the first collision

University Main Building Monday, 8:04 AM

The hallway was chaos.

Not normal chaos Monday university chaos:

backpacks hitting innocent strangers,

caffeine addicted zombies moving like traffic,

someone arguing with a vending machine,

and a professor speed walking like he was chasing his youth.

Phuwin slipped through all of it with practiced ease, earbuds in, shoulders relaxed.

He wasn’t the “quiet background guy” he walked like he had plans and enemies.

He glanced at his watch.

“Four minutes late,” he muttered. “Perfect. That’s basically early.”

He turned the corner at full speed

BANG. SPLASH. IMPACT OF THE YEAR.

Something no, someone huge collided with him.

Cold iced coffee rained down his shirt like God pressed “refresh.”

Phuwin hissed through his teeth and stared at the dripping mess.

Then at the expensive cup rolling on the floor like it lost its will to live.

A lazy voice floated down from above:

“…Well. That was dramatic.”

Phuwin slowly lifted his head.

Pond stood there like a villain introduced in 4K:

messy perfect hair, earrings, designer jacket, tall enough to block a solar eclipse, and that stupidly confident half-smirk.

He looked at Phuwin’s soaked shirt, clicked his tongue, and said:

“If you wanted to touch me, you could’ve just asked. No need to bathe in my coffee.”

Phuwin blinked once.

Then he blinked again.

Then he said, calm as ever:

“You walked into me, skyscraper.”

Pond’s smirk faltered not gone, just… adjusting.

Like he wasn’t used to being talked to like a normal human.

“Oh? So you talk back.”

“When people ruin my morning, yes,” Phuwin replied, flicking coffee off his sleeve. “Congratulations, you’ve unlocked that feature.”

A couple of students slowed down to watch.

Drama was their cardio.

Pond stepped closer, shadow falling over him.

“Relax. It was an accident.”

“So apologize,” Phuwin shot back.

“…What?”

“Try it. It won’t kill you,” Phuwin deadpanned. “Unless your ego is allergic.”

A beat of silence.

Then someone shouted from behind them,

“BROOO, WHO FOUGHT A COFFEE CUP?!”

Joong skidded to a stop beside Pond, out of breath.

Aou followed, holding a bag of chips at 8 a.m.

Joong pointed at Phuwin.

“Did you make Pond spill his drink? His morning drink? The sacred one?”

Phuwin answered without hesitation:

“No. He tested gravity and lost.”

Aou choked on a chip.

Pond dragged a hand through his hair, amused despite himself.

“You’re feisty for someone drenched in iced Americano.”

Phuwin shrugged. “You’re confident for someone who can’t look where he’s going.”

Joong mouthed “OH DAMN.”

Pond leaned in, lowering his voice like he was talking to someone he found… interesting.

“Do you always act like this?”

“Only when people act like idiots,” Phuwin said, meeting his gaze without flinching.

Pond paused.

Then he laughed genuinely, not his usual smug version.

It was annoyingly attractive.

“Fine,” Pond said. “You want something? Refund? New shirt? A written apology? My autograph?”

“I want you to move,” Phuwin replied, stepping around him. “I’m late.”

Pond blinked as Phuwin brushed past, unbothered, sharp, confident.

He watched him walk away, jaw tightening briefly.

Aou whispered, “Bro… he just walked off on you.”

Joong added, “He didn’t even blush. That’s a new species.”

Pond scratched his jaw, smirking slowly.

“…I’m definitely not done with him.”

Meanwhile, at the other end of the hallway

Dunk nearly crashed into Phuwin, grabbing his arm.

“BRO!? Why are you soaked? Did someone baptize you?”

Phuwin sighed. “Long story. Short version: giant idiot, no brain, lots of attitude.”

“Pond?” Boom guessed instantly.

Phuwin paused. “…Yes.”

JJ gasped. “Please tell me you punched him.”

“I verbally punched him,” Phuwin said proudly.

Winny slung an arm around his shoulder.

“Our boy! Making enemies on Monday morning! We love the energy.”

Phuwin just stared down the hallway where Pond had been.

“…Ugh,” he muttered under his breath. “Why did he have to be hot?”

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