Pond took another step forward, the scent of Phuwin's shampoo filling in his senses. "You look good in my clothes," he whispered, his eyes still fixed on Phuwin.   His voice was soft but bold, causing Phuwin to blink in surprise, a blush creeping into his cheeks. Phuwin turned his gaze away, suddenly feeling unable to hold  Pond's intense stare.

With a surge of confidence, Pond took yet another step closer.  Now, there was no gap left between them.  He was already inside the room, standing so close that he could feel the warmth radiating off Phuwin's body.  They stood there, faces inches apart, staring into each other's souls.

Phuwin's breath hitched as he gathered every ounce of courage within him.  He leaned forward ever so slightly, eyes flickering back to Pond's.  Seeing Phuwin's small movement, Pond's heart sored.  Slowly, he too began to lean in, his eyes never leaving Phuwin's.  And then, finally, their lips met.

The kiss was soft, delicate, almost as if they were afraid to break the moment.  Neither moved, simply basking in the feel of each other's lips, savoring the electric spark and the swarm of butterflies in their stomachs.  Phuwin closed his eyes, his heart pounding so loudly he was sure Pond could hear it.

Slowly, their lips began to move against each other in a gentle rhythm.  Pond was struck by how soft and sweet Phuwin's lips felt, exactly like they looked.  His hand instinctively found its way to Phuwin's cheek, cupping it tenderly, while his other hand held Phuwin's.  Phuwin's free hand fisted tightly into Pond's t-shirt, holding on as if he might float away.

They lost themselves  in the simple pleasure of the kiss, feeling warmth and tenderness in every passing second.  When they finally broke apart, their eyes stayed locked, their breaths mingling in the short distance between them.  Neither moved their hands, as if breaking contact would shatter the fragile moment they had just shared.

Pond was the first to speak, his voice soft and breathless.  "I... I've wanted to do that for a long time," he admitted, a small, satisfied smile tugging at his lips.

Phuwin's cheeks turned a deeper shade of pink at the confession.  "Yeah... me too," he replied, equally breathless.  His voice was barely above a whisper as they both smiled softly, leaning forward until their foreheads touched, a silent promise passing between them.

After a moment, Pond pulled back slightly, his eyes shining with warmth.  "Goodnight, Phu," he whispered, his lips curving into a bright smile.

Phuwin bit his lip, feeling his heart swell with warmth. "Goodnight, Pond," he said softly, leaning on to press a small, sweet kiss on Pond's cheek.

Pond's smile widened into a full, toothy grin, his ears turning bright red at the gesture.  Feeling a mix of excitement and bliss, he stepped back, giving Phuwin one last look before turning and leaving the room.

As Pond walked back to his own room, he couldn't stop the smile on his face, his heart fluttering.  His hands touched his cheeks where Phuwin had kissed him, and a wave of happiness washed over him.  He closed the door behind him, falling onto his bed with a contented sigh, his mind replaying every moment of what had just happened.

Phuwin, meanwhile, stood frozen in place, staring at the closed door.  His heart was still racing, his lips tingling from the memory of their kiss.  He bought his hand up to touch his own lips, a soft smile forming as he let out a shaky breath.

The next morning, Pond was back in his office, trying to focus on the never-ending pile of paperwork. He buried himself in his work, his brows furrowed in concentration. His phone suddenly rang, breaking his focus. Glancing at the screen, he sighed upon seeing "Papa Mix" flashing on it.

He hesitated, feeling a mixture of hurt and guilt wash over him. It wasn't that he didn't love his papa; he did. But lately, he'd been ignoring his calls, knowing exactly what Mix wanted—Pond to return to the family mansion. It was a place that suffocated him, full of constant scrutiny and expectations he didn’t want to face. Spending time with Phuwin had been a sweet escape, a world away from his family problems. But now, his papa was calling again, tugging at the strings of his conscience.

After a few moments of internal debate, Pond finally picked up the call. "Hello, Pa," he answered quietly, already dreading the conversation.

"Pond! How have you been, my boy?" Mix’s voice was warm and caring, carrying a hint of concern that Pond couldn’t ignore.

"I’m good, Pa. Just busy with work, you know," Pond replied, keeping his tone casual, hoping to steer the conversation away from where he knew it was heading.

Mix chatted about small things at first—Pond's health, work, and if he was eating properly. Pond answered politely, though his replies were short. Then, as he feared, Mix finally approached the topic Pond had been dreading.

"Listen, Pond," Mix began gently, "I was thinking, why don’t you come back to the mansion tonight? We’re having a family dinner. Joong and Dunk are also coming, you know."

Pond closed his eyes, his grip tightening around the phone. He was ready to refuse again, to tell his papa he wasn’t in the right frame of mind to return, but before he could say anything, Mix continued.

"Please, just for tonight," Mix pleaded softly. "It's a family dinner. We miss you. Can you do this for me?"

A sigh slipped from Pond’s lips. Mix wasn't giving him much of a choice. After a pause, he relented, "Alright, Pa. I’ll be there."

"Thank you, son. I’m looking forward to it," Mix said, relief and happiness evident in his voice.

As the call ended, Pond leaned back in his chair, feeling a swirl of emotions. Going back to the mansion was the last thing he wanted. He needed peace, and the mansion was anything but peaceful. Just as he was lost in his thoughts, the door to his cabin swung open.

"Pond!" Joong entered with a grin plastered on his face.

Pond quickly straightened up, trying to mask his inner turmoil. "What's up, Joong? Is something wrong?" he asked, feigning nonchalance.

Joong raised an eyebrow. "What, can’t I come to see my dear brother once in a while?" he teased, taking a seat opposite Pond.

Pond shook his head with a slight smile. "Of course, you can. I just... wasn’t expecting you."

Joong studied Pond for a moment, his eyes sharp. "You seem different lately, you know? In a good way." He flashed a teasing smile, trying to pry into his brother's thoughts.

Pond avoided Joong's gaze, pretending to shuffle some papers on his desk. "What do you mean? I’m just being myself. Anyway, how are you and Dunk?" he asked, swiftly changing the topic.

Joong chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Nice try, Pond. You’re not getting off that easy." He paused, watching his brother squirm slightly under his scrutiny. "Me and Dunk? We're great. Thanks for asking. But let's get back to you. What's going on with you and Phuwin, huh?" A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

Pond’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of Phuwin's name. "W-What do you mean?" he stammered, trying and failing to maintain a casual tone.

"Oh, come on," Joong leaned forward, his eyes glinting with mischief. "I’ve seen the way you look at him, and the way he looks at you. There’s something there, isn't it?"

Pond's face flushed at his brother's words. "It's... it’s nothing like that," he mumbled, knowing full well he was lying, and that Joong could see right through him.

Joong grinned, shaking his head. "You can’t fool me, Pond. I see how happy you’ve been lately. And it’s not just work." He paused, raising an eyebrow. "Or are you gonna keep denying it?"

Pond sighed, finally meeting Joong's gaze. "I don't know, Joong. It’s complicated," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "Phuwin... he makes me feel things I’ve never felt before. But I’m not sure how I feel. I don't want to push him or ruin what we have."

Joong’s expression softened. "Pond, sometimes you have to take a risk. You can’t live in fear of what might go wrong. If he makes you happy, maybe you should tell him how you feel."

Pond nodded, taking in his brother’s words. "Maybe... I’ll think about it," he said softly.

Joong reached out, patting Pond’s shoulder. "Good. Now, let’s survive this family dinner tonight, okay?" he said, trying to lighten the mood.

Pond managed a small smile. "Yeah... let’s do that," he replied, though his thoughts were still swirling with the advice Joong had given him.

---

Finally they kissed 🫣😍

How was it??