> 20 <

Next Morning

The soft morning light filtered through the curtains, falling gently into the drawing room.Pond and Phuwin, freshly ready, sat down on the sofa.Pond told the maid to bring coffee; she placed the tray and quietly left.

Pond looked at Phuwin."Are you okay?"Phuwin only gave a faint, "Hmm."

After a few seconds of silence, Phuwin spoke in a soft voice,"Pond… I want to meet Mom. Please… take me to her."

Pond let out a breath, looking at him."Phuwin… Dad already said no. And now… she’s not your mom anymore."

For a moment, pain flashed in Phuwin’s eyes."Please, Pond… just once… I want to talk to her."

Pond picked up his coffee cup, his expression softening a little."Okay… now fix your mood. Don’t think about anything and just drink your coffee."

Both of them quietly sipped their coffee.

---

Other Side

From the kitchen came the smell of cooking.Win was making breakfast when Bright came up behind him.

"By the way, Win, I was thinking… why don’t we go somewhere today?" Bright said casually.

Win turned around."And why is that?"

Bright shrugged."Just like that."

Win gave a small smile."Hmm… fine."

Then Win quickly added,"But help me make breakfast. I’m not doing all this alone."

Bright raised an eyebrow."Huh… every day I come home from work tired and still make dinner, and now you can’t even make breakfast today?"

Win stirred the coffee and replied,"Yeah, but I also come home tired and make coffee."

Bright placed his hand on the counter."Coffee and dinner are not the same thing."

Win argued softly,"But it still takes effort, right?"

Bright replied in a sarcastic tone,"Yeah, more effort for me though."

Win shook his head."Still… come on, help me."

Bright let out a heavy sigh."Okay… fine, give it here."

A small smile appeared on Win’s lips, and the two of them started preparing breakfast together.

---

Back to Pond & Phuwin

Phuwin slowly came closer to Pond."Pond… please, take me there."

Pond held his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze."Listen to me… we can’t go there right now. You understand that, right?"

Phuwin looked down."Please… why are you doing this? Just take me."

Pond took a deep breath."Phuwin… try to understand. She won’t meet you."

Phuwin looked at him stubbornly."Please… just take me."

After a short pause, Pond said,"Okay… I’ll take you. But not right now."

Hope flickered in Phuwin’s eyes."Promise?"

Pond nodded."Yes… promise."

---

Other Side – Gemini & Rasee

In the living room corner, Gemini was sitting relaxed, scrolling through his phone.Rasee came and stood in front of him, asking directly,"Gemini, have you thought about it?"

Gemini raised a brow."Mom… about what?"

With folded hands, Rasee replied,"I’m talking about your marriage."

Gemini let out a little huff."Mom… please, I don’t want to get married right now."

Rasee spoke in a stern tone."Gemini, don’t be stubborn. Tell me quickly, I’ll talk to Sorachai about it."

Gemini’s patience cracked."Mom… what are you even saying? There’s already so much tension in this house, and you’re worried about marriage? And that too with Fourth? Mom… he’s still such a kid!"

Rasee replied coldly,"Gemini, I don’t want to hear anything. Today or tomorrow, you will marry Fourth. This is my final decision."

Gemini pushed his chair back and stood up."Mom… do whatever you want."And without looking back, he walked away.

---

Hallway

Gemini came to the hall and sat on the sofa, eyes closed.A few moments later, Fourth arrived and sat next to him."What happened, Phi Gemini?"

Gemini forced a smile."Nothing, Fourth."

Fourth asked doubtfully,"Why are you sitting here like this?"

Gemini shrugged."Just like that."

A small smile appeared on Fourth’s lips."Come on, let’s go out somewhere."

Gemini gave a soft "Hmm", and the two of them took the car and drove off.

---

Other Side – Pond & Phuwin

A little while later… Pond and Phuwin were in the car.The silence in the drive was heavy; only the hum of the road could be heard.

Soon, the car stopped in front of Namtan’s house.Pond stepped inside with Phuwin.

In the hall, Namtan was sitting casually.She saw Pond and said bluntly,"Why have you come here now?"

Pond asked directly,"Namtan, where’s your mom?"

Namtan tilted her chin."Wherever she is… first talk to me."

Pond, a bit irritated, said,"Namtan, call your mom. I need to talk to her."

Namtan got sarcastic."Ohh… you want to talk? And this boy also wants to talk? Mom won’t talk to anyone."

Pond’s tone turned firm."Namtan… please."

Namtan made a fake thoughtful face."Okay… then only Mom will talk to you."

---

Namtan → Nattaya’s Room

Namtan went inside."Mom… Pond and that boy are here. They want to talk to you."

Nattaya said casually,"Tell them… to leave."

Namtan nodded."Okay, Mom."

But Nattaya suddenly stopped her."Wait, Namtan."

Namtan looked confused."Why, Mom?"

A faint smirk appeared on Nattaya’s lips."Phuwin is the only one who can save your and Pond’s relationship now."

Namtan said in shock,"How, Mom?"

In a mysterious tone, Nattaya replied,"I’ll tell you later. For now… go ask Pond what he wants to talk about, and if Phuwin wants to talk, send him to my room."

Namtan agreed."Okay, Mom."

---

Hall – Pond & Phuwin

Namtan came out."Mom’s in her room. If you want to talk, go ahead."

Pond looked at Phuwin.Phuwin walked straight towards the room.

As soon as he went in, Namtan stopped Pond, and the two began a heated argument about the slap incident.

---

Inside – Phuwin & Nattaya

Nattaya was sitting on the sofa. As soon as Phuwin entered, she said softly,"Phuwin… come here."

Phuwin walked over."Mom…"

Nattaya got up and hugged him, gently stroking his hair."How are you?"

Tears welled up in Phuwin’s eyes."Mom… where did you go? Didn’t you ever miss me?"

Nattaya said slowly,"Phuwin, my child… how could I forget you?"

She held his face."Now stop crying. Sit here with me."

They both sat on the sofa.

With fake, light tears, Nattaya said,"Phuwin, I’m not your real mom, but I always thought of you as my own child. I don’t know what your dad told you… but I wasn’t wrong."

Phuwin immediately replied,"Mom, I could never think you were wrong."

"Where… where did you go? And why did you leave Dad?"

Nattaya’s expression turned sad."I didn’t leave—your dad left me. I never wanted to be apart from you… but Phuwin, you weren’t my own, and no matter what I did, I’d still be called a stepmother. There were many reasons… but anyway, I’ve forgotten all of that now."

She smiled softly."Today, after so many years, seeing you makes me so happy. You’ve grown up so much… when I left, you were so little."

Phuwin smiled faintly."Yes, Mom."

Nattaya held his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze."I’m happy to see you like this."

Just then, Namtan entered the room."Mom… are you done? Please talk to Pond now."

Nattaya nodded and walked outside.

---

Outside – Pond, Nattaya & Namtan

Nattaya stood before Pond."Pond… how could you slap my daughter?"

Pond took a deep breath."Sorry… I’ve already apologized to Namtan. She said something wrong about my dad, so I got angry. But I’ll be careful from now on."

After a short pause, Nattaya said,"Hmm… fine."

Phuwin and Namtan also came over.

Pond looked at Phuwin."Shall we go?"

Phuwin gave a faint "Hmm", but before leaving, he went to Nattaya.She kissed his forehead and hugged him."Phuwin, keep visiting… I’m your mother."

Phuwin said softly,"Yes, Mom."

As they were about to leave, Nattaya told Namtan,"You go too."

Pond said to Phuwin,"I’ll wait in the car."

Namtan said goodbye to her mom and got into the car with Phuwin.

The car drove away.

Nattaya chuckled to herself."Huhh… Phuwin, you’re too innocent."

---

Time Skip

Pond, Phuwin, and Namtan arrived back home.Pond and Phuwin were in the room.

Phuwin slowly came closer to Pond and hugged him tightly.His voice was full of genuine happiness."Thank you so much, Pond… I… I’m really happy today."

Pond hugged him back, giving a light reassuring pat on his back."Huhh… I’m happy that you’re happy."

For a few moments, they stood there in each other’s warmth, as if time had stopped.

---

Other Side – Gemini & Fourth

Meanwhile, Gemini and Fourth were out somewhere, wandering among the city lights.The breeze brushed gently against their faces, both of them wearing relaxed smiles.They bought roadside snacks, sometimes laughing, sometimes talking about nothing in particular.There was an easy comfort in every moment—like in each other’s company, all their worries simply melted away.

Evening time.Phuwin’s phone buzzed — it was Win calling.“Phuwin, come on… let’s go to the club tonight. It’s been ages since we had some fun. Bright sir is coming too… and yeah, you’re not allowed to say no,” Win said in a slightly commanding tone.

Phuwin hid a smile and replied,“Okay, okay… I’ll come.”

The moment the call ended, Phuwin went straight to Pond.“Pond… Win said he and Bright are going to the club. Why don’t we both go and join them?”Pond casually said, “Okay.”“Then let’s go. I’m going to get ready, you should get ready quickly too,” Phuwin said in an excited tone.Pond just gave a small smile and said, “Yeah.”

---

Later that night.The four of them arrived at the club. Inside, loud music thumped through the air, flashing lights cut through the crowd, and the vibe was pure chaos and energy. People were tearing up the dance floor, drinks were lined up at the bar, and the whole place buzzed with an intoxicating atmosphere.

Phuwin and Win sat at a corner table, talking non-stop, laughing and joking like they were in their own world. On the other side, Pond and Bright were enjoying their drinks, exchanging small talk.

One round of drinks turned into two… and before they knew it, it was around 1 a.m.

---

Everyone was a little tipsy now.Pond and Bright still had some control left, but not enough to drive. So Bright quickly booked two VIP rooms right inside the club.

Bright took Win to his room, laid him down on the bed, and then collapsed right beside him.

---

Meanwhile.Pond took Phuwin’s hand and led him to the other room. They both sat at the edge of the bed.

Phuwin looked into Pond’s eyes… a few seconds of silence… and then slowly climbed onto his lap.Pond’s hands naturally rested on his waist. Their faces were just inches apart.

Phuwin cupped Pond’s face in his hands, leaned in… and pressed his lips against his.

The kiss started slow… then gradually deepened. Pond sucked on his lips, their tongues tangled, and the only sound in the room was the soft, wet echo of their kiss.

Between kisses, Pond began unbuttoning Phuwin’s shirt. He laid Phuwin down on the bed, sliding the shirt off his shoulders while trailing his lips down to his neck. He planted soft kisses there, then sucked gently… before biting with a little force.

A soft moan escaped Phuwin’s lips, his breathing quickened. Pond left a deep love bite on his neck. Phuwin gripped his hair… and in one swift move, pushed Pond off and flipped positions.

Now Phuwin was on top. He kissed just below Pond’s ear, then pressed his lips to his neck — teasing, biting lightly — before making his way back to his lips.

This time, the kiss was slow… tender… Pond’s hand still on his waist, pulling him closer.

A while later, kissing turned into stillness, and they drifted off to sleep.Phuwin was lying on top of Pond, his face buried in the crook of Pond’s neck.

_____

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