Beneath The spotlight

Chapter 59: Cracks in the Armor

Phuwin sat in the library long after Pond left, staring blankly at his open textbook. The words blurred together as his thoughts churned.

Why does he like me?

The idea didn’t make sense. Pond was everything Phuwin wasn’t—bright, outgoing, and effortlessly charming. He could have anyone, yet he was wasting his time on someone like Phuwin.

The thought made Phuwin’s chest tighten, a mix of unease and something he refused to acknowledge brewing inside him.

He shook his head, snapping the book shut. He didn’t need distractions. Pond was just being... Pond. Annoyingly persistent and impossible to avoid.

That’s all this was.

---

Pond, on the other hand, couldn’t stop smiling as he walked across campus. His bold declaration had been a gamble, but he wasn’t one to back down.

He had seen the flicker of emotion in Phuwin’s eyes, even if it was fleeting. It gave him hope, a small crack in the armor Phuwin so carefully maintained.

As he entered the café to grab a snack, Pond’s phone buzzed. Seeing a message from Phuwin’s brother Gemini made him pause.

Gemini: Are you free tonight? I need a favor.

Pond frowned, quickly typing back.

Pond: What’s up?

The response came almost instantly.

Gemini: Phuwin’s been weird lately. I want to check on him, but he’ll just push me away. Maybe you can get through to him?

Pond chuckled softly.

Pond: Already working on it. Don’t worry, I’ve got a plan.

Gemini sent back a thumbs-up emoji, and Pond felt a surge of determination. He wasn’t sure why Phuwin kept so many people at arm’s length, but he was starting to understand it wasn’t out of malice.

Phuwin had walls—high ones—and Pond was willing to climb them if it meant getting closer to him.

---

That evening, Phuwin sat at his desk, flipping through his notes. He had just started to focus when his phone buzzed.

A message from Pond.

Pond: Hey, nerd. I’m outside. Open up.

Phuwin stared at the screen in disbelief.

Phuwin: What? Why?

The response was immediate.

Pond: Because I’m hungry, and I’m not eating alone. Now open the door.

Phuwin groaned, dragging a hand down his face. He debated ignoring Pond, but the thought of him standing outside his apartment—possibly annoying the neighbors—was too much.

With a resigned sigh, he got up and opened the door.

Pond stood there, holding a bag of takeout and wearing his usual grin.

“Miss me?” he teased, stepping inside before Phuwin could protest.

“What are you doing here?” Phuwin asked, shutting the door behind him.

“Feeding you,” Pond said, holding up the bag. “You look like you haven’t eaten all day.”

Phuwin crossed his arms. “I was fine.”

“Uh-huh,” Pond said, unpacking the food. “Sit down. Eat. No arguments.”

Phuwin stared at him for a long moment before sighing and sitting at the small dining table.

As they ate, Pond filled the silence with his usual chatter, talking about everything from his day to the latest campus gossip.

Phuwin listened quietly, surprised by how... nice it was. Pond’s presence was warm and comforting, even if he was loud and a little overbearing.

“Why do you do this?” Phuwin asked suddenly, cutting Pond off mid-sentence.

“Do what?” Pond asked, tilting his head.

“Keep showing up,” Phuwin said, his voice softer than usual. “I’ve been nothing but rude to you.”

Pond smiled, his tone light but sincere. “Because I see something in you, Phuwin. You’re not as cold as you pretend to be.”

Phuwin looked away, his chest tightening again.

“I’m not giving up on you,” Pond added, his voice quieter now. “No matter how much you push me away.”

Phuwin didn’t respond, his emotions a tangled mess he couldn’t untangle. But for the first time in a long time, he didn’t feel so alone.

And that terrified him.

---

As Pond left later that night, he felt a sense of accomplishment. Phuwin might not have said much, but the fact that he had let Pond stay was a victory in itself.

Smiling to himself, Pond decided he wasn’t just climbing Phuwin’s walls—he was breaking them down, brick by brick.