As the evening wound down, guests continued mingling, but murmurs began to circulate through the crowd. Several guests whispered about the unexpected absence of Sora and the sudden changes in the wedding.

The gossip about Sora running away and what must have gone wrong was evident in their hushed voices. These rumors reached Earth's ears, making him furious, but he kept his composure, knowing there was nothing he could do to stop the chatter.

Despite the underlying tension, the ceremony concluded successfully. Joong and Dunk departed in a car, leaving for their new life together. Their parents had gifted them a cozy house, where they would start their married journey. Smiling and waving, they drove off, leaving behind a sea of well-wishers.

The remaining guests and family members began to leave as well, returning to their respective homes. Soon, the once-bustling venue became quiet as everyone dispersed. Phuwin and Pond shared a brief glance before heading their separate ways.

Time Skip: A Few Days Later

Days passed quickly. Joong and Dunk were on leave from the office, planning their honeymoon and settling into their new home. The couple was happy and focused on their future together, but back at the company, Phuwin and Pond had taken on all the responsibilities.

Phuwin was busier than ever, managing both his tasks and picking up the slack during Joong and Dunk's absence. He rarely had time to rest, caught up in meetings and work. Though he should have been feeling the pressure, his mind kept drifting to Pond, who had grown increasingly distant.

Pond, on the other hand, was like a shadow of his former self. He had pulled away from everyone, barely speaking to anyone at work or home. Instead of staying at the mansion, where the atmosphere reminded him of his father's hurtful actions, Pond opted to stay at his condo, isolating himself.

The hurt from his father's treatment still stung, and avoiding Earth felt like the only way to prevent further pain. He found solace in throwing himself into work, often overworking himself just to escape his thoughts.

Each day was the same. Phuwin would glance at Pond during work hours, noticing how much more withdrawn he had become. It worried him, but he was also drowning in his own responsibilities, leaving little room for him to reach out.

As the days went by, Pond's loneliness only deepened, and Phuwin's concerns grew. They were both shouldering the weight of the company, but beneath it all, they were carrying their personal struggles in silence.

It was a warm, sunny day when Joong and Dunk invited Phuwin, Pond, Fourth, and Gemini to their new condo for a small get-together. The couple was eager to show off their new home and also needed help setting things up. Everyone agreed to the plan, excited to spend some time together and help Joong and Dunk settle in.

Fourth was the first to arrive. He greeted Dunk warmly and started chatting, while Joong moved boxes around and began arranging furniture. Fourth offered to help but quickly found himself roped into setting up the kitchen.

Not long after, Phuwin and Gemini arrived together. The place was already buzzing with activity, and the two wasted no time jumping in to help. Dunk took charge, instructing Phuwin and Gemini on where to place the furniture and helping move things into place.

The atmosphere was lively, filled with laughter and the occasional banter.  Phuwin set about moving the heavier items, while Gemini helped with organizing the living room. Fourth, now an expert in kitchen setup, was deep in conversation with Joong as they debated where to place the dishes.

However, there was still one person missing: Pond. Phuwin kept glancing at the door, waiting for him to arrive.

Finally, Pond walked in. He greeted everyone, but Phuwin noticed right away that something was off. When Phuwin greeted him with a smile and a light "Hey, glad you made it," Pond only gave him a brief nod before moving on to talk with Joong and Fourth.

The coldness stung Phuwin, leaving him puzzled and a bit hurt, though he tried not to show it. He didn’t want to ruin the moment for everyone, so he buried his feelings and kept helping with the house.

Once the home was mostly set up, the group moved to the backyard, which had a small, peaceful garden. It was cozy and perfect for unwinding after a long day of work. They decided to set up a table and enjoy a barbeque. Joong and Phuwin took charge of grilling, the smell of sizzling meat filling the air, while Dunk poured drinks for everyone, setting a light, celebratory mood.

Phuwin’s eyes kept drifting toward Pond. He noticed that Pond was talking to everyone else—laughing with Gemini, chatting with Fourth—but still hadn’t said more than a word to him. It bothered him, the way Pond was almost deliberately ignoring him, and the silence between them weighed heavy on Phuwin’s heart. Why was Pond acting like this? What had he done to deserve this cold shoulder?

He tried to shake off the hurt, focusing instead on grilling the food and making sure the others were enjoying themselves. But the questions nagged at him. No matter how much he tried to stay in the moment, his thoughts kept circling back to Pond’s distant behavior.

As the evening continued, the garden filled with warm laughter and clinking glasses, but Phuwin couldn’t shake the unease gnawing at him. What had gone wrong between him and Pond?

---

Hey starss ✨

How is the chapter?

Do you know what happened to pond?🤔 What do you think about his behaviour?

And phuwin was so sad, how do you feel about that?