They drove over to Gulf's place in silence. Mild and Saint had called Gulf multiple times already but he wasn't answering any of the calls.
Bright watched the road as he drove and got lost in his thoughts.
***Flashback***
Bright smiled brightly, he couldn't believe his luck they were going to district and he had gotten there with Gulf! He felt a rush of excitement flow through him. He had decided he was going to finally confess to Gulf. They had known each other for 9 years now and he had slowly realized he loved him.
He loved when he smiled, he loved his lame dad jokes, he loved how happy he looked while playing soccer. The sport had brought them closer than ever, they both shared the passion for it. They had spent endless nights talking about it, practicing together they had played on the same team for 5 years now and once again were going to go to finals together.
He changed quickly into his uniform for practice, he would tell him today. He walked out of the locker room and froze. Jimmy was talking with Gulf a few feet away. Bright quickly went behind the bushes near by. He couldn't help it he needed to know what that creep wanted with Gulf. Everyone in the school knew he was Tommy's bitch and Tommy was bad news, selling cigarettes to underage students , throwing drinking parties, he wasn't surprised when they had accused him of beating up some guys for money. He was just making sure Gulf was okay that's all.
He finally got close enough to hear.
"I think you know I'm right Gulf" Gulf blushed furiously, he couldn't believe his ears. Jimmy had just confessed to him, saying he liked him, sure he had found Jimmy handsome I mean who wouldn't , but this would be his first boyfriend after coming out. " You and me" Jimmy continued stretching his arm and caressing Gulf's face "We go well together"
Bright felt his heart stop. Was Jimmy asking Gulf out!? No way , no. Gulf wouldn't agree right? I mean he had to know Jimmy disposed of guys like shirts.
"I thought you and Tommy wer-" Jimmy stopped his words with a kiss , Gulf stood there shocked.
Bright felt like he'd been punched in the gut. No it couldn't be. Someone as precious as Gulf couldn't be used by someone as ruthless as Jimmy. Better yet once Tommy heard he would cause trouble, he was sure of it!
"Shhh" Jimmy said pulling away looking at a flustered Gulf "Tommy is in the past, you and me is what matters now. Tommy is just my best friend that's all" Gulf was doubtful he hard heard a lot about him. He looked up at Jimmy who bit his bottom lip and winked at him, Gulf felt his heart speed up. He smiled at him "Okay" he finally said, this was his first relationship. He was so excited but he didn't want to act like a kid.
Jimmy smiled brightly "Great! Here let's take a quick picture, he pulled Gulf closed to him "Kiss my cheek" he told him, Gulf obliged "Okay than see you later boyfriend!" Jimmy said as he walked away leaving a flustered Gulf touching his lips.
Bright felt pain. Real and excruciating pain. He had waited too long to tell Gulf how he felt and now he had lost him.
***Flashback ends***
Bright frowned , if he had spoken up back then, we wouldn't be in this situation now.
They pulled up to the house and it was pitch black, had Gulf not came back to his house?
Mild jumped out of the car and rushed to the door he began banging on it.
"Gulf!Gulf! Open up I know you're in there!" Mild stood quietly for a moment to see if he heard anything. "Gulf please, please let me in" Mild put his hands on the door.
"Maybe he really didn't come back here" Boat said behind him , Mild shook his head he knew better.
"Gulf please..." Mild begged again "Just open up, let me make sure you're okay and I will leave, no questions, no lectures, no nothing" silence was his answer once again.
"Babe.." Boat said.
"Gulf!" Mild smacked the door "if you don't let me check on you I will go home and bring the spare key! I will bust in here and stay all night!" He yelled trying to sound angry when in reality he was hurting, he was hurting for his friend.
His phone suddenly beeped.
I'm fine Mild. Don't worry. Just let me sleep okay? I'll see you tomorrow.-Gulf
Mild let the tears he had been holding back spill.
"Gulf..." he cried " I love you , just know that there's people here who love you... what he said back there its all lies" his voice broke "it was never your fault... you're not a burden" Mild said leaning his head against the door.
Bright was staring at the door feeling pain shoot to his core for the man he had been in love with for years. He didn't care if Gulf never loved him back. All he had ever wanted was his happiness. It was the reason why he had held his tongue back then when he had excitedly told him he was going out with Jimmy. It's the reason he never confessed after it had ended. It was enough to be next to him, to be able to see him smile and be able to hold him. He knew Gulf didn't see him that way but it didn't stop him from loving him.
Saint hugged himself hearing his friend broken voice knowing that behind that door inside that dark house was someone suffering.
Boat walked up to Mild and held him. Mild's phone beeped again.
I know Mild. I love you. Thank you. I'm fine I promise. -Gulf
Mild looked at the dark house again. "I'll be back tomorrow to check on you, and I'll bring my key! So don't say no cause I'll come in either way!" He yelled. He began to walk away and looked back one last time. He really hoped Gulf wouldn't do anything stupid.
Gulf continued to cover his mouth as he sobbed hard against the entrance door where he had collapsed once he had gotten in. He felt like the pain was going to kill him this time. It's was roaring tearing at him inside, pulling at all the dark thoughts that invaded his mind.
"He got his parents killed!"
Rang once again in his ears, he rushed to cover them. Shaking his head. He began rocking back and forth "I'm sorry" he cried "I'm sorry". He cried hard, he let all the anguish spill over.
—-
Jimmy staggered out of the club. He had drank till he couldn't drink anymore. He felt like shit, he chuckled, he was shit. He cried again, he had felt so horrible for the words he had said. Mild was right, he had been nothing but dirt to Gulf and yet he had always given him care and love back then. He recalled the day he ended things with him. He had let out his frustration of Tommy getting a new girlfriend on Gulf and told him he was a burden, when in reality it was the opposite, he had made him smile when he had felt like shit, he had put up with his antics, he had forgiven his cheating, he had always put him first. He cried harder bitterly holding on to the wall for balance.
He needed to apologize, he needed to let him know he was sorry, even if he never forgave him, it didn't matter, at least he would be able to tell him how amazing he was.
He felt a hand grab his arm, he looked at the man holding him up , the man looked creepy, hate poured from his eyes Jimmy blinked "Who are you?" He asked slurring his words, the man smiled.
"Justice" he whispered.
—-
When Gulf woke up he didn't know how much time had passed. He was laying on the floor at the entrance of his townhome. He felt weak and disoriented. He got up slowly feeling dizzy. He walked to his room and shed off the clothes he was wearing.
He crawled into bed and curled into a ball, and fell back to sleep.
—-
Mew kept pacing back and forth in his apartment.
"Can you please stop that" Zee said again , Mew had lost track of how many times.
"Mew seriously it's almost 3 am and you're still this rattled up" Zee got up from the couch putting his beer down "he'll be fine he's not a kid"
Mew looked at him and continued pacing. Yeah he was not a kid but he had seen it he had seen the hurt in his eyes when that man had said all those words to him, he had seen him clutching at his heart with trembling hands.
When he had received the text from Mild earlier that night he was thrilled, he hadn't seen Gulf for 3 days and he missed him. He had gotten out of work later than he expected and had made it to the bar at the last minute with Zee. He had walked in and been frozen in place at the sight of Gulf who was being dragged down from the V.I.P area by a very inebriated Mild. He looked amazing.
The deep red compliment his skin so well , and his hair was fluffy and shiny in the multicolored lights. He had seen his panicked face as he got pushed into the dance floor and had felt himself become fully possessive at sight of Bright hugging him from behind. He had waited for him to leave to walk up to the group.
He got anxious when he had not been back for a bit and glanced over to the bar in time to see him walking towards the exit with a man after him. Mew had pushed through the crowd and finally reached them in time to hear the prick yell at him while he held him down. He was too late. He had allowed someone to hurt him again. Fuck!
"Mew, seriously relax" Zee said grabbing his friend. "Go take a cold shower and cool off, we can call Mild tomorrow and get an update they were heading to his place anyways I'm sure he's fine with his friends"
Mew sighed, Zee was right he didn't gain anything here wasting his anger on something he couldn't change. He nodded and headed off to the shower.
Zee laid back down on the couch lazily. He closed his eyes and saw Saint. Swaying his hips, dancing to the music with a smile on his face. He had looked so good with that black shirt,buttons opened exposing his chest. He had been lost admiring him when he saw a pair of arms wrap around him.
He felt anger rise in him. He saw Saints shocked expression, then he had seen him glance at the man and smile, he had watched him turn to dance with him. He felt even angrier than before. Why was he just allowing anyone to touch him? So random man could just come up and dance with him while grabbing on to him. He tsked frustrated. He got up from the couch and threw away the empty beer can , he walked to the balcony.
Why was he so annoyed. He had been with someone else earlier that day. Who was he to stop Saint from having fun. He saw a flash of Saint in that mans arms again and frowned.