Pond closed the door to his room behind him, his heart still racing from the encounter. He leaned against the door, taking a deep breath as he replayed what just happened. "Did I really just say that? Special one... my clothes are yours?" He cringed slightly at his own boldness, but there was a hint of excitement that bubbled inside him. Phuwin’s reaction had been priceless.

Meanwhile, Phuwin was in the guest room, holding the clothes Pond had given him. He let out a small, breathy laugh, still feeling the warmth of Pond’s words. "My special one, huh?" he thought, shaking his head as he walked to the bathroom. He couldn’t stop the soft smile that kept tugging at his lips.

After a quick shower, Phuwin changed into Pond’s clothes—an oversized t-shirt and loose pajama pants. The fabric was soft, and there was a faint scent of Pond’s cologne mixed with detergent, making Phuwin feel oddly comforted. He ran a hand through his damp hair, glancing at his reflection in the mirror, a light blush still dusting his cheeks.

"I can't believe I almost... kissed him," he muttered to himself, recalling how close they had been just moments ago. His heart fluttered at the memory, but he quickly shook his head, trying to focus on something else.

Back in his own room, Pond paced around restlessly. He felt his cheeks heat up every time he thought about Phuwin staying in the guest room just a few steps away. He plopped down on his bed, hugging a pillow to his chest. "Why did I have to ramble like that?" he groaned, burying his face into the pillow.

After several minutes of tossing and turning, Pond sat up with a determined look. He couldn’t just sit here drowning in his thoughts. He needed to talk to Phuwin—to at least check on him before going to sleep. "Okay, Pond, you can do this. Just go and see if he’s alright," he pep-talked himself before sliding out of bed.

Pond walked quietly to the guest room door, pausing for a second to gather his nerves. He raised his hand and gave a soft knock. There was a brief silence, then the door creaked open. Phuwin stood there, his hair still damp, wearing the clothes Pond had lent him. He looked slightly surprised but managed a small smile.

"Pond? Is everything okay?" Phuwin asked, his eyes filled with concern.

Pond bit his lip, feeling nervous under Phuwin's gaze. "Uh, yeah, I just... I just wanted to check if you’re comfortable. You know, if you need anything else, like... extra pillows, or... or..." He trailed off, feeling silly for not really having a proper reason to knock on the door.

Phuwin chuckled softly, leaning against the doorframe. "Pond, I'm fine, really. You’ve already done more than enough." He looked at Pond with gentle eyes, noticing how flustered he seemed. "But... it’s nice of you to check on me."

Pond shifted on his feet, looking everywhere but at Phuwin’s eyes. "Okay, good," he mumbled, trying to maintain some composure. "I just... wanted to be sure." There was a pause as they both stood there, the air thick with an unspoken tension.

"Is there... something else you wanted to say?" Phuwin asked softly, sensing that Pond had more on his mind.

Pond swallowed hard, summoning every bit of courage. "Actually... yeah," he admitted, finally meeting Phuwin's eyes. "I... I just wanted to say, I’m really happy you’re staying tonight." His voice was barely above a whisper, but the sincerity in his words was clear.

Phuwin’s heart skipped a beat, warmth flooding his chest at Pond’s admission. He took a step closer, his eyes locked onto Pond’s. "Me too," he replied, his voice just as soft. "I’m happy to be here... with you."

They stood there, inches apart, their breaths mingling in the small space between them. Pond’s mind was racing; he wanted to say so much more, to express the whirlwind of feelings inside him, but words seemed to fail him.

Phuwin could sense Pond's struggle, and for some reason, that gave him the courage to act. Slowly, he reached out and took Pond’s hand, intertwining their fingers. "Pond," he began, his thumb gently stroking the back of Pond’s hand. "You don’t have to say anything right now. Just... know that I feel it too."

Pond's eyes widened, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst out of his chest. "Phuwin..." he whispered, his voice trembling slightly.

Phuwin squeezed his hand reassuringly, his gaze never leaving Pond’s. "We have time," he continued. "To figure this out, to explore whatever this is between us." He offered a gentle smile. "For now, let’s just... take it one step at a time, okay?"

Pond felt a wave of relief wash over him at Phuwin’s words. He nodded, a smile finally breaking through his nervousness. "Okay," he agreed softly. "One step at a time," his voice steady but laced with something more....something that made Phuwin's heart race. Without even realising it,  Pond took a step closer, and Phuwin instinctively stepped back, eyes wide.  Pond's gaze was locked onto Phuwin's eyes, then drifted down slowly , tracing the line of his nose, and finally settling on his lips.  Phuwin swallowed nervously, his tongue darting out to wet his lips unconsciously, a move that made Pond's heart skip a beat.

----

What  will happen now?👀

Can you guess it?