Shadows

48

The days following the incident with Phuwin felt like they dragged on endlessly for Pond. The image of Phuwin kissing another girl never left his mind, and despite his best efforts, he couldn't shake the nagging sense of betrayal that lingered. He spent most of his time avoiding Phuwin, keeping his distance during their piano lessons and pretending as though nothing had changed. But every time Phuwin's charming smile flashed in his direction, Pond felt that familiar pang in his chest, making it harder to pretend that nothing had happened.

Joong noticed Pond's change in behavior, but Pond didn't offer any explanation. He had become quiet, distant, even when they were together at home. Fourth, ever observant, had already started to pick up on the tension, though he didn't press Pond for answers. Instead, he simply gave him space, knowing his older brother would talk when he was ready. But even Joong couldn't help but wonder if this situation with Phuwin had finally reached a breaking point.

One evening, while the four brothers were sitting in the living room, Joong decided to break the silence. He leaned forward, his voice steady but concerned.

"Pond, what happened? You've been acting off lately. If something's bothering you, we're here to listen."

Pond shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He had been expecting this conversation for days, and yet, now that it was happening, he wasn't sure what to say. He could feel Joong's worried gaze on him, but the words just wouldn't come. Instead, he looked at his brothers, then back down at his hands.

"It's nothing," Pond muttered, his voice tight. "Just school stuff."

Joong narrowed his eyes. He didn't believe it for a second. But before he could press further, Fourth spoke up.

"If it's about Phuwin, you know you can tell us, right? We've all seen how much time you've been spending with him." Fourth's voice was light, but there was an undercurrent of seriousness in his words.

Pond stiffened at the mention of Phuwin, his heart skipping a beat. He didn't want to talk about it, not like this. Not with his brothers looking at him like they expected some grand confession. He quickly shook his head.

"I don't need to talk about it," Pond said, standing up abruptly. "It's not important."

Joong sighed, clearly frustrated, but he didn't push it. He knew Pond would talk when he was ready, even if it wasn't today. But as Pond walked away from the conversation, Joong couldn't help but feel like something was slipping away.

---

The next day at school, Pond found himself facing Phuwin again. Phuwin had made no effort to act differently, flashing that same charming smile as he greeted Pond in the hallway. But this time, Pond couldn't muster the energy to smile back.

Phuwin seemed to notice the change. His usual playful demeanor faltered for a moment, but he quickly masked it with his usual swagger.

"You seem distant," Phuwin commented, leaning casually against the locker next to Pond's. "Did I do something wrong?"

Pond hesitated, his fingers running over the cool metal of his locker. He wanted to say something, anything, but the words wouldn't come. He didn't know what he was feeling anymore—hurt, frustration, confusion. All he knew was that he was tired of pretending everything was fine.

"Maybe it's not about you," Pond said, his voice cold. "Maybe it's about me."

Phuwin raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by Pond's change in tone. He stepped closer, his expression softening.

"What do you mean?" he asked, his voice lower now, more serious.

Pond took a deep breath, but the words still felt heavy on his tongue. "I don't know. I just... I don't get it. You flirt with me one minute, and the next you're kissing someone else. What am I supposed to think?"

Phuwin's face flickered with guilt, but he quickly hid it behind his usual charm. "Pond, I never meant to make you feel like that. It wasn't like that. I—I didn't think it would matter to you."

"It matters," Pond replied, his voice soft but firm. "You don't get to mess with people's feelings like that."

Phuwin looked away for a moment, and for the first time, Pond saw a crack in his confident facade. "I didn't want to hurt you," Phuwin said quietly. "But I'm not good at this. I didn't know what you wanted from me."

Pond swallowed hard, feeling a mix of anger and sadness well up inside him. "You don't get to decide what I want," he said, his voice shaking slightly. "I'm not some toy you can play with when it's convenient for you. I'm a person. And I deserve more than that."

There was a long pause between them, neither of them knowing what to say next. Phuwin's eyes softened, but Pond couldn't bring himself to look at him any longer. He turned and walked away, feeling the weight of the conversation hanging in the air. He didn't know if he had said everything he needed to say, but he knew one thing for sure: things were different now. And they couldn't go back.

---

Back at the mansion that evening, Pond found himself alone in his room, staring out the window at the darkening sky. He felt empty, conflicted. Part of him wanted to just forget everything and go back to the way things were, to the carefree days when Phuwin's attention had made him feel special. But another part of him knew that it was better to walk away. There was no point in holding on to something that had never been real.

His brothers had tried to reach out to him, but he had distanced himself. He didn't know how to explain it to them, especially Joong. Joong had always been the one to keep things together, to make sure they didn't lose sight of their place in the world. Pond respected that, even if it hurt.

And then there was Dunk. He had never once treated Pond differently, even though they were servants, even though they weren't equals. It was something Pond couldn't quite grasp—why Dunk treated him with so much kindness when he didn't have to. It made him feel something deep inside, something he wasn't sure he understood yet.

But for now, he had to focus on himself. He had to figure out what he wanted, what was best for him. And for once, he wasn't going to let anyone dictate his feelings.

As he lay in bed that night, Pond closed his eyes, trying to push the turmoil from his mind. But in the back of his mind, he couldn't shake the feeling that things with Phuwin, and with the world around him, were about to change forever.