Pond loves parties in all aspects, and not just because of the alcohol. He loves to always be surrounded by people, from the moment he arrives, when there are still few of them and the atmosphere is a little dull, until everyone is leaving except him. (Seriously, there are videos of him completely drunk, without shoes, dancing with Joong on the stage of a school event.)

So why does he look like he wants to be anywhere else but here? Joong thinks.

Not only were they late because of him and couldn't help preparing the house for Phuwin's surprise party, but now that the birthday boy has arrived and is being welcomed and congratulated by everyone, Pond is nowhere to be seen.

Joong looks at Dunk, and Dunk tells him telepathically "I'm going to kill him when I see him."

When Phuwin is now surrounded by strangers that only attended because it's their party, Joong, Dunk, and Fourth split up to find Pond. It doesn't take long for the youngest of them to find him in the corner of the kitchen, inspecting the bottles of alcohol as if they were the most interesting thing in the world.

"Phuwin has arrived," he tells him, although he is sure he already knows. We are supposed to be the first to congratulate him if we are his friends.

Pond feigns surprise and is about to say he didn't notice when Dunk arrives with the birthday boy.

"You disappeared when Phuwin arrived, you couldn't even congratulate him," Joong tells him, ignoring Pond's expression.

Phuwin is all smiles, looking at him as if waiting for something.

Oh, right.

"Congratulations," he finally says, trying to smile as naturally as possible.

Phuwin, instead of answering, comes close enough to put an arm around him and thank him in a low voice. Pond doesn't have time to do anything other than stand still and blush when the youngest walks away.

Pond is no longer looking at the boy but at his friends who he knows are mentally cursing him.

Yes, they are right to be upset with him. For a few weeks now, Pond has started to behave differently with Phuwin and, considering that they belong to the same group of friends and usually hang out after school or on vacation, everyone noticed this change.

If Phuwin noticed it, he is very decent to comment on it. But it was obvious to everyone how Pond avoided spending time alone with him.

"Everyone's out at the pool," Dunk says to prevent the silence from stretching so long that it becomes uncomfortable.

Her boyfriend nods and they start walking towards the exit. It's the perfect time to fake a call or something that will allow him not to go to Phuwin, except he turns to him when he realizes that he is not accompanying them and asks:

"Aren't you coming?"

Pond looks him in the eyes for the first time that night and his brain can't do anything other than nod and follow him when the youngest even waits until they are side by side to continue walking behind his friends.

"Did you just arrive?" the youngest asks.

"Eh, no. "I arrived with Joong," he answers, looking ahead.

"I didn't see you. I thought maybe you wouldn't come."

Pond doesn't know what to answer. It is already too much for him to have a conversation with Phuwin, the two of them, without his friends intervening. His brain can't come up with any more answers than yes, no, and what a nice voice you have.

"I was just helping prepare things," he says, still not looking at him.

Gemini, Joong, Dunk, they were all helping and yet you're the only one who's been avoiding me., Phuwin wants to tell him, but he doesn't because it's not worth bothering with him on his birthday.

Outside there are people surrounding the pool, betting on who will jump in first. Pond doesn't stay to find out and prefers to go directly to a garden table where there are some drinks, deciding on a beer for the moment.

"Can you pass me one too?" Says a voice behind him that he knows very well. he freezes in place for a second before taking another beer and handing it to Phuwin, who smiles at him in gratitude.

The oldest opens his can and drinks in silence, watching the people talk to each other and glance at them from time to time.

It's no surprise that so many people came to the party considering that they are the organizers. Everyone at the university takes advantage of any moment to be able to interact with Pond, Joong, Dunk, Phuwin, Gemini, Fourth and Barcode so that they can say that they have been with them. They are something like famous in the university for the simple fact of being attractive and having some connection with the entertainment industry (Joong, Dunk and Phuwin appear in advertisements and have a modelling contract with a small agency; Barcode's brother is an actor; Fourth is starting his musical career as a solo artist; Gemini's mother is a former model; and Pond goes to a dance studio where major Thai artists practice and has been a background dancer in several concerts). Some of them don't care, but Phuwin, Fourth, and Barcode are the ones who least enjoy the attention they receive because they know it's insincere.

Pond knew that throwing a party of such magnitude just to celebrate Phuwin's birthday was not the best idea, but everyone agreed, plus it would serve as an excuse to have fun after the end of the semester.

And seeing Phuwin with him in a corner because he prefers to be with the few friends he has than in a crowd of strangers makes him feel guilty.

Pond would tell him that if he wants, they can go somewhere else while no one sees them and celebrate his birthday at the Chinese food restaurant that he likes so much or that he is willing to take him to Chao Phraya no matter what time it is because he knows that it is his favourite place in Bangkok and he goes every time he feels stressed.

Instead, he just looks at him without saying a word.

He's afraid that his true intentions will sneak into his mind, and he'll end up saying something that reveals how in love he is with him.

Phuwin is saying something because he turns to look at him with a smile, but Pond didn't hear anything, so he just laughs and drinks his beer.

The youngest is about to say something, but Fourth appears, taking him by the shoulders and telling him that sooner or later they are going to throw him into the pool so he should be ready. Phuwin just rolls his eyes and sighs, going to where the people are.

"Are you going to do something?" asks Fourth, who stayed next to him.

"About what?" pond answers, side eyeing him.

"About your feelings towards P'Phuwin."

He holds his gaze for a moment before lowering it to the ground and raising his shoulders.

"Should I do something?"

Fourth laughs.

"If you want to stop feeling this way and want P'Phuwin to start paying attention to you, yes."

"Feeling how?"

Fourth says nothing, looking at him in disbelief.

"You know well what I'm talking about."

Yes. Unfortunately, Pond one day told him not only about his little crush, but also all his insecurities towards him.

"Phuwin is an incredible person. Do you know how many languages ​​he speaks? THREE. And he's a model, and he's one of the best students in his career, and everyone loves him... and I don't even know if he likes men, but he could be with whoever he wanted, and I still know he wouldn't choose me."

"P'Phuwin may be all that, but he's also a college student like us. You can't continue looking at him from your inferiority complex because then you will never feel at his level." ouch "And you are... You could be with him if you only put your mind to it."

"But it's not the same..."

"I know. But you don't need to be his equal in every way to be able to talk to him."

Pond continues looking at the ground. Even when Fourth puts a hand on his shoulder and says:

"At least try something today. If it doesn't turn out as you expect, forget it and that's it. P'Phuwin is not the kind of person who would change his ways with you just because of that."

The older boy nods and watches him walk away.

He needs to clear his head and here, with music coming from the speaker behind him and with people who at any moment will come up to talk to him, he knows he won't be able to.

.

Fortunately, the first floor of the house is almost deserted because the pool is the most striking thing about the place, and because surely people are not drunk enough yet to start looking for a private place.

He enters the room at the end of the corridor to be a little away from the music, leaves his glass of Sprite with lemon vodka (more vodka than anything else) that he took before going upstairs, on the nightstand and lies down on the king size bed. There's a blue suitcase on the desk chair that he thinks is Joong's, so he's not too worried about it (unless his friend and his boyfriend decide to make use of the room and bed).

On Instagram there are only pictures of Phuwin that his followers have shared for his birthday, both photographs professionally taken by photographers who have contacted him to be their model, and blurry selfies of his friends and people with whom he has never interacted but who is hoping that Phuwin will recognize them and share the post.

He can imagine the expression he'll make when he sees all the pictures he's tagged in. He will roll his eyes and twist his lips. Pond laughs at the mental image that he has seen so many times in person and that he can make people believe that Phuwin has a bad attitude but that is part of his charm. He likes all the photos, zooming in on the ones he hadn't seen and smiling like a fool. He loves them all, both the photos taken by his friends where he looks genuinely happy or distracted, and the professional ones.

There's a dating show on TV that entertains him for a while, but when it's over he doesn't know what else to do but stay in the room.

He looks out to the balcony that overlooks the front of the house where he can see 2 boys walking with their hands intertwined. he must squint a little in the absence of him prescription lenses to identify them and...

Are those Barcode and Ta?

Pond already knew that there is something between those two because of how they act all sweet without minding who is in front of them, but they have never admitted to being more than friends.

They are walking together towards a car, but instead of getting in, Barcode leans with his back against the door and leans just a little too quickly kiss the older man on the cheek. When he steps back, it is now Ta who approaches him to kiss him on the lips again.

They are not ones to kiss in public and have done nothing more than hold hands at all times, but the entire campus already considered them a couple.

He thinks for a moment about sending a message to the group to expose them for fun, but surely no one is using their cell phone now and they will read it tomorrow when it stops being funny.

He leaves the balcony to lie back on the bed, but the alcohol, instead of making him sleepy, makes him a little hyperactive, so he discards the idea of ​​sleeping.

He has reached a point of boredom where he starts rummaging through drawers and the closet without finding anything interesting or useful. Then he begins to rummage through him own pockets, finding napkins, a bottle cap, and, in a bottom pocket of him cargo pants, a pack of cigarettes.

He had forgotten that he put it there before leaving.

They are half-empty Lucky Strikes that he bought two months ago and that he only smokes when he is very stressed. Smoking had never crossed his mind, but now he wouldn't mind as long as he has something to distract himself. Since he doesn't want the smell to get on the furniture or be on the balcony, he opens the bathroom door inside the room to get closer to the window.

He has to sit on the edge of the bathtub so he can be level with it. he takes a lighter from the same pocket and brings the flame to the cigarette on him lips.

The bitter taste doesn't affect you as much and it even feels good in your throat. It makes a good combination with the sweetness of the Sprite and the vodka from a while ago.

After a few minutes he has finished it and takes out another because smoking is calming him down a bit. This time he takes a long drag and holds it for several seconds until he feels his head lighten and his throat burn, and he exhales it out the window, watching the smoke disappear into the night.

He is also about to finish the second when he hears the door to the room open.

Whether it's Joong or Dunk, he doesn't care much. But if it's Joong and Dunk, he'll have to lock himself in the bathroom or get out of there before they get all horny.

I really hope it's the first one.

Before he can finish his cigarette, someone staggers into the bathroom and closes the door behind them, too distracted to notice Pond is there.

It's Phuwin.

He is soaked from head to toe and has the blue suitcase in his hands. When he turns to the mirror to look at himself, he notices Pond. he looks at him in the reflection for a second before turning to him with a curious expression.

"Hi,,,?"

Pond must force his three surviving neurons to work together in order to form a sentence.

"H-Hello..."

They remain silent, looking into each other without doing anything.

Phuwin has a lipstick kiss marked on his cheek, his blue shirt and white T-shirt are slightly transparent due to the water, and his jeans look extremely uncomfortable.

"Are you using the bathroom?" The youngest asks with a raised eyebrow when he sees that Pond does not plan to move from his place in the tub.

"Eh, no," he says and immediately gets out of the tub, barely managing to throw the last of his cigarette out the window.

He rushes out without looking at Phuwin as he walks past him and closes the door behind him.

He thinks about going to lock himself in another room, but if this one is Phuwin's, it means that the other two are Joong and Dunk's, and Gemini and Fourth's (Pond wasn't planning to spend the night, but since he's already had a drink) alcohol, you would have to wait until you are completely sober to drive), so the last option is to get off.

The ground floor is still full of people, there are even couples kissing in the kitchen that barely allow him to pour another glass of alcohol without spilling it. He considers staying there for a while, but apparently it was a girl who is especially obsessed with him and has been trying to have something with him for months (the last party they went to, he tried to kiss him and Pond remembers that it was the most awkward thing because he was so drunk he couldn't even touch him lips). So, he must escape, again, upstairs and to Phuwin's room.

He has already left the bathroom and has changed his soaked clothes into simple gray shorts and a white t-shirt, and is now looking at his phone, probably sharing the photos in which he has been tagged because of the gesture he makes.

Pond stands motionless at the door, wondering where to sit without necessarily having to be next to him on the bed, but there really is no other place so he places himself on the edge of it, on the other side of Phuwin. There's at least a meter of distance between them, so he's safe.

The younger continues looking at his phone for a while, with no intention of leaving the room or getting out of bed, he has even settled on the pillows, although the party has only started 2 hours.

"Aren't you going back to the party?" Pond asks him.

Phuwin wrinkles his nose.

"No. There are so many people there. You?" He looks away from his phone toward him. Pond just denies silently. him eyes drop to him hands still holding the glass and he asks, "Is it alcohol?"

Pond nods and holds out the glass for him to take.

Phuwin squeezes his eyes as he notices that it's literally just alcohol, with nothing else. When you return the glass, he drinks from it without being affected by the taste or the burning in his throat.

None of them say anything. Phuwin focused on his phone and Pond focused on not staring at him so as not to make him uncomfortable.

The older man also takes his phone and sees that there are already videos of Phuwin being thrown into the pool by his friends, taken from different angles. He entertains himself by watching each one of them and does not feel the child moving in the bed until he is next to him.

"Do you hate me?" he asks very seriously. Pond drops the phone in surprise but manages to grab it before it hits the floor and looks at him, not understanding.

Phuwin doesn't repeat the question, he just looks at him with a worried look.

"No..."

"Then why are you like that with me?" He interrupts him as soon as he answers.

Pond now knows exactly what he means, but admitting it would be very pathetic of him, so he continues to pretend not to understand.

But Phuwin, instead of explaining, crosses his arms and throws himself on the pillows, annoyed.

"I think if I did something to make you angry, you could tell me instead of making me feel... like this."

So Phuwin does realize his attitude towards him.

Pond bites his lip, remembering Fourth's words and deciding that he can't continue with his stupid feelings that are driving them away more than anything.

"I'm sorry... You didn't do anything," he begins, leaving the glass on the bureau and turning around so he can look at it better. "It is not your fault."

"Then why have you been avoiding me for weeks? You don't even like being alone with me and you barely respond to my messages."

Well, if he puts it like that it sounds extremely rude, but everything he says is true, he just didn't believe that trying to prevent Phuwin from finding out that he's in love with him would result in all this.

"It has nothing to do with you" the youngest still doesn't look at him, staring at the balcony "... It's about me" Pond Naravit, you have to do something if you don't want to ruin things with Phuwin.

He hates that Phuwin is upset with him, he could never stand it. And that is one of the main reasons why he kept his feelings to himself all this time: he doesn't know how he will react when he finds out and he would rather never tell him than do it and have him get upset with him because he doesn't like men, he would never be able to see Pond. that way.

"Phu," he calls him with that nickname that only his friends use and that he had refrained from saying, "I like you. A lot. I just didn't want you to find out because I know it could ruin our friendship and I would rather you never find out than for you to decide that you don't want to be my friend anymore."

Phuwin visibly tenses at the confession and turns his face silently, still looking at Pond with a frown.

No one says anything for a long time. The older man wishes the world would end right now before having to spend another second looking into his eyes in silence, knowing that he will reject him. He wishes it would all end quickly so he can move on with his life.

"I thought it was something else," Phuwin whispers, more to himself. I really entertained the idea that I had done something to you, and you were mad at me and that you would never forgive me. I racked my brain trying to figure out what it was.

Now that his arms are not crossed, he slowly slides towards Pond until he is sitting in front of him.

Pond, too embarrassed to say anything, lowers his gaze, but the younger's hands hold his face to look at him for a second before gently kissing his lips.

It is only a very short touch that generates an almost inaudible click. A moment so short that Pond wonders if it really happened.

"It was easier to tell me instead of making me rethink every interaction we've had for weeks."

And he kisses him again a little more roughly on Pond's still motionless lips. he walks away when he notices that he doesn't react.

"Yes, Pond. I like you too. Can you kiss me now?

His eyes widen, processing what he just heard.

Phuwin approaches for the third time and now Pond does not leave him waiting because he reciprocates the kiss, also taking his face in his hands and enjoying the moment. He is so full of happiness and emotions that a smile escapes mid-kiss that gives Phuwin the idea of ​​pushing him onto the pillows so that he is on top of him.

Pond doesn't complain. Phuwin can do whatever he wants with him, and he would never deny him anything. he opens him arms to surround him with them, getting used to the weight of the younger's body on him, the texture of the skin on his back, the taste of his mouth, his deep breathing and the heat that emanates from him. he feels in paradise. Nothing he imagined can compare to this, and it's only the first time they kiss.

There are so many questions he wants to ask him, but he feels like if he does, he'll ruin the moment and now he just wants to hold him in him arms.

"If you had told me much sooner, we could have been doing this days ago," Phuwin tells him against his lips. He now feels more confident in deepening the kiss, holding onto the shoulders of the boy beneath him.

Phuwin tastes like alcohol and sweet, and Pond like cigarettes and alcohol.

The younger does not like cigarettes at all, he even scolded Pond when he started smoking and made him promise not to do it often. But now that taste is almost addictive that it doesn't bother him. There is nothing that can keep it away from his lips at this moment, neither the horrible taste of tobacco nor the party that continues to take place outside.

"Since when...? "The older man begins to speak, but Phuwin interrupts him.

"We can talk later, okay?

Pond nods because he doesn't want to let go of him either.

The younger's curious hands travel from his shoulders to his neck and nape, where he caresses the older's slightly long locks there. With his legs he tries to accommodate himself, placing one between the older boy's, but a moan from Pond lets him know that maybe it is not a good idea. His fingers climb into his hair on his forehead, and he moves it away, giving it a light tug when Pond's hands on his back touch him with more urgency, trying to sneak deeper into his shirt.

She separates with a loud kiss, looking down at him with a smile and gets off of him. Pond thinks he has done something wrong to make Phuwin stop kissing him, but Phuwin lies back without stopping to look at him and pulls him by his shirt to get him closer, waiting for Pond to read his mind and continue kissing him.

Maybe it's the alcohol, or the heat of the moment, or the simple excitement that Phuwin is returning his feelings, but Pond gets the feeling from him that he doesn't want them to just kiss anymore.

As he approaches, Phuwin stretches out an arm to pull him by the neck, making him almost fall on top of him.

"You just need to know that I've liked you since I started college and you were the first to talk to me," he says very closely because he knows that Pond's head is still spinning.

The older man smiles at the memory of Phuwin with braces and his uniform, lost when trying to find the auditorium. Instead of kissing him, he falls on top of him and buries him head in his neck. If he is dreaming, he wishes he would never wake up.

Her skin is still a little damp from the pool water, and he smells of sweat and the vanilla perfume he always wears. Leave small kisses on the area, inhaling the aroma to record it and never forget it. Phuwin tenses noticeably and begins to breathe faster. he holds his shoulders while he continues leaving short adoring kisses on his skin until he moves back up to his jaw and lips.

Phuwin still feels his head light and his body warmer than usual because of the alcohol he drank (and because he has been waiting for months to be close to Pond), so he lifts his knee a little, just enough so that it is in his crotch. of the older one and cause a minimal friction that gives Pond an idea of ​​what he is thinking. Feeling the pressure, he instinctively bites the youngest's lip and they both hiss. Pond rests him forehead on his for a second before making eye contact with him. Phuwin just raises him eyebrows naively and smiles at him, lowering him hands from his hair to his back and into his shirt. Pond thinks he will go crazy if he continues to provoke him with that face, but he decides to play along and continue kissing his neck before moving on to his collarbones and chest covered by the sleeveless shirt.

He sits back on his heels for a second to take off the boy's shirt, who blushes in surprise and bites his lip in anticipation. He's not someone particularly insecure about his body, but having Pond, known for his athletic figure, makes him feel a little intimidated. In the older man's eyes, Phuwin's body is the most attractive he has ever seen, and he wouldn't change it for anything. He goes down again until he is face to face and begins to touch his chest and ribs, feeling his skin crawl where his fingers pass. Phuwin, for his part, raises his leg again to put pressure on the older man's barely growing erection and he hisses against his skin.

They are both so lost in each other that they don't hear when someone knocks on the door outside and, getting no response, opens it.

"AH!"

The door closes loudly again, and they both look at each other for a moment before the person knocks again.

"Sorry! I think I left my charger there when I went up to drop off P'Phuwin's suitcase," says Fourth from outside.

Pond falls on top of the youngest with a sigh. He had never wanted to kill someone as much as he did now.

"Can I come in? "She asks a moment later.

Phuwin laughs at the situation. he is still red-faced and sweating from the heat of the room. Pond, for his part, does not move from above him and even puts his arms around him, murmuring "I can't believe it."

"Yeah" Phuwin shouts.

Fourth enters with his eyes closed, which gives them the opportunity to cover themselves with a blanket. He opens first one eye and then the other, and blushes when he sees the furious look his friend gives him.

He avoids paying attention to them and goes straight to the bureau, rummaging around without finding anything; then he looks at the kiss under the screen, where there is nothing new and Pond is counting the seconds until it leaves. Phuwin next to him is still very amused, putting an arm over his shoulders.

"It must be around here," the boy whispers as he kneels on the floor to look under the bed.

After what seems like hours, he finds the cable behind the bureau on Phuwin's side.

"Uh... Goodbye!" He says before running away.

Pond rubs his face in exasperation and Phuwin laughs in his face. The older man looks at him badly but still approaches to kiss him and slides his hand down his abdomen to his crotch where...

-That? "She asks without being able to believe it.

"Sorry, Fourth ruined the mood for me," the youngest smiles innocently.

This is amazing, think. Not only does he find out that him crush likes him, but he has the opportunity to be with him and him stupid friend has to ruin it.

"But I'm... still..." he complains, looking at him with furrowed eyebrows.

Phuwin touches the tip of his nose with a finger and tells him "The bathroom is all yours."

Does he really expect me to jerk off there, with him here in bed?

But the youngest continues to look at him with wide eyes and Pond is not able to complain to him, so he walks away from him and gets out of bed with a grunt. Phuwin makes fun again because it must be very funny to see him walking to the bathroom with an erection in his pants.

When he locks himself in, he leans his forehead against the door and exhales before beginning to unbutton his pants, still frustrated.

"Do you need a hand? "Phuwin asks on the other side. Pond almost opens the door with excitement, but continues speaking, "Well, not a literal hand, but I can help you if you want..."

"And how are you going to do that if you are there and not here?

He is silent for a second, as if he were meditating.

"Have you dropped your pants yet?

Pond looks at his crotch. His jeans feel very stiff and uncomfortable, so he hurries to unzip them and let them fall at him feet.

"Yeah,"

"Well, you can start now."

Pond looks at the door, confused, as if Phuwin can see his expression, but he ignores him. It feels so strange to masturbate in a strange bathroom, with his clothes on and with Phuwin on the other side.

The youngest puts his ear to the door and hears a gasp and a repetitive, constant sound.

"What are you thinking about? " He asks quietly.

"About..." Pond doesn't dare finish the sentence.

"Me?"

He gets no response, so he continues.

"About what we were doing a while ago? " A gasp is heard again, indicating to Phuwin that Pond is paying attention to him "I've been dreaming about that for months. Since we had to play basketball for the school team and shared locker rooms."

That was last semester, think. Apparently, he has liked Pond longer than he has liked Phuwin.

"When you came out of the shower with the towel around your waist, it was the only thing I could think of every time I looked at you, and I don't know how you never realized it."

Pond bites his lip to keep from moaning and speeds up the movement of his wrist.

"But now we can do whatever we want, right? We have all the time in the world. Besides, we're going to share a bed tonight."

The older man's heart races as he imagines that Phuwin is thinking about that, that he also wants to try things with him.

With just the sound of his voice muffled by the door he manages to come. Phuwin realizes from the bang he hears, probably Pond's head hitting the door, and a full minute later, he comes out with his cheeks still red and his eyes unfocused.

Phuwin is already in bed, with his shirt on, patting the mattress next to him to signal him to lie down. Pond collapses face down next to him, tired. He continues breathing a little hard and his skin is hot. Honestly, it was a short orgasm, but one of the best he's had in a long time. If he felt like this just being guided by Phuwin, he can't imagine what it will be like if...

He wants to take off his clothes so as not to feel hot, but he didn't bring a change of clothes so he will have to sleep with his jeans on. He turns in his place with a little work and the younger continues looking at his cell phone. The pillow under his head has a dark stain from the moisture of his hair and his cheeks are a little flushed. He would like to come and steal a kiss from him.

If he were the Pond from a few weeks ago, he would never have thought of doing it, but now, with his confession from a while ago, he can take the risk.

He rests his arms on the bed, approaches until he has half his body over his and brings his face closer while Phuwin looks at him in surprise, dropping the cell phone on his chest. When he understands that Pond wants to kiss him, he blocks his lips with one hand and smiles mischievously.

Pond looks at him, waiting for him to remove his hand, but when he doesn't, he moves his face away a little so he can look him in the eyes.

"What are you doing?" Phuwin asks.

Pond holds his gaze for a second, thinking he's joking.

"Let me have a kiss at least."

Phuwin seems to be seriously considering it, which throws the older man off a little.

"No," he says, still smiling. Seeing the older man's confused expression, he continues. "You don't deserve it after making me believe you hated me for no reason."

Now I know where this is going...

"You have to earn it."

Pond tries once again to approach him to try to kiss him off guard, but Phuwin returns his hand to his mouth and looks at him with wide eyes.

"Okay, I give up."

He plops down next to him, sighing. He closes his eyes for a moment because he really is exhausted, physically and mentally.

It's at that moment that Phuwin quickly moves to place a kiss on the corner of him mouth and returns to him spot before he can open him eyes.

At least now Pond's only concern is not losing his friendship with Phuwin, but rather getting him to kiss him.