Chapter 11: Chapter 11

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The journey felt endless. I was trying so hard to distract myself, but my boredom was winning.

“How much time is left to reach?” I asked, glancing at Pond. I reached over to take his hand, intertwining our fingers. The warmth of his touch always made me feel safe.

“Just a few hours more,” he replied, his voice steady as he focused on the road. “Get some sleep. I’ll wake you up when we arrive.”

I sighed, leaning my head back. “No, I don’t want to sleep,” I said, groaning softly. The long drive was making me restless.

Pond glanced at me briefly and chuckled. “Alright, then. Do you want to stop somewhere for a bit? We can hang around if you’re bored.”

I nodded eagerly. “Okay, let’s do that. But hurry up and park the car—I need fresh air!”

The car slowed to a stop, and as soon as I stepped out, the cool air hit my face, refreshing and calming. I stretched my arms, feeling my body loosen up after sitting for so long.

I barely had a moment to enjoy the breeze before I felt strong arms wrap around my waist, pulling me back against a firm chest.

“Pond!” I gasped, surprised by his sudden move.

“What are you doing?” I asked, turning my head slightly to look at him.

Pond smirked, his expression soft but mischievous. “What? I can’t hold my boyfriend now?”

Before I could respond, he leaned in and kissed me.

My eyes widened for a moment, but then I melted into the kiss. It was slow, deliberate, and full of emotion. His lips were warm against mine, and for a moment, the world around us seemed to fade away.

When he finally pulled away, I noticed something I hadn’t seen before—tears glistening in his eyes.

“Pond…” I whispered, my heart tightening. I reached out to touch his face, but before I could, he pulled me into a hug. His arms tightened around me as if he was afraid to let go.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, my voice laced with concern. Pond had always been strong, rarely showing his vulnerable side. Seeing him like this made my chest ache.

He didn’t respond, only burying his face in my shoulder and holding me even closer. I wrapped my arms around him, trying to soothe him, rubbing gentle circles on his back.

After a moment, he pulled back slightly, his hands still resting on my waist. “Nothing happened to me,” he said quietly, his voice trembling. “I just… I feel different. That’s all.”

“Different? What do you mean?” I asked softly, searching his eyes for answers.

He smiled faintly, brushing off my question. “Let’s go eat something. You must be hungry.”

I hesitated for a moment but decided not to push him. “Okay,” I said, taking his hand as we walked toward a nearby restaurant.

As we entered the warm glow of the restaurant, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Pond wasn’t telling me everything, and it worried me.

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What I didn’t know was that someone had been watching us the whole time. Across the street, hidden in the shadows, my mom stood silently, having witnessed everything.

And the peaceful bubble we were in was about to burst.

-To be continued▪︎