Chapter 29: Chapter 27

Author's POV

"Sit down for a moment, Phu," Pond gently said to his boyfriend. They had been standing in front of the morgue for over an hour, waiting for the doors to open.

Phuwin stayed silent, so Pond slowly guided him to the waiting area, helping him sit down.

As soon as Pond arrived at the hotel, Phuwin had rushed to him, crying hard. At first, Pond thought Phuwin already knew about his father, but when he looked at Dunk and his mother, they both shook their heads, indicating they hadn't told Phuwin anything yet.

Curious, Pond asked Phuwin what happened, and Phuwin told him he had dreamed of his father, who seemed to be saying goodbye. It was then that Pond broke the news that his father had passed away.

Phuwin nearly lost consciousness upon hearing it. He collapsed to the floor, his tears flowing like a river. Dunk quickly came to his side, offering an inhaler to help him breathe, while Dunk's mother embraced him in a comforting, motherly hug.

Phuwin became hysterical, much like Gemini, and Pond had to raise his voice to help him calm down, to allow the reality to settle in.

Pond spent an hour calming Phuwin down until he eventually fell asleep in Pond's arms. Dunk then headed to the hospital to assist Joong with Gemini, while Boom drove him, and Dunk's mother stayed at the hotel.

After an hour, Phuwin woke up with a fever. Though weak, he insisted on going to the hospital. He wanted to see his father, and Pond couldn’t refuse his pleading. Fourth had woken up by that time, also worried for Gemini.

Upon reaching the hospital, Pond and Phuwin went straight to the morgue, while Fourth and Dunk’s mother went to see Gemini, who was handling paperwork. Pond and Dunk’s fathers were arranging the funeral and memorial services.

Phuwin’s pain was indescribable. It felt as though countless swords had pierced his heart, leaving it bleeding.

"How can I tell him I'm not angry, Pond?" Phuwin had asked this question countless times, his sobs filling the air each time.

"He already knows it, baby," Pond would always respond, his answer never changing.

"He shouldn’t have died, Pond. He was a good father to me and Gem. He was also a good husband, even if Mama wasn’t happy with him. But he didn’t deserve to die like this."

Pond could only offer a tight hug, knowing words could never ease Phuwin’s pain. Losing someone you love is the deepest wound, one that words or even time cannot heal.

Ten minutes later, the morgue door finally opened, allowing Pond and Phuwin inside. Pond motioned to the standby doctor nearby to follow them, as Phuwin’s body was trembling again—a mix of fever and heartbreak.

Phuwin’s steps were slow, his eyes fixed on his father’s lifeless body. Tears streamed down his face, his sobs growing louder with each step. His body was on the verge of collapse, and if Pond weren’t there to support him, he would have fallen.

“Pa,” Phuwin called softly, his voice barely a whisper. His hands shook as he tried to reach out to his father’s cold body.

“Pa,” he repeated, gently shaking his father’s shoulder, his sobs becoming louder. “Pa, I’m here now. Your youngest is home. Wake up. You said you’d treat me when I got back, right? You joked that you couldn’t afford the food in the U.S. You promised to make a banner for me and Gem and hang it outside the house to show everyone you have two engineer kids. Pa, I’m here. Please, wake up.”

Phuwin shook his father again, this time with more urgency.

“Phuwin, stop,” Pond said gently.

“No.” Phuwin pushed Pond away. “Dad, please wake up. I’m not angry with you. I would never be angry with you. You have a girlfriend, right? You can introduce her to me. I’ll be kind to her; I’ll treat her well. So please, wake up, pa.”

“Phu,” Pond pulled him close, hugging him tightly. Seeing his boyfriend in this much pain hurt him deeply, but the helplessness he felt was even more unbearable.

“Pond... Love... You know my papa's girlfriend, right? Can you call her? I’ll talk to her. I’ll be good to her.”

“Phuwin.”

Phuwin looked toward the morgue door. Gem was standing there, watching him with a heavy gaze, while Fourth stood behind him, looking equally worried.

“Gem,” Phuwin called, rushing over to his brother. He took Gem’s hands and led him to their father. “Gem, tell papa I’m not mad at him so he’ll wake up.”

“Phuwin, Dad is dead. He’s not going to wake up,” Gem said in a cold, emotionless voice.

“No, Gem. Papa is just joking.”

“PHUWIN. PAPA IS DEAD!”

Phuwin froze, as if rooted to the spot. Pond immediately pulled him into a hug, holding him upright.

“Breathe, baby,” Pond whispered, planting a soft kiss on his head.

“Pond… How will Dad know I’m not angry at him? How will he know his youngest wasn’t really mad at him? He’s gone. He can’t hear me anymore.”

Pond let out a sigh of relief, sensing that Phuwin was finally beginning to grasp the situation.

“He already knew, baby. He knows you aren’t mad at him. He can hear you. I’m sure he’s here with us now, listening to every word you say. He understands everything, so let him go. Let your father rest.”

“But, Pond…”

“Baby, let him go, okay? I’m here, and I won’t leave you. Let your father rest now.”

Phuwin stayed silent. He gently pulled away from Pond’s embrace and looked at his father. With a trembling hand, he reached out to touch his father’s face. His quiet sobs grew louder, filling the room.

“Dad, thank you for being a good father to us. Thank you for giving us all that you could. You were the best father. And if reincarnation is real, I’d still want you as my dad.”

Phuwin slowly lowered his head, pressing a final, heartfelt kiss to his father’s forehead. His painful cry echoed through the room—a child’s heart-wrenching farewell.

“I love you, Dad. Goodbye for now.”