CHAPTER 9.1

Perth leaned closer, his voice low and teasing, "Careful, Santa... your face turns red way too easily. Almost like you're waiting for me to-"

His eyes flickered down to Santa's lips, and before either of them could move, the soft crunch of sand announced Stacey's return.

She froze just a step from the mat. "...What... are you guys doing?"

Both boys jumped apart instinctively."Nothing!" Santa blurted out too quickly, changing his sitting position backing Perth.

Perth cleared his throat, sitting back to his initial position and added, "There was a bug on his face a while ago..."

Stacey blinked, her expression unreadable for a moment. Then she let out a giggle, sounded awkward and forced.

"...I see."

She plopped down on the mat, clutching her drink. Her smile lingered, but it didn't quite reach her eyes this time. While Santa busied himself with the shells and Perth leaned back casually, Stacey's gaze drifted toward the waves.

Inside, a dull ache spread in her chest. She told herself it was silly, that she must've misread everything again. Perth was just helping Santa with the bug, that's all it was. Still, she hugged her knees closer, forcing a grin as the laughter of her brother and Perth carried on beside her.

And though she laughed along, something had shifted.For the first time, Stacey wasn't so sure her little dream had a place anymore.

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Santa tried to laugh along, pretending everything was fine, but the moment he glanced at his sister, his chest tightened. Stacey's smile was there, but not the same.

And in that fleeting second, Santa knew.

She wasn't as oblivious as she used to be. She realised something. Maybe not everything, but enough to break her heart..

Santa's stomach twisted. Guilt pressed heavy on him, heavier than any tests he failed or even punishment from his parents. She had always been simple, cheerful, a little delusional sometimes... but never sharp in this way. Now she looked almost fragile, staring out at the ocean as though searching for answers she didn't want.

His throat went dry.

'What am I supposed to do now?'

He wanted to tell her the truth, clear everything before she got hurt even more. But Perth's quiet chuckle made him realize how his relationship with Perth was no longer simple. He wanted to keep distance from Perth, to protect Stacey from this exact pain, yet somehow he always ended up doing the opposite.

Santa clenched his hands in the sand, hidden from sight. He dared not meet Stacey's eyes again.

'I'm sorry Jee...for hurting you..."

'Wait for me...I'll fix it.'

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The ride back from the beach was quiet, too quiet for siblings who usually bickered about snacks, music, or even who got the better seat. Stacey leaned her head against the window, pretending to be half-asleep, while Santa stared blankly at his phone, scrolling through nothing just to avoid looking at her.

Their parents noticed.

At dinner the following night, Mrs. Pongsapak asked why Santa wasn't teasing his sister like he used to. He also wondered if they were feeling unwell, since they barely touched their food. None of them even mentioned about the beach trip that Stacey had been so excited about. Both siblings brushed it off with weak excuses, "just tired" or "lots on my mind", but the silence between them grew heavier, impossible to ignore.

For Santa, every moment felt like walking on thin ice. He had always been the protective brother, the one who promised himself to love, support, and treasure Stacey no matter what. Yet here he was, hiding something that could break her heart. Every sad and disappointed expression he saw from her face, cut him deeper than a knife.

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-Santa's bedroom-

That night, lying in bed, Santa stared at his phone screen for some time. Perth's name sat at the top of their chat, messages filled with memes and inside jokes that once made his heart flutter. Now they felt like reminders of what he should have stopped from the very beginning.

His thumbs stationed on the keyboard for a long time before he finally typed:

'Phi... I'm sorry. For everyone's sake, I have to stop.'

He stared at the message, every part of him screaming not to send it. But Stacey's pained smile flashed in his mind, and guilt twisted his chest until he couldn't breathe.

With one last inhale, Santa pressed send.

The little "delivered" mark appeared, and his heart sank as though he had cut off a piece of himself.

He locked his phone, rolled onto his side, pulled the blanket over his head and hugged his kitty plush tightly. Silent tears slid down his cheeks, and soft, trembling sniffles echoed in the room. The quiet was the only witness to his sorrow.

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

-Perth's bedroom-

'Buzz'

Finally, a text. The group chat had been extremely quiet after that beach trip. No Stacey's usual morning meme or Santa's random jokes. Perth of course, noticed that something was definitely up, but he was hoping it wasn't anything serious.

As he picked up his phone, Santa's name lit up on the screen. A flicker of warmth stirred in his chest. A gentle smile painted across his lips... until he opened the message, his smile dropped.

Perth's chest tightened as he read the message again, as if the words had punched a hole straight through him. His fingers trembled while gripping his phone, torn between texting back and just throwing it across the room.

"W-what?" he whispered, voice barely audible in the dark.

'Stop?'

'Why was he apologizing?'

A knot formed in his stomach. Memories of the beach, of Santa's laughter, of their fleeting touches, all collided with the text. And somewhere in the back of his mind, Stacey's bright smile flickered, reminding him that he wasn't the only one who cared. He was caught, tangled in feelings he hadn't fully admitted, and responsibilities he couldn't ignore.

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

-7:30 PM, Pongsapak Dining table-

It has been one week since the beach trip. The Pongsapak family is no longer as bright and cheerful as before. Life goes on, but interactions between the siblings have become minimal.. Mr. and Mrs. Pongsapak notice the sudden change of their children and have no choice but to address it.

Mr. Pongsapak finally breaks the silence, "Stacey, Santa...Is there anything you want to explain to us?"

"...Huh? N-nothing, Phor.", Santa replies, his voice wary. "What do you mean?"

Mr. Pongsapak lets out a heavy sigh, "Don't lie. We know you guys are hiding something."

"But, really, Phor! Nothing is going on...", Santa's tone grows a little defensive.

Mrs. Pongsapak chimes in, her voice firm yet concerned. "Do you think we wouldn't notice? We've been raising you, taking care of you since birth. There's no way we could miss it if something was wrong."

"..."

The siblings are silent, avoiding eye contact with their parents.

Finally Stacey voices out.

"We are fine, Phor, Mae. We just had a little fight back then, we'll talk it out after dinner."

For the first time since the incident, Santa sees a genuine smile on his sister's face, soft, warm, and comforting. It reminds him of the carefree moments they had shared as children, a memory that tugs at his heart.

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

-10:00 PM, After dinner, Santa's bedroom-

Knock, knock

"Ta...Can jee come in?"

A soft voice behind the door greets Santa, making his heart beat faster and body trembles a little. He walks up and slowly opens the door, finding his sister in her cute matching pajamas, smiling warmly at him.

"Come on in, jee."

They sit across from each other on Santa's bed, the quiet stretching between them. His heart feels like it might burst, and he struggles to find the right words. Thoughts and feelings crowd his mind, all the things he wishes he could tell his sister.

"Ta...do you.. like Perth too?"

Santa wishes he could sink through the floor and disappear.

"I-I'm sorry, jee... I never meant for any of this to happen."

"Ta-"

"But! You don't have to worry anymore! I've already decided to step back from Perth."

"What do you mean?"

"I've told him...that I won't bother him anymore. So, jee, I'm sorry if my feelings caused you any worry." He gently reaches for Stacey's hands, holding them warmly. "You can continue liking phi Perth without hesitation. I'll fully support you both."

"...Thank you, Ta. And I'm sorry too...for making you go through this."

He shakes his head. "No, jee...It was my choice. Don't worry about it. How about sending phi Perth a text and letting him know your feelings?"

"...I'm not sure yet."

"You'll be fine, jee! I know it will go smoothly. I'll always be here to support you, so don't worry about anything."

"Thank you, Ta. I'm really glad to have a nong like you."

Their conversation ends with a warm hug and soft laughter, leaving both of them feeling lighter and more connected than before.

'Yes...It's for the best of us.'

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I HAVE TO SEPERATE THIS PART AS 2 CHAPTERS OK, if not it's gonna be way too long so chapter 9 has 9.1 and 9.2 〒▽〒  Anyways, prepare tissue if you need... (Cuz i teared up as i was typing these...)