CHAPTER 21
---
Later at the hospital, the doors burst open as medical staff rushed in, pushing a stretcher at full speed through the entrance.
"Clear the way! Move- move!"
The wheels screeched against the floor as they rushed inside.
Phuwin followed closely behind, stumbling slightly as he tried to keep up.
"Pond- Pond, please- stay awake- please-"
His voice kept breaking, his hand reaching forward like he could still hold onto him if he tried hard enough.
The stretcher disappeared deeper into the emergency area.
Red lights flashed above them.
People moved too fast to follow properly.
Then suddenly-
"Phuwin?"
A voice.
Phuwin turned.
His mother stood there, eyes scanning him instantly.
Her expression shifted the moment she saw him.
Blood on his clothes.
On his hands.
His face.
"What happened?" She asked quickly, stepping closer.
"Why are you covered in blood?"
Phuwin's breath hitched.
His knees gave out immediately.
He dropped down in front of her.
"Mom-"
His voice cracked completely.
"Please- please save him-"
Tears spilled down his face uncontrollably now.
"I'm begging you- save Pond- please-"
His shoulders shook as he sobbed harder, unable to stop himself.
"I didn't- I didn't get to- I didn't even finish-"
His words broke apart.
His mother's eyes widened sharply.
For a moment, she just stood there, frozen by the panic in his voice.
Then she quickly reached down, grabbing Phuwin and pulling him back up to his feet.
"Phu- look at me."
Her voice steadied, urgent but controlled.
"I'll try. I will."
She turned immediately, already moving.
"I'll go with them."
And then she rushed after the stretcher, disappearing into the emergency doors.
Phuwin was left standing there.
Frozen.
Breathing uneven.
Hands still shaking.
His eyes stayed fixed on the direction they took Pond.
Silent tears kept falling down his face.
And for a moment, it felt like the entire hospital had gone too quiet around him.
---
Later, Phuwin sat on one of the hospital benches.
His elbows rested on his knees.
Both hands tangled tightly in his hair.
His eyes stared at the floor.
Unblinking.
Empty-
But filled with something deeper.
Fear.
Everything felt too quiet.
Too still.
Like time had slowed down just to make him feel every second of it.
Am I too late?
The thought hit him hard.
Over and over again.
His breathing shook slightly.
If I didn't make him wait...
His grip tightened in his hair.
If I just said it earlier...
His chest hurt.
Actually hurt.
Like something was pressing down too hard from the inside.
I could've told him.
His lips parted slightly, but no sound came out.
I like you.
I love you.
His eyes blurred as tears fell again.
Inside his mind, it was louder.
Messier.
Breaking apart.
I love you, Pond.
Do you hear me?
I love you, okay?!
His shoulders trembled.
Please don't leave me.
Tears kept running down his face, falling silently onto the floor beneath him.
And for the first time-
Phuwin had nothing to hide behind.
No "perfect" version.
No calm mask.
Just fear.
And love-
That came too late to say out loud.
---
Later, footsteps approached.
Phuwin looked up immediately.
His mother.
He stood up too quickly, almost stumbling forward.
"Mom-"
His voice was tight, desperate.
She stopped in front of him, her expression serious- but softer than before.
"...He's in a stable condition now," She said carefully.
Phuwin's breath hitched.
She continued, choosing her words slowly.
"The impact to his head was strong. There was significant bleeding... But we managed to control it."
A pause.
"...Right now, he's stable."
Phuwin nodded quickly, like he was trying to hold onto that one word.
Stable.
But then-
His mother's gaze shifted slightly.
"...However..."
Phuwin froze.
"There's a possibility..." She continued, voice quieter now, "that he might fall into a coma."
A pause.
"...We don't know how long it would last. It could be days... Or longer."
Silence.
Phuwin's expression broke instantly.
"No-"
His voice cracked.
Tears spilled again, faster now, uncontrollable.
He shook his head slightly.
"...No, no-"
His breathing became uneven.
His chest rising and falling too quickly.
And then he cried.
Completely.
His mother hesitated for a moment.
Just a second.
Like she didn't know if she should-
Then she stepped forward.
And hugged him.
Phuwin didn't hold back this time.
He clung to her, shoulders shaking as he cried into her, all the fear and guilt spilling out at once.
"...He can't-" he sobbed. "He can't do this-"
His mother held him tighter.
Not saying anything.
Just there.
And Phuwin cried like he hadn't cried in a long time.
Because this time-
He had something he was truly afraid to lose.
---
Later, Phuwin stepped into Pond's hospital room.
The door closed softly behind him.
Pond lay on the bed.
Head bandaged.
Machines quietly monitoring him.
Still.
Too still.
Phuwin's eyes were red, his nose flushed from crying.
He walked slowly to the chair beside the bed.
Sat down.
Carefully- almost like he was afraid to break something-
He reached out and took Pond's hand.
Then he intertwined their fingers.
Tightly.
Like he didn't want to let go again.
He just stared at him.
Silent.
His mother stood in the doorway, watching.
For a moment, she said nothing.
Then-
"...He's the one you kissed in that video, right?"
Phuwin froze.
His fingers tightened slightly around Pond's hand.
Slowly-
He nodded.
His mother studied him quietly.
Not judging.
Just... Understanding.
"...You must really love him."
Phuwin froze again.
His brows furrowed slightly.
"...What?" He whispered.
A pause.
"...Why aren't you mad?"
His mother exhaled softly, stepping a little further into the room.
"...Because it's been a long time since I accepted it."
Phuwin blinked.
"...That both of my sons like boys," She continued gently.
"I just... Never said anything."
A small pause.
"...I wanted you to figure things out on your own."
Her gaze softened as she looked at him.
"...And I wanted you to be happy."
Phuwin's grip on Pond's hand tightened again.
Then her expression shifted slightly.
More serious now.
"...The only problem..."
A pause.
"...Is your father."
Phuwin's gaze hardened instantly.
His jaw tightened.
He didn't say anything.
But the tension in him said enough.
His mother noticed.
So she shifted the topic gently.
"...Does he have any close family we should inform?" She asked. "Someone who needs to know what happened?"
Phuwin blinked.
Then nodded.
"...Yeah."
She gave a small nod back.
"I'll handle it."
And then she stepped out of the room quietly, closing the door behind her.
Silence.
Phuwin turned back to Pond.
The machines kept beeping softly.
Pond didn't move.
Didn't react.
Still.
Phuwin's expression broke again.
Tears welled up in his eyes, falling without resistance.
"...I'm sorry," He whispered.
His voice shook.
He tightened his hold on Pond's hand.
"...I'm so sorry for making you wait..."
His shoulders trembled slightly.
"...I kept pushing you away... Just because I was confused or something."
A broken breath.
"...And I didn't even realize how much it was hurting you."
He lowered his head slightly, voice cracking.
"...I didn't mean to hurt you."
More tears fell.
"...I just didn't understand what I was feeling."
A pause.
"...But I do now."
His fingers tightened again, like he was anchoring himself.
"...I really do."
His voice softened, almost pleading.
"...So please..."
A shaky breath.
"...Wake up."
Silence answered him.
And Phuwin stayed there-
Holding his hand,
Crying quietly,
Waiting.
---
Later, Phuwin was still in the hospital room.
Sitting beside Pond.
Still holding his hand.
Suddenly-
The door burst open.
Force rushed in first.
"POND!"
Fourth followed right behind him, his voice already breaking.
"Phi Pond-!"
Tears streamed down his face as he ran toward the bed.
Book stopped a few steps behind them.
Eyes wide.
Frozen at the sight.
Pond.
Bandaged.
Unmoving.
Force reached the bedside, his chest rising and falling hard as he stared.
His hands clenched.
"...What the hell happened to him?"
Phuwin looked up slowly.
His eyes were still red.
His voice quiet.
"...Derek."
Silence.
Force went still.
Then his expression snapped.
Anger exploded across his face.
"...That bastard-"
He turned sharply, already moving like he was about to storm out.
"I'll kill him-"
"Force!"
Book rushed forward immediately, grabbing his arm tightly.
"Stop-!"
Force struggled against him, breathing heavy, anger completely taking over.
"Let go-!"
Book held on stronger.
"You can't just go out there and-!"
Force shoved his hand through his hair, frustration spilling out.
"Look at him, Book!"
His voice cracked slightly despite the anger.
"Look what he did to my brother-!"
He kicked lightly at the side of a chair in frustration, pacing a step before stopping again.
His emotions were all over the place- rage, fear, helplessness.
Fourth stood by Pond's other side, crying quietly, holding onto the bed.
"...Phi..." He whispered shakily.
Book kept a firm grip on Force, trying to calm him down.
"Not like this... Please..."
Phuwin stayed where he was.
Still holding Pond's hand.
Still watching him.
And the room filled with tension and anger all at once.
Gemini and Louis rushed inside next.
The room was already tense.
Too tense.
Force was still breathing heavily, anger still boiling in his chest as he tried to pull away from Book's grip.
Fourth was still crying near Pond's bedside.
Book was still trying to calm everything down.
Then-
Force suddenly grabbed something nearby in frustration, raising it slightly while yelling something sharp.
Fourth flinched.
"Stop it!"
Gemini snapped immediately as he stepped in.
His voice was loud- sharper than usual.
But in the chaos-
Force turned too fast.
And Book got shoved.
"Book-!"
Louis rushed forward, but it was too late.
Book stumbled backward and fell onto the floor.
Silence hit the room for half a second.
Phuwin's eyes widened instantly.
"...Book!"
He stood up fast, rushing toward him, panic flashing across his face.
But then-
His expression changed.
He turned sharply back to Force.
"...What are you doing?"
His voice was low.
Tight.
Force froze slightly.
Gemini stepped forward, grabbing Fourth and pulling him close as he buried his face into his chest, shaking.
"It's okay... It's okay..." He murmured softly, holding him tightly.
Louis quickly knelt beside Book, helping him sit up.
"Are you okay?" He asked urgently, checking his arm.
Book blinked, still shocked.
"...He pushed me," He said quietly, like he couldn't fully believe it himself.
Force stood still now.
Realizing what just happened.
His hands slowly lowered.
"...I didn't mean to-"
But Phuwin cut him off immediately.
His voice sharp.
"I don't care."
Everyone turned to him.
Phuwin's jaw was tight, eyes burning.
"I don't like my brother dating someone who hurts him."
Silence.
Force looked at him, stunned.
Book stayed on the floor, eyes wide.
Fourth kept crying softly against Gemini's chest.
And Pond still lay silent on the hospital bed-
As everything around him broke into pieces.
Phuwin's chest was rising fast, anger lingering in his voice.
But then he took a breath.
Just one.
His gaze stayed locked on Force.
"...Calm down."
Force blinked slightly.
Phuwin stepped forward a little, voice still firm but more controlled now.
"...Get a grip of yourself."
A pause.
"This is a hospital," He continued, quieter but sharper in meaning. "Not a place to lose control like that."
His eyes flicked briefly to Book on the floor, then to Fourth crying in Gemini's arms, then back to Force.
"And Pond is lying there," Phuwin said, voice tightening.
Silence filled the room.
Phuwin's hands curled slightly at his sides.
"...So don't make it worse."
Force stood there, frozen, breathing uneven.
Book was still being held by Louis.
Fourth was still shaking quietly.
Gemini held him tighter.
And Phuwin stayed standing-
Tired, shaking, but finally steady enough to keep everyone from falling apart further.
Force slowly swallowed.
The anger in his face didn't disappear completely- but it cracked.
He looked at Book.
At Louis holding him.
At the silence in the room.
Then slowly-
Force knelt down in front of Book.
"Book..." He whispered, voice rough.
Book blinked, still sitting on the floor, a little stunned.
Force lowered his head.
"...I'm sorry."
His voice broke slightly on the last word.
"...I didn't mean to push you."
A pause.
"...I lost control."
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then Book let out a small breath.
He reached out carefully and placed a hand on Force's shoulder.
"...I know."
Force looked up slightly, eyes still tense.
Book gave him a small, tired smile.
"But next time," He said softly, "don't solve it by throwing people around."
Force let out a shaky breath.
And he nodded.
And then he leaned forward and hugged Book tightly.
Not rough.
Not angry.
Just... Desperate.
Like he needed to make sure everything wasn't falling apart completely.
Book hesitated for a second-
Then returned the hug.
"...It's okay," He murmured.
Phuwin was still standing, watching.
His shoulders finally loosened slightly.
He exhaled.
Louis exhaled too, rubbing the back of his neck.
"...Thank god," He muttered under his breath.
Gemini, still holding Fourth, also let out a slow breath.
Fourth looked back weakly, wiping his tears.
Suddenly-
Phuwin's mother appeared at the doorway.
Her presence alone immediately shifted the atmosphere in the room.
She looked at the overturned chair, the tense faces, the scattered panic that had only just started to settle.
Her brows furrowed.
"...What exactly is going on here?"
Her gaze moved slowly across them.
"...In a hospital."
A pause.
"...Right in front of a patient."
Silence.
Everyone froze.
Even Force straightened slightly.
"...Sorry," They all said almost at the same time, voices overlapping awkwardly.
Phuwin's mother let out a controlled sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"...I'll deal with this later," She said firmly.
Then her eyes softened slightly as she looked toward Pond's room.
"...But not here."
---
An hour later.
The room had emptied out.
Most of them had been asked to wait outside or settle down.
Now only a few remained inside- Force, Phuwin, Book, and Phuwin's mother.
The atmosphere was quieter.
Heavier in a different way now.
Phuwin's mother turned to Force first.
Her tone was calmer now, but still serious.
"...About Pond's condition."
Force straightened immediately.
"...He sustained a severe head injury," She explained carefully. "We've stabilized him, but he's still unconscious."
A pause.
"...There's a possibility of coma depending on how he responds in the next few days."
Force's face tightened instantly.
His hands clenched slightly at his sides.
"...I see."
Phuwin's mother continued.
"...He needs complete rest and monitoring. No stress. No disturbances."
Her eyes lingered on Force for a moment, as if silently emphasizing responsibility.
Force swallowed.
Then lowered his head.
"...I'm sorry," He said quietly. "For everything. I'll pay for the damages inside here."
Phuwin's mother blinked once.
Then slowly shook her head.
"...You don't need to."
Force looked up, confused.
She continued evenly.
"...I already know you're Book's boyfriend."
A pause.
"...And whatever happens between you boys, financial matters are not your burden here."
Force's eyes widened slightly.
"...Huh?"
Phuwin's mother's expression softened just a little.
"...It will be handled by us."
Force stood there for a second, stunned.
Then he bowed slightly, deeply.
"...Thank you," He said sincerely. "Really... Thank you so much."
Book, standing beside him, gave a small tired smile and lightly nudged Force's arm.
"...Told you she's strict but kind," He murmured.
Phuwin exhaled softly.
And for a moment-
The chaos outside quieted enough to remember why they were all there in the first place.
---
For the past few days, Phuwin barely left Pond's side.
Every morning, he would be there.
Same chair.
Same position.
His hand always wrapped tightly around Pond's.
Like if he let go, something irreversible would happen.
The hospital room had become quiet in a different way now.
Not chaotic like before.
Just... Waiting.
Sometimes, Phuwin would rest his head near their joined hands, eyes half-lidded from exhaustion.
Other times, he just stared at Pond's face, watching for any small movement.
Anything.
And people came.
Gemini visited, usually bringing small food packets or drinks, standing awkwardly at the doorway before stepping in.
He never stayed long.
But he always looked at Pond with worry in his eyes.
Fourth came often too.
Sometimes quietly.
Sometimes crying again without warning.
He would sit by the bed and gently talk to Pond like he could still hear him.
"...Phi, you're annoying everyone," He would whisper through tears, trying to smile. "So please wake up soon."
Force came too.
He didn't speak much.
Just stood there with his arms crossed, jaw tight, staring at Pond's bandaged head.
But every time he looked at Phuwin holding his hand, something in his expression softened.
"...He better wake up," He muttered once under his breath.
Book visited regularly as well.
He would sit beside Phuwin, sometimes bringing him food he barely touched.
He didn't force him to talk.
He just stayed.
And that was enough.
Pond's group also came in shifts- quiet, respectful, careful not to overwhelm the room.
They would stand near the door, bow slightly, and leave small words of encouragement before stepping out again.
And through all of it-
Phuwin never let go.
Even when his fingers hurt.
Even when his eyes burned from lack of sleep.
Even when the silence became too loud.
He stayed.
Holding on.
Waiting.
Believing that at any moment-
Pond might finally open his eyes.
---
One evening, Phuwin came back into Pond's room quietly.
The hallway outside was dim, the hospital already settling into its nighttime silence.
He stepped inside slowly, like he didn't want to disturb anything.
Pond was still there.
Still unmoving.
Still quiet.
Phuwin held something in his hand.
A small punnet of cherries.
"...I bought you cherries," He whispered.
His voice was soft- almost careful, like Pond could hear him.
He lifted it slightly, as if showing it to him properly.
"...The same ones I bought for you before."
No response.
Only the steady sound of the machine beside the bed.
Phuwin exhaled.
Then walked closer and placed the cherries on the nightstand beside Pond.
Carefully.
Like it mattered.
He sat down in the chair again.
Same spot.
Same routine.
Then he reached for Pond's hand.
Holding it tightly.
"...When are you going to wake up?" He asked quietly.
His thumb moved slightly over Pond's skin, like he was trying to feel something back.
Silence.
Phuwin's jaw tightened.
His grip on Pond's hand didn't loosen.
"...This isn't funny anymore," He murmured, voice shaking slightly.
Then something in him cracked.
His eyes darkened, anger slipping through the exhaustion.
"...After this," He said lower, firmer, "I'm going to make sure Derek rots in jail."
His voice trembled on the last word.
A beat of silence followed.
And then-
A tear slipped down Phuwin's cheek.
It fell quietly.
Landing on Pond's hand.
Phuwin didn't wipe it away.
He just stayed there.
Holding on tighter.
Waiting in the quiet that felt too heavy to breathe in.
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