Pavel, Pooh, and Benz had been keeping a close eye on everything, especially the fans' reactions to the series. They all noticed how the Nut and Sailub pairing was gaining traction online, and it infuriated them. Not because they had anything against Nut or Sailub, but because they hated how it was overshadowing Pon—someone they had all grown incredibly fond of.
Pon had been trying his best, as always. He brushed off the negativity and threw himself into his work, never once letting the fan comments or the rising popularity of Nut and Sailub's ship affect his professionalism. But the alphas knew better. They saw through the smiles Pon gave during events, and they noticed the flicker of hurt in his eyes whenever Nut and Sailub got more attention than him.
The three of them—Pavel, Pooh, and Benz—were protective of Pon. They had bonded with him during the trip, and since then, he had become like a little brother to them, someone they all felt responsible for. And now that they could see how the fans were pushing Pon aside in favor of the Nut-Sailub ship, they weren't going to stand idly by.
But they weren't the type to cause drama, especially not with Nut and Sailub, who they respected and liked. They didn't want to create any unnecessary issues within the cast. Instead, they came up with a plan that was much more subtle.
It had started with a passing comment from Ping during one of their post-shoot hangouts. Ping had mentioned, rather casually, how he found Pon cute—so cute, in fact, that he'd been caught staring at him more than once. That comment had stayed with Pavel, Pooh, and Benz, sparking an idea.
If fans were going to ship Nut and Sailub, why not stir up some interest in a different direction? Why not Ping and Pon?
Ping, after all, wasn't exactly hiding his interest. He had been sneaking glances at Pon ever since the trip, and while Ping wasn't one to make grand gestures, the attraction was obvious to anyone paying attention.
So, the three alphas—without telling Pon—decided to push the Ping-Pon pairing themselves.
It started small. They would casually bring up Ping around Pon, dropping hints and making light jokes. "You know, Pon, Ping has been asking about you a lot lately," Pavel would say with a grin. Or Pooh would make an offhand comment about how Ping seemed to always be watching Pon during shoots.
Pon, clueless as he was, would just laugh it off, blushing at the teasing but never taking it seriously. He had no idea what they were up to.
But Ping was a different story. He wasn't denying anything. In fact, he seemed to be going along with it—maybe even encouraging it. Whenever the others teased him about Pon, he would just smile and shrug, never once denying that he found Pon adorable. And honestly, who wouldn't? The beta was cute, sweet, and so easy to fluster, which only made Ping like him more.
The plan was working. Ping started spending more time with Pon, subtly inserting himself into conversations and hanging around after shoots whenever he could. And while Pon was still oblivious to the idea that he was being shipped with Ping, he was starting to warm up to the alpha's quiet attention.
As for Pavel, Pooh, and Benz, they were thrilled. They saw the way Pon seemed to relax more around Ping, how his usual anxieties about being in the spotlight eased when Ping was around. Pon, who was usually shy and reserved, was starting to smile more, laugh more, and feel less isolated from the rest of the group.
And while none of them said it out loud, the three alphas knew that Ping was the perfect match for Pon. He wasn't flashy or over-the-top like some of the other alphas, but he was dependable and kind, someone who could give Pon the attention and care he deserved without overwhelming him.
They didn't need to push too hard, either. Ping and Pon seemed to be growing closer on their own. Whenever they were together, there was a natural ease between them—a quiet understanding that didn't need words.
So, while the fans continued to ship Nut and Sailub, Pavel, Pooh, and Benz were satisfied knowing that they had done their part to look out for Pon. They didn't need the whole world to notice; as long as Pon was happy, that was all that mattered.
Pon had no idea how it started, but suddenly, there were a flood of edited videos and fan-made content online, shipping him with Ping. It was baffling at first, and when Pon saw the first few videos of their interactions cut together with romantic music, he couldn't help but blush in disbelief. When had this happened? They weren't even that close... were they?
At first, he tried to brush it off as just another playful fan creation. After all, fan edits were nothing new, and every actor had their fair share of ships. But this one seemed to gain momentum quickly. It wasn't just random fans who were getting on board—some of the close fans who followed their work and even a few cast members started teasing him and Ping about it.
Whenever they were at an event, Pavel, Pooh, and Benz would throw him teasing looks or make sly comments when they saw him with Ping. Even during shoots or group outings, Ping seemed to make a point to be near him, and their casual conversations were becoming the subject of jokes. The others, especially Pavel and Pooh, were relentless in their teasing, nudging Pon every time Ping so much as glanced his way.
It was making Pon flustered. His usual shyness around attention didn't help either, and the constant teasing made him hyper-aware of Ping's presence. Whether they were on set or at a fan meet, Pon couldn't help but notice how Ping seemed to be everywhere he was. And the worst part? Ping wasn't denying anything.
In fact, Ping seemed totally unfazed by the whole thing. Every time someone teased him about Pon, the alpha would just smile knowingly, never once denying the so-called "rumors." It made Pon feel even more embarrassed because while Ping seemed comfortable with it, Pon was still trying to wrap his head around the whole situation.
During a fan meet, when a fan asked them directly about their chemistry and the fan edits circulating online, Pon almost choked on his water. He stammered, trying to explain that they were just co-stars, that it was all just fan service. But Ping, standing beside him, chuckled and placed a hand on Pon's shoulder.
"I think Pon's just being modest," Ping said smoothly, making the crowd laugh and cheer. Pon felt his face heat up immediately. Ping was always so calm and collected, and here he was, adding fuel to the fire without a second thought.
After that, it seemed impossible to escape the Ping-Pon ship. Whether it was during shoots or fan events, the chemistry between them was played up by everyone around them. The more Pon tried to downplay it, the more the fans loved it. They started sharing more content, editing photos, videos, and even creating fan theories about their supposed "relationship."
Pon couldn't understand why Ping was so comfortable with it all. It wasn't that Pon disliked Ping—far from it—but he knew Ping saw him as a younger brother, someone to protect and look out for. At least, that's what Pon told himself every time the teasing got too much. He had to remind himself that Ping was just being kind, that there was no way the alpha could actually be interested in him like that.
But despite Pon's attempts to deny it, Ping never once said anything to refute the rumors. Whenever they were together, Ping was always calm, collected, and subtly protective. He had an easygoing nature that put Pon at ease, but it also confused him. Was Ping just going along with it to avoid drama? Or was there something more?
Pon didn't know how to feel. He was grateful to have Ping around because, despite the teasing and attention, Ping's presence made him feel safer. But at the same time, it made Pon uncomfortable. Not because of Ping himself, but because Pon wasn't sure how he felt. The growing attention from fans and the cast only heightened his confusion.
And so, as the ship gained more popularity, Pon tried his best to navigate through the fan reactions, the teasing from his co-stars, and his own growing uncertainty. He kept telling himself that it was all just for show, that Ping's actions were merely out of kindness. But deep down, Pon couldn't help but wonder if there was something he was missing.
