Unexpected Love *⁠.⁠✧

Episode 23

The early morning sun poured through the thin curtains of the shared dormitory, casting a soft, golden light over the room. Santa stirred first, blinking slowly as he woke up to the gentle sound of birds chirping outside. He turned his head to find Perth fast asleep beside him, his arm lazily draped over Santa's waist. Smiling to himself, Santa admired the peaceful look on Perth’s face, the soft rise and fall of his chest, and the way his messy hair fell over his forehead.

Not wanting to wake him, Santa leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to Perth’s cheek. He whispered, "Phi Perth, it’s time to wake up."

Perth shifted, his eyes fluttering open to meet Santa's smile. He groaned in protest, pulling Santa closer as if to stay in the warmth of the bed for just a little longer. "Morning already?" Perth’s voice was husky with sleep, his grip on Santa tightening briefly before loosening.

Santa chuckled softly, brushing the hair out of Perth's eyes. "Yes, it’s morning. We need to get ready for the first day of volunteering. Don’t tell me you’re going to sleep through it?"

Perth stretched and sighed, finally sitting up, his eyes still half-closed. "Fine, fine," he mumbled, but a smile spread across his face. He glanced at Santa. "But you owe me breakfast for waking me up."

Santa rolled his eyes playfully. "Deal."

Outside their room, the rest of the group was already starting to gather in the common area of their lodging. Aou and Yatch were discussing the day's plans, while Boom, Winny, and Satang were joking around near the door. Pond was busy fixing his hair, earning teasing remarks from Sammy, who called out, "You’re not going to impress anyone in the village with that hair, Phi."

Pond grinned, unfazed. "I have to look my best for the kids, you know."

Santa and Perth joined the group, and Santa nudged Pond, who looked up and smirked. "Well, well, early in the morning, and I already see a beautiful couple." He winked at the two of them, causing Santa to blush and punch him lightly on the arm.

Perth laughed and pulled Santa close, teasing, "He’s not wrong."

Phuwin soon arrived, greeting everyone with a warm smile. "Good morning, everyone! I hope you’re all ready for the first task of the day."

"What’s on the agenda, Phuwin?" asked Winny, bouncing a little with excitement.

Phuwin glanced around at the eager faces and said, "Today, we’ll be working on repairing and painting the local school. The kids are excited to meet you all, so let’s give them a great first impression."

Everyone nodded enthusiastically, and after a quick breakfast, they gathered their tools and supplies before heading toward the school.

The village school was a modest but charming building, with walls that needed a fresh coat of paint and a playground in need of repair. As they approached, the excited chatter of children could be heard from inside the classrooms, their curious faces peeking out through the windows.

Phuwin directed everyone to different tasks. Perth and Santa were assigned to painting one of the classrooms, while Aou, Yatch, and Boom started repairing the playground equipment. Winny and Satang worked on the garden, and Pond was busy taking photos, documenting the experience for the volunteers.

Inside the classroom, Perth and Santa got to work, each with a paintbrush in hand. They worked in comfortable silence for a while, focusing on their tasks. Perth, however, couldn’t resist sneaking a glance at Santa every now and then, enjoying the way he concentrated on painting the walls with careful strokes.

At some point, Perth mischievously flicked his brush, causing a splash of blue paint to land on Santa’s arm. Santa gasped in surprise, turning to Perth with wide eyes. "Phi Perth!"