CH 6:Unexected Meeting

***GULF'S CABIN***

Mew was standing near Gulf's desk, Wan beside him. "When do I have the business trip to Chiang Mai?" Gulf asked. Wan replied, "This Saturday to next Wednesday. P'Mew will accompany you. The flights and hotels are booked already." Gulf nodded. It was Friday already. "And while we're away, Chairwoman and Mr. Wang are the ones taking care of meetings here. Wan will deal with the details," Mew concluded. Gulf nodded in agreement to the arrangement.

***MEWGULF HOME***

They had just returned from the office but the lights were on. Mew walked in first and was greeted by a warm hug. "Ah! My sons! How has Gulf been behaving?" it was Fon. Mew smiled at her. "Hi mom" Mew greeted. Fon frowned, "Just a 'hi'? Where are my welcome kisses?" Mew chuckled.

When she was still alive, Mew's mom would always shower Mew's face with kisses. She used to say, "My son's chubby cheeks are for nothing but sweet kisses." And right now, Fon was hugging him like he was her own son. After their marriage, Fon cared much more about Mew than for Gulf. Gulf would sulk that his mom doesn't love him anymore. Mew could now feel things that he had kept in his fantasies for more than a decade. He was melting at the love this family was giving him.

March didn't talk a lot but he had his own ways of taking care of his two sons, Gulf and Mew. Fon seemed to forget about her husband and son whenever Mew was around. Mew was so thankful to heavens that he could have a family like this, even though he wasn't ready to accept Gulf as his husband. The fact that he married Gulf on Fon's request and not for his heart, doesn't change. But Gulf never forced Mew to love him back. The way Gulf acted with him, Mew knew that this boy was having a hard time controlling his feelings. But what Mew loved about Gulf was that he accepted him for what he was.

Acceptance was something Mew had always wished for and now he had Gulf to talk to. Though, Mew wasn't sure if March and Fon would be fine with it. But as long as Mew doesn't love Gulf, which he never could, no one would find out. Mew was a dedicated man and he could not stop loving his first love. Though his first love doesn't even know of his feelings. Mew would keep on loving the same person forever.

Mew didn't realize there were tears running down his face. "Mew, are you okay?" Fon asked, bringing Mew back to reality. Mew looked down at her and shook his head with a handsome smile on his face. "If this idiot ever troubles you, just call me without a second thought," Fon told Mew as she wiped his tears away. Mew nodded. "But why would I trouble Mew?" Gulf pouted as he snaked his arms around Mew. Mew glared at him. Gulf backed off immediately and surrendered.

"Why are there so many painkillers lying around?" March asked. Mew's periods for this month had only ended and the painkillers were all over the place, all thanks to his painful cramps. Mew's eyes widened. He was afraid that they might not accept him anymore. So he made an excuse, "We've been working on a new project and we don't get enough rest."

Gulf understood that Mew didn't want to tell their parents about it just yet. He can just tell them, they won't go crazy, Gulf thought. "And so...?" March still didn't understand the presence of those all over the place. Mew was stuck for words. Gulf saved him in time, "Mew had a bad headache because of overworking so those are for him. This project is really important." Mew looked at Gulf with thankful eyes.

"Is it the same project that you're signing contracts next week?" Fon asked. Gulf nodded. "But why did you two come without informing?" Mew asked out of curiosity. If it was Gulf who asked, Fon would have nagged at him for hours. "Just wanted to check on you two. The dinner's ready. Eat it after washing up. Now we're going on a date," March said. He put an arm on his wife's waist. "So you won't eat with us?" Mew made puppy eyes. Fon pat his head and denied.

Once the old couple was gone Gulf sighed. "Mom really doesn't care about me anymore," Gulf sulked. Mew chuckled at the stupid remark. Mew apologized, "Sorry for taking your mom's attention away." Gulf turned to him. "But I don't mind because it's you," and Gulf left with that. Mew felt his heart clench again. How I'm sorry for the fact I can't love you. You deserve much better, Mew smiled sadly internally. Mew felt at fault that Gulf is wasting his time on someone weird person like Mew.

*NEXT MORNING*

Mew was standing in the kitchen when Gulf walked there to get some water. "Done with your packing?" Mew asked the sleepyhead. "Why do you have to talk about work the first thing in the morning? Can't you ask me what I dreamt of?" Gulf complained. Of course, if I ask about your dream, you'd say you dreamt of me, Mew rolled his eyes. "Okay. Then, what do you want for breakfast? We have a flight in the afternoon" Mew said. "We're going today?" Gulf squinted his eyes. "Hmm. So is your bags packed or do you need help?" Mew replied. Gulf shook his head as he was already done with packing.

**BUSINESS TRIP**

The two had been on the trip for four days now. They were done with the business parts. The contract for the new resort was signed. The work would begin in a month as the constructor had already presented the structural plan and the amendments were requested.

What made butterflies flood Gulf's tummy was that he and Mew were sharing a single room. Gulf had secretly asked Sky, to book a single room. And Mew didn't seem to have a problem with sharing the same bed.

At the moment, Gulf and Mew were at a shopping mall. They were buying souvenirs for their team and parents. "Do you think dad will like this watch more or this necktie?" Mew asked holding both of the options in each of his hands. Gulf loved the face of confusion Mew makes. Mew would purse his lips shut and pout a little, his eyes glistening with innocence. When he can't make a choice, Mew would groan lowly and whine. "I think he'll like the watch more. He loves collecting those" Gulf suggested. Mew nodded.

"Mew, I'll just come back from the restroom," Gulf held out all the shopping bags he had been carrying. Mew took all those bags, "Be back soon, we're still to buy something for mom." Mew surely loved Fon more. Gulf smiled in assurance and left to the restrooms.

"Look who we have here," Mew looked in the direction of the voice. "Oh damn!" Mew cursed under his breath. "You said something?" the person said again. "What do you want Jenna?" Mew rolled his eyes internally. "Nothing. Just checking on my 'dear brother'" Jenna replied. Mew's jaw clenched. I don't remember being 'dear' to you, Mew scoffed in his mind. " 'Dear brother', you say. I don't remember you having a brother apart from me. And I was never 'dear' to you, 'dear' step-sister," Mew talked back. Jenna was visibly pissed.

"Well, you think you can still have enough money to survive after shopping from all those places?" Jenna pointed to the bags Mew was holding. Why can't she just leave me alone?! Mew wanted to scream in frustration. Mew tried changing the topic, "Who the hell is this man beside you?" Jenna smiled mockingly, " My boyfriend. You know 'boyfriend', something you'll never have." Yeah, I can't have a boyfriend. I already have a husband, Mew rolled his eyes again.

"I happen to have a super-high salary. I can afford a lot more than you can imagine," Mew answered the first question. "As for a 'boyfriend', I don't need one. I don't need somebody to waste their money on me. You see, I don't like using someone else's hard-earned money," it was Mew's turn to scoff. Jenna would usually get herself rich boyfriends to cope with her expenses.

"Is this your stepbrother you talked about?" finally the man beside her spoke something. Jenna nodded. "What did my sister talk of me? I want to know," Mew was curious. "Well... nothing very special. Just the usual things," the man answered. Mew raised his brows. "That means, she told you how much of a slut she thinks I am. Or maybe my pretty little secret that the innocent child in me once told her" Mew knew what Jenna ever said about him. " 'Innocent'? Do you even know what it means?" Jenna scoffed. "Yeah, I do. It's something you never had or even knew of," Mew's eyes squinted.

"Mew!" finally, Gulf returned. Mew didn't want to drag Gulf into his and Jenna's argument. "Mr. Kanawut, you're here," Mew said, formally. Gulf didn't know why Mew spoke like that. "Anything wrong?" Gulf asked with genuine worry. Mew smiled as if nothing happened and shook his head, "Nothing, sir. I just bumped into my sister so we were just talking." Gulf understood that Mew didn't want his sister to know of their marriage. Gulf just nodded. "Such a pretentious bastard," Jenna scoffed again. "I don't think you should say so about my secretary. I don't tolerate words against my staff. I could always sue you for defamation," Gulf gave his stern look.

Jenna knew she messed up and dragged her boyfriend away with her. Gulf turned to Mew, "We'll continue the shopping tomorrow. Let's go back to the hotel for now." Mew just nodded. Gulf stopped Mew suddenly and took the bags from him. Mew was so not in the mood to face anybody right now. This always happened to him after talking to Jenna or Pling.

***HOTEL ROOM***

"I will go shower first," Mew said as he rushed to the bathroom. Gulf didn't even get time to respond. Gulf let it be, he understood that Mew needed some time. He just prepared Mew's clothes and waited for him to come out.

"I'm going to bed first. Shower now," Mew just spoke without any emotions. Before Gulf could think of saying something, Mew was already on the bed with his eyes shut. Gulf noticed how Mew had forcefully kept his eyes shut. "I hope you'll be okay," Gulf whispered to himself and entered the bathroom.

Today, Gulf got to see how uncomfortable Mew was around that stepsister of his. Gulf could ruin her if Mew allowed, but he didn't want to take the matter completely into his hands. What if Mew didn't like his way of handling it? What if Mew closed himself off from Gulf again? No! Gulf won't be able to take it. These were all the things going on in Gulf's mind under the shower.

Once done with the showering, Gulf laid down beside Mew. Mew was still not asleep, he was just forcing his eyes to stay closed. Mew suddenly turned to Gulf, "Thank you for today." Gulf was confused, "What for?" He hadn't done anything for Mew. Mew smiled sadly, "For standing up for me. No one ever did that, especially against her..." Gulf could see the hurt in Mew's eyes. How could someone not like Mew? He was good-looking. He was intelligent. He had a nice nature. He was hard working. He was the definition of perfect. And yet there were people who didn't like him. Gulf could not believe this.

"Gulf?"

"What?"

"Can I hug you? Please"

"I'm always there for you. Come here."

And Gulf put Mew's head on his chest. "Why does she hate you so much?" Gulf asked. He didn't mean to be insensitive, he was just curious. Mew sighed, "She never liked me. And despised me, even more, when she knew I am a hermaphrodite. She loves slandering me." Gulf pouted. "Why are you pouting?" Mew asked. "Just wondering how could people despise such a cute person. If you want I can ruin her for you," Gulf replied.

Mew looked up at him. "Don't do anything to her," Mew said. Gulf frowned, "Don't tell me that you're forgiving her for whatever she said to you for years." Mew shook his head, "I'm not forgiving her or anything like that. I just don't want to associate with her in any manner. I want to forget that I even knew someone like her."

Gulf got Mew's point. "Okay. But if she ever troubles you again, I won't ask you before doing anything," Gulf declared. Mew chuckled, "I don't think we'll meet her again." Gulf liked the way Mew's face lit up. He loved to see Mew like this.

"I've decided. I'll make you fall for me. I'll court you till you accept me. I'll never leave you!" Gulf beamed his most handsomely cute smile. Mew smiled at the determination and cuteness this guy was showing. But he knew that Gulf would just hurt himself. He should not love Mew. Mew won't be able to give him a big room in that small heart of his. Someone already had built a palace in Mew's heart and it couldn't be conquered by anybody else. No matter what.

___________________________________________________

Who the hell does Mew love so much that he doesn't even want to give Gulf a chance.

Now it's hurting me. What do I do?

Please vote and comment.

- Wan <3