Pond sat impatiently in the sleek, modern lobby of Phuwin's company, drumming his fingers on his knee. He had offered to pick Phuwin up this morning, but Phuwin had insisted he’d drive himself from his condo. It was already past the time Phuwin usually arrived, and there had been no calls, no replies to messages. Pond frowned, a pit of worry growing in his stomach. Something was off.

He quickly dialed Phuwin’s number again. Ring... ring... No answer. Pond’s worry deepened. Phuwin never ignored his calls, especially when they had an important meeting. Finally, unable to wait any longer, Pond stood, grabbed his car keys, and hurried to Phuwin's condo.

Arriving at Phuwin's building, Pond rushed to the door of the condo, knocking first, but there was no response. He had a spare key—both of them trusted each other enough to exchange them long ago. His hand shook slightly as he inserted the key, opening the door cautiously. The condo was eerily quiet, the only light coming from the thin beams of sunlight filtering through the half-closed curtains.

“Phuwin?” Pond called, his voice echoing slightly in the silence. No answer. His heart raced as he climbed the stairs to Phuwin’s room. He knocked softly but still no response. Panic gnawed at him as he pushed the door open.

Inside, the room was dark, curtains drawn. The only visible sign of Phuwin was a lump under a thick blanket on the bed. Only a small tuft of hair peeked out from the covers. Pond felt a rush of panic, rushing to Phuwin’s side and sitting on the edge of the bed.

“Phuwin?” he called gently, his hand resting on Phuwin’s shoulder. No response. He touched Phuwin’s forehead and immediately felt the heat radiating off him. “Oh God, Phu... you’ve got a fever,” he whispered, his voice shaky with worry.

Pond didn’t know what to do. He had never seen Phuwin like this. Panicking, he quickly dialed his personal doctor, explaining the situation. While waiting for the doctor, Pond ran to the bathroom, filling a small tub with cool water and grabbing a clean towel. He returned to Phuwin, gently wiping his face and adjusting the blankets around him, his hands trembling.

Minutes later, the doctor arrived, checked Phuwin's temperature, and gave him an injection to bring the fever down. “Make sure he rests, keep him hydrated, and give him these medicines. He needs something light like porridge when he wakes up,” the doctor instructed.

Pond nodded, listening intently. After the doctor left, he stayed by Phuwin’s side for a while, watching over him, his heart heavy with worry. When Phuwin stirred slightly, Pond helped him sit up, gently removing his shirt to make him more comfortable. His hands shook as he wiped Phuwin down, trying to cool him off.

Once Phuwin was settled, Pond made his way downstairs to the kitchen. He stood in the middle of the room, staring blankly at the appliances. He had no idea how to cook. But for Phuwin, he had to figure it out.

Determined, he pulled out his phone and started watching a few videos on how to make porridge. Still, unsure about a few steps, he called his papa, Mix.

“Papa, I need help... with a porridge recipe,” Pond said, trying to sound casual.

Mix’s voice on the other end sounded surprised. “Pond? You’re cooking? Who’s it for? You’ve never cooked before, not even for yourself!”

Pond rubbed the back of his neck, glancing upstairs. “It’s... it’s for a friend, Papa. Don’t worry, just help me out here.”

Mix gave him the instructions, but Pond was fumbling with the ingredients, unsure where everything was. He opened drawers, pulled out vegetables, and accidentally knocked over a bag of flour. As he reached for a pan, it slipped from his hands, clattering loudly onto the floor.

Before he could clean up, the condo door swung open, and Gemini walked in, surprised to see Pond standing in the middle of Phuwin’s messy kitchen.

“p'Pond? What the hell are you doing here?” Gemini’s voice was sharp, his eyes narrowing as he took in the scene. “And more importantly, why are you in Phu’s kitchen?”

Pond gulped, unsure how to explain himself. “I, uh... I was... trying to make porridge,” he stammered, clearly flustered.

Gemini's frown deepened as he looked around at the chaotic state of the kitchen. “Are you kidding me? This place looks like a tornado hit it! Where’s Phu?” he demanded, his protective instinct for his brother kicking in.

Before Pond could answer, a weak voice came from the hallway. Both Gemini and Pond turned to see Phuwin, pale and tired, slowly making his way down the stairs, gripping the railing for support.

“Phu!” Gemini rushed toward him, concern etched on his face. “What happened to you? Why do you look like a mess? Did he do something to you? Just say the word, and I won’t spare him.”

Pond flinched at Gemini’s words, guilt washing over him as he glanced at Phuwin, worried about his state.

But Phuwin, despite his exhaustion, smiled softly, reaching out to pat Gemini’s arm. “Gem, calm down,” he said weakly. “Nothing happened. I’m just tired... that’s all.”

Gemini wasn’t convinced, his eyes narrowing as he looked between Phuwin and Pond. “Tired? Then why is he here?”

Phuwin sighed, his gaze shifting to Pond, a soft smile playing on his lips. “Pond’s taking care of me. He called the doctor... he’s been helping me, Gem.”

Gemini crossed his arms, still suspicious. “And what about this disaster in the kitchen?”

Pond scratched the back of his head, embarrassed. “I, uh... I was trying to make porridge. For Phuwin. I didn’t mean to make a mess.”

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Sorry for the delay stars...

How is the chapter??

I'll try to make a double update today...