CHAPTER 22
---
Then suddenly-
Pond's hand twitched.
Phuwin froze instantly.
His breath caught in his throat.
His eyes widened, unblinking.
"...Pond?"
Another small movement.
Pond's fingers shifted slightly in his grip.
Phuwin shot up from the chair so fast it almost scraped against the floor.
"...Pond- Pond!"
His voice cracked immediately.
Pond's eyelids fluttered.
Slowly.
Dazed.
Heavy.
Then-
They opened.
Phuwin's entire body went still for half a second.
Like he couldn't believe it.
And then it hit him.
"POND!"
He shouted, louder this time, voice breaking as relief and shock collided in his chest.
He immediately leaned closer, gripping Pond's hand tighter.
"Pond, can you hear me? Can you hear me?!"
Pond blinked slowly, still disoriented, eyes struggling to focus.
Phuwin turned sharply toward the door.
"NURSE!" He screamed, voice desperate. "HE'S AWAKE! PLEASE- HE'S AWAKE!"
His shout echoed into the hallway.
He turned back immediately, hands trembling as he hovered over Pond.
"...Pond," He whispered now, softer, shaking. "Pond..."
His eyes were already filled with tears again-
But this time, not from fear.
From something he had been waiting for far too long.
---
Later, Phuwin's mother stood beside Pond's bed, carefully checking his eyes with a small penlight while a nurse assisted nearby.
Pond was now sitting up slowly, supported by pillows, still looking pale and confused.
Phuwin stayed close beside the bed, watching every small movement like he was afraid Pond might disappear again.
Pond blinked a few times, his voice rough and weak.
"...What happened to me?"
A brief silence filled the room.
Phuwin swallowed, then answered quietly.
"...Derek hit you in the head."
His jaw tightened slightly as he said it.
Pond's eyes shifted slightly, trying to process it.
Phuwin's mother finished her quick examination and gently lowered the light.
"...Good," She said calmly, more to herself than anyone else.
Pond looked up at her, confused.
"...Good?"
She gave a small nod.
"...Your memory is intact. No signs of loss memory so far."
A pause.
"...You're lucky."
Pond blinked again.
"...Memory...?"
His voice was still slow, like his thoughts hadn't fully caught up yet.
Phuwin's mother continued, adjusting her notes.
"...You've been unconscious for two weeks."
Pond froze.
"...Two weeks?"
His eyes widened slightly, shock settling in.
"...That long...?"
Phuwin nodded quietly from the side.
"...Yeah."
Pond looked down at his hands, then slowly around the room, as if trying to understand the time he lost.
Phuwin's mother closed her notebook gently.
"...He'll need rest and monitoring, but he's stable now."
She gave Pond one last brief look.
"...Recover slowly."
The nurse followed her toward the door.
Before leaving, Phuwin's mother glanced once at Phuwin- soft but firm.
Then she stepped out.
The nurse followed, closing the door quietly behind them.
Silence settled instantly in the room.
Only Phuwin and Pond remained.
Phuwin was frozen for a moment, staring at him like he was afraid to blink.
And for the first time in two weeks-
They were finally alone again.
Pond slowly turned his head.
"...Phuwin-"
Before Pond could finish, Phuwin leaned in so quickly that there was no time to react.
He kissed him.
Pond froze instantly, eyes wide, breath caught in shock.
But only for a second.
Slowly, something in him softened.
His shoulders eased.
His hand slowly reach out- gentle- as he carefully held the back of Phuwin's head and pulled him closer.
Phuwin didn't hesitate.
He kissed him like he had been holding everything in for too long- too much fear, too much waiting, too much regret finally breaking free.
The silence in the room disappeared completely.
It wasn't rushed.
It wasn't careful either.
It was real- messy and overwhelming, like two people finally finding each other after almost losing everything.
After a long moment, they slowly pulled away.
Foreheads almost still close.
Both of them breathing unevenly.
Phuwin's hands were shaking slightly where they rested near Pond.
His eyes were red, glassy, overwhelmed.
"I like you," Phuwin said suddenly, voice breaking on the words.
He swallowed hard.
"...I like you so much."
A pause.
"...I love you."
His grip tightened.
"...I'm sorry."
His voice cracked completely now.
"...I'm sorry for making you wait."
He shook his head slightly, like he couldn't believe how long it took him to say it.
"...I'm sorry for pushing you away... For being scared... For not saying it sooner."
Phuwin looked at him properly now, like he was afraid to look away.
"...I love you," He repeated again, softer but more certain.
"...I really love you."
A shaky breath.
"...I love you, Pond."
His eyes filled again, but he didn't move back.
Didn't let go.
Just stayed there- close, honest, finally saying what had been trapped in his chest for so long.
Phuwin kept repeating it through shaky breaths.
"...I love you... I love you, I love you..."
His voice was breaking apart between words, like he couldn't stop himself anymore.
Pond lifted his hand slowly.
Carefully.
Then pressed one finger gently against Phuwin's lips.
Stopping him.
Phuwin froze instantly, eyes still wet, breathing uneven.
Pond looked at him quietly.
Still weak, still recovering- but present.
Real.
"...I know..." Pond whispered softly.
A pause.
Then, a little clearer-
"...I love you too."
For a second, everything went still.
Like the entire world had stopped just to let that sentence exist.
Phuwin's face crumpled immediately.
He dropped his head straight into Pond's chest.
His hands clutched at Pond's hospital shirt tightly, like he was afraid letting go would make him disappear again.
And then he broke completely.
Tears came fast, uncontrollable.
His shoulders shaking as he sobbed.
"...I thought I lost you," Phuwin choked out between cries.
"...I thought you were gone... I thought-"
He couldn't finish the sentence.
He just held on tighter instead.
Pond's hand slowly moved, resting gently over Phuwin's back.
Weak- but steady.
Present.
"...I'm here," Pond whispered.
"...I'm here now."
And Phuwin only cried harder.
---
Later, when everything finally calmed down, the room felt softer.
Quieter.
Like the storm had passed- but its echo was still lingering in their hands.
Phuwin exhaled slowly, wiping the last traces of tears from his face.
His eyes were tired from crying, but calmer now.
More grounded.
He reached toward the nightstand and picked up the punnet of cherries he had brought earlier.
Carefully, he opened it.
Then he held it out toward Pond.
"...Eat some," He said softly.
Pond blinked at him for a moment, still a little weak, still adjusting to being awake.
Then slowly, he reached out and took one.
He ate it carefully.
Quietly.
Phuwin watched him with soft eyes, sitting close beside the bed.
Pond swallowed, then let out a small breath.
"...My body might really miss this," He murmured.
A faint, tired smile appeared on his lips.
"...I've been asleep too long without cherries."
Phuwin let out a small, relieved chuckle through his exhaustion.
"...Yeah," He said softly. "...You scared everyone too long."
Pond glanced at him.
"...Did I?"
Phuwin nodded immediately.
"...Two weeks," He reminded him quietly.
Pond blinked again, still trying to process it.
"...That's... A lot."
Phuwin leaned back slightly in the chair, still holding the cherries.
"...Your brother's coming," He said after a moment.
Pond looked up slightly.
"...Force?"
Phuwin nodded.
"...Yeah. I told him you're awake."
Pond exhaled slowly.
"...He's going to be loud," He muttered.
Phuwin gave a small smile.
"...Probably."
A short pause settled between them, but it wasn't uncomfortable anymore.
Just... Calm.
Pond picked another cherry, rolling it lightly between his fingers before eating it.
"...He's going to act angry first, it's annoying." He said.
Phuwin raised an eyebrow slightly.
"...And then?"
Pond shrugged faintly.
"...Then probably hug me like I didn't almost die."
Phuwin laughed quietly at that, shaking his head.
Pond looked at Phuwin for a moment longer.
"...You stayed here the whole time?"
Phuwin didn't hesitate.
"...Of course."
A pause.
"...I wasn't going anywhere."
Pond's gaze softened.
"...You really didn't leave."
Phuwin shook his head again, quieter this time.
"...Not once." Then paused. "Except if I went to buy something, of course."
Pond looked down at the cherries in his hand, then back at him.
"...You're stubborn."
Phuwin smiled faintly.
"...So are you."
He exhaled slowly, like all the tension finally melted out of him.
Without saying anything, he leaned forward again.
And kissed Pond again.
It started soft- careful, almost hesitant- like he was still afraid this wasn't real.
But it didn't stay that way for long.
The emotion behind it came rushing back.
Everything they had just survived.
Everything they had just confessed.
Everything they almost lost.
The kiss deepened, becoming rougher, more urgent- like neither of them wanted distance anymore, not even for a second.
Pond froze for only a moment before responding, pulling him closer with a steady hand, grounding him there.
Not letting him drift away.
The room faded again into silence around them, but this time it wasn't heavy.
It was warm.
Alive.
And when they finally pulled apart, both of them were breathing unevenly, foreheads almost touching-
As if even a single inch apart felt too far now.
Pond let out a quiet breath.
Then, without warning, he picked up a cherry from the punnet.
And gently- but firmly- shoved it into Phuwin's mouth.
Phuwin blinked, caught off guard.
His lips closed around it instinctively.
Pond's gaze softened slightly as he looked at him.
"...You're a good kisser," He said simply.
Phuwin froze for a second.
Then his brows pulled together like he didn't know whether to be embarrassed or annoyed.
He swallowed the cherry, then lightly pushed Pond's chest with two fingers.
"...Wow," He muttered, voice turning sarcastic.
"...You wake up after two weeks and that's your first comment?"
Pond gave a faint, tired smile.
"...Important observation."
Phuwin scoffed softly, shaking his head, but his eyes were clearly soft.
"...You're unbelievable."
Pond leaned back slightly against the pillows.
"...You like it."
Phuwin paused.
Then clicked his tongue.
"...Don't get cocky."
But the corner of his mouth still lifted anyway- small, relieved, and real this time.
---
Later, the door opened again.
Force came in first.
Book followed behind him, more cautious- like he was ready to stop Force at any second.
The moment Force saw Pond sitting up in bed, alive and conscious, his expression snapped instantly.
"POND-!"
He marched straight in, ignoring everything else in the room.
Before Pond could even react, Force grabbed him and pulled him into a tight hug.
Hard.
Relieved.
Angry at the same time.
Pond stiffened slightly, then slowly patted his back with one hand.
"...You're heavy, Phi." He muttered.
Force pulled back immediately, glaring.
"...You were unconscious for TWO WEEKS."
Pond blinked.
Then rolled his eyes faintly.
"...I know."
Force looked like he was about to explode again.
"...Don't 'I know' me. You almost died."
Pond sighed.
"...I didn't die."
That only made Force more irritated.
"...That's not the point."
Book, standing near the door, let out a small exhale, clearly trying not to get pulled into the chaos.
Phuwin watched them quietly from beside the bed, arms loosely crossed.
Force finally stepped back, running a hand through his hair, still tense.
Then his expression changed.
More serious.
"...What are we gonna do about Derek?" He asked sharply.
The room shifted immediately.
Even Book straightened.
Phuwin didn't hesitate.
His gaze hardened slightly.
"...I'll handle it."
Force studied him for a moment.
Then gave a single slow nod.
"... Alright."
No argument.
No hesitation.
Just agreement.
Book exhaled quietly, breaking the tension a little.
"...Let's just focus on getting him fully recovered first," He said softly.
Pond leaned back against the pillows, watching them all.
"...You all are loud," He muttered.
Force pointed at him immediately.
"...And you're still annoying."
Pond's mouth twitched slightly.
"...Missed you too."
---
Later, outside Pond's hospital room, Phuwin and Book sat on the hospital benches.
The hallway was quiet. The chaos from earlier had finally settled into distant footsteps and soft announcements.
Phuwin leaned back slightly, exhaling.
"...Those two brothers are literally the same," He muttered.
A pause.
"...But at the same time, they're not."
Book let out a small smile, glancing down at his hands.
"...Yeah," He agreed softly.
"...That's just Force and Pond."
Phuwin tilted his head slightly, curious now.
"...How did you even meet Force anyway?"
Book blinked, then gave a small laugh like he was already remembering something embarrassing.
"...At university."
Phuwin raised an eyebrow.
"...That's it?"
Book shook his head immediately.
"...No, no. It was- okay, it was ridiculous."
It was a normal afternoon at campus.
Book was walking out of a building, holding his books and phone, clearly in a rush.
Force was sprinting the opposite direction- angry, focused, and not looking where he was going.
They collided.
Hard.
Books flew everywhere.
Force didn't even apologize at first.
He just stood there, glaring at Book like it was his fault.
"...Watch where you're going," Force snapped immediately.
Book, on the ground, slowly looked up at him.
"...You ran into me."
Force pointed at him.
"...You EXISTED in my path."
Book blinked.
"...That's not how walking works."
A beat.
Force stared at him.
Book stared back.
Then Force clicked his tongue and crouched down- not to help him, but to pick up one of Book's fallen papers.
He glanced at it.
Paused.
"...Your handwriting is ugly."
Book immediately snatched it back.
"...I didn't ask."
Force stood up.
"...Fix it."
Book frowned.
"...Why would I fix it?"
Force already started walking away.
"...Because it annoys me."
Book just sat there, stunned.
"...Who is this guy..."
Back on the benches, Phuwin stared at Book.
"...That's how you met?"
Book nodded, still smiling like he couldn't believe it himself.
"...And then he kept showing up everywhere I was."
Phuwin blinked slowly.
"...That sounds like harassment."
Book shrugged lightly.
"...At first, yeah."
Then he smiled a little softer.
"...But it turned into something else."
Phuwin looked away briefly, thoughtful.
Book leaned back slightly.
"...He's still the same, you know."
A pause.
"...Just... Less angry. When it's me."
Phuwin let out a small breath, almost amused.
"...That's disgusting."
Book laughed quietly.
"...Tell me about it."
Phuwin exhaled, shaking his head slightly.
"...I can't believe my brother is hooked to someone like that."
Book smirked a little.
"...Phi, I promise you, he's really nice and gentle to me."
Phuwin raised an eyebrow immediately.
"...He literally pushed you two weeks ago."
Book shook his head quickly.
"...That was an exception. He didn't mean it."
Phuwin rolled his eyes.
"...You're hopeless."
---
The next morning, Phuwin was staring at Pond's face, eyes soft.
Pond was casually munching on his food, then glanced up and caught him staring.
Without warning, he reached out and tapped Phuwin's nose.
Phuwin flinched immediately.
"What's wrong with you?" Pond asked, raising an eyebrow.
Phuwin gave an awkward smile.
"...Nothing."
Pond exhaled softly, shaking his head a little.
"...Once I get out of here, I'm going to beat Derek up," He muttered.
Phuwin's expression changed instantly.
"No," He said firmly.
Pond blinked slightly.
"You should stop that habit," Phuwin continued, voice more serious now. "Using violence for everything."
A pause.
"...I'll deal with Derek."
Pond stared at him for a moment.
Then his expression softened.
A small smile appeared on his lips.
"...Alright," He murmured.
Then suddenly-
He reached out and pinched Phuwin's cheek, squishing it lightly.
Phuwin frowned immediately, grabbing his hand and pulling it away.
"...Stop that."
Pond didn't let go.
Instead, he grabbed Phuwin's hand closer to him.
Before Phuwin could react-
Pond pressed a soft kiss against it.
Phuwin froze instantly.
Color rushed up his face, ears turning red as he stared at him.
"...What are you doing?" He muttered, clearly flustered.
Pond just looked at him, calm, like it was the most normal thing.
"...What?" He said simply.
Phuwin pulled his hand back quickly, trying to hide it.
"...You're so annoying."
But his face stayed red anyway.
Pond only smiled gently.
Phuwin exhaled, his expression shifting- softer, but more certain now.
"...Can you help me?"
Pond blinked.
"...With what?"
Phuwin looked at him properly this time.
Not hesitant.
Not unsure.
"...To take back everything people did to me," He said quietly.
A pause.
"...Not revenge like hurting them."
His jaw tightened slightly.
"...But I'm not going to be that version of me anymore."
Pond stayed silent, listening.
Phuwin continued, voice steadier now.
"...I'm done being their 'Phuwin.'"
"...The one who lets people use him."
"...The one who keeps smiling just so no one gets uncomfortable."
A breath.
"...The one surrounded by fake friends."
He looked down for a second, then back up.
"...I'm not going to be perfect for them anymore."
Silence settled.
Then Pond nodded once.
"...Alright."
Phuwin blinked slightly.
"...That's it?"
Pond's lips curved into a faint smile.
"...Yeah."
A pause.
"...Then you're only you now."
His gaze softened as he looked at Phuwin.
"...Not theirs."
"...Not the perfect version."
"...Not the one people take advantage of."
Then, quieter-
But more certain-
"...But mine."
Phuwin froze for a second at that.
Pond didn't look away.
"...And I'm not letting anyone treat you like that again."
Phuwin's face warmed up instantly at Pond's words.
Before he could overthink it, he grabbed a piece of food from the tray-
And shoved it straight into Pond's mouth.
Pond blinked, caught off guard, chewing mid-reaction.
Phuwin looked away quickly, ears still red.
"...This feels weird," He muttered.
Pond raised an eyebrow slightly, still chewing.
Phuwin scratched the back of his neck, avoiding eye contact.
"...No one's ever talked to me like that before."
A pause.
"...I've never dated anyone."
Pond swallowed slowly, watching him.
Then a small smile tugged at his lips.
"...Good."
Phuwin frowned immediately, turning back to him.
"...What do you mean 'good'?"
Pond leaned back slightly against the pillows, calm as ever.
"...Means I'm the first."
Phuwin stared at him for a second-
Then clicked his tongue.
"...You're really full of yourself."
But his face was still a little red anyway.
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