Behind the Spotlight

Chapter 6: Stolen Glances

The morning after their kiss, things between Pond and Phuwin felt... different. Not in a bad way, but in a way that made everything feel more charged. On set, they exchanged stolen glances, each more loaded than the last. The air between them, once filled with uncertainty, now hummed with a new kind of tension—one that was unspoken, but undeniable.

They hadn't talked about the kiss. Pond had wanted to, but every time he opened his mouth to bring it up, something stopped him. Maybe it was fear. Maybe it was the chaos of the set. Or maybe it was because, deep down, he wasn't ready to face whatever was happening between them.

But the kiss lingered in the air, its memory fresh in Pond’s mind. He could still feel the press of Phuwin’s lips against his, the heat of his body, the weight of that moment. And from the way Phuwin looked at him—like he was holding back a thousand unsaid words—Pond knew he wasn’t alone in this.

------------------

They had a brief break between scenes, and Pond found himself sitting in the corner of the studio, scrolling mindlessly through his phone. His focus, though, was elsewhere. He kept replaying the events of the previous night, every touch, every glance, every whispered word.

He was so lost in thought that he didn’t notice Phuwin approaching until he sat down next to him, casually close but not touching.

“Hey,” Phuwin said, his voice soft, as though he was testing the waters.

Pond’s heart skipped a beat, but he forced a smile, glancing over at him. “Hey.”

Phuwin’s gaze flicked down to Pond’s phone, and then back up to his face, his expression unreadable. “You good?”

Pond nodded, though he wasn’t entirely sure he was telling the truth. “Yeah. Just... tired.”

Phuwin hummed in response, but didn’t push. They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, the sounds of the crew bustling around them fading into the background.

“I’ve been thinking about last night,” Phuwin finally said, his voice low, but steady.

Pond’s breath caught in his throat, and he shifted in his seat, his fingers tightening around his phone. He didn’t respond right away, waiting to see where Phuwin would take this.

“I know it was... unexpected,” Phuwin continued, his tone gentle. “But I don’t want it to be something we ignore.”

Pond exhaled slowly, glancing over at him. “I don’t want to ignore it either,” he admitted. “But I don’t know what it means yet.”

Phuwin’s lips curled into a small smile, his gaze soft. “We don’t have to figure it all out right now. But... I like where this is going.”

The simplicity of Phuwin’s words made Pond’s heart ache in a way he hadn’t anticipated. There was no pressure, no demand for answers. Just... honesty.

“Me too,” Pond said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. He wasn’t ready to label what was happening between them, but he knew he didn’t want it to stop.

Phuwin’s smile widened, his eyes twinkling with something soft and warm. “Good,” he murmured, his hand brushing lightly against Pond’s. The touch was fleeting, but it sent a jolt of electricity up Pond’s arm.

Before Pond could say anything else, the assistant director called them back to set. They exchanged a quick look, something unspoken passing between them, before they stood and made their way to the center of the room, slipping back into their roles as Ake and Win.

But even as they acted, their lines perfectly rehearsed, there was an added layer to every interaction. A glance that lingered too long. A touch that wasn’t part of the script. It wasn’t just Ake and Win in these scenes anymore—it was Pond and Phuwin too.