CHASING AFTER YOU ( VICE VERSA)

9

Phuwin's POV

He took a deep breath, his eyes downcast. "And yeah, I'll be joining her too."

"Joining her? What does he mean?" I thought,
my head was spinning for all the possible answers.

A beat of silence stretched between us, thick with unspoken anxieties. Then, he finally spoke, his voice barely a whisper, "My mother..."

"What about your mother?" I prompted gently, my voice barely above a whisper, my heart pounding in my chest.

He took a shaky breath, his gaze distant, lost in the swirling amber liquid in his glass. "She wants me... in France," he finally managed, his voice thick with unshed tears. The words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken implications.

"For your photography?" I ventured, already knowing the answer. He was a rising star, his work internationally acclaimed.

He nodded, his eyes welling up. "She says it's the only way for me to truly succeed. To build a career worthy of... well, you know." He trailed off, a hint of bitterness in his voice. "As if my work here isn't enough."

"But you don't want to go," I stated, more than a question, a confirmation of what I already knew. His love for Bangkok, for his life here, was evident in his work. He was a rising star, his photography capturing the essence of the city, its vibrant energy, its hidden corners.

He shook his head, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I love it here. My friends... my work..." He paused, his gaze drifting to me, a silent acknowledgment of the unspoken bond between us. A flicker of something unsaid passed between us, a hint of a longing I couldn't quite place.

Just then, Chimon sauntered in, his usual cheerful demeanor noticeably subdued. He scanned the room before spotting us. "What's up?" he asked, his voice low, sensing the gravity of the situation.

Gemini didn't answer immediately, his gaze fixed on me. He finally looked at Chimon, his eyes brimming with unshed tears. "It's... it's my mother," he repeated, his voice cracking. "She's given me an ultimatum."

Chimon's face fell. He knew Gemini's mother's ambition, but this felt different; this felt like a forced exile. "An ultimatum?" Chimon asked, his voice laced with concern.

Gemini nodded, his voice barely a whisper. "A year. She's giving me a year here in Thailand, then I have to go to France to work with her contacts. I can't say no to her, Chimon. You know how she is."

Chimon nodded grimly. He knew the fierce loyalty Gemini held for his mother, a loyalty that bordered on obsession. The silence hung heavy, punctuated only by the clinking of glasses. The weight of unspoken words pressed down on us, a suffocating blanket of anxiety.

Gemini looked at me, his eyes filled with a profound sadness. He didn't need words. The depth of his sadness, the unspoken understanding between us-it all spoke volumes. He was saying goodbye, not just to Thailand, but to something more. Something precious. Something between us.

I returned his gaze, my heart aching with a mixture of sadness and a burgeoning hope. The unspoken understanding between us was a silent promise, a commitment to cherish every moment we had left. The thought of a year without him felt unbearable. But for now, we had each other, and that was enough. For now.

Chimon placed a comforting hand on Gemini's shoulder. "We'll make the most of this year," he said, his voice firm, offering the support that Gemini so desperately needed. "And Dunk will be back from America soon. We'll all be here for you."

A small smile touched Gemini's lips, a flicker of hope in his eyes. The weight of his impending departure remained, but for now, surrounded by his friends, the weight felt a little lighter. The year stretched before us, a bittersweet countdown, a precious time to be cherished, a time to make memories that would last a lifetime.