What you didn't see PPw_One Shot

Chapter 1: Invisible Wounds

The neon lights of the club blurred into colorful streaks before Phuwin's eyes. The dull thumping of the bass echoed in his ears, but it wasn't loud enough to drown out the voices in his head. Just a few hours ago, his world had shattered into pieces.

Dunk, his only support, the only person with whom Phuwin could forget his paralyzing anxiety for a few hours, had ended their friendship. "I can't do this anymore, Phuwin. You cling to me, but you don't talk to me. It's dragging me down," Dunk had said, annoyed and exhausted by Phuwin's constant withdrawal. Dunk knew nothing of the deep trauma and bad experiences that had shaped Phuwin's life from an early age. To Dunk, it looked like indifference; to Phuwin, it was pure survival.

Now Phuwin sat alone at the bar, his third whiskey in hand, trying to numb the unbearable pain in his chest. He had no one left. His fear of people, of rejection, was eating him alive from the inside out.

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At the other end of the room, Pond leaned against the wall. His dark eyes were fixed on the trembling boy at the counter. A dangerous aura surrounded Pond's stature. He was unpredictable. His uncontrolled outbursts of anger were notorious, but they stemmed from a deep, hidden pain.

Pond knew no tender physical contact. His father had beaten him for years. He loathed Pond and never showed him any love. Violence was the only language Pond had ever learned. He simply didn't know how to love without becoming angry. When the emotional pressure inside him grew too intense, he exploded.

Pond pushed himself off the wall and stepped up to the bar. He sat down right next to Phuwin. "You're drinking too fast," he said roughly. His voice vibrated with an underlying intensity.

Phuwin startled. His anxiety instantly flared up, but as he looked into Pond's dark, gloomy face, something strange happened. Despite the obvious danger, Phuwin felt an unexpected sense of calm. He didn't run. A moment later, when Phuwin lost his footing while trying to stand up, Pond grabbed his arm tightly. The grip was harsh and rough—because Pond had never learned otherwise. Yet, Phuwin didn't pull away. He only looked at Pond with wide, sorrowful eyes. That single moment changed everything. From that night on, Pond wouldn't let Phuwin go, and despite Pond's raw nature, Phuwin found a deep sense of security.

-----

A few tables away, Joong sat sipping his beer. He had been Pond's best friend for many years. Joong was the only one who knew about the hell Pond faced at home. He was always there to catch Pond during his outbursts and calm him down.

Joong sacrificed himself for everyone. He tried to be a pillar of strength for those around him. But in the end, he was always left behind. His own loneliness was silently consuming him.

Suddenly, a young man sat down at his table. It was Dunk, looking for a distraction after his fight with Phuwin. As Joong looked into Dunk's eyes, he felt an instant, deep connection. They began to talk, and for a brief moment, Joong didn't feel so alone anymore. At that time, he had no idea that this charming stranger had just broken the heart of the boy who was now finding shelter in Pond's arms.