I appreciated his company. Sometimes,   during lectures, I’d just sit listening as they bantered back and forth, trying to outdo each other with jokes or cool stories.

"Pond, you really think that’s going to impress anyone?" Perth teased one day, laughing as Pond exaggerated some story about helping a stranger on campus.

"Hey, it’s the truth!" Pond shot back, grinning.

I couldn’t help but smile. It was nice having them around, even if I wasn’t the most talkative. But there was something that always bothered me. Pond had this habit of helping everyone, even those who didn’t deserve it. I could see how some people used him, how they took advantage of his kindness, but he never seemed to notice. Or maybe he just didn’t care. I wanted to say something, but every time I opened my mouth, the words wouldn’t come out. So, I kept silent, just watching, hoping that someday Pond would see it too.

At least Perth wasn’t like the others. He was a real friend to Pond, not someone who was just around for what they could get from him. That made me feel a little better.

Then, one day, everything changed. During  breakfast,

"Phuwin," my father’s voice was stern, "we’ve decided it’s time for you to get engaged."

"What?" I froze, the world around me blurring. "Engaged? To who?"

"It doesn’t matter who," my mother chimed in, "what matters is that you’ve ignored our wishes for too long. You refused to study business, so now, you’ll do this."

"But I don’t want to get engaged! I’m not ready for that!" I protested, my heart pounding in my chest.

"This isn’t up for debate, Phuwin," my father said firmly. "You’ll do as we say."

I could feel the anger rising inside me, but I tried to keep it under control. "I have someone already," I blurted out, desperate to stop this before it went any further.

"Oh?" My mother sounded almost amused. "And who might that be?"

For a split second, I panicked. I wasn’t dating anyone. I couldn’t name a girl—I didn’t know any that wouldn’t lead back to my parents forcing me into something. And there was no way I’d drag Joong or Gemini into this mess. Then, an idea hit me, one that could solve this problem, at least for now.

"It’s a boyfriend," I said quietly, my voice trembling just a little. "I have a boyfriend."

The silence of my parents were deafening. I could almost see them processing what I’d just said.

"A boyfriend?" My father’s voice was sharp, disbelieving. "Since when?"

"It’s been a while," I lied, swallowing hard. "I just didn’t tell you because… because I knew you wouldn’t accept it."

"You’re right about that," my mother snapped. "This is unacceptable, Phuwin. We need a heir for the family, not this nonsense!"

"That’s not my problem," I shot back, my anger finally spilling over. "I’m not marrying anyone just because you tell me to."

I could hear them shouting as I grabbed my bag and headed out to the university. My hands were shaking, and my mind was racing, but there was no turning back now. I had lied, and I didn’t know how long I could keep it up. But one thing was clear—I wasn’t going to let them control my life. Not anymore.