Shadows

44

Later that night, as the house settled into a quiet calm, Pond lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling. His mind kept replaying the moments with Phuwin—the way Phuwin's eyes held a certain intensity whenever they locked gazes, the casual touches that had sent jolts of electricity through him, and the teasing smiles that made his heart race. It all felt so new, so overwhelming.

He didn't know what to think of it all. Phuwin was confident, flirty, and charming. But it wasn't just his usual playful demeanor that made Pond feel this way. There was something more. Phuwin's attentiveness, the way he made sure Pond was comfortable, the soft encouragements... they were different from how he treated others. It made Pond wonder if maybe, just maybe, Phuwin liked him more than just a piano student.

But how could that be? Phuwin was the kind of guy everyone admired, someone who seemed to have it all—looks, confidence, charisma—and Pond was... well, he didn't know how to describe himself. Quiet, reserved, and not quite as flashy. The idea of someone like Phuwin actually being interested in him felt unreal.

"Ugh," Pond groaned, burying his face in his pillow. He tried to push away the thoughts, but they kept returning. Every time he thought about Phuwin, he felt this strange flutter in his chest. But it didn't make sense. Phuwin was older, more experienced, and probably used to getting what he wanted. Was Pond just a passing interest for him? Or was there something more to it?

The sound of footsteps outside their room caught his attention. Pond turned his head, spotting Joong standing in the doorway, looking down at him with a curious expression. Joong had been quieter than usual, perhaps sensing that something was different between Pond and Phuwin. Pond had tried to brush it off, but his brother's sharp eyes didn't miss much.

"You okay?" Joong asked, leaning against the doorframe.

Pond hesitated before nodding. "Yeah, just... thinking," he muttered, pulling the blanket up higher to cover his face, feeling embarrassed by the vulnerability that had surfaced.

Joong didn't leave. Instead, he walked in, sitting on the edge of Pond's bed with a sigh. "You know you can talk to me, right?"

Pond remained silent, the thoughts swirling in his mind far too jumbled to explain. He didn't want to admit what he was feeling, not yet, not when it was so confusing. "I know, Joong," Pond said, his voice soft. "But I'm fine."

Joong raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "You're not fine, Pond. You've been acting different lately. It's about Phuwin, isn't it?"

Pond's breath caught in his throat, and he quickly sat up, his face flushing with embarrassment. "I—I don't know what you're talking about."

Joong's gaze softened, and he leaned closer. "It's obvious, Pond. I see how he looks at you when you're together. And I can tell you've been... well, distracted." He paused, as if carefully choosing his next words. "I just want you to be careful. Phuwin... he's different. And we don't really know him that well. He's not like us."

Pond lowered his gaze, feeling a mixture of emotions. "I know, Joong. But... it's hard to explain. He's different with me. He's been so kind, and I don't know how to feel about it."

Joong exhaled, rubbing his face in frustration. "I get it. But I don't want you to get hurt. Phuwin is... well, he's part of that world we don't really understand. And I'm not sure what his intentions are."

Pond bit his lip, knowing his brother had a point. He didn't know much about Phuwin's life outside of their piano lessons, but there was still something that made him feel like he could trust him. Phuwin wasn't the type to show kindness for no reason. Was it possible he really cared? Or was he just playing with Pond's feelings like he did with everyone else?

"Joong, I don't want to disappoint you," Pond said quietly. "But I don't know how to control how I feel."

Joong studied him for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "I know. Just... take your time, okay? Don't rush into anything. We don't know what Phuwin is really like, and I want you to be sure of yourself first."

Pond nodded, grateful for his brother's concern. Joong might not always show it, but he cared deeply about his family. Pond knew he had to be cautious, but part of him still didn't want to push Phuwin away. There was something undeniable about the way he made him feel, something that made him want to explore it further.

As the silence between them stretched, Joong stood up. "I'm not going to tell you what to do, Pond. Just be careful, alright?" he said, offering his brother a small, reassuring smile before heading out of the room.

Pond lay back down, his mind racing. He didn't know where this would lead, but he couldn't ignore the pull he felt toward Phuwin. For the first time in his life, he was starting to wonder what it might feel like to let someone in, to let himself be vulnerable.

But was Phuwin really someone he could trust with his heart? Or was this just a fleeting attraction that would eventually burn out?

Pond closed his eyes, trying to quiet the whirlwind of thoughts in his head. For now, all he could do was wait and see what would happen next. And maybe, just maybe, he would get the answer he was looking for.