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The fashion week frenzy was in full swing, splitting GMMTV’s golden boys across two different continents. While Phuwin was holding down the fort in Singapore for a high-profile brand event alongside Perth, Santa, and Fourth, Pond was living his absolute best life in Milan.
Distance usually made the heart grow fonder, but today, social media was making Phuwin’s blood boil.
Pond Naravit was having a monumental day. Not only was he turning heads in Milan, but the stars had aligned: he was attending the exact same show as his long-time idol, NCT’s Jaehyun.
The GMMTV staff accompanying Pond knew exactly how much of a fanboy he was, so they kept the cameras rolling the entire time. When the moment finally came for Pond and Jaehyun to greet each other, the staff captured it all. Pond was polite, bowing and smiling, but his body language betrayed his cool exterior.
Within minutes of the interaction hitting the internet, Twitter (X) went into a complete meltdown. Fans zoomed in on one specific, hilarious detail.
@pondphuwin_real: "OH MY GOD LOOK AT HIS EARS. Pond’s ears are bright red! He is literally blushing while talking to Jaehyun!"
@naravit_tang: "Usually, Pond’s red ears are reserved strictly for Phuwin, but Jaehyun broke the system! Look at him go full fanboy 😭😂"
@phuwintang_updates: "Phuwin has officially entered the chat... or well, he needs to, because Pond is blushing for another man!"
Back in Singapore, the atmosphere in the dressing room was loud. Perth and Santa were TikTok dancing in the corner, and Fourth was loudly debating what to eat for dinner. Phuwin, however, was unusually quiet, staring intently at his iPad screen.
He opened Instagram first. His feed was instantly flooded with Pond’s official photos from Milan.
Phuwin's eyebrows shot up. Pond was wearing a runway outfit that consisted of a tight top and a pair of shorts that were undeniably cut for a women's collection. He looked incredible—effortlessly high-fashion and painfully attractive—but it made Phuwin’s chest tighten.
Why does he have to look like that when I'm thousands of miles away? Phuwin thought, a familiar flare of possessiveness kicking in.
Then, he switched over to Twitter to see what the fans were screaming about. That’s when he saw the video.
It was the high-definition staff video of Pond meeting Jaehyun. Phuwin watched as his boyfriend bowed, smiled that charming smile, and struck up a brief conversation. But as the camera panned closer, there was no denying it: Pond’s ears were flushing a deep, unmistakable crimson.
Phuwin’s grip on his iPad tightened.
He knew that blush. He knew it intimately. It was the exact same flush Pond got when they were filming intimate scenes, or when Phuwin caught him off guard with a compliment behind the scenes. Seeing that specific reaction directed at someone else—even if it was a global K-pop idol Pond had admired for years—sent a sharp spike of jealousy straight through him.
"Hey, Phuwin, you good? You look like you're about to bite through your lip," Fourth called out, pausing his banter with Santa.
"I'm fine," Phuwin said, his voice a little tighter than intended. He quickly locked his iPad and stood up, smoothing down his jacket. "Just... checking the tags for our event."
Perth glanced over, catching the slight tension in Phuwin's jaw, and smirked. "Right. Milan tags or Singapore tags?"
Phuwin ignored him, walking over to the mirror to adjust his hair, though his mind was entirely in Italy. He pulled out his phone, bypassing all social media, and opened their private chat.
Phuwin: Nice outfit in Milan. The shorts are short.
Phuwin: And I didn't know your ears could get that red for someone who isn't me.
Phuwin tossed his phone onto the vanity, a small, satisfied smirk playing on his lips as he imagined Pond checking his phone in Milan and suddenly freezing in fear. Idol or no idol, Pond was going to have some explaining to do the moment he touched down in Bangkok.
*
Across the world, the afternoon sun was hitting the streets of Milan as Pond finally collapsed into the back of his van. His feet ached from the dress shoes, but his adrenaline was still spiking. He had done it. He had actually met Jaehyun.
He pulled out his phone, ready to spam Phuwin with the news, only to find the two unread messages waiting for him.
Pond read them once. Then twice. The temperature in the van suddenly felt like it dropped twenty degrees.
Phuwin: Nice outfit in Milan. The shorts are short.
Phuwin: And I didn't know your ears could get that red for someone who isn't me.
"Oh, no," Pond muttered, his eyes widening.
The staff member sitting next to him glanced over. "Everything okay, Pond?"
"I am dead," Pond whispered, already typing back at lightning speed. "I am a dead man."
Pond: PhuPhu!!
Pond: The outfit was high fashion!! The stylist chose it! 😭
Pond: And the ears—that was just fanboy panic! It’s totally different from when it happens with you, I swear!!
He stared at the screen, watching the little grey checkmarks. Read.
No typing bubble appeared. Phuwin was actively ghosting him.
Back in Singapore, the event had successfully wrapped. Perth, Santa, Fourth, and Phuwin were at a private after-party hosted by the brand. The atmosphere was loud, filled with music, clinking glasses, and flashing cameras.
Phuwin looked immaculate, smiling effortlessly for the media and socializing with the guests. But every time his phone buzzed in his pocket, a tiny thrill of satisfaction went through him. He knew he was torturing Pond, and honestly, Pond deserved it for looking that good in those shorts and blushing on main.
"You're smiling at your phone like a villain," Fourth said, leaning against the bar next to him with a mock-judgmental look.
"I'm just enjoying the scenery," Phuwin replied smoothly, taking a sip of his drink.
"Sure. The 'scenery' that currently has a 7-hour time difference," Perth chimed in as he walked past, giving Phuwin a knowing pat on the shoulder.
Phuwin rolled his eyes but finally decided to show mercy. He slipped away to a quieter corner of the venue near the balcony and unlocked his phone. Aside from a dozen frantic texts, Pond had sent a voice note. Phuwin pressed it to his ear.
"Phuwin, please, answer me," Pond’s voice came through, sounding genuinely whined and pouty, completely dropping the cool model persona he’d had on the runway. "I was just nervous because it’s Jaehyun! But you know you're the only one who actually makes me blush like that for real. Call me when your event is over, please? I miss you."
Phuwin's strict expression melted, a genuine, soft smile tugging at his lips. He hit the call button.
It picked up on the very first ring.
"Phuwin!" Pond’s voice practically exploded through the speaker.
"So," Phuwin started, his tone teasingly slow as he leaned against the balcony railing, looking out over the Singapore skyline. "Are your ears still red, P'Pond?"
"No! They’re normal! Look, I can FaceTime you right now to prove it!"
"Don't bother, I believe you," Phuwin chuckled, his jealousy finally fading into amusement. "But the shorts? Really? You didn't think to text me a preview of that outfit before showing the whole internet?"
On the other end of the line, Pond let out a heavy sigh of relief, his voice dropping into that lower, softer register he only used when they were alone. "I wanted it to be a surprise. Do you... did you like it?"
Phuwin hummed, watching the city lights flash in the distance. "You looked good. A little too good. Which means you owe me when we both get back to Bangkok."
"Anything you want," Pond promised instantly, a grin evident in his voice. "I'll fly back tomorrow. Wait for me?"
"Always," Phuwin said softly. "See you in Bangkok, fanboy."
*
The chaos of Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport was standard for a Tuesday evening, but for Pond, the walk through the terminal felt endless. He had spent the entire eleven-hour flight from Milan staring at the ceiling of the plane, rehearsing exactly what he was going to say.
He had his hoodie pulled up and a cap low over his eyes, trying to blend in with the post-flight crowd, but his eyes were scanning the arrival area like a hawk.
He didn't have to look far. Standing near a pillar, partially hidden behind a pair of oversized sunglasses and a denim jacket, was Phuwin. He had landed from Singapore just a few hours prior, looking entirely refreshed while Pond felt like a crumpled piece of luggage.
Pond didn't care about the lingering paparazzi or the fans waiting by the exit. He walked straight up to Phuwin, his chest tight.
"Phuphu," Pond murmured, stopping right in front of him.
Phuwin slowly lowered his sunglasses, his sharp eyes evaluating Pond from head to toe. A small, unreadable smirk played on his lips. "You look tired, P'Pond. Did all that blushing in Milan exhaust you?"
The moment the doors of their private ride closed and the tinted windows shut out the airport lights, the playful tension snapped.
Pond didn't wait. He immediately lunged forward, grabbing Phuwin’s hands and pulling them into his lap. "I swear, the Jaehyun thing was pure panic. The staff framed me. They edited it to make it look worse!"
Phuwin let out a soft, melodic laugh, the sound instantly melting the last bit of Pond’s anxiety. "I know, Pond. I watched the video five times. I saw how stiff you were. You looked like a statue that suddenly learned how to blush."
"Then why did you ignore my texts?" Pond pouted, leaning his forehead against Phuwin’s shoulder, whining explicitly. "You terrified me. I thought you were actually furious."
"I was jealous," Phuwin admitted candidly, his hand coming up to gently thread through Pond’s messy, post-flight hair. He tilted Pond’s face up so their eyes met. "Seeing your ears turn that shade of red on my timeline without me being the cause? It didn't sit right with me. And don't get me started on the outfit. My timeline was full of people screaming about your legs."
Pond’s eyes darkened a fraction, the submissive fanboy act completely vanishing, replaced by the intense, possessive look he usually kept behind closed doors. "The legs are only for you to look at closely. You know that."
An hour later, they were finally inside Phuwin’s apartment, the luggage abandoned by the front door. The cool air conditioning did nothing to lower the sudden spike in temperature between them.
Phuwin had barely turned around to set his keys on the counter before Pond’s arms wrapped tightly around his waist from behind, pulling him flush against his chest. Pond buried his face into the crook of Phuwin’s neck, inhaling deeply.
"I missed you so much," Pond muffled against his skin. "Singapore was too far. Milan was too far."
Phuwin turned around in his embrace, looping his arms securely around Pond’s neck. He looked up, his gaze dropping to Pond’s ears, which were perfectly normal right now.
"You said you'd give me anything I wanted to make up for it," Phuwin reminded him, his voice dropping to a teasing whisper.
"Name it," Pond murmured, his eyes locked onto Phuwin’s lips.
"First," Phuwin said, his fingers gently tugging at Pond’s earlobes, a small smirk playing on his face as he watched a faint, familiar pink hue immediately start to creep up the skin. "I want to see exactly how red these can get when it’s just the two of us. No cameras. No idols. Just me."
Pond let out a low growl, closing the remaining distance between them. "That's the easiest request you've ever made."
*
The bright Bangkok morning sun filtered through the sheer curtains of Phuwin’s bedroom, casting a warm glow over the tangled sheets. Pond was still fast asleep, his long arms wrapped securely around Phuwin’s waist, anchoring him to the bed.
Phuwin blinked the sleep from his eyes, feeling entirely content. He shifted slightly, trying not to wake the sleeping giant beside him, and reached for his phone on the nightstand.
He opened Twitter (X) out of habit. The fandom was still buzzing about the Milan and Singapore events, but the frantic energy from two days ago had settled into comfortable nostalgia.
Phuwin looked down at Pond. Even in his sleep, Pond’s face was soft, totally relaxed, and completely his. A sudden wave of affection—and a lingering touch of that playful possessiveness—prompted Phuwin to log into his official account.
He didn't tweet a photo. He didn't need to. He just typed out a single, cryptic sentence:
@phuwintang: The color red suits Milan, but it looks much better at home. 😉
Within thirty seconds, Phuwin's notifications exploded.
@pondphuwin_shipper: "WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?! PHUWIN?! ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE RED EARS?!"
@naravit_baba: "Oh my god, he saw the Jaehyun video. He definitely saw it. Pond is currently being scolded, pass it on 😭😂"
@perthppe: (Replying to @phuwintang) "Get some sleep, kid. Stop flexing on the timeline."
Phuwin chuckled, locking his phone and tossing it back onto the nightstand.
The movement finally woke Pond. He stirred, groaning softly as he tightened his grip around Phuwin’s waist, pulling him back down onto the mattress. Pond opened one heavy eyelid, his voice thick with sleep. "What are you laughing at, Phuphu?"
"Nothing," Phuwin smiled, turning in the embrace to face him fully. He reached up, his thumb gently brushing against Pond’s ear, which was warm and rapidly turning a very familiar, deep shade of pink under Phuwin's intense gaze.
Pond noticed where Phuwin was looking and let out a soft laugh, burying his face in the crook of Phuwin's neck. "You're never going to let me live that down, are you?"
"Never," Phuwin whispered, kissing the crown of Pond’s head. "But don't worry. Your secret is safe with me—and the rest of the world."