Chapter Text
They, in fact, don’t talk about it later.
If anything, it feels like Phuwin is actually going out of his way, to do everything but talking about it later. And it sucks.
He’s not avoiding Pond, he’s still the loving boyfriend Pond knows. He even made Pond’s favorite crab omelet for him the day after the park. But the second Pond tried to bring up the question, Phuwin made some excuse about having plans with Fourth that he was running late for and ran out of the loft without any further explanation.
Every time Pond tries to bring it up, Phuwin manages to cut him off, or he happens to be extremely preoccupied with a task that requires all his attention at that very moment, and ‘I’m sorry, baby. Later.’
Another thing is that he feels like he hasn't been alone with Phuwin since that day, who's inviting Fourth or Joong to hang with them more. The only time they've been alone has been in their bedroom at night, and even then Phuwin has been going to sleep first before Pond’s come into the room.
It’s like Phuwin has this built-in radar that just knows when Pond wants to ask him to move out with him and finds a way to deflect it.
“You don’t think he wants to break up with me right?” He walks into Joong’s room, tossing the family-size bag of chips he bought as compensation for his help at the park. Even if it ended in disaster, Joong did his part successfully, and Pond is grateful nonetheless.
Pond’s phone buzzes as he sits down on the bed next to Joong and his heart twists a little as he reads the message.
phuwinmeow: do u think u could sleep in your own room tonight? sorry baby
pond: is everything okay?
“See this is exactly what I mean,” he holds his phone out.
Joong reaches out, expressionless as he looks over the screen a few times before passing the phone back to Pond, “More texts came in.”
phuwinmeow: couple of work deadlines and i want to give it my full concentration
phuwinmeow: don’t want to disturb you
phuwinmeow: love you
phuwinmeow: ❤️
“I really think you’re overthinking things here dude, talk to him if you’re worried. Don’t make yourself worry more.”
“I’m trying man, fuck.” Pond says a little aggressively.
Thankfully, Joong ignores his tone. “Maybe this will be good. You’ll have your own space tonight to better think about things for a little bit.”
“Yeah, thanks. ‘Cause that’ll definitely help with the overthinking—okay, okay, sorry, I get your point.”
“Good,” Joong opens the bag and smacks Pond’s hand away when he tries to reach for a few, “I earned these, fair and square.”
After a few minutes of crunching, he relents, holding the bag out to Pond, who thanks him quietly. “Did he seem weird when you got home from the park?”
Joong shrugs, “I don't know, didn't see him. I think he was in Fourth’s room when I got back. After that? He was Phuwin-like? Not weird at all. You guys were cuddling on the couch yesterday?!”
But why won’t he be alone with me? Why does it feel like things aren’t okay?
When he gets into bed that night, his left side feels empty, having gotten used to a warmth that lulls him to sleep so easily. He tosses and turns, eventually able to fall asleep after what feels like an eternity.
He wakes up in the middle of the night to his covers getting lifted and the very warmth he was missing, sliding in next to him, fitting himself against Pond’s side.
“Phuwin?”
“Missed you, sorry for waking you up.”
Pond hums sleepily, pulling Phuwin against his chest, drifting off once more, this time more easily than earlier.
The pounding on his bedroom door startles him, sitting up before his eyes even have a chance to get adjusted to the brightness, sunlight taking over his room from his failure to shut the curtains last night.
He glances over to where his heart laid hours ago, his side perfectly made, the only proof that Phuwin was actually here last night. That he wasn't some sort of side-effect-of-overthinking dream.
He shuffles over to the door groggily.
“Dude, put some pants on?” Fourth gags.
“It’s my room?!” Pond looks at him, bewildered. “What do you want?”
“I have been told to give you this,” Fourth passes a little paper envelope to him.
Pond takes it, staring at the ‘Pond’ scribbled messily in Phuwin’s handwriting on the front, before ripping it open eagerly.
FOR: Pond ❤️
PLACE: Phuwin’s Room
DATE: Today
TIME: 12:00 P.M.
RSVP: Please show up?
He knows he's grinning, he almost forgets Fourth is still here until he clears his throat. “Maybe wear pants though, for whatever it is.”
Pond rolls his eyes and shuts the door.
He rushes over to his nightstand to grab his phone and text Phuwin.
pond: hi
pond: i’m responding to the rsvp
phuwinmeow: see u soon
phuwinmeow: :))))
When noon comes around, he finds himself bouncing on the heels of his feet outside Phuwin’s door. He can feel Fourth staring at him from the living room but ignores him as he knocks on the door.
He can hear Phuwin shuffle around behind the door for a few minutes before opening it cautiously to peek his head out, guarding the room and its contents.
“I was invited,” Pond holds up Phuwin’s invitation before passing it back to him.
“I see, and you’d show up to a party alone?”
“Well, my plus one has been a little busy these past few days, I suppose you don’t know why that is, right?”
Phuwin shakes his head, and Pond can tell that now Phuwin’s the one starting to feel giddy by the way his two front teeth sink into his lower lip to try and suppress his smile.
“Come on,” Phuwin swings the door open and extends his right hand out for Pond to grab. “Let’s get this date started already.”
When Pond steps into the room, he sees streamers adorning the curtain rods, a few flameless candles scattered around on the dresser, nightstand, and a blanket on the floor.
“It’s not as beautiful as the park you had planned, but I hope this suffices,” Phuwin tells him as he guides him over to the blanket, shutting the door behind them with his leg. Pond looks at Phuwin in awe as they both sit down. Phuwin briefly leans over Pond before reaching for a basket that’s been tucked away at the side of his bed.
The contents of the basket are placed onto the blanket one by one. Phuwin has everything neatly presented, way more than what Pond had prepared that day. Two containers, the larger one with tempura from what Pond can tell through the clear lid, and the smaller one with rice. A few other miscellaneous snacks are scattered around before Phuwin neatly sets down a few paper napkins with a set of disposable chopsticks on them. “So yeah, haha, surprise?” Phuwin grins as he starts to uncover the food.
“What's all this for?”
“It’s a do-over. You clearly had a special day planned after you asked me to move out with you, and I want us to still have that.” Phuwin shrugs, reaching for a shrimp and holding it out to feed Pond.
Pond accepts it, biting slowly, before asking Phuwin carefully, “You weren’t avoiding me?”
“Avoiding you? Maybe a little, but it was for good reason. I was trying to plan…” Phuwin gestures around them, “...this.”
“So you're saying yes...?" Pond asks tentatively.
“I don’t know…haven’t been asked properly yet,” Phuwin teases, tongue peaking out slightly as he grins.
Pond's eyes widen. He straightens up, clearing his throat, “Phuwin.”
“Yes?”
He reaches out for Phuwin’s hand, watching their fingers intertwine before looking back up at Phuwin. “I love you, you’re an important person to me, my favorite person, my best partner. And—and I’m always happy that no matter what I get to come home to you too, but I want to have a space that’s ours, and I want to build a future with you because I’m serious about you. Will you move out with me? It doesn’t have to be soon, but yeah.” Pond feels a bit breathless when he finishes.
“Of course, I’d love to.”
“Really?!”
“Really—”
Pond cuts Phuwin off, sweeping him into his arms, who lets out a startled yelp before reciprocating his hug. Phuwin pulls back, fixing a strand of Pond’s hair to move it out of his eyes, “I know I don’t say it often, and I don’t tell you directly, but I really wouldn’t choose anyone else. I love you too.”
Pond pecks his cheek softly.
“I think it's long overdue anyway, and not gonna lie, I’m afraid one of these days Fourth throwing whatever is nearest to him at us may very well end up being his last.”
“Hey!” a muffled voice yells out from behind the door.
“Shh, be quiet!” another voice supplies.
“You guys want to come in?” Phuwin shouts.
Fourth and Joong swing the door open, shooting out party poppers in unison, making Pond jump slightly. “Congrats!”
“Isn’t this excessive?” Phuwin stares at the confetti scattering around his bedroom.
“Joong won’t need to buy his white noise machine after all! Much to celebrate,” Fourth pats Joong’s back before taking a seat on the blanket next to Phuwin.
Joong silently cheers, sitting next to Pond who’s clutching his chest, recovering from the party poppers.
“Took you both long enough, I was afraid Phuwin would never get around to confronting you.”
“Confronting me?”
Phuwin smiles at him, “Baby, I heard you the first time.”
Pond turns to Phuwin, “The first time?”
“Yeah, when you were about to ask me after se—”
“—OKAY!!!” Pond cuts him off before he can continue that sentence in front of their friends, “Wonderful.”
“And you and Joong weren’t particularly quiet in the kitchen talking about it.”
“Also, come on Pond. You weren’t going to get my blessing too?” Fourth chastises, “This is why Phuwin gets custody of me if you guys divorce— OW!” He buckles over, glaring at Phuwin (who’s looking extremely smug after pinching Fourth’s hip in warning).
“Well, dig in guys, I have enough for everyone! Here’s to us moving out, eventually, whenever that happens now,” Phuwin reaches over to the basket again and brings out an extra container.
Joong pushes Fourth’s hand out of the way the moment Phuwin removes the lid to grab the largest piece he sees first. Before Fourth can turn to complain to Phuwin, he’s already pointing at Joong, reprimanding him.
Pond giggles. He's going to miss them, even if they're his friends, and he can visit them anytime, he’s going to miss them. Phuwin grabs his hand quietly, watching the back and forth between Joong and Fourth now as they start bickering.
But more than anything, he's ready to start a home with Phuwin.
"I actually started bookmarking a few things on Facebook Marketplace after the first time you tried to ask," Phuwin whispers.
Pond looks over at him, raising an eyebrow, "Were couches one of them?"
Phuwin winks.
Before Pond can probe more, Fourth interrupts their little bubble, “If Pond was struggling this hard to ask Phuwin to move out, imagine what it’s going to be like when he wants to propose to him,” joking to Joong.
Propose.
Right, that would be the logical next step.
Marriage. With Phuwin.
Calling Phuwin his husband, and… “Ow!” Pond clutches his side, glancing over to see the cause of his pain grinning at him mischievously, aiming to elbow him again before Pond dodges it.
“I can literally see what you're thinking. It’s all over your face.” Phuwin reaches over to tap his nose, “Baby steps, okay? We’ll get to that eventually. For now, let’s focus on finding a place first.”
Pond smiles sheepishly. Yeah, eventually. They’ll get to that eventually.