CHAPTER 15
---
After that day, weeks passed like that for Phuwin.
The hallway didn't change.
The whispers didn't stop.
And Pond... Wasn't there.
Still suspended.
Still gone from campus.
Phuwin kept going to class anyway.
He still showed up.
Still sat through lectures.
Still answered when called on.
But outside of that-
He was just... Exhausted.
People kept pushing work onto him.
Assignments.
Notes.
Tasks they didn't want to do themselves.
And somehow, it became normal.
Even Gemini noticed.
One day he actually snapped at him.
"Phuwin, stop doing everything for them," He said firmly. "You're not their assistant."
But Phuwin just gave a small tired smile and kept going.
"...It's fine."
Gemini frowned. "No, it's not fine."
But Phuwin didn't really respond
---
And then one evening, he went home.
Quietly.
Dragging the weight of the whole day behind him.
He went straight to his room.
Closed the door.
Dropped onto his bed.
Silence.
Then-
He broke.
It didn't even come as a clear thought at first.
Just pressure.
Too much pressure.
Too many days of holding it in.
His face buried into the pillow as his shoulders shook slightly.
He didn't even fully understand why.
But one thing kept rising to the surface again and again.
Pond.
The silence felt different without him.
The space felt bigger.
Colder.
Phuwin's fingers clenched slightly into the fabric beneath him.
His breath hitched.
Why does it hurt like this?
Why am I like this?
I don't even understand it...
His mind kept circling, confused and tangled.
I should be fine.
It's just- he's suspended.
It's just him.
But it didn't feel like "just."
It felt heavier.
More personal.
More constant.
Phuwin pressed his forehead harder into the bed.
Trying to make the thoughts stop.
But instead, the feeling only got clearer.
And that was what scared him the most.
Because he still didn't understand it-
But he missed Pond.
And it hurt more than he knew how to explain.
Phuwin's phone suddenly lit up with a notification.
He wiped his tears quickly, sitting up on the bed.
His fingers hesitated for a second-
Then he opened it.
The screen loaded.
Social media.
Trending again.
And then he saw it.
A video.
Book.
His younger brother.
On the street.
Kissing a guy quickly before pulling away.
The caption underneath already had thousands of comments.
"BOOK HAS A BOYFRIEND TOO??"
Phuwin's eyes widened instantly.
"...What?"
He sat up straighter.
His breathing stopped for a second.
Then-
"BOOK??"
He shouted it without even realizing.
He stared at the screen again, replaying it like his brain refused to accept it.
Book... Hiding this?
All this time?
His chest tightened in confusion and shock.
Not because of anger-
But because he genuinely never knew.
And somehow, part of him already suspected Book was hiding something... But not this.
He scrolled down.
And the comments were already flooding in.
"LMAO BOTH brOTHERS???"
"Nah this family is actually wild ??"
"First Phuwin, now Book??"
"Are they just... Like that??"
"Politician dad btw ?? imagine the embarrassment"
"Two gay sons is crazy work"
"This family is done fr"
"So the perfect family image is gone lol"
"This is disgusting honestly"
Phuwin's grip on the phone tightened.
His expression froze.
Not just shock anymore.
Pressure again.
That same suffocating feeling creeping back in.
But this time-
It wasn't only about him.
Footsteps suddenly echoed down the hallway.
Fast.
Uneven.
Then-
A sharp crash.
Glass breaking.
A vase shattering somewhere near the stairs.
Phuwin's body jolted.
He stood up immediately.
"...Book?"
Before he could move further, the footsteps came closer- rushing past his room.
Book appeared in the hallway.
Eyes red.
Face wet.
Breathing uneven like he couldn't catch it.
"Book!" Phuwin called, stepping forward.
But Book didn't stop.
He didn't even look at him properly.
He just ran.
Phuwin rushed after him instinctively.
"Wait- Book!"
But Book reached his room first.
The door slammed shut.
BANG.
Phuwin froze in front of it.
His hand lifted slightly, like he was going to knock.
Then stopped.
"Book..." He said quietly.
No response.
Just silence from inside.
Phuwin stood there for a moment longer, chest tight again, listening to nothing but the muffled sounds behind the door and the faint echo of breaking glass still ringing in his ears.
---
The next morning, Phuwin felt like he was dragging himself through water just to reach campus.
His steps were slow.
Heavy.
Like his body didn't fully belong to him anymore.
The moment he entered the hallway, he felt it again.
That shift in air.
The stares.
The waiting whispers.
It started immediately.
"Isn't that Phuwin?"
"Yeah..."
"So it's true about his brother too?"
"Bro, both of them?"
"That family is actually wild."
"Imagine having two gay sons."
"Isn't their dad a politician?"
"Yeah, that's embarrassing."
"Like seriously, what is going on with that family."
"First Phuwin, now Book."
"Perfect image? Gone."
Phuwin kept walking.
Eyes down.
Expression blank, but tight around the edges.
More voices followed him from different sides.
"Honestly it's kind of disgusting."
"Yeah, didn't expect that from them."
"So fake, all that 'perfect student' act."
"They were hiding it the whole time."
"No wonder people don't trust them now."
"Two brothers like that is crazy."
His fingers curled slightly around his bag strap.
He didn't look at anyone.
Didn't respond.
Just kept moving forward through the hallway like he could pass through it if he went fast enough.
But the words stuck anyway.
Heavy.
Everywhere.
And for the first time that morning, Phuwin realized it wasn't just exhaustion anymore.
It was something deeper-
Like he was being erased in real time by everyone around him.
---
That night, Phuwin sat in silence in front of the TV, the glow of the screen lighting up his face.
A news interview was playing.
His father.
Calm. Controlled. Smiling for the cameras.
The reporter's voice was careful, but direct.
"Regarding the recent rumors about your sons..."
A pause.
"...Are both of your sons actually gay?"
Phuwin's expression went still.
His eyes locked onto the screen.
His father didn't hesitate.
He gave a small, rehearsed laugh.
"No, of course not," He said smoothly. "Those are just rumors."
Another question followed.
"But the public is saying-"
His father cut in immediately.
"My sons are not gay. People like to create stories."
A polite smile.
A practiced tone.
"And how are you handling the situation at home?" The interviewer asked.
That pause lasted a second too long.
Then-
"I'm focused on maintaining our family's reputation," His father answered.
Phuwin's jaw tightened.
His hands slowly curled into fists.
No mention of Book.
No concern.
No protection.
Just image.
Just politics.
Just reputation.
Phuwin let out a sharp, quiet breath through his nose.
"...Of course," He muttered bitterly.
Something inside him snapped- not loud, not dramatic.
Just final.
He stood up abruptly.
Grabbed the vase from the coffee table.
A second of silence.
Then-
He threw it at the TV.
CRASH.
Glass shattered.
The screen flickered violently before going dark.
The room fell into sudden silence.
Phuwin stood there, breathing hard, staring at the broken screen.
His chest rose and fell unevenly.
Not calm.
Not okay.
Just full.
"Phi...?"
Book's voice came from few steps away.
Small.
Careful.
Phuwin froze.
Slowly, he turned.
Book was standing there, still looking worn out from yesterday- eyes tired, face puffy like he hadn't really recovered.
The silence between them was heavy for a second.
Then Phuwin forced a gentle smile.
"...Book."
He walked over slowly, soft steps.
"...Are you okay?"
Book let out a shaky breath, looking away.
"...I don't know."
Phuwin frowned slightly, then shook his head.
"Come here."
Book hesitated, but stayed where he was.
So Phuwin stood closer instead.
After a moment, Phuwin spoke again.
"...Why didn't you tell me?"
Book looked up slightly.
"...About your boyfriend."
That made Book's shoulders tense.
He swallowed.
"...I was scared," Book admitted quietly. "I thought... You'd think I'm disgusting."
Phuwin went still.
For a second, he just stared at him.
Then he shook his head immediately.
"No," Phuwin said firmly.
His voice softened right after.
"...No, Book. Never."
He stepped closer and gently placed a hand on his brother's shoulder.
"I would never think you're disgusting."
A pause.
"...You're still my brother."
Book's eyes flickered, like he wanted to say something but couldn't hold it together.
Phuwin exhaled slowly and pulled him into a careful hug.
Not tight.
Just steady.
"It's okay," He said quietly. "You don't have to hide from me."
Book finally broke a little in his arms, shoulders shaking as he leaned in.
And Phuwin just stayed there, holding him, grounding him- like he was trying to take at least one piece of the chaos away from him.
---
The next day, Phuwin came home completely drained.
His steps were slow as he reached the house, shoulders heavy, mind already foggy from everything at university.
Then he heard it.
Shouting.
Inside.
His eyes widened.
"...Book?"
He didn't think.
He ran.
Pushed the door open and rushed inside.
The living room was chaos.
Book was there- on the floor slightly, shaking, crying hard while trying to pull himself away.
Their father stood over him, voice raised, face tight with anger.
"And don't you ever say that again!"
Their mother stood behind him.
Tears streaming down her face.
Hands slightly raised like she wanted to stop it- but couldn't bring herself to.
Phuwin froze for half a second.
Then moved instantly.
"Book!"
He rushed forward and pulled himself between them, shielding Book completely.
"Stop it!" Phuwin shouted.
Silence broke for a second-
Then their father snapped his head toward him.
"You!"
The air changed immediately.
Phuwin didn't move.
He stood firm, still shielding Book behind him.
And then it came.
The explosion.
"Do you think I don't know what people are saying about YOU?" His father shouted.
"Rumors about you and that Pond boy- your behavior, your disgraceful actions- working in a café like some poor nobody- do you know what people are saying about this family?!"
Phuwin's jaw tightened.
"And that guy," His father continued, voice rising more, "that Pond- he's a monster. A psycho who drags people into trouble-"
That was it.
Phuwin's eyes sharpened instantly.
"Don't talk about him like that."
His voice was louder now.
Strained- but firm.
"You don't even know him."
His father scoffed sharply.
"Oh? And you do?"
Phuwin didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
A beat.
Then his father's face twisted further.
"Look at you," He snapped. "Defending him? After everything? After these rumors? After you embarrassing this family- working like some low-class student in a café-"
Phuwin's fists clenched.
"That has nothing to do with him," He cut in sharply.
His father ignored him, voice rising even more.
"And both of you think I don't know what people are saying? That my sons- MY SONS-are-"
He stopped himself just barely, but the meaning was clear.
"They are NOT like that," He said instead, harshly. "They are NOT."
Book was still behind Phuwin, crying quietly.
Their mother covered her mouth, sobbing harder now.
Phuwin stood there in the middle of it all, breathing unevenly, shielding his brother with his entire body.
And for the first time-
He didn't step back.
His father's voice rose again, sharp and unyielding.
"They are NOT gay," He repeated angrily, as if saying it louder would make it true. "My sons are NOT like that. This is all nonsense- rumors created by people who want to destroy our name!"
Book flinched behind Phuwin, still crying softly.
Their mother shook her head helplessly, tears falling as she stood frozen behind them.
Phuwin's breathing tightened.
For a moment, he just stared at his father- like he was trying to understand how someone could care more about image than their own children.
Then he spoke.
Quiet at first.
"...So that's all it is to you?"
His father frowned.
"What?"
Phuwin's voice sharpened slightly.
"All you care about is whether people think we're 'normal' enough for your reputation?"
A tense silence filled the room.
His father's jaw tightened.
"Watch your tone."
But Phuwin didn't stop.
He stepped forward just slightly, still shielding Book behind him.
"You didn't even ask if Book was okay," He said, voice shaking but firm. "You just started screaming at him."
His father snapped immediately.
"Because this is serious! Do you understand what people are saying about this family? About YOU? About Book? About that Pond boy and your behavior-"
Phuwin's eyes flashed.
"Stop blaming him."
His father scoffed again.
"That boy is ruining your name- he's dangerous, he's unstable-"
"No," Phuwin cut in sharply.
His voice rose now, more certain.
"You don't get to talk about him like that when you don't even know him."
His father stared at him, stunned for a second by the defiance.
Phuwin's chest rose and fell, but he didn't back down.
"And if you're so worried about reputation," He continued, quieter but sharper, "then maybe you should've thought about your own sons before you started caring about what strangers say about them."
The room went silent.
Only Book's quiet sobs and their mother's trembling breaths filled the space.
Phuwin stood there, still shielding Book.
And for once, he didn't look away.
The moment his words finished hanging in the air-
His father snapped.
A loud, sharp slap echoed through the room.
Phuwin's head was forced to the side.
The impact rang through his face, leaving the room suddenly too quiet in its aftermath.
"PHUWIN!" His mother screamed immediately, voice breaking.
She rushed forward instinctively, shaking.
His father's breathing was harsh, angry.
"And now you're talking back again?" He shouted. "You've gone too far!"
Their mother grabbed his arm desperately.
"Stop! Please- don't hurt them anymore!" She cried, sobbing hard. "They're your children!"
Book, who was still shaking behind Phuwin, stood up from the floor quickly.
"Phi..." He sobbed. "Are you okay?"
Phuwin didn't answer right away.
His head was still turned from the slap.
His breathing was uneven.
Slowly-
He turned back.
And when he looked up-
His eyes were glossy.
Tearing.
Not from pain alone.
But from everything piling up at once.
His voice came out shaky at first.
"...You want to know something?"
Silence.
Even Book stopped breathing for a second.
Phuwin swallowed hard.
And then it all came out.
"All this time..." He said, voice cracking, "I tried."
"I tried to be perfect."
"I tried to be what you wanted."
His hands trembled slightly at his sides.
"I smiled when I was exhausted."
"I said yes when people used me."
"I did everyone's work, everyone's expectations- like it was nothing."
His voice rose slightly, breaking more.
"And you weren't even there."
His mother gasped softly, covering her mouth.
Phuwin shook his head, tears falling now freely.
"I raised Book half the time because you were never here."
"Never."
Book sobbed harder behind him.
"Phi..."
Phuwin's voice sharpened through the pain.
"So maybe tell me," He said, staring straight at his father now, "what kind of parents does that make you?"
A pause.
Then-
His voice turned raw.
"Maybe you're not really our parents anymore."
The room froze.
Phuwin took a shaky breath.
And then, bitterly-
"A real father... Cares more about his sons than his damn political image."
A curse slipped out as his voice broke harder.
Silence dropped instantly.
His father stood completely still.
For the first time-
No shouting.
No interruption.
Just silence.
Phuwin stood there for a moment longer, tears still falling silently down his face.
The room felt too heavy. Too loud even in its silence.
He looked at his father one last time.
"...That's all I have to say," He said quietly.
His voice was empty now.
Tired.
Then he reached back and gently grabbed Book's wrist.
Book flinched but quickly held on to him.
"Come on," Phuwin whispered.
And without waiting for anything else-
He turned.
He led Book away from the living room, footsteps slow but steady as they walked past the broken silence of their parents.
Their mother covered her face, sobbing quietly.
Their father didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Just stood there frozen, staring after them.
Phuwin didn't look back.
Not once.
He just walked upstairs, tears still running down his face, expression blank like he was holding himself together out of pure habit now.
And behind him-
The house stayed silent.
---
Later that evening, after everything had gone quiet inside the house, Phuwin finally stepped out of his room.
His face was still tired from crying, eyes slightly red, movements slow as he walked through the dim hallway.
That's when he noticed it.
Book.
Wearing a hoodie.
Quietly sneaking toward the door.
The house was silent.
Almost too silent.
Phuwin's brows furrowed slightly.
He followed.
Careful steps down the stairs, then through the living room, until he reached the front gate outside.
"Book."
His voice broke the still air.
Book froze instantly.
Slowly turned around.
"Phi..." Book's eyes flickered with concern. "Are you okay?"
Phuwin paused for a second.
Then forced a small smile.
"...Yeah. I'm fine."
Book immediately frowned.
"You always say that when you're not."
Phuwin exhaled through his nose, the smile fading slightly.
"...Where are you going?"
Book hesitated.
Then spoke softly.
"I'm going to stay with my boyfriend for a while."
A pause.
"I promise I'll be back."
Phuwin went still.
He stared at him for a long moment, processing it quietly.
Then he nodded once.
"...Okay then," He said softly. "Be careful."
A beat.
Then he added, quieter-
"I'm going to Gemini's house tonight. Text me, okay?"
Book nodded.
"Okay then."
He turned to leave again.
But-
"Book."
Book stopped.
Looked back.
"Yeah, Phi?"
Phuwin hesitated for a second, then spoke gently.
"If you have time... Next time, let me meet your boyfriend."
A small pause.
"I want to know what kind of person my little brother fell for."
Book blinked.
Then slowly- he smiled.
"...Sure."
And with that, he turned and walked away into the night.
Phuwin stood there for a moment, watching his brother disappear down the street.
A soft, tired smile formed on his face.
Then he turned in the opposite direction and walked off quietly toward Gemini's house.
—————————————————————————