||ᴄʀɪᴍsᴏɴ sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛs|| ᴘᴏɴᴅᴘʜᴜᴡɪɴ ғғ

15

Pond left Joe to finish getting ready and waited in the living room, mind already set on his plan. Shortly after, Joe appeared, looking a little better but with a flicker of curiosity still clouding his eyes.

As they got into the car, Joe asked, “Alright, where are you taking me? And what’s this ‘surprise’ you keep hinting at?”

Pond just shook his head, smirking. “Shh. Relax, will you? Just wait.”

Joe sighed, deciding to lean back and watch the view as they drove, though he couldn't help but wonder. Eventually, Pond turned off the main road and drove through rough, narrow alleys, heading toward a remote part of town. The landscape became grittier, with rundown buildings and an air thick with neglect.

Finally, Pond pulled over next to a broken, dimly lit building. The walls were cracked, the windows covered in grime, and a faint yellow bulb swung from the doorway, casting an eerie glow.

Joe frowned. “Pond, where on earth are we?”

“Come on.” Pond’s expression remained cool, his voice steady. He got out and gestured for Joe to follow. Hesitating, Joe stepped out, trailing Pond through the dark, foul-smelling corridors until they entered a room where the dim bulb barely illuminated a figure tied up in the middle of the room.

Joe covered his nose against the stench, but Pond walked forward without hesitation. As his eyes adjusted to the light, Joe squinted, and then his expression morphed from confusion to utter shock.

The figure was Lorenzo—stripped to his boxers, hands and feet bound to a hanging chain, face bruised, dried blood tracing down his cheek, and eyes blazing with anger. Lorenzo struggled, trying to yell, but a thick layer of duct tape muffled his voice.

Joe's mouth dropped open. He turned to Pond, astonished, who only shrugged with a smirk. “How’s that for a surprise? Do you like it?” he asked casually, a gleam in his eye.

Joe’s shock quickly turned to amusement, and he burst into laughter, clapping Pond on the back. “Pond, my buddy, you did a great job! I don’t just like it...I love it!”

Walking closer, Joe circled Lorenzo, mockingly patting him on the cheek with a smug grin. “So, you were going to shoot us down like dogs, huh?” He laughed, voice dripping with sarcasm. “Who’s in charge now, Lorenzo? It’s not your father’s generation anymore. We’re the ones who rule the mafia world now.”

Lorenzo’s eyes flared with rage, but all he could manage were muffled protests. Pond watched silently, his arms crossed, satisfaction in his stance.

Finally, he glanced at Joe. “So, you’re happy now, right? We can go?”

Joe gave one last mocking pat to Lorenzo’s cheek. “Yeah, I think I’ve had my fill.” He laughed. “Let’s get out of here.”

As they left, Joe couldn’t stop grinning, casting one final look back at Lorenzo before they exited the building.

As they drove back, Joe was behind the wheel, still basking in satisfaction, while Pond sat in the passenger seat, quietly looking out the window. The scenery blurred past him, but his mind was far from their recent actions... perhaps wandering back to memories he couldn't shake himself.

Meanwhile, across town, Phuwin’s thoughts seemed to be taking on a life of their own, his mind slipping back to Pond at every possible moment. It was as if his memories of Pond lingered around each corner, from the quiet moments to the laughter, and especially their shared trip to the street food shop. Phuwin caught himself smiling at the memory, even as he walked down the college pathway with Fourth at his side.

Fourth caught the subtle smile. “What are you smiling about, weirdo?” he teased, nudging him.

“Huh?” Phuwin blinked, realizing he was grinning and quickly looked away, brushing it off. “Nothing, just… remembering something.”

Fourth raised an eyebrow, suspicious. “Sure, sure. You’ve been acting weird for days now. You’re hiding something, aren’t you?”

“Shut up,” Phuwin muttered, still smiling to himself. They continued walking until they reached the main road, waiting to cross to the café on the other side.

Just then, a sleek black car drove down the road, catching Phuwin’s eye. In the passenger seat, bold and poised, sat Pond, his usual calm expression framed by the car’s window. He looked so self-assured, so distant yet so familiar that Phuwin froze, his eyes following the car as it sped past.

“Phu!” Fourth tugged on his arm, glancing up and down the street. “Why are you standing like a statue? Are you going to cross, or just daydream here?”

Pulled from his trance, Phuwin blinked, disoriented. “Uh… what? Oh, sorry. I...did you say something?”

Fourth shook his head, amused but exasperated. “You’re seriously not yourself these days. I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but I hope it’s contagious,” he chuckled, pulling Phuwin along toward the café.

They entered, taking a seat by the window, and Fourth placed their order while Phuwin sat in silence, still lost in his own thoughts. It was becoming clearer that his thoughts of Pond were no longer just fleeting...they were a constant, one he was starting to realize he didn’t mind.

---

Anybody knows what is Phuwin feeling?👀