Beneath The spotlight

Chapter 62: Growing Pains

The quiet was shattered when Pond suddenly pulled away from Phuwin, his brow furrowing as he sat up.

Phuwin looked at him in confusion, his laptop screen still glowing softly in front of him. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m serious, Phuwin,” Pond said, his voice tinged with frustration. “You can’t keep ignoring it.”

Phuwin blinked, his calm demeanor slipping for a moment. “Ignoring what?”

Pond crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing as he glared at Phuwin. “Me. Us. This. You act like everything’s fine, but it’s not. I’m not just some guy you can drag around, you know.”

Phuwin’s gaze hardened as he closed his laptop. “Don’t start with that, Pond. We’ve been through this before.”

“Yeah, we have!” Pond’s voice rose slightly. “And I keep giving and giving, but you never actually… I don’t know… care about what I want, Phuwin. Do you even hear me? Do you know what I need from you?”

Phuwin stood up, his posture stiff. “I’m not a mind reader, Pond. I’ve never claimed to be perfect, but I do what I can. You can’t expect me to change overnight.”

Pond stood up as well, his frustration bubbling to the surface. “I never asked you to change, Phuwin. But I’m not just here to be your backup. I’m here to be with you. And it’s like you can’t even see that.”

The tension in the room thickened. Phuwin’s jaw clenched, and for a long moment, neither of them spoke.

“You’re overreacting,” Phuwin finally said, trying to deflect.

“No. I’m tired of being the one who always bends. I want more than this.” Pond’s eyes burned with emotion now, and he took a step forward. “Why is it so hard for you to just be here? With me?”

Phuwin’s face softened, but only slightly. “I am here,” he muttered. “I’ve been here.”

Pond let out a frustrated laugh, his hands running through his hair. “No, you haven’t, Phuwin! Not in the way I need you to be. You’re always distant, always wrapped up in your work, acting like that’s all that matters. But it’s not. I matter. This matters.”

Phuwin’s heart pounded in his chest, but he didn’t back down. “And what exactly do you want from me, Pond?” His voice was low, dangerous. “You think I don’t care about you? You think I don’t want this, too? I just don’t know how to fix it.”

Pond stared at him for a moment, their eyes locking, the air between them crackling with tension. “I just want you to try,” Pond said quietly, his voice small now. “That’s all I’m asking.”

Phuwin opened his mouth to say something, but the words caught in his throat.

For the first time, he realized how right Pond was. He had been so caught up in his own world, in his work, in maintaining control, that he hadn’t fully considered what Pond needed. He hadn’t tried. Not in the way Pond deserved.

Pond’s shoulders slumped as he turned away, walking toward the door. “I can’t keep doing this, Phuwin. I’m not going to beg you for your time. I’m just…”

Phuwin’s feet moved on their own, and before he knew it, he was standing in front of Pond, his hand reaching out to stop him.

“Wait,” Phuwin said, his voice quieter than he intended.

Pond froze, his back to Phuwin. “What now, Phuwin?”

Phuwin took a deep breath, feeling the weight of everything—his own insecurities, his fear of failure, his inability to let down his walls—pressing against his chest.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice rough. “I never meant to hurt you. I’m… I’m not good at this, but I want to be. I want to be with you, Pond.”

Pond turned slowly, his expression softening. “Really?”

Phuwin nodded, his eyes meeting Pond’s with an intensity he couldn’t hide. “Really. But I need you to be patient with me. I can’t promise everything will change overnight, but I’ll try. I just… need time.”

Pond stood still for a moment, processing Phuwin’s words. Slowly, he stepped closer, his lips curling into a small but genuine smile.

“That’s all I need, Phuwin,” he whispered. “Just… try.”

And in that moment, for the first time in a long time, Phuwin felt the weight of the world shift. He didn’t know how everything would play out, but he finally understood something crucial: he didn’t have to do it alone.

---

The tension wasn’t completely gone, and the road ahead would still be complicated, but as Pond stepped back into Phuwin’s arms, the first crack in his walls had been made. And for the first time, Phuwin realized, maybe it was okay to let someone else in.