Beyond Boundaries: Love and Sacrifice

Chapter 2: A Flicker of Hope

Pond lay on his back, staring at the ceiling. The darkness of his room felt suffocating, pressing in from all sides as his mind raced, playing through every detail of the day over and over again. Sleep seemed impossible. How could he sleep after what he'd seen?

He had seen him. Phuwin, his Phuwin. After all these years, right there in front of him. And he'd had kids—a family. Pond's heart twisted painfully, as if it could somehow keep the ache from spreading through his whole body.

Memories began to crowd his mind, little flashes of moments they'd shared—Phuwin's laugh echoing in quiet spaces, his soft smile that had always seemed just for Pond. The way Phuwin used to rest his head on Pond's shoulder, as if the world outside didn't matter when they were together. It all felt so real, and yet it was just a painful illusion now.

Why did you leave? The question weighed heavy on his heart. No matter how much time passed, that question remained unanswered, lodged in his chest like a shard of glass.

They'd had a beautiful future planned. There was the time they'd spent a whole night mapping out their dream life together—a small place near the beach, maybe, where Phuwin could paint, and Pond could... well, he'd never figured out what he wanted, but he'd known he wanted Phuwin there. And then, as if overnight, it had all disappeared.

"I'll come back if I can," Phuwin had said, his voice soft, his eyes filled with an emotion Pond couldn't understand back then. "But sometimes... things don't go the way we plan."

The pain of that moment resurfaced with a force that stole Pond's breath. He'd tried to bury it for years, tried to move on, but nothing had worked. And now, after all this time, here Phuwin was—alive, happy, and with someone else. Pond clenched his fists, feeling the helplessness wash over him again, but this time with a glimmer of resolve.

He needed answers. After all these years, he deserved at least that much.

The Next Morning

Pond's eyes were heavy from lack of sleep, but his mind was sharp with determination. Without hesitating, he grabbed his phone and called Joong, his best friend and confidant, the only one who knew just how much Phuwin had meant to him.

"Joong, I need your help," Pond said without preamble, his voice rough with the weight of his emotions.

Joong's voice was groggy with sleep. "Do you know what time it is?"

"This is important. I saw him. Yesterday. At the mall."

There was a pause, and then Joong's voice came back, fully alert. "Phuwin? Are you serious?"

Pond swallowed, his throat tight. "It was him, Joong. I'm sure of it. And he... he had kids. He was with someone, looked like a friend or family."

Joong let out a long breath. "I thought... I thought you'd given up looking for him."

Pond laughed, but there was no humor in it. "I tried. Believe me, I tried. But how can you let go of someone who meant everything to you?"

Joong was quiet, his silence heavy with understanding. "So, what's your plan now?"

Pond leaned forward, his voice trembling with determination. "I need to find him, Joong. I need to know why he left."

Joong's tone softened. "Pond, it's been five years. Maybe he's moved on. Maybe... it's time for you to do the same."

Pond felt a pang of frustration, but he kept his voice steady. "Joong, you've seen what this has done to me. I can't move on without answers. I need to understand why he left, why he didn't tell me."