TWISTED THREAD

Part 19: The Breaking Point

Phuwin knew something was off the moment he stepped into Pond's apartment.

The air was heavy. Stifling. Like a storm waiting to break.

Pond stood by the window, arms crossed, his jaw tight. He didn't turn around when Phuwin entered.

Something was wrong.

Phuwin set his bag down. "Pond?"

Silence.

Then, finally, Pond let out a sharp breath and turned to face him. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes—his eyes were burning.

"You need to tell me the truth," he said.

Phuwin's stomach twisted. "What do you mean?"

Pond exhaled. "Do you still love him?"

Phuwin's heart stopped.

Because there was no him Pond could be talking about except Santa.

Phuwin clenched his fists. "Why are you asking me this?"

Pond let out a dry laugh. "Because I need to know if I'm wasting my time fighting for something that's already gone."

Phuwin felt his chest tighten.

This wasn't how things were supposed to go.

He had chosen Pond.

He had moved on.

So why did it still feel like he was standing at a crossroads?

"Pond—"

"Just answer me, Phuwin." Pond's voice was eerily calm, but his fingers were digging into his arms like he was trying to hold himself together.

Phuwin hesitated.

The answer should have been simple. No.

But it wasn't.

And that hesitation—that single second of silence—was enough.

Pond laughed again, but it was broken, bitter. "That's all I needed to hear."

Phuwin felt like the floor had disappeared beneath him. "Pond, wait—"

Pond turned away. "I can't do this, Phuwin. I can't be with someone who isn't sure if they love me."

Phuwin's throat tightened. "But I do love you."

Pond looked over his shoulder. "Just not enough."

⸻

Elsewhere.

Boom tapped his fingers against his glass, watching everything unfold.

Everything was falling into place.

He turned to the man sitting across from him. "It's happening."

The man smirked. "You sure about this?"

Boom's lips curled. "Oh, I've never been more sure of anything in my life."

He pulled out his phone, scrolling to the one piece of evidence that would set everything on fire.

Then, with a satisfied sigh, he hit send.

⸻

Santa's phone buzzed.

He was lying on the couch, scrolling through Netflix while Perth sat beside him, reading something on his laptop.

Santa reached for his phone lazily, unlocking it.

And then he froze.

His entire body went cold.

Because staring back at him was a photo.

A photo of him and Phuwin.

From months ago.

A moment from the past that should have stayed buried.

But now?

It was right in front of him.

Sent from an unknown number.

His breath hitched.

Perth noticed the shift immediately. "Tata?"

Santa blinked, forcing himself to breathe. "Huh?"

Perth eyed him. "You okay?"

Santa's grip tightened around his phone.

"I'm fine."

Perth frowned. "You don't look fine."

Santa forced a smile. "Just got a weird text, that's all."

Perth didn't look convinced, but he didn't push. "Want me to block the number?"

Santa swallowed. "No. It's nothing."

It wasn't nothing.

It was Boom.

And Santa had a very, very bad feeling.

⸻

Meanwhile, Joong and Dunk were in their own storm.

"You think I don't know what you've been up to?" Joong hissed, shoving Dunk against the wall.

Dunk's jaw clenched. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Joong scoffed. "Boom."

Dunk froze.

Joong's eyes burned with fury. "You've been talking to him."

Dunk pushed him off. "And so what if I have?"

Joong's fists clenched. "Are you seriously defending him?"

Dunk's expression was unreadable. "You don't understand."

Joong's voice dropped. "Then make me understand."

Dunk inhaled sharply, looking away. "I owe him."

Joong's stomach dropped.

"Owe him for what?"

Dunk's lips pressed into a thin line. "Something you don't need to know."

Joong's blood boiled. "Are you seriously keeping secrets from me now?"

Dunk turned back, eyes flashing. "You think I want to be in this mess? You think I like it?"

Joong exhaled. "Then get out of it."

Dunk shook his head. "It's not that easy."

Joong studied him. "Then make it easy."

Dunk hesitated.

And that was enough for Joong to know.

This wasn't ending anytime soon.

⸻

Pond sat in his car, gripping the steering wheel.

His mind was spinning.

He had tried to ignore it.

Tried to pretend like Phuwin was really his.

But the truth was ugly.

And it had been staring him in the face the whole time.

Phuwin had never truly let Santa go.

Pond closed his eyes, jaw tight.

Maybe it was time to stop fighting for something that was never his.

⸻

Boom watched from the shadows.

Smirking.

Because this was just the beginning.

⸻

To be continued...

⸻
Next chapter? More secrets unravel. Someone makes a mistake they can't take back.

Stay tuned for Part 20!