Hold me as tight as possible {JoongDunk & PondPhuwin}

25. Your Lips My Lips Apocalypse

Phuwin’s pov:

The smell of freshly brewed coffee wafted through my kitchen as I leaned against the counter, mug in hand. The warmth seeped through the ceramic, a comforting contrast to the cool morning air streaming in through the cracked window. It was Valentine’s Day—a day either adored or dreaded, depending on your perspective. For me, it was a day I usually spent with friends, avoiding the pressure of romantic expectations.
The soft chime of a notification pulled me from my thoughts. I glanced at my phone on the counter and saw the familiar banner from our group chat.

Malee
Okay, so who’s up for a movie today? My treat because I love you all (and because Dunk paid last time).

Smiling, I tapped the message to see everyone’s responses pouring in.

Prija
You had me at a free movie. What’s playing?

Malee
Wicked. Come on, it’s a musical masterpiece!

Dunk
You just want an excuse to cry in public.

Malee
Don’t act like you don’t cry, Dunk.

Niran
Count me in. What time?

Phuwin
Fine. But you’re buying snacks too, Malee.

Malee
Deal! Meet at the mall at 1?

With that settled, I took another sip of coffee, savoring the quiet for a moment longer. Then I set my mug down, showered quickly, and pulled on a light blue button-up and a pair of dark jeans. Casual enough for a day out, but nice enough to not embarrass myself in public.

---

The mall was buzzing with activity when I arrived. Couples strolled hand in hand, carrying heart-shaped balloons and bouquets of roses. The scent of freshly baked pretzels and buttery popcorn filled the air, mingling with the chatter of excited moviegoers.

“Over here!” Malee’s voice called out, and I spotted her waving frantically near the ticket counter.
She was standing next to Prija, who looked effortlessly chic in a floral sundress. Dunk and Niran were already debating over snacks, their voices carrying across the lobby.
“You’re late,” Dunk teased as I approached.
“Blame traffic,” I said, though we both knew I was just slow this morning.
Malee handed out tickets with a triumphant grin. “I’m officially the best friend ever. Now let’s go before the previews start!”

The theater was packed, as expected on Valentine’s Day, but somehow, we managed to find seats in the middle row. As the lights dimmed and the opening notes of Wicked filled the room, I felt myself relax.

The movie was everything Malee promised—emotional, dramatic, and full of soaring music. I caught Dunk wiping his eyes during “For Good”, though he tried to mask it. Malee was openly sniffling, clutching a tissue as though her life depended on it.
W

hen the credits rolled, we shuffled out of the theater, our conversation a jumble of opinions.

“That last note Elphaba hit? Unreal!” Malee gushed, her hands still clutching the empty popcorn bucket.
“You’re lucky I didn’t sing along,” Niran said, grinning.
Prija rolled her eyes.
“You already sang along during the previews. Don’t push your luck.”

We wandered through the mall, stopping occasionally to admire storefront displays or laugh at the over-the-top Valentine’s promotions. Malee, ever the one to spot fun, suddenly pointed to a brightly lit photo booth near the arcade.
“Photo booth!” she exclaimed, practically bouncing on her toes.
“No way,” Dunk groaned.
“It’s cramped in there.”
“Oh, come on, it’ll be fun!” Malee grabbed his arm and started pulling him toward it.
Prija smirked.
“You’re not getting out of this, Dunk.”

In no time, all five of us were crammed into the tiny booth. Malee insisted on picking the filters, flipping through options until we landed on something floral and pastel. The first photo was a simple group shot, everyone smiling. But by the second, chaos ensued—Niran threw up peace signs, Dunk made a goofy face, and Malee pretended to choke Prija, who laughed so hard she nearly fell off the tiny bench.
When the photos printed, we crowded around to admire them, laughing at how ridiculous we looked. Malee took a picture of the strip with her phone, promising to send it to the group chat later.

---

Back home, I stretched out on the couch, feeling pleasantly tired. The photo booth pictures were too good to keep to myself, so I snapped a picture of the strip and uploaded it to my Instagram story. Setting it to “birds of a feather” by Billie Eilish, I tagged everyone with a simple caption: "Best Valentine’s Day crew."
Just as I was settling in for a quiet evening, my phone buzzed with a call. Seeing Pond’s name on the screen, I smiled and answered.

“Hey,” I said, sitting up.
“Hey, can you meet me at this address in an hour?” Pond asked, his tone casual but tinged with excitement.
“Sure,” I replied, intrigued.
“What’s going on?”
“You’ll see,” he said with a laugh, then hung up.

Curiosity chewed me from the inside as I hopped into the shower. Pond wasn’t the type to do things halfway, so whatever he had planned was bound to be special. I decided to dress up a little, pulling on a red button-up and white suit pants. The rose-scented perfume he’d gifted me felt like the perfect finishing touch.

---

The address Pond gave me led to a sleek high-rise in the heart of the city. At the front desk, a kind woman greeted me with a warm smile.
“Mr. Phuwin, right? Please take the elevator to the rooftop,” she said, handing me a keycard.
The elevator ride felt longer than it should have, anticipation building with each passing floor. When the doors finally opened, I stepped out onto the 25th floor and gasped.

The rooftop had been transformed into a magical haven. Fairy lights twinkled like stars, strung across the railing,  and wrapped around a canopy of white fabric. Plush sofas were arranged in a cozy semi-circle around a low table, and roses were scattered everywhere—on the floor, on the tables, even woven into the lights.

Pond stood in the center of it all, dressed in a sharp black suit that contrasted beautifully with the warm glow of the lights. He looked up as I approached, his usual confident smile softened by something more vulnerable.
“Pond, what is all this?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
He stepped forward, holding a small box in his hands.
“I wanted today to be special. For you. For us.”
Opening the box, he revealed a delicate gold necklace with the initials PP engraved on a tiny pendant.

“Phuwin,” he began, his voice steady but his eyes searching mine,
“will you be my boyfriend?”

The world seemed to tilt for a moment, and my breath caught in my throat. I felt tears prick my eyes as I nodded.
“Yes,” I whispered, then louder,
“Yes, of course!”
His smile lit up the night as he fastened the necklace around my neck. His fingers brushed against my skin, sending a shiver down my spine.
“For the record,” I said, trying to steady my voice,
“this is the best Valentine’s Day surprise ever.”
“I’m glad,” he replied, pulling me into a tight embrace.

We sank onto the sofas, letting the speakers fill the air with “Apocalypse” by Cigarettes After Sex. The haunting melody wrapped around us like a blanket, the lyrics weaving seamlessly into the atmosphere.
Pond’s arm draped over my shoulders as I leaned into him, my head resting against his chest. The steady beat of his heart was a comforting rhythm, lulling me into a sense of peace I hadn’t felt in a long time.
As the night deepened and the city lights shimmered in the distance, we drifted off to sleep. In that quiet, magical space, it felt like the rest of the world had faded away, leaving only us.

You guys don't understand how much i missed writing about this friendgroup (they really need a name 😞).
Schools a bitch, i have the biology and geography olympiad and i dont understand shit (pray for me 🙏🙏). My knees starting to hurt again but i haven't told me parents yet bc if they hear about that they'll force me to quit volleyball 😞😞.
I was thinking about making a tiktok account specially for my fanfiction books idkkk??
I've noticed that my writing style has changed A LOTTT since the start of the book (October 2023) also damnnnn that's over an year with yall!! 💕💕💕
Sending love!