LOVE THE WAY IT HURTS

13: He's Back

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3 years later

The plane finally landed in his country, he didn't know but the flight felt too short. While he was on the flight, he didn't think much about what was waiting for him back there, because he was ready no matter what it was.  When he finally stepped on the ground, he still couldn't believe he was here again. It's been three years, and he never thought that he would be able to come back. To be honest, at first there were times he wanted to come back, when he felt lonely or when he felt homesick but every time he felt that, he tried to  remember the reason why he was there.

He looks around trying to find someone. He couldn't help but smile when he saw the two people who helped make his life bearable, while he was alone in another country. The two waved at him, holding a welcome back banner with his name. He dragged his suitcase and ran to them. The two opened their arms for him and he happily accepted it.

" I miss you so much! " Pooh exclaimed, Pon smiled at him and smacked him on the head.

" As if you didn't visit me last month! " He answered and rolled his eyes. He looks at Benz and smiles at him, at least Benz is more normal than Pooh.

" Let's go. " Benz said and took Pon's suitcase and started walking. Pooh and Pon look at each other and follow Benz. The two clung their arms to Benz as they walk to the car.

Since Pon left, the only people he had contacted were Pooh and Benz. He was glad that these two didn't question his decision, or try to open the wound he was trying to heal. When they talk about something, they never bring up what happened three years ago, or that person's name. Pon was glad that Pooh didn't tell anyone where he was and that he still had a connection with him. He didn't also open up anything about that person. He was glad that these two understood that he didn't want to remember anything.

At first, Benz still tried to win his heart, but sooner the other one realized that it was better for them to be friends, that it suited them more cause they have so much in common. He has no news about that person and he never asked Pooh and even Benz about him. The only news he had was that Pooh is already a racer, and Benz is now managing his own bar. Pon on the other hand works for a big company, using the skills he has, he was praised and known for his skill. He loved his work there, he was happy working with cars like he'd always dream.

" How was Dad? " Pon asked Pooh as he sat on the back seat. Benz was the one driving and Pooh sat on the passenger seat to accompany the other one.  Pooh fastened his seatbelt first, before turning to look at Pon and answered.

" He was asking when will you come home, young master. " Pooh teases and laughs. Pon rolled his eyes and laughed, he understood why Pooh called him a young master, because he was the only one sitting on the back seat and the two were wearing black polo shirts, almost like a body guard.

Benz shakes his head and sighs because of Pooh's playfulness, for three years he has to deal with him, he's happy that Pon is back.  " Don't mind him. " Benz said referring to Pooh, Pon laughed at his friends statement.  "He was waiting for you at the hospital. Do you want to go there first or to your house? "

" Let's go visit my Dad first. " Pon answered and looked outside the window. As his eyes fell into the buildings the car passed by, he realized that he had been gone for a long time. The place he once knew had almost completely changed. He felt as though he was in a new place as he looked around. Who would have thought that the once-familiar place he was afraid to leave is now almost unrecognizable?

He couldn't help but smile, for three years, he didn't realize how his world changed until he came back. He even thought the world around him stopped, and he just woke up and three years had already passed, but if he goes back to think about what really happened to him in those three years, he can remember it clearly.

How hard it was for him to adjust to the new place. No one knows, even his friends, what feel at that time. The only thing Pooh and Benz know is that he adjusted easily in just four months. He still remembers, how many times he felt so tired that he just wanted to run back home. How many tears ran down to his face because he felt he couldn't do it anymore, that no matter what he will always be a failure. How hard it was for him to continue moving forward, when all around him was new to him. He moved into the new country without any plan and idea what was waiting for him. Come to think of it, his decision to move was because of his own stupidity, but thinking of everything and what he has become, Pon believed it was worth it and he was happy with the result.

Pooh and Benz keep chatting and telling him any updates with their life. When he left, he waited a week before he called Pooh and told him where he was and asked not to tell anyone, but Benz was persistent and promised that he would keep quiet, since he wasn't friends with that man,  Pon had no choice but to let Pooh tell him, well Benz has been nothing but good to him, and he knew that Benz is also one of the people who understand his feelings.

He felt bad when he left his friends and didn't even say goodbye, but it was a decision that he believed was best for him and Pooh respected that. He told his parents his plan when he was already on the plane, but he didn't tell them where he would be going. It was better that way since that person was close to his parents.

He had no plan on coming back but his father fell ill and wanted to see him. His father's body is very weak now, he's been going back and forth from the hospital but he refused to be admitted many times. So his mother begged him to go home and talked to his father to get surgery for his heart. He had no choice but to come back. Well, he really misses his family too, so this idea wasn't bad at all.

They arrived at the hospital, with Pon and Pooh heading inside first while Benz found a parking spot. As they chatted and caught up with their lives, they didn’t realize they had already reached the floor where his father's room was located. Stepping out of the elevator, they froze when they noticed a familiar figure standing outside his father's room.

"I had no idea he would be here," Pooh remarked, as Pon shot him a puzzled look.

It made sense that the older man would visit his father, given their close relationship. However, the timing couldn’t have been worse, fate seemed to be playing tricks on Pon. He knew he would eventually run into that man again, but he hadn’t expected it to happen so soon.

Pon stared at the person standing in front of his father's room. Over the past three years, there has been a noticeable change in his appearance, although he still resembled the man Pon remembered, he appeared more mature, maybe because of his hairstyle, and the stress of work seemed to have taken a toll. The older man had lost a considerable amount of weight. His eyes, once sharp and bright, now appeared weary as he stared at the room, holding a bouquet of flowers in his hands.

Pon tried to calm his nerves and his heart. He didn't know what to feel. He was having mixed emotions. All of the feelings he was trying to ignore suddenly exploded and it was overwhelming him.

" Do you want to go back? " Pooh asked worriedly. Pon shook his head.

" It's my father, why would I adjust for him? It's not like we were exes. " He answered and laughed at his own joke, but Pooh's expression didn't seem satisfied with his answer.

" I'm fine, Pooh. " Pon replied, this time using his serious tone. Pooh who was defeated just nodded as they approached the room. They knocked twice waiting for someone to open it.

The door opened and he saw the man in front of him stunned while looking at him.
The silence was loud when he finally met the eyes of the person he never thought he would see again.

Three years... it's been three years.

" Pon...." The man called his name, and for the first time in those years, he was finally able to face that one feeling that he made sure stayed within him.

Hate.

He hates Sailub with all his being.

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Hi everyone! I'm trying my best to update as fast as I can. I really can't believe people were so invested in this story, thank you so much for supporting and reading.

I hope you will not get tired of supporting this, I will do my best to update, sorry if I can't update everyday🥹 Thank you again. 🫶🏻