Chapter Text
The phone rings as Phuwin steps out of his shower, hair still damp. It’s Pond.
“Yes.” Phuwin answers.
“I forgotmywallet at your condo.”
Pond slurs the words together over the line; his voice sounds like panic.
Phuwin immediately looks around. “I don’t see it. Are you sure it’s here, Pond?” while looking from corner to corner.
“I’m sure. I’m coming back in 5 minutes.”
“Tell me where you supposedly dropped it, and I can bring it down so you don’t have to go up.” Phuwin still looks around for the hint of Pond’s wallet.
“No, you don’t have to. I’ll come up. I’ll look for it. I know where it is. I’m coming.” Pond says in such a hurry.
It’s weird, Phuwin thinks. If Pond is so sure where he left the wallet, he can just tell Phuwin..., but anyway.
Before he can think further, the condo bell rings. Phuwin opens the door, and Pond is right outside.
“That’s barely 5 minutes.” Phuwin teases.
“My wallet. I’m going in.” Pond shoves the door open and just lets himself in, while Phuwin shakes his head, eyes following him with a million questions, because this is weird and Pond hardly ever acts like this.
Pond invites himself to Phuwin's kitchen, pours himself a glass of water, and gulps it down quickly. This is getting so weird. Phuwin really doesn’t understand why and what has driven Pond a bit insane like this.
“What happened, Pond. It’s barely even an hour since you left, and you’re acting a bit weird. Are you panicking because you can’t find your wallet? Let me help.” Phuwin offers.
“No.” Pond shakes his head and pulls out the wallet from his back pocket.
“My wallet is with me, so rest assured. It was just a fucking silly ass excuse I pulled out on top of my head to come back here.” Pond slurs the words together; he sounds more and more stressed, and Phuwin is now worried.
“Then what happened, Pond? Are you okay?” Phuwin steps closer with concerned eyes.
“No. Phuwin, just stop right there,” Pond signals, and Phuwin stops, eyes still on him, worried and a little freaked out.
“You stand right there and just listen, don’t ask more questions, just answer me. Let me do this, otherwise I won’t ever muster the courage anymore.” Pond's eyes are on the floor, his ears burning red.
He takes a very deep breath, his eyes closed. He looks stressed, and Phuwin has never seen him like this. He is scared for good.
“Phuwin.” Pond finally breathes out. “Earlier at the crossroad, you looked at me and said, ‘I love you’. I know we have said it many times before, but…. I don’t know how to explain this….” Pond stutters, his voice a little choked up.
“Pond…”
“No, just let me.” Pond shakes his head. “Today, when you said it, it feels different. It feels different because it sounds like it means more than just an I love you we normally give each other.” Pond stops there and finally brings his head up to look at Phuwin. “And it’s driving me mad because I don’t know if you feel the same electricity those words have given me. It’s driving me mad because I don’t know if you meant the same way I felt it.” Pond takes one step closer.
“Pond…” his name on Phuwin’s lips, trembling, his eyes sparkle under the soft, cosy light of his condo.
“I didn’t leave. I was down there in my car for the last hour, thinking and thinking and debating myself whether I should ask you this because I’m scared this might change what we are having right now; but at the same time, I was so sure you’d feel the same and this might as well be the start of something better than what we have.” Pond takes another step towards Phuwin. They are just a foot apart. The condo is so silent that they can almost hear each other’s breathing.
“Phuwin, I just need to know if you meant it like the way I think. I just need to know, please.” Pond's voice low and soft, almost like a plea.
Phuwin raises his eyes to look up at Pond, his heart beating at full speed in his chest.
I love you. I love you. I mean it. I mean it.
“What do you think I mean?” is what he says, his voice trembling. The air around them feels like glass, so vulnerable it could crack if they both breathe a little too loudly.
“Like you are in love with me,” Pond says, his voice sure and stern. Pond is usually so soft spoken and not straightforward, but this time, he dives right into the words, as if he has never been more sure of anything in the world.
Phuwin looks at Pond, the man he loves, maybe the one he has been in love with from the first time their eyes met in that audition room years ago, up until now.
Phuwin's eyes well up with tears. He lets out a little sparkly smile.
“Then yes, sweetheart. I am in love with you.” He quietly hums, his voice so low, almost like a whisper. And it’s like the final thread of doubt is now broken. Suddenly, Pond is towering over Phuwin; no space is left between the two of them. He is now pressed to Phuwin, his hands cupping Phuwin’s face so preciously; his eyes watery and dark with pent-up emotions now spilling over.
“I’m about to kiss you. If you don’t want it, just….”
“Kiss me,” Phuwin cuts him off.
All of a sudden, the world tilts at his feet, and Pond’s lips are on his, warm and soft and passionate. They have kissed a hundred times on set, but this is different.
This is their first kiss - for themselves. Not the rehearsed ones with an entire camera crew around, and then trying to angle it so that it looks better on the screen.
This is their kiss, open, and raw, and honest.
Pond has always been a good kisser, yet this is the first time Phuwin learns how it feels to be kissed by Pond, not by his acting partner. To be kissed by Pond Naravit, to be engulfed by his steady arms, and knowing he could just melt into the kiss, and Pond is there to catch him if he lets go.
They kiss with the ferocity of years and years of dancing around each other, yearning and confusing and hiding how they feel under the ‘partnership’. The kiss is not perfect, it’s messy, it’s teeth clashing because they both are so eager to pour their hearts into the touches. It’s not perfect, but somehow it’s the most perfect kiss they have ever given each other.
Kissing Pond Naravit, not Mork, Palm, Phum, or Khun Thee, but Pond Naravit, is the single best feeling in this world that Phuwin has ever experienced in his life.
He is home. He is right where he wants to be, and he never wants this to end.
“I love you, Phuwin.” Pond breaks the kiss to tell him, his eyes hazy and his lips look kiss-bitten red. He is so beautiful like this, and a part of Phuwin's heart aches because of the indomitable love he feels for this man, right here, right now.
“I’m here. I know,” Phuwin caresses his face, eyes entirely on him. Pond dazes and just looks at Phuwin, then rests his head on his hair, embracing the shorter man in his steady arms.
They stay like that for a while, but none of them stirs or speaks. This is enough. The understanding they have for each other is so deep that words aren’t needed anymore. They have spent so many years letting their minds rule over their hearts, and now that the walls are broken open, they are just happy to be here, in each other’s embrace, and let the noise of the world outside quiet down.
In this house, in this quiet orbit, they are in love, and that’s the only thing that matters.
Phuwin cannot believe this is his life.
5 years ago, he got randomly paired up with this astoundingly handsome man on a random Thursday for an audition. He remembered thinking, ‘Oh, this guy and I kinda clicked.’ and that was how the trajectory of his life changed.
Merely 3 hours ago, he was sobbing his heart out because he finally had the courage to name the feelings he had been denying for years.
Now, he is safe and warm and embraced in the arms of the love of his life.
Phuwin is so happy. He can do this forever.
Forever—if Pond lets him.