𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐬 || 𝐏𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐩𝐡𝐮𝐰𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐟

40

Pond was almost ready to leave his condo. He grabbed his keys, glancing at his watch, and mentally ran through his schedule for the day. He’d been so caught up in his routine that he’d completely forgotten about the family dinner tonight. Just as he was about to head out the door, his phone buzzed with a message from Joong.

“Don’t forget about the family dinner tonight! Dunk and I are heading over now. See you there.”

Pond paused, his heart sinking a bit. How could he forget? Sighing, he replied with a quick "Okay." Then, he messaged Phuwin to let him know about the dinner, feeling a wave of anxiety wash over him.

Almost instantly, his phone started ringing. It was Phuwin. He answered, feeling a bit more at ease just hearing the familiar voice.

"Hey," Phuwin greeted, his voice warm and soothing. "I know you're probably dreading this dinner, but I think you should go and try to sort things out peacefully. You deserve that peace, Pond."

Pond felt a smile tug at his lips. "Yeah, I know... it's just hard."

"I get it," Phuwin said softly. "But I believe in you. And hey, if things get rough, just remember..." He paused, then continued playfully, "I'm sending you lots of love and encouragement. Check your messages."

Pond glanced at his phone, his face breaking into a genuine smile at the string of kiss emojis Phuwin had sent. "Thank you, Phu," he said, feeling a warmth spread through his chest. "I feel a bit more at ease now."

"Good! Now go and conquer that dinner. I’ll be here for you," Phuwin encouraged, his voice light but full of support.

With a lighter heart, Pond drove back to his condo to change. He slipped into a more formal outfit, taking a deep breath as he looked at his reflection in the mirror. “You’ve got this,” he muttered to himself before heading out the door.

Upon arriving at the mansion, he felt a familiar tension build inside him. The grand entrance, the sprawling garden—it was all the same, but it didn’t feel like home. Before he could dwell on it too long, the front door opened, and his papa Mix enveloped him in a warm hug.

"Pond, it’s so good to see you," Mix said, his voice filled with relief.

Pond hugged him back stiffly, managing a small smile. "Yeah, Pa. It's good to see you too," he replied, though his eyes involuntarily scanned the room for his father, Earth. They moved to the living room, where everyone was seated on the couches. Earth was sitting silently, his eyes fixed on the floor.

Dunk, sitting beside Joong, leaned forward with a concerned look. "Pond, how have you been? We were worried about you."

"I'm fine, Dunk," Pond replied, offering a small smile. He turned to Joong, who grinned back at him.

"Finally, you made it," Joong teased, trying to lighten the atmosphere. "It’s been a while since we've all been together."

Pond nodded, but he kept his eyes away from Earth. The air was heavy with unspoken words and tension, something that everyone in the room could feel. Mix, sensing the unease, clapped his hands together.

"Alright, everyone, let’s move to the dining hall," Mix suggested with forced cheerfulness. "Dinner is ready."

They all gathered at the dining table, the clinking of silverware the only sound in the room for a while. Mix watched his son for a moment before he couldn’t hold back any longer.

"Pond," Mix began cautiously, "I really wish you would come back to the mansion. We all miss you here."

Pond stopped eating, setting his fork down as he swallowed hard. His eyes remained on his plate. "Papa, please don't force me into this," he said quietly, his voice tinged with a mix of pain and frustration. "At least let me make this decision for myself. Everything I've done up until now was because of your wishes. For the first time, I’m doing something by my own choice. Please let me have this."

There was a tense silence at the table. Mix’s face fell, a look of sadness and guilt washing over him. He realized he had been pushing too hard. Earth, who had been silently eating, now looked down at his plate, a flicker of guilt crossing his features.

"I'm... I'm sorry, Pond," Mix finally said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I just want you to be happy. I didn’t mean to make you feel pressured."

Pond nodded, his throat tight. "I know, Pa," he replied softly. "But I really am happy in my condo. It's close to work, and I feel more at peace there."

The rest of the dinner went by in a tense silence. After they finished eating, everyone moved back to the living room. Mix, noticing the unease between Pond and Earth, placed a gentle hand on Earth’s shoulder.

"You should talk to him," Mix whispered encouragingly.

Earth took a deep breath, gathering his courage. "Pond," he called, his voice trembling slightly. "Can I talk to you for a while?"

Pond looked up, surprised. It was the first time his father had addressed him directly like this in so long. Glancing over at Joong, who gave him an encouraging nod, he remembered Phuwin’s words as well. After a moment, he took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay."

Mix stood up. "Why don’t you two go out to the garden?" he suggested gently.

They both headed to the garden, the cool breeze brushing against their skin as they stood there in silence for a moment. Pond felt his heart pounding in his chest. He didn’t know what to expect.

After a long pause, Earth finally spoke, his voice low and unsteady. "You know, Pond, I always thought that being strict was the right way to raise children," he began, staring off into the distance. "That way, they wouldn’t make mistakes and would always be responsible and perfect. That's how my father raised me, and I became successful because of it." He paused, his eyes growing misty. "So, I thought it was the right way to teach you."

Pond stood silently, listening as his father continued.

"I believed that ordering you around, making you obedient, was the only way to protect you. To make sure you were respected and never questioned by society. I wanted to control everything so that nothing could hurt you," Earth admitted, his voice breaking slightly. He let out a shaky exhale. "But now, looking at all this... I realize I failed as a father."

Pond’s eyes widened, his heart clenching at the sight of his father’s teary eyes.

"I... I really failed," Earth choked out, his voice trembling. "Not just as a father, but as a husband, too. I thought I was doing the right thing, but I was only hurting the people I love the most. Especially you, Pond. You obeyed me all the time, and what did I do? I just forced my decisions on you."

Tears streamed down Earth’s face as he sobbed quietly. "I’m so sorry, Pond," he managed, his voice raw with emotion. "Because of me, you can't even bear to step into this house. I’ve become a cruel father... and I regret it so much."

Pond stood there, his own emotions swirling. Seeing his father break down like this, he couldn't hold back any longer. Yes, his father had been wrong, had been strict to the point of suffocation, but deep down, Pond understood where he was coming from. He knew Earth hadn't received much love growing up, only learning to love after marrying his papa Mix. And now, seeing him so broken... it hurt.

With a shaky breath, Pond stepped forward and wrapped his arms around his father, pulling him into a tight embrace.

"It's okay, Dad," he whispered, his own voice thick with tears. "I understand... I know you were just trying to protect me in your own way."

Earth clung to Pond, sobbing into his shoulder. For the first time in years, they shared a moment of vulnerability and understanding, the walls between them slowly beginning to crumble.

----

Finally Earth understood Pond...

Now what will happen?