Phuwin's POV
Days passed like a blur after that night. The emptiness left behind by my mother's words lingered in every corner of the house. She hadn't spoken to me much since then. It wasn't like she was outright ignoring me, but there was a distanceone that hadn't been there before.
Pond stayed with me every night, holding me close as I cried myself to sleep. He didn't say much, just stroked my hair and whispered soft reassurances. But even he couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty that clung to us.
I wanted my mom back. I wanted her to accept me, to accept us.
One evening, as I sat in my room staring at my phone, my heart aching, I made a decision.
I had to try one last time.
I walked downstairs, hesitating at the sight of my mom in the kitchen. She was stirring a pot of soup, her face blank, lost in thought.
"Mom," I said, my voice trembling.
She looked up, her expression unreadable. "Yes?"
I swallowed, stepping closer. "Can we talk?"
She exhaled deeply, setting the spoon down. "Phuwin..."
"Please, Mom," I whispered. "Just hear me out."
She didn't say anything, just pulled out a chair and gestured for me to sit.
I took a deep breath, gathering every ounce of courage I had. "I know this isn't what you imagined for me. I know it's hard for you. But, Mom... I love him. I love Pond with everything I have. And I don't want to live my life pretending to be someone I'm not just to make the world happy."
She looked down at her hands, silent.
"I never wanted to hurt you," I continued, my voice shaking. "I was scared. Scared that you wouldn't accept me, scared that I'd disappoint you. But I can't change who I am, and I don't want to. Pond makes me happy, Mom. He loves me, and I love him. And all I want is for you to see that."
Tears welled up in her eyes, and for a moment, I thought she'd stay silent forever. Then, she spoke.
"I was never ashamed of you, Phuwin," she said softly. "I was never disappointed. I was just... scared."
I frowned. "Scared?"
She nodded. "The world is cruel, Phuwin. People judge. People hurt. And I was terrified of what that would mean for you. I wanted to protect you from that pain." She let out a shaky breath. "But in doing so, I ended up hurting you instead."
My eyes burned with unshed tears. "Mom..."
She reached for my hand, squeezing it gently. "I see how much you love him. I see how much he loves you. And if he's the one who makes you happy, then... I want to be happy for you."
A sob escaped my lips as I threw myself into her arms. "Thank you," I choked out. "Thank you, Mom."
She stroked my hair like she did when I was a kid, whispering, "I love you, Phuwin. I always will."
At that moment, the weight I had been carrying for so long finally lifted.
---
Pond's POV
I was pacing outside Phuwin's house, my heart pounding. He had texted me earlier, telling me he was going to talk to his mom again. I had been on edge ever since.
Then, the front door opened.
Phuwin stepped out, his eyes red-but this time, it wasn't from sadness. He was smiling.
I barely had time to react before he ran to me, throwing his arms around my neck.
"She accepts us," he whispered. "She really does."
I froze for a moment, trying to process his words. "She... she does?"
He nodded against my shoulder, gripping me tighter. "She said she wants to be happy for me. For us."
I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. Relief, pure and overwhelming, crashed over me.
I pulled back just enough to cup his face, looking into his teary eyes. "We did it, Phu."
A soft laugh escaped him. "We did."
And then, I kissed him. Right there, in front of his house, under the streetlights.
For the first time in a long time, the future didn't feel uncertain. It felt like ours.
-To be continuedâªï¸