Chapter 20 - The House Learns Their Rhythms
If someone looked closely, they would notice the house changing.
The Tanapon residence had always been elegant, quiet and controlled.
Now?
It breathed differently.
Breakfast happened later these days because Perth's mornings had become unpredictable.
Some mornings he woke nauseous before his eyes even opened, while other mornings headaches settled behind his temples so painfully he barely spoke.
The first few days, everyone panicked.
After the second week...
the household adapted.
Perth sat at the breakfast table wrapped in a soft gray sweater, one hand around a cup of ginger tea while looking personally betrayed by existence itself.
Meanwhile, Santa moved around the kitchen with restless energy buzzing beneath his skin.
Santa spun immediately.
"I am sitting."
He was very clearly standing.
Luke slowly lowered his spoon into his cereal. Then quietly slid off his chair.
The housekeeper looked down as he approached.
Luke whispered dramatically,
"Papa's volcano is awake."
The woman bit her lip to stop herself from laughing.
Across the room, Grandpa Tanapon calmly folded his newspaper like none of this surprised him anymore.
The old man had adapted faster than everyone expected.
Without discussion, ginger candies now mysteriously appeared beside Perth's tea every morning.
Perth stared at the tiny bowl suspiciously one day. "...Where do these keep coming from?"
Grandpa Tanapon turned a page calmly. "Magic."
Luke gasped softly.
"I knew it."
Santa nearly choked on his juice.
Perth's mother had become even worse or better, depending on perspective.
The kitchen staff now operates like a medical unit.
Perth blinked slowly at the steamed vegetables placed in front of him.
"I don't think any of this is medically proven."
She patted his cheek affectionately.
"You're glowing."
Santa choked on his water.
Luke's eyes widened like dinner plates. "Daddy's pregnant?!"
Perth frowned thoughtfully.
"...Am I?"
At Lunaria Café, the shift was noticeable too.
Santa tried very hard to act normal.
Unfortunately, his emotions had other plans.
The espresso machine overflowed once because the milk steamed incorrectly.
Santa stared at it like he was seconds away from declaring war. "You did that on purpose," he accused the machine quietly.
Mark immediately stepped in.
"Okay," he said carefully, raising both hands. "I'll clean it. You sit."
Mark nodded slowly.
"Right."
Santa crossed his arms defensively.
Mark glanced at him another second before muttering, "...Hormonal."
Santa froze.
"...What?"
Mark smiled nervously.
"Seasonal stress?"
The silence stretched dangerously.
Mark visibly reconsidered his life choices.
Finally Santa exhaled sharply.
"Yes." A pause. "That."
Mark nearly collapsed in relief.
Still...
the café felt alive again.
Not because gossip surrounded it, but because Lunaria had become warm and comforting.
People came for familiarity now.
For the soft music, for the smell of coffee and vanilla or sometime, for Luke's dramatic stories near the counter.
Santa pretending not to smile while Perth followed him around tiredly like a lovesick ghost.
Everyone noticed it, especially when Perth arrived in the afternoons looking exhausted enough to collapse.
Luke had officially claimed the corner booth for him. "This is Daddy's seat," he informed customers very seriously.
Nobody argued.
One elderly regular even saluted him once before moving tables voluntarily.
Perth would sink into the booth with a quiet groan while loosening his tie.
Then Santa appeared immediately with soup.
Perth stared at it weakly.
"...Again?"
Santa narrowed his eyes.
Perth drank the soup instantly.
Their roles had reversed so naturally it startled everyone.
Seven years ago, Santa survived alone because nobody cared for him.
Now?
He hovered constantly.
Perth looked exhausted beneath a blanket while Luke scribbled something seriously.
Perth blinked.
"Monitoring?"
Luke nodded solemnly. "Papa says you're dramatic." He wrote something down. "I'm collecting evidence."
Santa laughed so suddenly he startled himself. The sound filled the living room warmly.
Perth stared at him quietly afterward.
Still not used to hearing Santa laugh so freely.
Nights became the strangest part.
The mansion quieted after midnight.
Bangkok glowed outside the massive windows while soft rain sometimes tapped gently against the glass.
Santa couldn't sleep anymore.
His body buzzed constantly with heat and restless energy beneath his skin.
Some nights he wandered barefoot onto the balcony wrapped in Perth's hoodie, breathing cool air while trying to calm the emotions spinning inside him.
Behind him, Perth usually lay curled dramatically beneath blankets.
Santa snorted softly.
"You're dramatic."
Santa turned immediately.
"...What?"
Santa burst into helpless laughter.
Then instantly softened when Perth closed his eyes tiredly. Without another word, Santa climbed into bed beside him.
Perth relaxed immediately the moment Santa pressed close.
That still did something unbearable to Santa's heart. The scent of Perth grounded him now. Calmed the strange restless craving beneath his skin.
Their intimacy had changed lately.
Sometimes Santa simply curled against Perth's chest silently while Perth rubbed slow circles against his back.
Existence overlapping quietly.
Luke noticed all of it.
One night while brushing his teeth, he stared suspiciously at Santa through the mirror. "Papa?"
Santa blinked slowly.
"...What?"
Luke shrugged. "You get angry fast now." A pause. "But you're also very cuddly."
Santa laughed softly despite himself.
He crouched down and pulled Luke gently closer.
Luke studied his face carefully.
Then nodded. "Okay."
Another pause.
"But if Daddy faints, I'm calling Grandpa."
Santa smiled helplessly.
"That's responsible."
Some nights, after everyone slept, Santa sat alone in the bathroom again.
One hand resting low against his stomach. Still flatt and hidden, but present.
Sometimes he simply sat there breathing slowly, overwhelmed by how different this felt from before.
Seven years ago, pregnancy meant fear and sacrifice. Leaving behind the person he loved because everyone convinced him love had limits.
Now?
The house downstairs held warmth with laughter and he wasn't afraid anymore.
Just...
He wasn't ready to tell them yet.
Not while Perth looked pale and exhausted every day.
Not while Luke already watched them both so closely.
Not while life finally felt stable after years of chaos.
For now, this secret remained tucked quietly beneath his ribs.
A tiny heartbeat waiting patiently to be known.
Santa closed his eyes briefly.
Then smiled softly to himself.
Outside the bathroom, he could hear faint movement.
Luke mumbling in his sleep while Perth coughing dramatically somewhere beneath blankets.
His life now feels very safe, and for the first time in years...
Santa allowed himself to believe it would stay that way.