CHAPTER 11
---
Later that evening, the café had emptied out.
The last few customers were gone.
Only the soft hum of the lights remained.
Sammy stood near the counter, hesitating a little.
Her eyes flicked toward Pond for a second, then back to Phuwin.
"...I guess I'll head out first," She said awkwardly, scratching her cheek. "You can... Close up, right?"
Phuwin looked up from behind the counter.
Then nodded.
"...Yeah. It's fine."
Sammy exhaled, clearly a bit unsure, but didn't push further.
"...Okay. Take care then, Phu."
She gave a small wave.
Then quickly slipped out the door.
The bell chimed softly as it closed.
Silence followed immediately.
The café felt bigger.
Quieter.
Phuwin stood still behind the counter for a moment, listening to the fading sound of Sammy's footsteps outside.
Then-
Nothing.
Just him.
And Pond.
Phuwin exhaled quietly and came out from behind the counter, sitting back down across from Pond.
The café was completely silent now.
"...Tomorrow is the semifinals," Phuwin said, glancing at Pond's wrapped knuckles. "How are you supposed to play with those?"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"...Your hands are still hurt."
Pond looked down at his bandages.
Then back up.
"...This is nothing," He said simply.
Phuwin sighed under his breath.
"...You always say that."
Pond didn't respond immediately.
Instead, he just stared at Phuwin for a moment.
Longer than usual.
Then-
"...Why does that Derek guy keep bothering you?" Pond asked quietly.
Phuwin paused.
His expression tightened slightly.
Then he leaned back.
"...Since high school," He said. "He's always been my bully."
A pause.
"...Yesterday he told me he was interested in me."
Pond's eyes sharpened slightly.
Phuwin continued, voice lower now.
"...He said I had to be his. Like I was something he could just claim."
His jaw clenched.
"...I think he's just jealous. Because I've been around you lately."
A pause.
"...So he started harassing me. And he even tried to kiss me."
Silence.
Pond's fist clenched tightly under the table.
The bandage strained slightly.
Phuwin looked up immediately.
"...Pond-"
But Pond didn't stop.
His voice was low, tense.
"...He tried to touch you like that?"
Phuwin stayed quiet for a second.
Then nodded once.
Pond's jaw tightened even more.
His knuckles flexed despite the pain.
"...I should've hit him harder," He said coldly.
Phuwin frowned immediately.
"...Stop it," He said firmly. "Get a grip of yourself."
His eyes stayed on Pond, serious now.
"...The semifinals are tomorrow."
Pond went quiet.
His shoulders rose slightly with a slow breath.
Then-
A sharp exhale left him.
"...Tch."
He leaned back in his seat, looking away for a moment, jaw still tight.
But he didn't argue.
The tension didn't disappear-
But it shifted.
Just a little.
Phuwin exhaled softly.
He stood up and went behind the counter for a moment, then came back holding a single cherry.
He returned to the table and gently took Pond's hand.
Careful.
Slow.
Then placed the cherry into his bandaged palm.
"...Go home and get some rest," Phuwin said quietly. "Tomorrow is a big day."
Pond blinked.
Looking up at him.
His heart skipped.
Then started beating faster.
Phuwin closed Pond's fingers around the cherry with his own hand, securing it gently.
For a moment-
Pond didn't move.
Didn't breathe properly.
His ears turned bright red almost instantly.
Phuwin let go.
Then, almost absentmindedly-
He reached out and ruffled Pond's hair.
Pond froze.
Eyes widening.
Then slowly-
His expression shifted.
Offended.
"...I'm not a dog you can just pat," He said flatly.
Phuwin rolled his eyes immediately.
"...Sure," He muttered, already turning away.
He walked off without looking back.
But behind him-
Pond stayed still.
Cherry in hand.
Heart still racing.
And absolutely not calming down.
---
Later that evening, Phuwin let out a quiet exhale as he stepped inside the house.
The living room was dim, too quiet-
until Book suddenly shot up from the couch.
Phone already in hand.
Face pale.
"Phi!" Book rushed over, shoving the screen toward him. "Is this true?! Did Pond actually beat up a guy in the university?!"
Phuwin froze.
"...What?"
Book didn't wait.
He tapped the screen and played the video.
The hallway fight.
Chaos.
People screaming.
Phones recording.
And then-
Pond's voice.
"What's mine is MINE!"
Phuwin's expression went still.
Book quickly swiped to comments, scrolling fast.
"Psycho..."
"Monster behavior wtf-"
"He should be expelled."
"Bro needs therapy or jail."
"Violent freak-"
Book winced slightly.
"...I don't even know what started it," He said, lowering his voice. "But people are saying it was over someone. Some guy. Nobody really knows."
Phuwin stared at the screen.
Silent.
"...Mine?"
His thoughts flickered.
Mine? I'm his? What...?
Am I hearing it wrong?
He swallowed slightly, still not moving.
Book kept scrolling, showing more comments piling up.
More insults.
More harsh words.
"...They're really calling him a psycho," Book muttered, shaking his head. "Like, I don't know what happened, but- he went too far."
Phuwin didn't answer.
Didn't react.
Then-
Turned around.
And walked away without a word.
Book blinked.
"...Phi?"
He tilted his head, confused.
But Phuwin didn't stop.
Didn't look back.
And this time-
He didn't say anything at all.
---
Force stared toward Pond, face red with anger, fists clenched.
"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!" He shouted, voice echoing down the street. "DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'VE DONE? DEREK- THAT GUY- HIS NOSE IS brOKEN, HIS FACE IS BLEEDING LIKE CRAZY, AND NOW WE HAVE TO PAY FOR ALL HIS MEDICAL BILLS? ALL OF IT?!"
He stomped the ground furiously, hands flailing.
"THIS IS INSANE! WHO DOES THIS?! WHO GOES AROUND BEATING SOMEONE LIKE THIS?!"
His voice cracked with frustration as he continued to shout.
"YOU CAN'T JUST- JUST- USE YOUR FISTS LIKE THIS! THIS IS CRAZY, POND! ABSOLUTELY CRAZY!"
He took a deep breath, but the anger didn't subside. His words kept pouring out, loud and sharp, echoing over Pond's stoic face.
"HE NEEDS TREATMENT! AND NOW YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE! DO YOU EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'VE DONE?!"
Pond stood there quietly, lip still bruised, expression unreadable.
Then he spoke- cold, flat.
"...He touched what's mine."
Force froze for a second.
"...What?"
His brows furrowed deeply.
"...What did he touch?"
Pond didn't even hesitate.
"...A guy."
Silence.
Then Force's face twisted instantly.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT'S A GUY?!" He shouted again, voice rising even higher. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE'S YOURS?!"
He stepped closer, pointing at Pond.
"WAIT- WHAT ARE YOU EVEN SAYING RIGHT NOW?! YOU LIKE SOMEONE?! SINCE WHEN?! YOU'VE NEVER LIKED ANYONE! YOU'VE NEVER CARED ABOUT ANYONE LIKE THIS- AND NOW YOU'RE SAYING YOU BEAT A GUY HALF TO DEATH BECAUSE HE TOUCHED 'YOURS'?!"
Force ran a hand through his hair in frustration, pacing slightly.
"WHAT IS GOING ON, POND?! WHY AREN'T YOU TELLING ME ANYTHING?!"
Pond's gaze stayed steady.
Cold.
Unshaken.
"...You don't need to know."
That made Force stop dead in his tracks.
Pond continued, voice lower.
"...He touched what's mine. He deserves it."
Force's expression darkened immediately.
"...You're serious," He muttered.
Then louder again-
"POND, THIS IS NOT NORMAL! YOU CAN'T JUST DECIDE THAT SOMEONE IS 'YOURS' AND START THROWING FISTS LIKE THIS!"
He stepped forward again, anger flaring.
"YOU'RE HIDING SOMETHING, AND I SWEAR IF YOU KEEP GOING LIKE THIS- THIS IS GOING TO END BADLY FOR YOU!"
Pond frowned immediately.
"...Stop shouting."
His voice was low, but sharp enough to cut through Force's anger.
Force paused for a second, breathing heavily.
Then he scoffed.
"...Fine."
He shoved a hand through his hair, still visibly pissed.
"...Then listen carefully."
His expression hardened.
"...The university already made a decision."
Pond's gaze didn't change.
Force continued, slower now, but firm.
"...After the semifinals and finals are done- no matter what happens- you're getting suspended."
Silence dropped instantly.
Even the air felt heavier.
Force crossed his arms.
"...They can't ignore what you did. The fight, the injury, the video- everything's already out."
His jaw tightened.
"...You're only allowed to play those last matches. After that, you're out."
Pond didn't speak.
Didn't move.
Just stood there, expression unreadable.
Force exhaled again, less angry now, more frustrated.
"...You really messed this up, Pond."
---
The next day, Pond walked through the hallway with his sport bag slung over his shoulder.
His head was slightly lowered.
Eyes cold.
Unreadable.
But the hallway wasn't quiet.
It never was.
As soon as students noticed him, whispers spread like fire.
"...That's him."
"...Psycho guy."
"...I saw the video, he almost killed that dude."
"...He's actually a monster..."
"...Stay away from him, seriously."
Some stepped aside quickly, avoiding eye contact.
Others stared openly, phones already in hand, murmuring as they recorded.
"...Why is he even still allowed to play?"
"...He should be expelled already."
"...Imagine getting that angry over nothing."
Pond kept walking.
Step after step.
Unbothered on the surface.
But his grip on the strap of his bag tightened slightly.
"...Monster," Someone muttered again as he passed.
Still, he didn't stop.
Didn't look back.
Just kept moving forward through the noise.
---
Later at the locker room, the atmosphere was tense.
Pond's teammates were unusually silent, their movements stiff, eyes flicking toward him every time he passed.
Some of them swallowed hard.
A few couldn't even stay in the room and quietly slipped out one by one.
Pond walked past them without a word and opened his locker.
His face was cold.
Closed off.
On the bench nearby, Phuwin sat down, calmly tying his shoe.
But as Pond entered his line of sight, he slowly looked up, following him.
Then he glanced around.
Noticing it immediately-
The unease.
The fear.
His teammates avoiding eye contact, some already leaving.
Phuwin exhaled softly.
"...Can everyone go out?"
No one needed to be told twice.
The rest of the team quickly left the room, almost rushing out in discomfort, leaving only silence behind.
Phuwin stood up from the bench.
The door clicked shut.
He walked closer.
And gently touched Pond's shoulder.
"...Pond."
Pond didn't turn.
His head stayed slightly bowed.
Still.
Phuwin tilted his head, studying him quietly.
He thought it immediately-
He's hurt.
Not physically.
But from everything people were saying.
Phuwin stepped closer and tried again, carefully turning Pond slightly by the shoulder.
"...Hey."
This time-
Pond finally turned.
And Phuwin froze.
Pond's face was blank.
Cold.
But tears were silently running down his cheeks- one after another.
Like they didn't belong there.
Like he wasn't even aware of them.
Phuwin exhaled sharply.
His expression softened instantly.
Both of his hands came up gently, moving to hold Pond's head near his ears, steadying him.
Not forcing.
Just grounding him there.
"...You're not a monster," Phuwin said quietly. Firmly. "Stop listening to what they're saying."
His thumbs brushed lightly, steadying him.
"...They don't know you. They're just talking."
Pond didn't respond.
Didn't move.
But his breathing hitched slightly.
Phuwin stayed close.
Voice softer now.
"...Get a grip, okay? Breathe."
A pause.
"...You're not what they're calling you."
He didn't let go.
Just stayed there, holding him steady as the noise outside the room felt like it didn't exist anymore.
Pond's hand slowly closed around Phuwin's wrist.
Not tight.
Just... Holding on.
Like he was afraid Phuwin might disappear if he let go.
His voice came out low.
"...Why are you making me feel like this, Phuwin?"
Phuwin froze.
His brows knit slightly.
"...What do you mean?"
But Pond didn't answer.
Not properly.
Instead, his grip loosened-
And his body suddenly gave way forward.
His forehead dropped against Phuwin's shoulder.
Heavy.
And then-
The tears came harder.
Silent.
No sobbing.
No sound at all.
Just warm tears soaking through Phuwin's shoulder like they had nowhere else to go.
Phuwin went still.
Completely frozen.
For a second, he didn't know what to do.
His hands hovered awkwardly in the air.
Then slowly-
Hesitantly-
He placed one hand on Pond's back.
And began rubbing it gently.
Pond didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Just stayed there, holding on like he didn't know how to stand by himself anymore.
Phuwin's thoughts spiraled quietly.
Why am I making you feel like this?
What does that even mean?
I didn't do anything... Did I?
Why is he like this right now...?
His expression tightened slightly, confused more than anything.
Not pulling away.
Just standing there, holding Pond up while trying to understand what he meant by those words.
---
Later, the gym was packed.
The semifinals were about to start.
The air inside the arena felt heavy- charged with noise, anticipation, and restless energy from the crowd filling the bleachers.
As Pond stepped onto the court, a wave of whispers immediately followed.
"...That's him."
"...The psycho guy."
"...He's actually playing after what happened?"
"...He almost killed someone and they still let him in?"
"...What if he snaps again?"
"...I wouldn't even stand near him."
Phones were already up.
Some people recorded.
Some avoided looking directly at him.
The tension wasn't just from the game anymore.
It was from him.
He stood near his team, silent.
But his eyes weren't fully there.
Not focused.
Not grounded.
---
The whistle blew.
The game started.
It was messy at first.
Fast passes.
Missed timing.
Miscommunication.
Pond's team struggled to keep up with the pressure and the crowd noise that kept circling back to him.
"...Stay focused!" One teammate shouted.
But even that sounded distant.
Opponents pushed hard, taking advantage of every opening.
The score started to shift.
Fast.
But then-
Phuwin stepped in.
At first, it was subtle.
A clean steal.
A fast pass.
A perfectly timed assist.
Then it became undeniable.
He started reading the game like it was slowing down just for him.
Calling plays.
Redirecting movement.
Covering gaps before they even fully opened.
"Phuwin's carrying them..." Someone in the bleachers muttered, surprised.
Another sharp steal.
A fast break.
A clean shot.
The momentum shifted.
Slowly.
Then all at once.
Pond started to come back into focus as he watched Phuwin move.
His breathing steadied slightly.
But it was still shaky.
Still not fully there.
Phuwin drove forward again, dodging defenders, passing at the perfect moment-
Score.
The buzzer sounded shortly after.
Silence.
Then eruption.
They had made it.
Finals.
Pond stood there for a second, staring at the scoreboard like he couldn't fully process it.
But Phuwin didn't look at that.
He just exhaled, wiping sweat from his face, steadying his breath.
And somehow-
Despite everything around them-
They had pushed through.
---
The gym slowly emptied as people drifted out, voices fading into the hallway chatter and sneaker squeaks against the floor.
Their team had split up too- some laughing weakly about the win, others still replaying moments of the game like they couldn't believe they survived it.
But on the far side of the bench, it was quiet.
Pond sat with his sport bag still slung over his shoulder, elbows resting on his knees, eyes fixed somewhere on the floor like it had answers.
Phuwin sat beside him.
Close, but not touching.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Just the distant echo of the crowd leaving, and the soft hum of the arena lights above.
Phuwin glanced sideways at him.
Then finally, he broke the silence.
"...You didn't play like yourself today."
Pond didn't answer.
His gaze didn't move, but he was listening.
Phuwin leaned back slightly, exhaling.
"You were there... But you weren't really there."
A pause.
Then softer-
"If you keep letting what they say get in your head, it's going to pull you apart on the court."
Still, Pond said nothing.
But his fingers tightened slightly around the strap of his bag.
Phuwin noticed.
He didn't push harder.
Instead, he looked forward again, voice steady but quieter now.
"...We made it to the finals. That matters."
Another beat of silence.
Pond finally shifted his eyes a little- just enough to acknowledge him, still wordless.
Phuwin nodded once, like that was enough for now.
And they stayed there.
Side by side.
In the quiet after the noise.
---
A few moments later-
Phuwin stood up.
Then he turned slightly and held out his hand.
"Let's go eat some cherries."
Pond looked up at him.
"...Coffee with whipped cream?" He asked quietly.
Phuwin smiled- soft, warm.
"Coffee with whipped cream."
"And a cherry on top."
Pond blinked.
For a second, he just looked at him.
Then slowly-
He reached out and took Phuwin's hand.
Letting himself be pulled up.
Phuwin's smile lingered.
"If you want," He added lightly, "you can have all the cherries in the café."
A small pause.
"I'll tell Phi Sammy I'll replace them."
Pond blinked again.
And then-
Just barely-
A small smile formed on his lips.
Faint.
But real.
---
The next day, the lecture hall was quiet.
Empty.
Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting soft lines across the desks.
Phuwin sat with his notes spread out, pen moving steadily as he wrote.
Beside from him, Gemini leaned back in his chair, scrolling through his phone.
Then he exhaled.
"...How's Pond?" Gemini muttered. "There's a lot of hate on him these days."
He paused, eyes still on the screen.
"...People are saying he almost killed Derek."
Phuwin froze.
His pen stopped mid-word.
Then-
"...He cried."
Gemini froze.
Completely still.
Like he misheard.
"...What?"
Phuwin blinked and finally looked up at him.
"He cried," He repeated quietly. "Maybe... Because of everything people are saying."
A small pause.
"...It got to him. Too much."
Gemini stared at him.
Eyes wide.
Disbelief written all over his face.
"...No," Gemini said immediately, shaking his head. "No way."
He leaned forward, brows furrowed.
"Pond doesn't cry."
Phuwin didn't interrupt.
Gemini continued, more serious now.
"We've known him for three years. He fights, he gets in trouble, he gets hated- but he doesn't care."
His voice dropped slightly.
"...He never cares about what people say."
He looked straight at Phuwin.
Confused.
Almost unsettled.
"...So why now?"
Phuwin exhaled slowly, eyes dropping back to his notes- but he wasn't really reading anymore.
"...Maybe it was just too much for him," He murmured. "Maybe everything just piled up."
Gemini blinked, processing that.
Then his head snapped up slightly.
"...Wait."
He leaned forward.
"...Did he cry in front of you?"
Phuwin hesitated for a second-
Then nodded.
Gemini blinked.
Once.
Twice.
"...Pond cried..." He muttered, still trying to process it, "in front of you?"
He stared at Phuwin like he was seeing him differently.
"...On you? Like- actually broke down in front of you?"
Phuwin didn't answer, but his silence was enough.
Gemini leaned back in his chair slowly, running a hand through his hair.
"...That's insane," He said under his breath.
He looked back at Phuwin, eyes narrowed slightly now- not judging, just confused.
"...Do you even realize how weird that is?"
A pause.
"...Pond doesn't let people see him like that. Ever."
Gemini tapped his fingers against the table, thinking.
"...And out of everyone... He chose you?"
He shook his head, still not fully believing it.
"...Something's going on," He muttered. "Because that's not normal."
Then he looked straight at Phuwin again.
"...What did you even do to him?"
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