||ᴄʀɪᴍsᴏɴ sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛs|| ᴘᴏɴᴅᴘʜᴜᴡɪɴ ғғ

18

Double updates for my lovely stars ✨

Phuwin was focused, his fingers flying over the keyboard as he worked on his programming assignment in the college computer lab. Beside him, Fourth was grumbling over his own struggles with the project, sighing in frustration.

"Aiii, this assignment will be the death of me! Why do we need projects this difficult? It’s like they enjoy torturing us,” Fourth muttered, rambling about his woes.

But Phuwin was barely listening. His mind wandered, unbidden, to memories of Pond—the way he talked, that commanding voice, the slight smirk he sometimes had. Phuwin’s lips tugged into a small smile, and he couldn’t help it. The thought brought a quiet warmth he wasn’t used to.

Fourth, mid-rant, noticed Phuwin’s unexpected smile. Confused, he stopped his complaints, staring at Phuwin with narrowed eyes. “Phu… what happened to you? Why are you smiling like that? Did your Oldman hit you on the head or something?”

Phuwin was still lost in his thoughts, his smile barely fading as he continued typing. Seeing this, Fourth threw his hands up dramatically, grabbing Phuwin by the shoulders and shaking him with mock desperation. “Aii, Phu! What happened to you? You’ve gone mad! You’re my only partner-in-crime, and now you’re smiling like an idiot when I’m in pain! Oh no, now I’ll have to find a new friend—my loyal partner has lost it!”

Phuwin finally snapped out of it, turning to look at Fourth with a calm, unwavering expression. “Fourth Nattawat.”

Fourth’s eyes widened, and he instantly stopped shaking Phuwin, gulping nervously. He knew that calm tone well. If Phuwin yelled, it was business as usual. But if he was calm? That meant trouble. Fourth managed a nervous smile, his voice suddenly meek.

“Uhh… Phu… why are you smiling like an idiot?” he stammered, trying to laugh it off.

Phuwin narrowed his eyes, crossing his arms as he looked at Fourth. “So, you’re going to search for a new friend, huh?”

Fourth’s smile faltered. “N-No! Who said anything about a new friend?” he said, his voice squeaking a little. “Phu, you’re my one and only, really!”

Phuwin raised an eyebrow, letting his silence linger for a moment as he watched Fourth squirm.

“Tell me, Fourth Nattawat,” Phuwin said, his voice deceptively calm. “You think you’ll find a new partner as good as me?”

Fourth shook his head vigorously, “Nope, no one can replace you, Phu. I was just… you know… being dramatic.”

Phuwin’s serious expression finally softened as he smirked, and Fourth let out a sigh of relief.

“Good,” Phuwin said, the teasing glint in his eyes unmistakable. “Now, get back to your assignment before I decide to remind you just how bad it would be without me.”

Fourth chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his head. “Hehe… yep, right back at it!”

Phuwin and Fourth strolled toward the parking lot after wrapping up their lab work and classes for the day. Fourth seemed to be glancing at Phuwin from the corner of his eye, fidgeting as if he wanted to ask something but was holding back.

Noticing this, Phuwin smirked and nudged him, “Fotfot, what’s going on in that head of yours? Did you suddenly go crazy?”

Fourth shook his head quickly, laughing nervously. “No, no, Phu, nothing like that. It’s just… um… where’s Ge...Gemini? I haven’t seen him around lately. He’s not coming to college these days…”

Phuwin’s smirk widened, and he raised his eyebrows teasingly. “Ohhh… does Fotfot love Gemini? Mmm?” He raised his eyebrows up and down with a teasing smile.

Fourth flushed, his cheeks turning pink as he looked away, stuttering, “Wh-what? No! Who said anything about… love? I was just asking where he is, that’s all…”

Phuwin chuckled, throwing an arm around Fourth’s shoulders and pulling him close. “C’mon, admit it. You miss Gem, don’t you? Don’t be shy, Fotfot!”

Fourth, still blushing, mumbled, “Fine, fine. You know me too well… So, where’s Gem?”

Phuwin laughed. “Gemini has some important stuff to handle, that’s why he hasn’t been around. But hey, if you really want to know, why don’t you just call him?”

Fourth’s eyes widened as he stammered, “N-no! How could I just call him like that?”

Phuwin laughed, patting him on the shoulder. “Ai, don’t be so nervous! He’s our Gemini, no need to overthink it. Just talk to him like you always do—be yourself. Ask him how he’s doing; that’s all. No need to panic so much, hmm?”

Fourth sighed, nodding as he tried to calm himself. “Alright, I’ll think about it…”

With a final laugh, Phuwin gave him a reassuring smile, and they each hopped onto their bikes, leaving the campus.

As Phuwin rode home, he caught sight of Pond and his men standing at the edge of an alley, dealing with something he couldn’t quite make out. Phuwin’s face lit up as he pulled over, quickly jogging over to Pond, slightly out of breath.

“Hey!” Phuwin greeted, a wide smile on his face. “Thank you so much. I’ve been wanting to find you to thank you properly.”

Pond looked at him with his usual calm demeanor, but there was a hint of curiosity in his gaze.

Phuwin continued, words spilling out in a rush, “You really helped me out yesterday, talking to my dad like that. I mean, you were right! He actually took a day off, and he even took me to the beach! We spent the whole day together, and he said he’d leave the decision to me.”

Phuwin bit his lip, shifting from one foot to the other. “But… now the responsibility’s all on me, and I don’t know how to pick the right person. Could you give me some tips? I mean, you seem to know a lot about these things…”

Pond watched him with an amused look, noticing how Phuwin was bouncing nervously from one leg to another, clearly overwhelmed. He raised a hand, signaling for Phuwin to pause.

“Phuwin,” Pond said, his tone calm yet firm. “Take a breath. Right now, you’re all over the place—your feet aren’t even steady on the ground. If you want to find someone right, you need to be calm first. Trust me, when you’re steady, you’ll see things clearer. Then, you’ll know who your ‘Mr. Right’ really is.”

He tilted his head slightly, giving Phuwin a knowing look before walking off with his men toward the car.

Phuwin stood there, slightly dazed, watching as Pond’s car pulled away. Biting his lip, he stared down the street, Pond’s words echoing in his mind as he tried to make sense of the advice.

---

How was it?