CHAPTER 8

"Let's start! I'll be the one to spin the bottle first and whoever gets picked will be the next one!" Stacey explains enthusiastically, then places a piece of empty bottle in the middle of the mat.

Santa rolls his eyes but smiles faintly. "Alright, fine... let's get this over with."

Stacey spins the bottle with a dramatic flick of her fingers. It wobbles and slows down... finally pointing at Santa.

"Truth or dare?" she asks, leaning forward eagerly.

"Dare," without any hesitation, He replies while puffing his chest out slightly as if trying to appear brave.

Stacey grins mischievously. "I dare you... to find three of the weirdest seashells you can find along the beach and bring them back here in 30 seconds!"

Santa groans, but a spark of excitement appears in his eyes. "Weirdest, huh? Challenge accepted!" He sprints toward the shore, dodging small waves, his loose white sleeveless shirt flapping in the breeze, and the light brown shorts sticking slightly from the heat and sand.

Perth watches quietly from the mat, arms crossed, yet he couldn't stop his gaze from following Santa's movements. The way the sun pats his hair, the playful grin on his face, even the subtle flex of his arms as he reaches for shells, it all made Perth's chest tighten slightly.

"You have 10 seconds left!" Stacey shouts from a distance.

"Hahhh.., here!" Santa sprints back the moment he hears his sister starts the countdown.

When Santa returns, panting and holding up his three "weirdest" shells, Stacey clapped enthusiastically. "Yay! That was perfect, Ta! Look at these pretty babies!"

Perth adds in, "Hmm.. Not bad. Guess your definition of 'weird' fits your personality."

Santa, still catching his breath, "...What did you say?"

Perth leans back slightly, arms still crossed, trying to keep his tone casual, but there is a teasing edge in his voice. "I said... your weird shells match your weird personality. Seems fitting."

Santa blinks at him, scoffs a little, not believing what Perth just said. "Hey! That's not fair... trying to roast me after I ran like a maniac for these!" He waves one of the shells at Perth, mock-threateningly.

"Okay, okay! Cut it out, you two," Stacey interrupts, holding up her hands and laughing. "This isn't a roast battle, it's a game! We're supposed to have fun, remember?"

Santa pouts towards his sister but lets out a small laugh, still gripping his shells. "Fine, but only because you said so, jee."

"Your turn to spin, Ta!", nudging him lightly.

Santa smirks and gives the bottle a full-force flick, sending it spinning across the mat. The bottle slows down... finally pointing directly at Perth.

Perth freezes for a quick second, his gaze meets Santa's briefly before looking away, trying to keep calm.

"Truth or dare?" A playful grin tugging at Santa's lips, though there is a subtle nervous edge in his tone.

"Dare."

Santa's grin widens mischievously. "I dare you... to tell me your biggest secret, something you've never told anyone!"

Perth stiffens, raising his eyebrows, "Wait... that's supposed to be a dare, not a truth!" he protests, arms crossing defensively.

Santa rolls his eyes, smirking. "Doesn't matter. It's still a dare. You're being dared to reveal it, so technically, it counts."

'I can't believe this...' Perth messages his temple.

Letting out a small sigh, he leans back, pretending to think. "Fine... but don't laugh, got it?"

Both Pongsapak siblings nod enthusiastically, learning closer as if so they can hear his answer clearer.

Perth swallows, feeling the heat warms around his ears, though he tries to keep his tone casual. "Alright... my 'biggest secret' is... sometimes I think too much about people I care about. Too much."

Santa's grin softens slightly, his playful demeanor giving way to a rare, subtle warmth. He notices the slight hesitation, the way Perth avoids his eyes for a moment, and it makes his chest tighten in an unfamiliar way.

Stacey, on the other hand, pretending to adjust her sunglasses, internally squeals.

'He's talking about me, right? He's finally noticing me!'

Her heart races, and she can't help but smile, fully delusional and is convinced that Perth's confession was meant for her.

"See? That wasn't so bad, was it?" Santa teases lightly, though his voice carries a hint of softness.

Perth shakes his head, trying to hide his flustered expression behind a small smirk. "Just wait for your turn."

The game continues, playful laughter filling the beach air, but the subtle glances, accidental brushings of hands, and quiet reactions hint at a new tension, something neither of them can fully ignore. Stacey notices it all, storing the little moments in her mind, blissfully convinced that her chance with Perth is finally arriving.

.

.

.

The bottle spins, wobbling dramatically before pointing squarely at Perth once again.

"Truth or dare?" Stacey asks, leaning forward, eyes sparkling with a new idea.

Perth smirks faintly. "Dare," he says without hesitation, almost as if daring the world to challenge him.

Stacey's mind races. 'Perfect... I have an idea!' she thought mischievously. "I dare... you to give both Santa and me a peck on the cheek!" (Author is currently rolling again)

Santa's eyes grow wide, staring at Stacey. "W-Why do I have to be dragged into this too?!" he whispers, half-panicked, half-amused.

Perth's eyes flicks between them, a teasing grin forming. "Seems like a fair dare... you're part of the game, so yes, you're included."

Santa sighs harshly, cheeks heating instantly, he turns his head away from them, while Stacey leans forward expectantly, barely hiding her excitement.

Perth moves closer, giving Stacey a quick, gentle peck on the cheek first. She squeals quietly, fanning her face with her hands and giggling.

Then his attention shifts to Santa. He leans in gently, putting his right arm to support his body. His lips brush against Santa's cheek softly, but, as if there's glue in between, Perth's lips stay way longer than intended.

Santa's face flames crimson immediately. He jumps to his feet, fumbling over words. "I-I... I need to... um... use the restroom!" He grabs his bag from the mat and practically bolts, fanning his burning face furiously with his palm. (AAAAAA, author is dead at the corner of the room)

Perth watches him go, a small, satisfied grin appears on his lips as he observes how utterly flustered Santa was.

'Adorable.'

Stacey clutches her cheek, grinning like a child who has just won a game, completely unaware of the shifts of emotions she has just stirred between the two boys.

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Santa's POV

He stands in front of the restroom mirror, both arms on the edge of the sink, he stares into the sink while trying to calm himself down.

His mind spins, every thought tangles in confusion. 'What just happened back there? Why did I let him...?'

He had been so careful, keeping his distance from Perth, trying to protect both himself and Stacey from noticing anything strange. Yet now, with that soft touch lingering on his cheek, all his plans poof into thin air.

'Should I say something? Pretend it didn't happen? Or... try to put even more distance between us?'

The more he thinks, the heavier the dilemma feels. Every option seems wrong, and every choice seems to make his heart race faster. He clenches his fists, trying to steady himself.

'What am I even supposed to do now?' (The author wants to give him lots of hugs fr...)

End of Santa's POV

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-Back to the beach mat-

After Santa left, Stacey also excused herself to go to the restroom as well, most probably wanted to fix her make up. That led to Perth sitting all alone, staring far at the ocean.

Three minutes later, Santa comes back first. He has already adjusted his composure, expression has returned to normal. Trying to avoid Perth further, he gives them a good two arm lengths distance. Perth who notices that glances at him, giving him his trademark smirk from earlier.

"You're back," Perth says smoothly, eyes glinting. "I thought maybe you ran away after just a little peck."

Santa jolts, glaring. "It was nothing. Stop making it-"

"-something?" Perth finishes for him, tilting his head closer, grins widening. His voice drops low, just enough for Santa to hear. "What if I make it something right now?"

(FOR AUTHOR'S MENTAL HEALTH, PLEASE DON'T-)

(....but continue hehehe)

Before Santa can react, Perth moves closer and leans in, the teasing so close it exceeds the line of being real. 

5 inch...

3 inch...

Santa's breath hitches, quickly shuts his eyes, 'was he actually going to-?!'

And that is when Stacey's voice cuts through the moment.

"...What... are you guys doing?"

Both boys freeze, wide-eyed, caught in a scene they can't explain.

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AAAAAAAA don't mind my crash outs in between the story (*/ω＼*) I was biting my nail the whole time i typed this WHEHEHEHE we are getting closer to Stacey finding out what is actually happening, oh no...

Anyways as always, hope you enjoy reading and see you on my next update! Love ya lotsss💞