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Moving to Bangkok at sixteen was supposed to be an exciting step toward independence, but standing in front of the massive gates of his new high school, Dunk Natachai felt entirely lost.
His parents had set him up in a cozy apartment near the train line, but having his own place didn't make entering a brand-new classroom any less intimidating. The hallway was a chaotic sea of teenagers chatting loudly in established friend groups, while Dunk stood awkwardly near the lockers, clutching his bag strap and wondering how he was going to survive the semester.
Then, across the crowded corridor, he caught the eye of a tall boy weaving through the crowd.
The boy stopped, blinking when he realized they were practically standing at eye level—both towering at an impressive 180 cm over most of their classmates. A wide, easy grin spread across the stranger's face as he jogged over.
"Hey!" the boy called out, tapping Dunk on the shoulder. "You look completely lost. New student?"
"Yeah," Dunk admitted, letting out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "Dunk."
"Pond," the boy replied, clapping a friendly hand on Dunk’s shoulder. "Come on, I'll introduce you to the group before assembly."
Just like that, Dunk’s quiet, lonely life in Bangkok vanished.
Pond was an force of nature outgoing, effortlessly charming, and fiercely loyal. Within a month, Pond had taken Dunk under his wing, showing him the best street food stalls near the school, guiding him through the BTS routes, and declaring Dunk’s apartment their official post-school hangout spot.
Most afternoons were spent sprawled on Dunk's living room floor, desks littered with math homework, controller cords tangled on the rug, and empty soda cans lining the coffee table as they played video games until sunset.
It was on one of those quiet, rainy Tuesday afternoons during their second year that Pond suddenly went still mid-game.
The rain tapped rhythmically against Dunk’s balcony windows. Pond paused the game, setting his controller down on his lap. He looked unusually serious, staring straight ahead at the TV screen before turning slowly to face Dunk.
"Dunk," Pond said, his tone dropping into an uncharacteristically heavy, serious register. "I need to tell you something."
Dunk paused, lowering his own controller, instantly worried. "What's wrong? Did you fail the midterm?"
"No," Pond took a deep breath, looking Dunk dead in the eye. "I'm gay."
Dunk’s eyes widened in genuine, stunned shock. For three full seconds, he just stared at his best friend.
"Me too!" Dunk blurted out.
Pond blinked, completely caught off guard. He looked at Dunk, then down at the space between them on the couch, a sudden, tentative thought clearly forming in his teenage brain.
"You want to kiss?" Pond asked casually.
Dunk paused, considering it for a second. "Sure."
They both leaned in. Their lips touched for maybe two seconds, a rigid, clumsy, completely lifeless press of mouths.
Instantly, both of them recoiled back like they had been hit with a high voltage shock, wiping their mouths with the backs of their uniform sleeves with expressions of pure, unadulterated horror.
"I don't think I like you that way," Pond said immediately, shaking his head frantically.
"Me too!" Dunk groaned, shuddering as he wiped his lips again. "Don't get me wrong, but that was nasty."
"Hey!" Pond protested, throwing a sofa cushion straight at Dunk’s head.
"What?!" Dunk laughed, catching the pillow and tossing it back. "It’s not like we're the last two gay guys on Earth!"
"Yeah," Pond scoffed, rubbing his jaw as a sheepish grin broke across his face. "Just because we're both gay doesn't mean we have to date each other."
Dunk smiled softly, picking up his controller again. "So... friends?"
"Yes," Pond said firmly, grabbing his own controller and unpausing the game. "Best friends. And we never mention that kiss ever again."
"I don't even want to remember it," Dunk agreed instantly.
"Good." Pond nudged Dunk’s shoulder with his own, back to his usual loud self. "Now pass the remote, I'm beating your high score."