TWISTED THREAD

Part 21: Lines That Shouldn't Be Crossed

He didn't check it. He didn't need to.

Because he already knew—it wasn't Phuwin.

Boom slid into the seat beside him again, swirling his own glass lazily. "Still here? Thought you'd run back to him by now."

Pond exhaled sharply. "Not in the mood for your games, Boom."

Boom smirked. "Who said I was playing?"

Pond didn't answer.

Boom tilted his head. "So. What's next?"

Pond's grip on his glass tightened. "What do you mean?"

Boom shrugged. "Well. If Phuwin can't make up his mind, maybe it's time you do."

Pond looked up at him.

Boom leaned closer. "Let him go, Pond."

Pond swallowed. "I can't."

Boom's smirk widened. "Then make him."

⸻

Joong was losing patience.

Again.

Dunk was avoiding him—again.

It was infuriating.

Joong had never been the type to chase. If people wanted to be in his life, they were. If they didn't? Fine. Their loss.

But Dunk wasn't just anyone.

And Joong wasn't about to lose him without a fight.

So he showed up.

Right outside Dunk's apartment, fists in his pockets, heart pounding way too fast for his liking.

When the door finally opened, Dunk's eyes widened. "Joong—"

Joong pushed past him, stepping inside. "We need to talk."

Dunk sighed, rubbing his temples. "Now?"

"Yes. Now."

Dunk shut the door, turning to face him. "Look, if this is about Boom, I—"

"It is." Joong's voice was firm. "But it's also about you."

Dunk hesitated. "What about me?"

Joong exhaled sharply. "I need to know where you stand, Dunk. Because right now, it feels like you're on his side."

Dunk flinched. "I'm not."

"Then what are you doing?" Joong took a step closer, searching Dunk's face. "Why are you still letting him pull the strings?"

Dunk clenched his jaw. "Because if I don't, he'll ruin everything."

Joong's stomach sank. "What does he have on you?"

Dunk swallowed. "I can't—"

"Tell me."

Dunk looked away.

Joong's chest ached. "Dunk, please."

Dunk exhaled shakily. "It's not about me. It's about my family."

Joong's eyes darkened. "What did he do?"

Dunk's voice was barely a whisper. "He knows things. About my dad. About stuff that could ruin my whole family if it got out."

Joong clenched his fists. "And he's using that to keep you under his thumb."

Dunk nodded, eyes glassy.

Joong exhaled sharply.

Boom was even more dangerous than he thought.

But if Boom thought he could keep Dunk trapped forever—

He was dead wrong.

⸻

Santa's voice wavered.

"Why does it still feel like you love me?"

Phuwin shut his eyes, his head pounding. "Don't do this, Santa."

Santa took another step forward. "Why not?"

Phuwin inhaled shakily. "Because it's not fair."

Santa let out a humorless laugh. "Fair? Nothing about this has ever been fair."

Phuwin opened his eyes, looking at him. "You moved on."

Santa swallowed. "And you didn't?"

Phuwin's throat went dry. "I did."

Santa took another step. "Then say it."

Phuwin stared at him. "Say what?"

Santa's eyes burned. "Say you don't love me anymore."

Silence.

Thick. Suffocating.

Phuwin's hands shook.

Santa scoffed, stepping back. "That's what I thought."

Phuwin wanted to scream.

But before he could say anything, his phone buzzed.

He pulled it out, glancing at the screen—

And his heart stopped.

Pond.

Incoming call.

Santa's gaze flickered to the phone. "Answer it."

Phuwin hesitated.

Santa's lips curled into something bitter. "Go ahead. Choose him. Again."

Phuwin felt like he was suffocating.

Because no matter what he did, he was always losing someone.

⸻

Boom leaned back in his seat, satisfied.

Because the cracks?

They were turning into full-on fractures.

And soon?

Everything would break.

Exactly like he wanted.

⸻

To be continued...

⸻

Next chapter? A decision will be made. And someone's going to regret it.

Stay tuned for Part 22!