Phuwin's hands were clammy as he closed the door behind Santa.
The air between them was thick—too thick.
Santa didn't move further inside. He just stood there, jaw clenched, fists at his sides, eyes burning with something Phuwin couldn't quite place.
It wasn't anger.
It wasn't regret.
But it sure as hell wasn't nothing.
Phuwin swallowed hard. "What do you want to talk about?"
Santa inhaled sharply. "I got a message."
Phuwin frowned. "What message?"
Santa reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone, and held it up.
The screen was already open to the photo—the one that had been haunting him for hours.
Phuwin's stomach dropped.
It was them.
A photo from so long ago, back when their hands had fit so naturally together, when their smiles had been effortless, when love hadn't been a mistake.
And the message attached to it?
"Funny how history repeats itself, huh?"
Phuwin's throat went dry. "Where did you get this?"
Santa exhaled through his nose. "I don't know. It was sent anonymously."
Phuwin's heartbeat thundered in his ears. "Santa, I—"
"Don't." Santa's voice was sharp. "I don't need your excuses."
Phuwin clenched his fists. "I'm not making excuses. I just—"
"Do you still love me?"
Phuwin froze.
His breath caught.
His chest ached.
Santa's gaze never wavered. "I need the truth, Phuwin."
Phuwin tried to answer. Tried.
But no words came out.
Because the truth?
The truth was complicated. The truth was messy. The truth was something he couldn't afford to say out loud.
Santa scoffed. "That's what I thought."
Phuwin's stomach twisted. "It's not—"
Santa stepped closer, voice lower now. "You don't get to play the victim here, Phuwin. You made your choice. You chose Pond."
"I did," Phuwin said, voice barely above a whisper.
Santa's jaw clenched. "Then why does it feel like you didn't?"
Phuwin had no answer for that.
Because maybe he hadn't.
⸻
Meanwhile.
Pond was drowning.
Boom's words had sunk their claws into his brain, twisting and turning, poisoning everything.
He sat in the bar, staring blankly at his drink, barely aware of the world around him.
Had it all been a lie?
Had Phuwin ever truly been his?
Or had he been fooling himself this entire time?
His phone buzzed on the counter.
YOU ARE READING
TWISTED THREAD
FanfictionSynopsis Some people fall in love. Others get tangled in it. Perth never asked to be the center of a twisted love game, but Boom refuses to let go, Santa won't stop watching, and Aou is done being a second choice. Santa has spent years chasing a lov...
