Dunk woke to a throbbing headache, the kind that felt like hammers pounding against his skull. His eyes snapped open as a shock of icy water drenched him, dragging him fully from his slumber.
With a gasp, Dunk sat bolt upright, teeth chattering. "This is a cruel joke, Paa! Don't you have a heart?" he groaned, glaring at the stern figure looming by his bedside.
Lam crossed his arms. "Oh, so now you remember I'm your father? Last night, I was just your 'uncle'—the one you were desperate to escape from."
Before Dunk could retort, another splash of water hit his face. He clutched his ears dramatically and bellowed, "DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD!"
The door burst open. Park, Forth, and Beam rushed inside. Park immediately hurried to Dunk's side. "Sweetheart, what happened?"
Before Lam could speak, Dunk shot up, pointing an accusatory finger at his father. "Do you know what he did? He poured cold water on me. Twice! On me, Dad! I was sleeping like an innocent baby, and he—he's so heartless!" Dunk wrapped his arms around Park's waist, his voice dropping into a sob. "I'm your little boy, Dad. He traumatized me!"
Park's gaze hardened as he turned to Lam. "Now, that's too far. I've never stopped you from scolding him or nagging him about his clothes, but this? This is unacceptable. Stop torturing him."
Lam's jaw tightened. "Torturing? Do you know in what state Pond dragged him home last night? He was high on drugs and booze, Park. Couldn't even recognize his own father!"
Park's brows knitted. He turned back to Dunk. "You did drugs?"
Dunk blinked innocently. "Dad, I didn't know it was a drug. It was just lying on the table, so... I mistakenly ate it assuming food crumbs. I was drunk. Ask P'Pond!"
Park exhaled sharply. "Which club?"
"VAST," Dunk muttered, lowering his head.
Park pinched the bridge of his nose. "Figures. That place is a mess—drugs everywhere. Don't go there again, understood?"
Dunk nodded, relief washing over his face.
Lam, however, wasn't appeased. "That's it? You're just going to take his word for it? Don't you want to cross-check?"
"I trust my son," Park snapped, his tone firm. "And you'd better stop speaking ill of him."
The tension snapped further when Pond, fresh from a grueling three-hour surgery, entered the room. He had run up after hearing Dunk's scream.
"Lam is right, Park," Beam interjected coldly. "You can't keep turning a blind eye. It will only get worse."
Pond's sharp voice cut through the air. "Take advice from Paa, Uncle Park. He's very experienced in not trusting his own blood."
"Pond!" Forth's warning tone made him pause.
Pond's gaze, however, stayed locked on Beam. "As for Dunk, I was there with him. It wasn't his fault. But if you still doubt him, feel free to investigate." Without another word, Pond left for his room.
The silence hung heavy. Lam stormed out in anger, Beam followed, his expression tight with hurt.
Left alone, Forth sat on the bed beside Dunk, Park lowering himself onto a chair. "I'm sorry I caused trouble between you guys," Dunk mumbled.
Forth ruffled his hair gently. "It's not your fault. Go get ready for university."
Dunk glanced at Park, who nodded, before planting a quick kiss on his father's cheek and disappearing into the bathroom.
Park leaned forward, rubbing his temples. "I don't know what to do with Lam anymore."
Forth sighed. "Let him be. He's always been strict, but he's gone overboard with Dunk. The kid needs space to live his life."
"That's what I've been trying to tell him," Park muttered. "But he's relentless. The pressure he's putting on Dunk is too much."
The two men exchanged a knowing look. Both understood—there was no option for changing Beam or Lam's rigid ways.
Lunch passed in strained silence; Beam and Lam skipped the table entirely. Later, Pond offered to drive Dunk to university.
"You're not upset?" Dunk asked, sliding into the passenger seat.
Pond smirked faintly. "I'm not your father. I don't get upset over every little thing."
"That's what I've been trying to tell him!" Dunk huffed. "But no, he just has to control me."
"Let him try. They're all the same," Pond said, eyes on the road. "Dad told me stories about how wild they were in their youth. Now, suddenly, they're saints."
Dunk grinned. "Does Uncle Beam know uncle Forth told you that?"
"What do you think?" Pond's lips curled into a sly smile.
"Slyyyy," Dunk teased, laughter filling the car as they neared the gates.
Dunk hopped out quickly once they arrived, waving as he headed toward campus. Pond was about to drive off when, out of nowhere, a boy sprinted in front of his car and yanked open the passenger door.
Before Pond could react, the stranger grabbed his tie, yanking him forward until their faces were just inches apart. Pond froze, heart hammering—was this guy about to kiss him?
He tried to pull back, but the boy's grip tightened as he turned his face away, shielding himself just as a group of men approached, scanning the area.
"Freaking morons making out at the gate. These couples are everywhere now," one of them muttered as they passed. "Let's find that guy first, then we will deal with the outsider."
Pond, still tense, caught the pleading look in the stranger's eyes and hesitated. He could feel the boy's breath against his lips, their proximity electric.
When the pursuers finally left, the boy—Phuwin—sighed in relief. He turned, only to meet Pond's intense gaze. Those warm brown eyes, that closeness—it pulled something out of Pond he couldn't name. He leaned closer, almost instinctively, until Phuwin abruptly shoved him back.
"What do you think you're doing?" Phuwin demanded, his glare sharp.
Pond blinked, snapped from his trance. "Me? I should be asking you! Who barges into someone's car and nearly kisses them? Are you insane? Look at you—you're... beautiful. What if it wasn't me, but some creep? What would you have done then?"
Phuwin arched a brow. "First, it was an emergency. They've been following me for blocks. Second, I'm not 'beautiful'—I'm handsome and manly. Third, if I ever ended up in a creep's car like you said..." He whipped out a small pepper spray, aiming it briefly toward Pond's face before spraying a warning mist in the air. "I'd do this."
With that, he bolted from the car.
Pond sat frozen, bewildered, his heart still racing. Why was it pounding like this? Was it because of that boy's looks? His closeness?
No. Absolutely not. He was straight. Or at least, he thought he was.
Maybe it wasn't Phuwin at all. Maybe it was Beam—thinking about his father always raised his blood pressure. Yes, that had to be it.
Scowling, Pond shoved the thought away, shifted the car into gear, and drove off, his mood soured once more.