CHAPTER 4

-08:00 AM, Pongsapak kitchen-

A nice and peaceful morning. The warm sunlight streams through the curtains. The aroma of warm coffee mixes with freshly toasted bread lingers in the kitchen table. What a great way to start your day.

Small steps coming towards the table notifies Stacey, who has been sitting there, enjoying her breakfast.

"Tata! G-good morning, wanna eat? I can make you some toast with milk."

"Hmm..." He murmurs, rubbing his eyes slowly and sitting across her while still half asleep.

A plate of warm toasts is placed in front of him, together with a glass of cold fresh milk. He has slowly regained his soul, looking towards the food and starting eating it.

Stacey on the other hand, looks unusually nervous. She fiddles with her spoon, avoiding eye contact, "Ta...Can jee ask you something?"

Distracted by his toast, looks up, "hmm? What's up?"

Stacey takes a deep breath: "Urm...so... I... like someone."

Santa chokes slightly on his milk: "Wait... you...like someone?"

She nods nervously, "I want to confess my feelings soon. But before I do, I... wanted to check with you first."

"I see...Who's the lucky guy?"

"Urm, actually... it's Perth."

"Uhukkk-!" Santa chokes hard on his toast.

"Eh, Ta? Are you ok?? Be careful." She quickly rushes to Santa's side and pats on his back.

'Phi Perth? Out of everyone you decided to fall for him?'

'Wait - why does it bother me..?'

"I wanted to tell him, but I also wanted to know... what you think. You're my brother, so I want your blessing."

He coughs, trying to act casual, "I mean... it's fine, I guess. If you like him, you like him. I'm not stopping you." But internally, he feels a flutter of unease, a strange tightness in his chest he doesn't understand.

His usual teasing tone is slightly sharper than normal when he mutters in his mind, 'Him... of all people...'

Stacey smiles sweetly, relieved by his answer, "Thanks, Tata. I knew I could count on you."

Santa nods, trying to shake off the strange feeling. But as Stacey walks away, humming happily, he notices the way her excitement is directed at Perth in his mind, and a tiny jealousy stirs around his heart

Santa stares out of the window, feeling a mix of protectiveness, confusion, and something else he doesn't want to admit yet. (Denial moment) He mutters to himself quietly, unseen by Stacey, "Damn it... why do I care so much about this..."

—-----------------------------------------------------

-3:30 PM, Bunny Cafe-

"Perth, here!" Stacey cheerfully waves her arm signaling Perth who just arrived at the cafe.

The three of them decided to meet up at a small cafe near the park. Stacey had invited Perth, insisting it would be nice for all of them to hang out together again. However, Santa initially didn't want to join, the reason was because he didn't want to interrupt his sis' 'date' with Perth. But Stacey pleaded with him to join as she still felt shy being alone with Perth.

Santa arrived first with Stacey, his hands tucked deep into his hoodie pockets, expression unreadable. Currently trying to ease his mind, then the main character of the story finally arrived, he's messing up with Santa's mind again.

"Hey," Perth greets, sliding into the seat across from them. Stacey brightens immediately, while Santa only gives a short nod, eyes fixed on the menu as if it holds the answers to the universe.

"Ok, let's order our food!" Stacey rises out of her seat.

"You guys go ahead. Just order me tiramisu and an ice latte," he is still fiddling with his phone.

"Hmm, alright. Perth, let's go."

Perth glances towards Santa confusedly, before eventually follows Stacey from behind.

Throughout the afternoon, Santa finds excuses to keep his distance. When Stacey suggested they share another dessert, Santa let her and Perth take the lead, muttering that he is "too full."

Perth tries to strike up a casual conversation with him, but Santa responds with short, distracted answers, while still staring out the window.

Perth can't take it anymore, "Ta, you okay?" he asks curiously, brow furrowed in mild concern.

"I'm fine," Santa replied shortly, forcing a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"Just... tired."

Stacey, too immersed in her excitement, doesn't notice the tension. She keeps chatting with Perth, laughing at his jokes, asking him questions. Santa sits quietly beside her, crossing one of his legs up, while keeping his attention outside the cafe.

Perth can feel an invisible wall in between them that is growing taller by the minute.

And yet, every now and then, Perth will catch glances at Santa. He is trying to observe the way his expression shifts when he thinks no one is looking, the way his shoulders stiffens whenever Stacey leaned a little too close to him. Perth can't seem to put a finger on it, but something feels different.

.

.

.

"Jee, I'm going to the toilet for a bit." After getting a sign of acknowledgement from Stacey, Santa rises up, walks past Perth and leaves.

Perth, taking this as his chance, excuses himself as well to go for a toilet break. He quickly walks after Santa and tries to approach him.

He finds Santa washing his hands on the sink, "Ta...Are you really ok?"

Slightly surprised, but still keeping his calm composure, he replies to Perth with a short, "Hm." "Why do you keep asking me?"

"Because I can feel that something is bothering you."

"That's just your assumption. I just feel under the weather today, that's all." He finishes wiping his hands and slowly walks out of the toilet, before Perth suddenly grabs one of his wrists.

"...? Phi?"

"Are you...mad at me?" Perth stares at him with concerned eyes.

"What? No? Why do you think that?"

"Then, can you look at me when I'm talking to you?"

Santa quietly groans, then faces Perth with a blank stare. Currently his heart is beating three times faster than usual, that is why he tries to not look straight at Perth's eyes.

Santa exhales softly, trying to keep his composure. "There. I'm looking now. Happy?"

Perth doesn't answer right away. Instead, he studies Santa's face, searching for something behind the blank mask. His chest feels tight, as though the space between them has grown heavier.

"You don't have to force yourself, Ta," Perth finally says, voice low. "If something's wrong, I want to know. I want to understand."

Santa's lips twitch, almost forming a smile, but he swallows it back. "You don't need to understand me. Not everything needs explaining."

"That's not true," Perth counters softly, still holding his wrist. "You're... important to me. Of course I want to know."

Those words sting in a way Santa doesn't expect. His throat dries up, and for a moment, he forgets how to breathe. He pulls his hand back, stuffing it into his pocket as if hiding it will stop the warmth that still lingers from Perth's touch.

"You should save those words for my sister," Santa mutters, avoiding eye contact once more. "She's the one who'd like to hear them."

Perth freezes, confused. "What do you mean by that?"

Santa shakes his head, clears his throat, "Nothing. Just... Don't worry about me. I'm fine." His tone is firm, but Perth notices the slight tremor in his voice.

As Santa is about to leave, Perth instinctively steps forward, blocking his way just enough to make him pause. Their eyes meet for the briefest second, Perth sees the conflict flickering there, the storm Santa's trying so hard to hide.

"...You're lying," Perth whispers, almost to himself.

Santa's chest tightens. For a split second, he almost breaks, almost admits everything. But instead, he brushes past Perth, leaving him standing alone in the quiet hallway, more confused than ever.

"I can't even find the answer, phi. I'm...confused too." He covers his face with his palms before rushing back to his sister.

.

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LOOKS LIKE I CAN UPDATE THIS STORY FAST ╰(*°▽°*)╯I think I'm already too immersed in writing this so yea. I do feel like wanting to write another chap even more ehhehe (we shall see how...)(*/ω＼*)

Honestly still contemplating on how Stacey will later on find out about Santa's feeling 😅 guess  i will let my brain flow through nicely hehe (currently she's still like really blinded by love so OOP-)

Anyways as usual, i hope you enjoy reading this story booo 💞 and please look forward for the next update yea! byeeeee