CHAPTER 13

Author's note: OK THIS IS IT GUYS!!! THE ONE WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR 💖😆💞🖤🤍 I will have them in 2 chapters so chapter 13 and 14 ya! I hope i can post chapter 14 by tonight too! I hope you can enjoy reading it! Enjoy!!! ο(=•ω＜=)ρ⌒☆

-9:30 AM at Pongsapak House-

The next morning after the beach trip, Perth shows up at the Pongsapak house as usual. By now, he's practically a regular visitor. He arrives early, carrying drinks for everyone.

After greeting Mrs. Pongsapak politely and placing some drinks on the dining table, he makes his way toward Stacey, who's lounging on the couch, lazily munching grapes.He hands her a cold strawberry smoothie, brushing it lightly against her cheek.

"ACK! COLD!" Stacey yelps, jerking her head to see who did it.

"Heh, morning. Where's Ta?"

"Sigh... can't you bother him instead of me? Almost gave me a heart attack," Stacey grumbles.

"Sorry, you were staring blankly, so I couldn't resist," Perth teases.

"Anyway, where is Ta?" he asks, then walks towards the other side of the couch.

"Beats me. Probably crashed after that last-minute swim. I bet he's still cocooned in bed," Stacey shrugs.

Perth crosses his arms and leans on the opposite couch, eyes sharp but playful.

"Good, we can settle on our deal now."

Stacey raises an eyebrow, smirking. "Hm? What deal?"

"Don't play dumb, Stace. Santa's... weaknesses. You promised you'd tell me after the beach trip," Perth says, tapping his arm for emphasis.

Stacey gasps dramatically, hand on her chest. "Ohh~ that deal, huh? Alright, alright. Since you managed to convince him to go, and I have all sorts of fluff evidence from your little escapades... I'll spill."

She takes a deep breath and counts them off.

"First, tickle attack from behind. His waist is super sensitive. Light tickles and he can't stop laughing."

"Noted," Perth murmurs to himself, mentally jotting it down.

"Second, the koala hug. If you hug him tightly like a koala, he immediately feels sleepy and calm. Just like how Phor used to carry him to bed."

Perth smirks, imagining Santa snuggling against his neck.

"Third, a soft hand massage. Gently massaging his fingers or hands when he's tired or annoyed will melt him completely. He'll be flustered and warm, trust me."

"And finally... gentle ear nibble or brushing his hair. Tiny, playful gestures like that make him squeak and blush every single time," Stacey winks.

"Wait, where did you even get this info?" Perth asks, raising one brow.

"Well... kinda embarrassing, but I used to bite people a lot when I was a kid. Tata, especially, was so small and adorable back then. So I liked to I bit his fingers, cheeks, nose... even his ears," Stacey admits, scratching her head awkwardly.

"For the hair brushing... remember how he always told you I had to stay in his room a lot during elementary school? He was terrified of thunder, so I'd calm him by brushing his hair while he fell asleep. Works every time."

Perth listens closely, nodding thoughtfully."Of course, his reaction to me back then is different from how he'll react to you now," Stacey adds with a sly grin.

Perth smiles, picturing a tiny, adorable Santa."Thanks, Stace. This will really help with the surprise," he says, holding Santa's boba as he heads toward the staircase.

"...Huh? Surprise? Wait, Perth! Is this for your confession? Tell me more!" Stacey calls out, rushing to catch up with him.

—————————————————————-Santa's bedroom-

The sunlight has been creeping through the curtains for a while, making Santa grumble and roll around before he finally sits up, rubbing his eyes. A soft knock comes at the door, followed by a gentle voice.

"Ta, it's Phi. Are you awake? Can I come in?"

"Mmm..." Santa lets out a muffled sound, stretching his arms before slumping back against the bed, eyes half-open. Perth pushes the door open slightly and peeked in.

"I got you some boba," Perth says while closing door, "but brush your teeth and have breakfast first before drinking it, okay?"

"Mm... okay." Santa's head bobs in a sleepy nod before his eyes droops shut again.

He almost laughs. Santa looks ridiculously cute right now, drowning in his oversized pajamas, hair sticking out in every direction, hands still hugging his kitty plush and lips forming a soft little pout.

Perth's gaze lingers a little too long on those lips, remembering how soft and sweet it tasted back then-

SLAP!

Santa's eyes snap open, scanning the room in confusion. "Huh!? What was that noise?"

Perth freezes, his hand stinging from slapping his own cheek.

'I can't believe I just thought of that first thing in the morning...'

He clears his throat quickly. "Uh, nothing, Ta. Don't worry about it. Go wash up first, I'll wait here. We can eat together after."

"Mm... alright then." Santa yawns, dragging his feet toward the bathroom.

Once the door closes, Perth lets out a long sigh, pressing his fingers to his temples.

"Haah...This is way too dangerous."

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-Back to Pongsapak dining table-

Santa finally comes down, now changed into his usual hoodie and shorts. He still looks a little dazed, as though he's trying to gather his soul back together.

"Mae, good morning." He greets Mrs. Pongsapak with a sweet smile before sliding into the seat across from her. Perth follows a step behind, naturally taking the seat right beside Santa.

"Morning, my sleepyhead. Why so late today?" his mother teases warmly.

Santa chuckles sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck. "Hehe... got too excited swimming yesterday, mae."

Mrs. Pongsapak's expression softens, her smile gentle. "As long as you enjoyed yourself. That's what matters most."

"Yup, mae, don't worry! Everyone had sooo much fun yesterday, especially Tata, right Ta?" Stacey calls out, grinning.

Santa's cheeks instantly heat up, and he quickly looks down at the table.

Mrs. Pongsapak can only sigh lightly at her son's behaviour. "Alright, Ta. I've made some ham and cheese sandwiches for you and Perth. Eat them while they're hot. Mae has to run out for groceries."

"Thank you, maeee. Drive safe, okay?" Santa waves her off with his usual sweetness.

"Drive safely, auntie," Perth adds politely.

"Bye, mae! Don't forget my strawberries!" Stacey yells again from the living room, making Santa judge her.

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Munch, munch

Santa nibbles happily on his sandwich, completely unaware that a certain someone can't take his eyes off him. His cheeks puff adorably with every bite, like a little squirrel storing nuts, round and soft with the faintest blush. A tiny spot of sauce lingers at the corner of his lip, catching Perth's attention.

Without a word, Perth leans in, brushing his thumb gently across Santa's lower lip to wipe it away. Instead of simply cleaning it, he brings his thumb back to his own lips, licking it with the smallest smile.

"..."

Santa's face turns red instantly, like he's been caught doing something wrong. Panicking, he quickly tries to turn his chair away, hoping to hide his burning cheeks. But before he can escape, Perth's hand lands firmly on the back of the chair.

With one smooth pull, Perth turns the chair back around and drags it closer to his side. The space between them disappears until Santa's knee brushes against Perth's, making his heart race even faster.

Santa grips the edge of his seat, hardly able to breathe, while Perth's teasing eyes stay locked on him.

From the doorway, Stacey, who only came for a glass of water, stops dead in her tracks. Her eyes widen like this emoji  '👁️👄👁️', and within a split second, her phone is already out. She silently snaps away, barely containing her squeals as she captures the fluffy scene unfolding before her.

—------------------------------------------------------Timeskip-

For everyone who's been wondering when Perth would finally ask Santa out, well, the time has come. To be honest, the moment Perth realized his feelings for the younger one, he had already started planning how to give him the most unforgettable surprise. He spent days researching, gathering little details, and even making some handmade gifts especially for his Tata.

With Stacey's help, he managed to learn even more about Santa's favorite foods and little quirks, though not without a price. In exchange, Perth now has to treat her to strawberry milk every three days. Nothing is free in this world, sadly.

Still, Perth didn't mind. Every effort felt worth it, because it was for Santa. He carefully packed a basket filled with Santa's favorite snacks, arranged a playlist of songs they both loved, and even made a tiny scrapbook of their memories together, drawings, doodles, and silly notes he'd kept all this time. He wanted Santa to feel just how much he meant to him, in every small detail.

Determined to go further, Perth even taught himself how to sew by watching YouTube and TikTok tutorials. After countless pricks, cuts, bandages, and a whole lot of heat burns from glue gun, he was finally able to finish a fluffy Hello Kitty plush and a bouquet of flowers made with pipe cleaners. Both completed just days before his big confession. (THANK GOD)

And of course, he couldn't forget Santa's favorite dessert, tiramisu. Perth tried to bake it on his own, but after five failed attempts, too bitter, too mushy, or simply nothing like a tiramisu...He eventually had to call for Stacey's help once more. He would do anything to make sure it turned out perfect, because Santa deserved nothing less. (AS HE SHOULD💅)

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-Pongsapak house-

A few days ago, Perth had decided to visit Mr. and Mrs. Pongsapak at their home, after Stacey had agreed to help bring Santa out for a while so he could speak to them without interruptions. He needed their blessings and support to make his surprise truly special.

"Good afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Pongsapak," Perth greeted politely, bowing slightly. "I... um, wanted to talk to you about something important."

"We've been expecting you, Perth. Come in," Mrs. Pongsapak said warmly, gesturing for him to sit. The living room was quiet, cozy, yet Perth felt like every nerve in his body was on high alert. His palms sweated, his heart raced, and even his breaths felt too loud.

"...Perth," Mr. Pongsapak began, his tone gentle but encouraging. "Go ahead. Tell us what's on your mind."

Perth swallowed hard, feeling as if a stone sat heavy in his throat. "Y-yes, sir." His voice shook slightly. "I... I'm here to ask for both of your permission. I really care for Santa, and I want to confess to him soon. I've been planning a small surprise for him, and I promise I'll take care of him, always. I'll make sure he's safe, happy... and loved."

He sat stiffly at the edge of the couch, hands clasped tight, waiting for their answer.

Mrs. Pongsapak's eyes softened instantly, a gentle warmth radiating from her smile, while Mr. Pongsapak leaned back thoughtfully, taking it all in. After a quiet moment, Mrs. Pongsapak reached out and placed her hand on Perth's.

"We always hoped this day would come," she said softly. "Your mom and I imagined one day becoming in-laws... maybe through Stacey. But seeing you care for Santa like this... it's even better. We can tell how deeply you treasure him." Her voice cracked just slightly, full of emotion. "Thank you for loving our boy. His father and I just want you both to cherish each other, and take care of one another, always."

She gave Perth's hand a gentle squeeze and a quick, motherly hug.

"Alright dear, save the rest of your love story for their wedding," Mr. Pongsapak added with a small chuckle. "They're still in the boyfriend stage, after all."

Perth laughed awkwardly, a blush creeping up his neck, but a huge weight lifted from his chest. The fear, the doubt, the anxiety, all of it seemed to melt away in that moment.

"Alright, so... what can we do to help with your plan?" Mrs. Pongsapak asked kindly.

Perth took a breath, feeling lighter than he had in days. "I was hoping... if you both could bring Santa out of the house for an hour or two? I'd like to set up a little surprise in the living room while he's away."

Mrs. Pongsapak beamed. "Of course dear! And ohh, dear. You can even call us like you call Stacey and Santa—'Phor' and 'Mae.' It'll feel more comfortable that way."

"O-okay... Phor, Mae," Perth said, smiling, his heart warm.

Mrs. Pongsapak smiled warmly at Perth. "You know, Phor, maybe skip your golf game that day. Helping our son's happiness is way more important."

Mr. Pongsapak looked slightly surprised but nodded. "Well... I suppose I can do that." That was what he said, but Perth noticed a slight pout on Mr. Pongsapak's face.

Perth's ears perked up, a small smile tugging at his lips.

'So that's where Santa's pouting habit comes from...'

Perth laughed softly, grateful. "Thank you... Phor, Mae. I really appreciate it."

"No need to thank us, dear," Mrs. Pongsapak said, squeezing his hand again. "We can't wait to see him smile that day."

Perth scratched the back of his head, feeling shy but full of hope. "I... I only explained a little to my Mae, so I'd be grateful if you don't spoil it too much yet."

Mrs. Pongsapak winked. "Don't worry. Your secret is safe with us... for now."

Perth let out a deep breath, a mixture of relief and excitement washing over him. Everything was falling into place, and soon, he would get to show Santa just how much he truly cared.

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YESSSS WE ARE GETTING CLOSE TO HAVE PERTHSANTA WOOOOO 😆💞💖🖤🤍🌟✨STAY TUNED ON THE NEXT CHAPTER FOR THE ACTUAL CONFESSION YAAAA SEE YOU AND I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE STORY! ( •̀ ω •́ )✧