By Your Side ✧⁠*⁠。

Episode 26

It was early morning when Perth stirred awake. The sunlight seeped through the window, casting a warm glow over the room. As Perth blinked the sleep from his eyes, he glanced down to see Santa still snuggled against him, arms wrapped tightly around his torso. A smile tugged at his lips as he thought, "It’s not a dream." Gently, he leaned down and planted a soft kiss on Santa’s forehead, his heart swelling with a mix of contentment and disbelief.

Perth tried to sit up carefully to avoid waking Santa, but the younger tightened his hold and murmured groggily, “Don’t leave, phi.” His voice was laced with sleep, and his brows furrowed slightly.

Perth chuckled quietly and said, “Ta, we have class. You need to get up.” 

Santa, still half-asleep, shook his head, burying his face deeper into Perth’s chest. Perth smirked mischievously, leaning close to Santa’s ear. “If you don’t wake up, I’ll kiss and leave some mark on your body all over again.” 

Despite the playful threat, Santa remained stubbornly still. Perth’s grin widened as he whispered, “Fine, you asked for it.” Without hesitation, Perth shifted to hover over Santa, his movements deliberate but gentle as the blanket slipped slightly from their bodies, leaving their bare chests exposed. 

Leaning down, Perth pressed a kiss to Santa’s ear, letting his warm breath linger. His hand trailed down to Santa’s chest, his fingers brushing over the faint marks from last night’s passion. Santa let out a soft moan, "A..ahh," his body betraying him despite his attempt to stay asleep. Perth smirked, his lips traveling to Santa’s neck, kissing and nibbling lightly before moving lower to his marked chest. 

Perth’s lips hovered over one of the more prominent hickeys. He kissed it before biting gently, making Santa jolt awake with a sharp gasp. “Phi! My chest already has enough marks! You don’t need to add more!” Santa whined, his cheeks flushing as he tried to push Perth away.

Satisfied, Perth laughed softly and said, “Finally, you’re awake.” 

Santa groaned, covering his face with his hands. “Get off me, phi.” 

Perth shook his head teasingly. “Not yet.” With a smirk, he pulled the blanket over their heads, his movements making Santa’s heart race. Perth leaned in once again, capturing Santa’s lips in a kiss that quickly deepened. 

Their breaths mingled as the passion between them reignited. Perth’s hands wandered down Santa’s sides, while Santa’s fingers found their way into Perth’s hair. Their intensity grew, filling the quiet room with soft gasps and murmurs. 

Unbeknownst to them, the door creaked open. Gemini stepped in, intending to grab his uniform. He froze mid-step when he caught sight of Perth and Santa tangled in an intimate moment. His eyes widened in shock, and his face flushed as he realized what he’d walked into. "Why am I even here? Damn it." he thought, trying not to make a sound. 

Moving as quietly as possible, Gemini retrieved his belongings, all while trying to ignore the noises coming from Perth’s bed. Before slipping out, he muttered under his breath, “I don’t even go that hard with Fourth.” Shaking his head, he left, heading toward Est and Dew’s room.

Back inside, Perth and Santa finally slowed down, their breaths heavy as they lay tangled under the blanket. Perth propped himself up slightly, brushing a strand of hair from Santa’s forehead. “Let’s go shower,” he murmured. 

Santa nodded, his face still flushed from their earlier activity. Perth stood, picking up the first aid kit and putting it away. He grabbed a towel from his closet before returning to Santa. Without warning, Perth scooped Santa into his arms bridal-style.