Cherry On Top
CHAPTER 1
Phuwin Tangsakyuen is known around campus as the perfect one.
Top of every class.
Polite. Composed. Untouchable.
He moves like everything about him is intentional- every smile placed just right, every word carefully chosen, every step measured like he's walking on glass that might crack if he's too real.
People admire him the way they admire something beautiful behind a display case.
Distant.
Flawless.
Safe.
They say things like-
"You're like the cherry on top."
The final touch.
The thing that makes everything look complete.
Sweet. Perfect. Decorative.
But never meant to be touched.
What they don't see is how exhausting perfection is.
How his cheeks ache from smiling.
How silence feels safer than honesty.
How every single day feels like a performance he can never step out of.
Because the moment he does-
The moment he slips-
He might stop being their Phuwin.
And he doesn't know who he is without that.
---
Then there's Pond Naravit Lertratkosum.
Quiet. Cold. Unpredictable.
The kind of person professors sigh at and students avoid when his mood turns dark.
Rules don't stick to him. Expectations don't cage him.
And somehow-
He keeps noticing Phuwin.
Not the perfect smile.
Not the polished answers.
Not the version everyone else sees.
But the cracks in between.
The pauses.
The forced laughter.
The way Phuwin's eyes don't match his smile.
Pond doesn't even know why.
Maybe he's just seen him too many times-
Passing by the same halls,
Sitting alone when no one's looking,
Working quietly at that small café just outside campus.
Or maybe-
It's something else.
Something he can't name yet.
And then one day-
It happens over something ridiculous.
A plate.
A dessert.
And a single cherry placed perfectly on top.
Because sometimes,
It only takes the smallest thing
To ruin perfection-
-Or to finally make it real.
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---
Phuwin sat alone in the lecture hall.
The room that was once filled with noise had emptied out, students filing away in groups toward lunch, their voices fading into the distance- laughter, chatter, the sound of freedom.
Except him.
He stayed.
Seated neatly at his desk, glasses resting on the bridge of his nose, pen moving steadily across paper that wasn't even his.
Someone else's homework.
Again.
His handwriting was clean, precise- almost identical to how he wrote his own, like he could make anything belong to him if he tried hard enough.
Or maybe-
Like he didn't belong to himself at all.
Footsteps echoed against the steps.
Quick. Rushed.
Then-
"Heyyy, Phu!!!"
Phuwin paused mid-sentence, blinking as he looked up.
"Oh- hey, Rai-"
Before he could finish, Rai hurried over and dropped her homework onto his table with a soft thud.
Phuwin's eyes flickered down to the papers... Then back up at her.
Rai bent slightly, catching her breath. "Can you do my homework? I'm really busy today. I'll need it passed later this afternoon, but I have an errand," She said quickly, words tumbling over each other.
Phuwin blinked, caught off guard.
"I-I'm sorry, I can't. I'm still doing someone else's-"
Before he could finish, Rai suddenly dropped to her knees in front of him.
"Please! Please! Please, Phu! I beg you, just this time!" She chirped, hands pressed together dramatically.
Phuwin froze for a moment.
Then he exhaled quietly.
"...Alright," He muttered.
Rai's face lit up instantly, like nothing had ever been wrong.
"Thank you so much, Phu! That's why you're always on top of the class! Smart, kind-" she grinned, tilting her head, "-even pretty!"
Phuwin smiled.
Soft. Polite.
Perfect.
But it didn't reach his eyes.
"Bye, Phu! Thanks again!"
And just as quickly as she came, Rai was already running down the steps, her voice echoing once more before disappearing beyond the lecture hall doors.
Silence returned.
Heavy.
Unmoving.
Phuwin sat there for a moment longer.
Then-
He exhaled.
Slowly.
And the smile slipped off his face like it had never been real.
His gaze dropped to the pile of homework in front of him.
One.
Two.
Three.
None of them his.
Without another word, he adjusted his glasses, picked up his pen-
And continued writing.
---
Moments later, Phuwin was still writing.
The lecture hall remained quiet, the faint noise of students outside drifting in- laughter, footsteps, the distant clatter of trays. Life moving on without him.
His pen didn't stop.
Line after line. Page after page.
He had people.
A lot of them, actually.
People who greeted him in the halls.
People who smiled when they saw him.
People who called his name like they knew him.
People to talk to.
People to sit beside in class.
People to hang out with.
But somehow-
No one had asked him to eat lunch today.
Not once.
Not unless they needed something first.
Not unless there was homework to pass, a favor to ask, a reason to stay.
Not unless it benefited them.
Phuwin paused for just a second.
Just one.
His pen hovering above the paper.
As if he was waiting-
For someone to call his name again.
For someone to say, "Come with us."
Nothing came.
So he lowered his pen.
And kept writing.
The scratch of pen against paper filled the silence-
Until footsteps echoed up the lecture hall steps.
Phuwin paused.
He looked up.
Gemini.
Gemini blinked when he saw him. "Phu, sorry for coming late. Our class ended late," He muttered, slightly out of breath. Then his gaze dropped to the desk.
"...What are you doing?"
He stepped closer, leaning in.
"Why aren't you eating lunch?" His brows furrowed. "What is this-"
Before Phuwin could answer, Gemini reached out and grabbed one of the papers.
Phuwin blinked. "I'm just doing some homeworks."
Gemini's frown deepened as his eyes scanned the page.
"...Homeworks?" He repeated quietly. Then he looked at another sheet. And another.
"Phu- this isn't even yours." His voice lowered. "What is this?"
A beat.
"Are you..." He swallowed slightly, "...Doing someone else's work again?"
Phuwin exhaled.
He didn't answer.
He just pulled another paper closer-
And continued writing.
Gemini's grip tightened around the sheets.
"How many times do I have to tell you not to do other people's work?" He said, frustration slipping through. "If they're too lazy to do it, that's their fault- not yours."
His voice wasn't loud.
But it was firm.
Real.
Phuwin stopped.
He looked up, a small frown forming. "Gem," He called softly.
Gemini frowned right back. "What?" He shot back. "Are you gonna scold me for scolding you? I'm telling the truth."
Phuwin exhaled again.
Quiet.
Tired.
Gemini clicked his tongue under his breath, then suddenly reached down, grabbing Phuwin's bag.
"Come on," He muttered, already pulling him up. "Let's eat lunch. Leave whatever this is."
Phuwin frowned, instinctively resisting, his hand still holding the pen.
"Gem- wait-"
But Gemini pulled harder.
And this time-
Phuwin stood.
The papers stayed behind on the desk.
Unfinished.
Unclaimed.
And together, they walked down the steps.
---
Later, Phuwin and Gemini sat across from each other at one of the cafeteria tables.
The place was filled with noise- students talking, trays clattering, chairs scraping against the floor.
But between them, it felt... Quieter.
Phuwin slipped off his glasses and carefully placed them inside his bag before continuing to eat.
Gemini, across from him, kept eating for a moment before glancing up.
"So," He started casually, "who asked you to do homework again, huh?"
Phuwin looked up at him. "Why do you need to know?"
Gemini huffed. "Of course I wanna know who's lazy."
Phuwin rolled his eyes, unimpressed, and went back to his food.
Suddenly-
"Good afternoon, Phi Phuwin! Phi Gemini!"
Both of them looked up.
Book.
Phuwin's younger brother.
Book rushed over, slightly out of breath.
He quickly sat beside Phuwin, pulling out his lunch box without wasting a second and immediately started eating.
Fast.
Too fast.
Phuwin frowned slightly, glancing at him. "Where have you been, hm? Why are you sweating?" He muttered, gently brushing Book's bangs away from his forehead.
Book smiled like nothing was wrong. "From class."
Phuwin nodded, accepting it- for now- and continued eating.
But something felt off.
Book was practically shoveling food into his mouth, barely chewing, quickly sipping water in between.
Like he was racing against time.
Gemini blinked, then leaned slightly toward Phuwin.
"Is he going somewhere else?" He whispered.
Phuwin shook his head lightly. "No...?" He whispered back.
They both turned-
And stared at Book like he was something unfamiliar.
Book kept eating. Fast. Unbothered. Focused.
Phuwin cleared his throat. "Slow down or you'll choke," He muttered. Then his brows furrowed slightly. "Why are you eating so fast? Are you late for something?"
Book froze.
His cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk, stuffed with food.
Slowly, he turned to Phuwin and gave an awkward smile.
"No," He said, voice muffled, "I'm not late for something."
Phuwin blinked.
Then nodded slowly.
"...Alright."
And just like that, he let it go.
---
A minute later-
Book was done.
Completely.
He stood up quickly, already packing his things away, his mouth still half full.
Gemini blinked. "You're... Done already?"
Phuwin frowned deeper this time.
Book nodded with a bright smile. "Yeah! I gotta go, class starting," He muffled.
And before either of them could say anything-
He ran off.
Phuwin and Gemini just stared after him.
Blinking.
Gemini swallowed his food. "Isn't it like... One hour before classes start?"
Phuwin exhaled quietly.
"He's been acting weird lately," He murmured. "And tell me- sometimes he doesn't even have time to hang out with me anymore."
Gemini frowned but didn't say anything, just shaking his head slightly.
Phuwin's gaze lingered on the hallway where Book had disappeared.
Then he exhaled again.
Soft.
Heavy.
---
Later that day, Phuwin arrived home with a quiet sigh.
The gates closed behind him with a soft metallic sound-
And just like that, the world outside disappeared.
The house stood tall.
Spacious. Clean. Perfect.
And empty.
Phuwin stepped inside, slipping off his shoes as his footsteps echoed faintly against the polished floors.
No voices.
No movement.
No warmth.
Just silence stretching from wall to wall.
He went upstairs, changing into his pajamas without much thought.
Routine.
Everything about his life felt like one.
As he stepped out of his room, he paused.
Book wasn't home yet.
Phuwin frowned slightly.
Then he exhaled and headed back downstairs.
The space felt even bigger now.
Quieter.
Like the silence had settled deeper into the walls.
He walked into the kitchen, opening the fridge. The soft hum filled the air as cold light spilled over his face.
He grabbed a glass pitcher of water.
Then a glass.
The sound of water pouring echoed softly as he filled it- clear, cold, steady.
Carrying both, he made his way to the living room.
The white couch stretched long and untouched, almost too pristine to sit on.
Phuwin set the pitcher down, then sank into the seat, his body finally relaxing- just a little.
He reached for the remote.
Click.
The large TV flickered to life.
Static for a second-
Then a familiar face filled the screen.
"-Continuing his statement earlier today, Senator Tangsakyuen addressed the public regarding the ongoing national budget concerns-"
Phuwin froze.
His grip on the glass tightened slightly.
There he was.
His father.
Standing behind a podium, dressed sharply, expression composed- confident, controlled, untouchable.
Just like always.
"...We assure the people that transparency and accountability remain our highest priorities," His father continued, voice firm, practiced.
Cameras flashed.
Reporters watched.
The world listened.
Phuwin stared.
Unblinking.
His father looked perfect on screen.
Respected. Admired.
A man everyone trusted.
Phuwin looked down at his glass.
The water inside trembled slightly.
He didn't like this.
Didn't like seeing his father like that-
Not as his father.
But as someone who thinks he owns the whole world.
The TV kept talking.
"...Further developments are expected in the coming weeks-"
Phuwin exhaled quietly.
Long. Tired.
Then he leaned back against the couch, eyes still fixed on the screen-
But distant.
Like he was there...
And not there at all.
And because his father has to be perfect-
Phuwin has to be perfect too.
His gaze stayed on the screen, his father's voice echoing through the living room like something distant... Something unreachable.
Controlled. Composed. Flawless.
Always flawless.
Phuwin's jaw tightened slightly.
He was tired of it.
So tired.
Because perfection wasn't just something expected from his father-
It was something that had been handed down to him.
Pressed into him.
Built into him.
And the worst part?
His father was never really there.
Not when Book was still a baby.
Not when nights felt too quiet.
Not when mornings felt too heavy.
Not when they needed him.
Both of his parents were always busy.
His mother- saving lives, running between hospital halls, always on call.
His father- standing in front of cameras, shaking hands, making promises to people who weren't his family.
So Phuwin stayed.
He was the one who raised Book.
The one who fed him.
The one who scolded him.
The one who stayed up when he was sick.
The one who listened, talked, laughed-
Lived beside him.
Not their parents.
Never them.
They never even had time-
To sit down and just be with them.
Not once.
Phuwin's fingers tightened around the glass.
The cold pressed into his skin.
Something bitter settled in his chest.
Something quiet.
But sharp.
Anger.
Not loud.
Not explosive.
But the kind that stays.
The kind that builds.
The kind that hides behind-
Perfect posture,
Gentle words,
And practiced smiles.
Forced smiles.
Forced perfection.
Phuwin leaned back against the couch, eyes still on the TV- but unfocused now.
Distant.
Heavy.
Because no matter how perfect he became-
It was never for himself.
He exhaled quietly, the sound barely filling the space around him.
The TV kept talking-
Voices, headlines, noise-
But none of it really reached him.
He reached for his phone.
Unlocked it.
Opened his messages with Book.
His fingers hovered for a second-
Then typed.
---
Phuwin: where are you?
---
He stared at the screen for a moment longer.
Waiting.
Just a second.
Maybe two.
No reply.
His thumb pressed the lock button.
The screen went dark.
He set the phone down beside him on the couch.
Picked up the remote.
Click.
The channel changed.
New voices.
Different faces.
Same emptiness.
The light from the TV flickered across his face-
Quiet.
Unmoving.
And he sat there,
surrounded by a house that felt too big-
And too silent.
---
Later, the sky had already gone dark.
The house was dim, the only light coming from the TV- flickering softly across the wide, empty space.
Phuwin was still sitting on the couch.
Still watching.
Or at least-
pretending to.
Click.
The front door opened.
Phuwin's eyes shifted immediately.
Book stepped inside, shoulders slightly slumped, looking... Exhausted.
Phuwin's brows furrowed. "Where have you been? Why are you late?" His voice cut through the quiet. "Do you even know what time it is?"
Book didn't answer right away.
He just walked over-
And lazily dropped onto the couch beside him.
"I had an errand."
Phuwin's frown deepened. "With who?"
Book froze for a split second.
"...With... A friend?"
Phuwin clicked his tongue, irritation slipping through.
Book quickly switched, his tone turning light, playful- too fast.
"Alright, alright- sorry, Phi Phuwinnn..." He dragged out, slipping into a childish voice. "Next time I won't be late. I promise."
Phuwin huffed.
"...Whatever."
Book smiled.
For a second-
It looked real.
Then it faded.
"Anyway," Book started, shifting slightly as he pulled out his phone, "you know Pond, right? The Quiet one. Cold one. Always fighting people."
Phuwin blinked, glancing at him. "Yeah. Why?"
"Look at this," Book muttered, already unlocking his phone and holding it up.
A video played.
Shaky footage.
Voices shouting.
A crowd forming a circle.
And in the center-
Pond.
Phuwin's eyes fixed on the screen.
Pond moved fast.
Unrestrained. Wild.
Fighting like he didn't care who was watching-
Or what would happen after.
"He fought with the students from another university," Book continued, eyes still on his phone. "And I'm telling you, it was insane."
The sounds of punches and chaos filled the small space between them.
"The whole campus went crazy," Book added. "And now that university basically hates us."
He shook his head, scrolling slightly.
"I mean... Pond's handsome. People would literally fight just for him."
Phuwin didn't respond.
He just watched.
Eyes steady.
Quiet.
Something unreadable flickered across his expression-
As the screen reflected in his gaze.
"So I know people in our university..." Book added, eyes still on the screen, "...Will also go insane."
Phuwin blinked.
Then suddenly-
He reached out and snatched the phone from Book's hands.
"Book," He said, his voice firmer now, "you shouldn't be watching something like this."
His eyes flickered back to the paused video for a second-
Then away.
"If that's his problem, we shouldn't be a part of it."
Book blinked, a little startled.
"I wouldn't, Phi. I promise," He said quickly. "Because if I do... Dad will probably punish me."
Something in Phuwin's expression shifted.
Tighter.
Sharper.
He turned to Book fully and grabbed both of his shoulders.
Firm.
Grounding.
"I wouldn't let Dad punish you," Phuwin said.
His voice dropped-
Quieter.
More personal.
"I raised you. Not him, okay?"
The words settled between them.
Heavy.
Honest.
Book looked at him-
Then nodded, a small smile forming on his lips.
"Okay."
Phuwin smiled faintly and reached over, ruffling Book's hair.
Then he leaned back against the couch, eyes drifting toward the TV.
"Anyway," He said, almost casually, "I found a job."
Book frowned immediately. "A job?" He let out a small laugh, confused. "Phi, we already have enough money to buy a whole fridge full of food."
Phuwin didn't smile this time.
Didn't even blink.
"Yeah," He muttered. "But it's not our money."
A pause.
"It's Dad's."
Book froze.
His chest tightened without him realizing it.
Phuwin exhaled slowly, gaze lowering.
"If we want to actually survive in this world, Book..." He said quietly, "we have to learn how to do it ourselves."
Book's frown deepened, worry creeping in.
"But Phi... If Dad finds out you're working like... Like a poor person, he'll get mad." His voice softened. "What if people think he's not responsible for his kids?"
Phuwin looked at him.
Really looked at him.
"What's the point?" He said flatly.
"After all... He's not really responsible for us."
His voice didn't rise.
Didn't shake.
But it landed heavy.
"He works, he gives money- then done."
A beat.
"Nothing else."
Before Book could respond-
Phuwin stood up.
And walked away.
Book stayed there on the couch.
Silent.
Watching his brother's figure disappear down the hallway.
Then he sighed.
Soft.
Uneasy.
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