Strings and Shadow

Chapter 2

“Phi, you’ll be sharing with us” Nano declared while dragging his luggage in Room 2.

“You three are already sharing, How about I stay in Room 1?” Po said and was about to snatch his luggage from Nano.

“Phi” Nano stopped Po and ran to room 2.

“Ai’Nano” Po called and followed Nano.

“See, Room 2 is bigger, if you go to Room 1 you’ll end up being a third wheel” Nano was whispering his last words

“Ha?”

“Nothing, I’ll ask for an extra bed for you.” Nano said

-

Later that night, Po lay in the unfamiliar villa bed, the ceiling fan humming above him. Sleep refused to come.

His mind kept circling back to Thame’s voice, raw and trembling. “Because you never see me, Phi! You only see what I do wrong!”

The sharpness of it cut deeper than he expected. It wasn’t just anger. It sounded like it hurt. Like something that had been bottled up for far too long.

Po turned to his side, staring at the glow of his phone screen on the nightstand, but he couldn’t bring himself to pick it up.

He replayed the look on Thame’s face, the way his fists shook, the way his eyes avoided his. The way his head hung low, as if hiding something too fragile to show.

A heavy sigh slipped out of Po’s chest. Why did it feel like there was more in Thame’s words? More than just frustration?

For the first time, Po wondered if he had been blind to something, something that had always been right in front of him.

And the thought left his chest feeling heavier than before until he fell asleep.

-

Room 2 was quieter than usual the next morning.
Thame buried himself in his phone, pretending to scroll endlessly. Po sat at the edge of his bed, expression neutral, but every so often his eyes flickered in Thame’s direction. Pepper noticed, but didn’t say anything, he just hummed softly while doing his usual stretching.

Then Nano, half-lying on the bed with his face buried in a pillow, suddenly spoke up without thinking.

“Seriously, what’s up with you two? You look like a couple who just fought last night.”

The room froze.

Thame’s fingers stilled on his screen.. Po’s brows knitted slightly together, but he didn’t say anything.

“Nano! Not funny.” Pepper hissed at Nano sharply.

Nano blinked, confused, before waving it off with a laugh.

“Kidding, kidding. Geez, why so serious?” Then he stood up and left the room.

But the joke lingered like smoke in the air. Po exhaled quietly, stood up, and grabbed his bag.

“We should get going. Didn’t we plan to continue whatever you are doing here?”

Everyone moved, but the energy was off.

-

Nano is already munching on bread noisily, Dylan and Jun sit across from each other with stiff shoulders. Pepper sips coffee, quietly observing the whole table. Po sits beside Thame, but the air between them is heavier than the food served.

“Why so gloomy? We’re supposed to be on a trip, not a funeral.” Nano started

“We know.” Jun calmly answered

“Then why do Po and Thame look like exes forced to sit together?” Nano grinned

Po cuts his food calmly, ignoring him. Thame stiffens but says nothing. Pepper sips his coffee, eyes sharp.

“Eat, Nano.” Po said

Nano shrugs, brushing it off. Silence follows, heavy. Then—

“Funny… sometimes silence says the loudest things. Don’t you think, Thame?” Pepper drop the bomb.

Thame freezes. Po finally looks up, realizing something.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ghad, Am I still on a right track? HHAHAHAHA please help meeeee. I really can't think straight about this story because I just wrote a new WilliamEst plot based on 'Me and Thee series' and I am more excited about it. Hehe.

~Gie

PS: I love WilliamEst so much that its driving me crazy.