The perfect crime

8

Months had passed since Phuwin, Aou, and Joong had slipped out of sight. Their life on the run had been relentless, moving between different cities, selling off the stolen jewels bit by bit to fund their escape. They could never stay long in one place before the heat grew too strong, but their dynamic kept them steady, each member of the trio contributing in a way that had kept them one step ahead of the authorities.

Pond and his team, however, were never far behind. The further Phuwin's gang fled, the closer Pond seemed to get, as if he were as bound to the chase as Phuwin was. Pond had grown obsessed, determined to see this to the end. But it was more than just duty—it was personal, and Pond knew it. Phuwin had managed to stay just out of reach, eluding capture with a cunning that Pond couldn't help but admire, however grudgingly.

One evening, Phuwin and Aou sat on a quiet, rocky outcrop near the edge of a coastal town, taking in the fading light as the sun dipped low over the water. It was a rare moment to breathe, though they knew it wouldn't last.

"This whole thing feels like a dream sometimes," Phuwin murmured, watching the horizon.

Aou smirked, his gaze steady on Phuwin. "I can't say this was ever my dream. But hey, we're still here. And we're still a team."

Phuwin glanced at him, a flicker of warmth in his eyes. "Couldn't have done it without you."

Aou's expression softened, but he stayed quiet, just nodding in understanding. Despite their closeness, both were careful to keep things unsaid. The tension between them was there, but as fugitives with little time to spare, it was too risky to dwell on it.

Meanwhile, in a dimly lit bar down the street, Pond, Boom, and Dunk nursed drinks as they tried to piece together the latest trail Phuwin and his crew had left behind. They'd been tracking them all across the region, chasing down tip after tip, but each time they got close, the trio would slip away again.

Pond sat quietly, swirling his drink, a focused look on his face. Boom, noticing his intensity, raised an eyebrow. "You're more wrapped up in this than usual, Pond. We've been after these three for months. Starting to think it's not just business anymore?"

Pond shot him a look, shaking his head. "It's not like that. I just... I don't like loose ends. And Phuwin—he's smart. More clever than I gave him credit for."

Dunk chuckled. "I'd say you've given him a lot of credit by now. But hey, whatever keeps you motivated."

Pond didn't respond, though his mind wandered to the fleeting glances he'd exchanged with Phuwin during their last run-in. There was something in Phuwin's eyes that he couldn't shake, a look that had seemed almost... familiar, even though they were on opposite sides of the law.

Later that night, with the faint mist settling over the town, Phuwin, Aou, and Joong prepared to leave once again. They moved carefully through narrow streets, heading toward the car that would take them to their next hideout.

But as they rounded a corner, they came face-to-face with Pond, Boom, and Dunk. The two groups froze, the tension between them thickening in the still night air.

Pond stepped forward, his expression hard yet somehow not as cold as it should have been. "Phuwin, stop running. It doesn't have to be this way."

Phuwin shot him a wary look. "Really? Because you've been chasing me for months. This doesn't feel like a friendly offer, Pond."

Pond's eyes narrowed, but there was a hint of something softer there, something unspoken. "I don't want to see you ruin your life, Phuwin. You're too... smart for that."