PONDPHUWIN ONESHOTS

6. Parent - Teacher Spark✨

It was another lively morning in Phuwin's kindergarten class, with the children buzzing about excitedly. Just as he was about to start, a tiny voice from the doorway interrupted him.

“Teacha Phu! Can I comes in?” Ara asked, peeking her head around the door with a slightly grumpy expression.

Phuwin turned to her, raising an eyebrow with a hint of a smile as he walked over. “Ara, you’re late again,” he mock-scolded, trying to keep a straight face. “It’s not good, you know. You’re such a bright student—that’s why I haven’t called your parents yet. But tomorrow, bring your dada with you to school, okay, baby?”

Ara’s eyes widened as she nodded quickly. “Otay, Teacha Phu! I pwomise!”

The rest of the day passed as usual, with Phuwin keeping an eye on Ara as she did her best to be on her best behavior. At the end of the day, as all the kids left one by one, Ara waved goodbye to him before heading home.

Later that evening, as Ara got home, she ran straight to her dad, who was working on his laptop. She climbed onto his lap, looking at him with wide, serious eyes.

“Dada! Teacha Phu say I gots to be good an’ not be late!” she declared, hands on her tiny hips. “He say it’s not good… an’ he’s right, y’know! You always wakin’ up late, Dada! So lazy.” She shook her head in mock disappointment, rubbing her temples like an old grandma. “I dunno how I gonna raise you.”

Pond chuckled at her antics, pulling her close and planting a big kiss on her cheek. “Alright, Grandma,” he teased, “I’ll be a good boy from now on, okay?”

Ara nodded, looking satisfied. “Yeah, you gots to be good boy! Also, Teacha Phu say you gotta come to school tomowwow! He wanna talk wif you.”

Pond’s eyes widened, his face turning slightly pale. He rocked her gently as he patted her back, sighing dramatically. “Why, baby? You know Dada’s always been scared of teachers! Why would you do this to me?”

She giggled, patting his cheek. “Aww, silly Dada! Teacha Phu’s nice, he don’t shout like mean teachas. He’s super sweet! I’s late every day, and he just talk wif me. Plus, he’s pwetty too. You gots to come meet him, Dada! He won’t bite ya.”

Pond let out an exaggerated sigh. “Alright, Grandma, if you say so…”

The next day, it was a bright morning, and Phuwin was in his element, moving around the classroom with an animated smile, asking each child about their weekend. As he was listening to a student tell a story, a little voice suddenly interrupted from the doorway.

“May I comes in, teacha?” a soft, slightly grumpy voice piped up.

Phuwin turned and found Ara, with a slightly wrinkled uniform and an adorable pout, standing at the door.

He raised an eyebrow, folding his arms across his chest as he approached her. “Ara, this is the third time this week you’re late to class,” he began with a mock-stern look. “What happened today, hmm?”

Ara blinked up at him, her little hands fidgeting as she prepared to explain her morning ordeal.

“Teachea… my dada, he wake up late!” she began, her voice filled with exaggerated exasperation. “Then he say, ‘Ara, quick-quick, get rweady!’ So I quick-quick, but…” She scrunched up her nose. “We missed the bus ‘cause dada take forwever.”

Phuwin stifled a chuckle, barely managing to keep his stern face intact. “And then?”

“Then dada get me on his bike, but—” She put her hands on her hips, her eyes going wide with the injustice of it all. “One big, swilly car shplashed water on me, teacha! Right here,” she pointed at her dress, looking down mournfully. “Then dada shay ‘Oh no, no, no,’ and we go all the way home again, and he got me a new dwress. So, that’s why we’re late, teacha!” She finished her story with a big sigh, blinking up at him with the cutest of pouts.

Despite himself, Phuwin felt his heart soften. Ara had always had a way of melting his resolve, but this time he knew he had to make a point about punctuality. Clearing his throat, he looked down at her and said, “Ara, I know these things happen, but it’s very important to be on time, hmm?”

She fidgeted, looking down at her feet and nodding solemnly. “Yes, teacha,” she mumbled, before perking up and looking at him with hopeful eyes.

Trying to stifle a smile, Phuwin glanced behind her. “Alright, baby, where’s your dada? I told you to bring him, remember?”

Ara nodded eagerly and turned to the doorway. “Dada! Come here! Teacha Phu is callin’ you! Don’t be scawed.”

Phuwin’s brows rose as he noticed a tall, slightly sheepish figure hiding behind the pillar. Pond stepped forward, rubbing the back of his neck as he gave Phuwin an embarrassed smile.

“H-Hi, Teacher Phuwin,” Pond said nervously, scratching his head.

Caught off guard, Phuwin looked down at Ara and then back up at Pond. He furrowed his brows, clearly surprised. “Ara, baby, I told you to bring your dad. Why did you bring your brother?”

Ara giggled, covering her mouth with her little hands. “Teacha Phu, this is my dada! I knows he look young an’ handsome, but he’s my Dada, I swear!”

Pond chuckled nervously, rubbing his neck and managing a shy wave. “Good morning, Teacher Phuwin. Yeah, um… I’m actually her dad.”

Phuwin felt his cheeks heat up, feeling a bit flustered. “Oh… sorry, I didn’t realize… I, uh… didn’t expect that,” he stammered, lightly biting his lip to cover his embarrassment.

Phuwin bit his lip lightly, feeling a flush of embarrassment. As he looked back up, he noticed Pond staring at him, almost like he was caught off guard. Clearing his throat, Phuwin shifted his attention back to the reason he’d called him in.

“Mm, so, Mr. Pond,” he began, his professional tone trying to mask his own nervousness. “Ara has been coming to class late quite often. I’m not sure what your morning routine is like, but please make sure to drop her on time. Being punctual is a good habit to instill from a young age.”

Pond’s face turned a soft shade of pink as he processed Phuwin’s words, nodding quickly. “Y-yes, Teacher Phuwin,” he stammered, a bit embarrassed. “I’m sorry for the trouble. I’ll… I’ll make sure she’s here on time.”

“Dada!” Ara chimed in, tugging at Pond’s sleeve. “Tell teacha Phu ‘bout the car that shplashed me!”

Pond chuckled, glancing down at her. “Yes, Ara, I told him about that already. And I’m very sorry, Teacher Phuwin. I’ll do my best to make sure she gets here on time from now on.”

Phuwin sighed, a smile finally breaking through his attempt to be strict. “Well, Ara’s story does sound… eventful. But please, let’s try to avoid this in the future. Maybe… set an earlier alarm?”

Pond laughed, scratching his head. “I think you’re right. I’ll take that advice to heart.”

Ara looked up at Phuwin, all smiles. “See, teacha Phu? Dada will be good now!”

Phuwin grinned, ruffling her hair. “Alright, little one. Back to your seat.”

With a satisfied giggle, Ara skipped to her spot, and Phuwin couldn’t help but exchange a quick, amused look with Pond, feeling a warmth he couldn’t quite explain.

Phuwin glanced back at Pond, giving him a polite nod. “Well, thank you for coming in, Mr. Pond. And feel free to reach out if there’s anything you’d like to discuss about Ara. I’m happy to help.”

Pond gave him a smile, mouthing a silent “thank you” before he quietly slipped out.

And as Phuwin continued his lesson, he couldn’t quite shake the feeling that maybe, just maybe, there was something special about those mornings when Ara and Pond would arrive, no matter how late they might be.

With a final smile,  Pond turned to leave, glancing over his shoulder once before he walked away.

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How was it??

This oneshot was inspired by an Indian movie. It was so cute 🥰 that I couldn’t stop myself from creating a PondPhuwin version. So here it is! Let me know in the comments if you liked it.

Any Indian fans out there might be able to guess the movie😏