Chapter 11

By the time they reached Perth’s condo, the rain had started.

Soft drops tapped against the car windows while Santa helped Perth out carefully from the passenger seat. Perth insisted several times that he could manage alone, but the second he tried putting too much weight on his ankle, his face tightened in pain.

Santa immediately grabbed his arm before he could lose balance. “Careful.”

“I’m fine,” Perth muttered automatically.

Santa gave him a flat look. “You almost fell.”

Despite the argument, Perth leaned on him slightly while they made their way toward the elevator.

Santa stayed quiet during the ride upstairs. He had never been to Perth’s condo before.

For some reason, that reality felt strangely intimate now that he was standing beside him in the elevator, listening to the soft hum of the machinery while rainwater still clung to the sleeves of their clothes.

When the doors opened, Perth limped slowly toward one of the units at the end of the hallway.

“You can just leave me here,” he said quietly while unlocking the door. “Seriously.”

Santa ignored him completely.

The condo was neat enough, though clearly lived in. A pair of sneakers sat near the entrance, books and training notes scattered across the coffee table, a hoodie abandoned carelessly over the couch. The place smelled faintly of laundry detergent and Perth’s cologne.

Santa tried not to look around too much. It felt oddly personal being there.

Once Perth sat down carefully on the couch, Santa grabbed one of the nearby cushions and placed it under his injured leg.

Perth blinked. “You don’t have to do all this.”

“You literally can’t walk properly.”

“I can walk.”

As if trying to prove his point, Perth immediately pushed himself onto his feet again.

Santa watched with growing disbelief as Perth awkwardly hopped toward the kitchen on one leg.

“What are you doing?”

“Getting water.”

“You’re going to make your ankle worse.”

“I’m fine.”

The second Perth tried reaching for a glass from the cabinet, he nearly lost balance again, catching himself against the counter with a sharp inhale.

Santa sighed heavily.

“Sit down.”

Perth glanced back at him stubbornly. “I’ve got it.”

“No, you really don’t.”

Without waiting for an answer, Santa walked over and took the glass from his hand before filling it himself.

Perth stayed quiet after that.

Santa could feel his gaze following him while he searched through the freezer until he found another ice pack.

“You seriously only have energy drinks in here?” Santa asked while opening the fridge.

Perth looked mildly offended from the couch. “There’s juice too.”

Santa pulled out the carton and checked the date.

“This expired three weeks ago.”

“That explains the weird taste.”

Santa stared at him. “You drank expired juice?”

Perth shrugged weakly. “Maybe.”

A quiet laugh escaped Santa before he could stop it. The sound filled the condo softly, warm enough to make Perth’s chest tighten painfully.

Because he had missed this. Missed hearing Santa laugh naturally around him. And sitting there watching Santa move around his condo so easily after everything he had done filled Perth with overwhelming guilt.

Santa should not still be this kind to him.

Not after the lies.

Not after the hurt.

Yet the second Perth got injured, Santa still rushed to him without hesitation.

Still stayed.

Still helped.

“You should eat something,” Santa muttered while searching through the kitchen.

Perth leaned back against the couch carefully. “No need, really it’s okay Santa.”

“I can see that,” Santa replied sarcastically.

A few minutes later, Santa stood quietly in the kitchen making something simple with the ingredients he found. Rice, eggs, vegetables shoved in the back of the fridge. Nothing complicated. The condo remained mostly silent except for the soft rain outside and the occasional sound of dishes clinking together.

And somehow, the quiet did not feel awkward.

Perth watched Santa the entire time with a painful heaviness in his chest. Because the more caring Santa was, the worse Perth felt about everything. He wished desperately he could go back and undo it all.

Meet Santa differently.

Talk to him honestly from the beginning.

Become someone worthy of him before breaking his trust first.

When Santa finally returned with the food, Perth sat up slightly.

“You really didn’t have to do all this.”

Santa placed the plate carefully on the table in front of him before answering quietly, “I know.”

Perth looked up at him.

Santa avoided his eyes while adjusting the ice pack over his ankle again.

“You got hurt,” he murmured simply. “I wasn’t going to leave you alone like that.”

The quiet sincerity in his voice hit Perth harder than anything else that night.

*

They ate quietly afterward.

The rain continued falling outside in a steady rhythm, tapping softly against the large windows of the condo while warm light filled the living room. Santa sat at the opposite end of the couch with his own plate balanced on his knees, occasionally glancing toward Perth’s ankle to make sure he was keeping the ice pack in place.

Neither of them spoke much, but unlike before, the silence no longer felt tense. It felt careful. Fragile in a different way.

Every now and then, Santa caught Perth looking at him before quickly focusing back on his food. And every single time, something uncomfortable twisted in Santa’s chest.

Because Perth’s expression kept softening whenever their eyes met. Like he still could not believe Santa was there.

After a while, Santa stood to gather the empty dishes and carried them into the kitchen before Perth could protest.

“You’re acting like I’m dying,” Perth complained weakly from the couch.

“You almost fell trying to get water earlier.”

“That happened once.”

“It happened twice.”

Perth opened his mouth to argue, then sighed dramatically instead. “Okay, maybe twice.”

Santa shook his head quietly while rinsing the plates.

The domestic normalcy of the moment felt strangely dangerous.

For brief moments, Santa almost forgot everything that had happened between them. Almost forgot why they stopped talking in the first place.

When Santa finished cleaning up, he checked the time on his phone and blinked softly. It was later than he thought, but he didn’t really want to leave Perth and the soft atmosphere that had been building between us.

Outside, the rain had only gotten heavier, dark water streaking across the windows while distant thunder rumbled faintly somewhere across the city.

Perth noticed his expression and said, “It’s getting late.”

Santa looked up.

“You should go home before the weather gets worse,” Perth said quietly.

Santa frowned slightly. “It’s fine.”

Perth shook his head. “No, seriously.”

He adjusted himself carefully on the couch, trying not to move his ankle too much. “The roads are probably slippery already.” His voice stayed calm, but Santa could hear the concern underneath it. “I don’t want you driving alone in the dark while it’s raining like this.”

Santa stared at him for a moment. Even now, injured and stuck on the couch with a swollen ankle, Perth was worrying about him. The realization made something warm and painful settle inside Santa’s chest at the same time.

A comfortable silence settled again before Perth spoke more quietly.

“Thank you for today.”

Santa’s fingers tightened slightly around his phone.

Perth looked down briefly before continuing. “For helping me. For staying.”

The sincerity in his voice made Santa’s chest ache unexpectedly. Because Perth sounded genuinely grateful for every small thing Santa had done tonight.

Santa finally grabbed his bag after several more minutes of pointless arguing about whether Perth could survive alone for one night.

Rain continued falling heavily outside while warm light filled the condo behind them. The moment felt strangely suspended, like neither of them fully wanted it to end yet.

Then Perth cleared his throat quietly. “Text me when you get back to your dorm.”

Santa looked up in surprise.

Perth immediately added, “Just so I know you got there safely.”

The quiet concern in his voice made Santa’s chest tighten unexpectedly, Perth was still worrying about him. Santa tried ignoring how warm that made him feel.

“Okay,” he answered quietly.

For a second, it looked like Perth wanted to say something else. Instead, he only smiled faintly. “Drive carefully.”

Santa nodded once more before finally stepping out into the hallway.

The door closed softly behind him, and almost immediately, the condo felt empty.

Perth leaned back slowly against the couch, staring at the closed door while rain tapped steadily against the windows. His chest still felt warm from Santa being there. From hearing him laugh again. From watching him move around the condo like he belonged there, even just for one evening.

*

Meanwhile, Santa sat quietly inside his car for several seconds before starting the engine. The rain blurred the city lights outside while his hands rested loosely against the steering wheel. His mind kept replaying the evening over and over. Perth smiling at him from the couch. Perth worrying about him driving home safely. Perth thanking him so sincerely for staying.

Everything felt dangerously soft compared to the distance between them these past weeks.

Santa hated how much he did not want tonight to end.

The drive back to campus felt strangely short. By the time he parked near his dorm building, the rain had softened into a light drizzle.

Santa reached his room and sat in silence for a moment before finally pulling out his phone. His fingers hovered above the screen briefly.

Santa: I’m back at my dorm.

Perth’s reply came almost immediately.

Perth: Good. Don’t worry so much, okay? I’m really fine

A second message appeared right after.

Perth: Have a good night, Santa.

Santa stared at the screen quietly. Something about the simplicity of the messages made his chest feel strangely tight, no flirting, no teasing and no attempt to keep the conversation going longer than necessary.

Just Perth reassuring him first before thinking about himself.

His eyes stayed fixed on the messages for longer than they should have. Part of him still could not fully process everything that happened today.

The panic he felt hearing Perth was hurt.

The relief when he saw him sitting there alive and okay.

The way Perth looked at him all evening like Santa’s presence alone meant everything to him.

And somehow, despite all the pain Perth caused him, Santa believed that part was real.

That realization scared him a little, because trusting Perth again still felt dangerous.

But tonight had reminded Santa of something he had spent weeks trying to ignore.

No matter how hard he tried distancing himself, Perth still mattered to him far more than he wanted.

*

The next day was unusually calm. Since it was the weekend, campus felt quieter than normal, with fewer students rushing between buildings. Warm sunlight filtered through the café windows while soft music played somewhere overhead, mixing with the faint sound of coffee machines and distant conversations.

Santa sat between Phuwin and Bonnie near the back of the coffee shop, absentmindedly stirring his iced drink for the past several minutes without actually taking a sip.

Bonnie rested her chin against her hand while staring directly at Santa.

“So,” she said slowly, “You went to Perth’s condo.”

Santa nearly choked on his drink.

Phuwin looked deeply entertained beside him.

“You told her?” Santa asked immediately.

“I tell Bonnie everything.”

“You absolutely do not.”

“Okay, not everything,” Phuwin corrected. “Only the important drama.”

Santa dropped his head into one hand with a quiet groan while Bonnie laughed softly.

“You literally ran to the nurse’s office because you thought he was dying,” she continued.

“I did not think he was dying.”

“You hugged him.”

Santa looked horrified now. “Can both of you stop bringing that up?”

Phuwin grinned immediately. “No.”

Bonnie leaned forward slightly, her expression softening afterward. “But seriously… how are you feeling about everything?”

Santa immediately sighed. “I honestly don’t know.”

Phuwin rested his chin against his hand. “Very helpful answer.”

“I’m serious.” Santa frowned down at the table. “I thought I knew what I wanted before yesterday.”

And he really had. Keeping distance from Perth hurt, but at least it felt safe. Santa could convince himself that avoiding him was the right thing to do.

But yesterday changed something. Or maybe reminded him of something he had been trying too hard to ignore.

Santa let out a slow breath before speaking again, quieter this time.

“I’m confused.”

Bonnie’s expression softened immediately.

Santa looked away toward the café windows while searching for the right words. “Yesterday felt…” He hesitated briefly. “Different.”

Phuwin stayed silent, letting him continue.

“For a few hours, everything felt normal again.” Santa’s fingers tightened slightly around his cup. “Like before everything got ruined.”

The admission made his chest ache instantly, because the scariest part was not the panic he felt hearing Perth was hurt. It was how naturally happy Santa felt sitting in Perth’s condo afterward.

Cooking for him.

Arguing with him.

Laughing again without forcing it.

It almost felt like stepping into another version of reality where none of the painful things between them had happened. And Santa hated how much he wanted that feeling back.

Bonnie watched him carefully. “You were happy.”

Santa stayed quiet for a second before nodding faintly.

“Yeah,” he admitted softly. “That’s what scares me.”

Before either Bonnie or Phuwin could answer, someone suddenly dropped heavily into the empty chair beside Phuwin.

Pond looked exhausted. His hair was messy like he had just rolled out of bed, and dark circles sat visibly under his eyes.

Phuwin frowned immediately. “You look terrible.”

“Love you too,” Pond muttered before leaning sideways enough to steal Phuwin’s iced coffee without permission.

Phuwin grabbed his wrist instantly. “That’s mine.”

“You said couples are supposed to share.”

“I absolutely never said that.”

Despite the complaint, Phuwin still let him drink from it anyway.

Bonnie looked disgusted. “You two are annoying.”

“Thank you,” Pond replied proudly before finally looking toward Santa.

“I just came back from Perth’s condo.”

Santa’s posture straightened before he could stop himself.

Phuwin noticed immediately and looked far too entertained by it.

“And?” he asked carefully.

Pond rubbed his face tiredly. “Honestly? I think the idiot already made his ankle worse.”

Santa frowned instantly. “What?”

“He tried walking around this morning because apparently sitting still is physically impossible for him.” Pond shook his head. “Now he’s limping even worse than yesterday.”

The concern appeared on Santa’s face so quickly he did not even have time to hide it.

Pond pointed at him immediately. “Exactly that expression.”

Santa looked away at once. “I’m just asking.”

“Sure.”

Bonnie bit back a smile while Phuwin looked openly amused now.

Pond sighed again before his expression softened slightly.

“But seriously,” he added quietly, “I’ve never seen Perth like this before.”

Santa stayed silent.

Pond glanced briefly toward Phuwin before continuing.

“He kept talking about yesterday.” A small laugh escaped him. “I think he’s still shocked you actually stayed with him.”

Something warm twisted painfully inside Santa’s chest.

“He also made me promise not to pressure you about anything,” Pond added. “Said you already did way more for him than he deserved.”

That surprised Santa more than he expected. Because old Perth would have absolutely tried using yesterday as a way to get close to him again. But now Perth seemed almost careful with every step he took around Santa, terrified of ruining the fragile progress between them.

Santa stayed quiet after Pond finished talking. His fingers traced absentminded circles against the side of his cup while his thoughts spiraled again.

Bonnie noticed the expression on Santa’s face immediately.

“Oh no,” she said softly. “You’re thinking.”

“Santa, stop making that face,” Phuwin added.

Santa ignored both of them. “He should rest properly,” he muttered quietly.

Pond snorted. “Good luck telling him that.”

Phuwin leaned back in his chair, studying Santa carefully. “You’re worried again.”

Santa frowned slightly. “Anyone would be worried.”

“Not enough to look like that.”

Santa opened his mouth to deny it automatically, then stopped.

Bonnie watched him for another moment before speaking gently. “You want to go see him.”

Santa looked down at the table.

The silence itself became an answer.

Pond immediately looked interested. “Wait, seriously?”

Santa let out a quiet sigh before finally admitting it. “I think I’m going to stop by this evening.”

The reactions around the table were immediate. Phuwin tried and failed to hide the small smile appearing on his face. Bonnie looked openly relieved.

Pond looked like he had just witnessed breaking news.

“Oh, Perth is going to lose his mind.”

Santa looked horrified instantly. “Can you not tell him that?”

“I’m not going to,” Pond replied, although his expression clearly said he desperately wanted to.

Phuwin nudged Pond lightly with his elbow. “Leave them alone.”

“I am leaving them alone,” Pond defended himself. “I’m just emotionally invested.”

Bonnie rolled her eyes. “You’re gossiping.”

“I’m supporting romance.”

“There is currently no romance,” Santa muttered immediately.

Three people stared at him in complete silence.

Santa sighed heavily. “Okay, maybe there are complicated feelings involved, but that’s not the point.”

Phuwin smiled faintly at him, softer now. “Then what is the point?”

Santa hesitated briefly before answering honestly.

“I just…” He looked down again. “I don’t want him sitting there alone while making his injury worse because he’s too stubborn to ask for help.”

The words made something warm settle across the table. Because despite all the hurt Perth caused him, Santa’s first instinct was still to care.

Pond leaned back with a small grin. “You know, if you keep acting like this, Perth’s probably going to fall even harder for you.”

Santa’s cheeks warmed immediately. “Pond.”

“I’m serious.”

Phuwin laughed softly beside him before slipping his hand briefly into Pond’s under the table.

And watching them together suddenly made Santa’s chest ache in a completely different way. Because for the first time in weeks, the possibility of fixing things with Perth no longer felt completely impossible.

——
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