It has already been three days since the news about Gulf and Podd's engagement broke. It is really final. Gulf's decision won't change. And even if he did change his mind, it will be all too late now because the engagement party is in two days. And only a week after that is their wedding.
Why is it too fast? It is Mr. Sriphotong's idea to push through the wedding fast. The faster, the better. And Podd has no any violent reaction regarding the matter. In fact, he and Gulf have been going out since Mr. Sriphothong wanted them to get close as they soon will be married. It feels like a dream come true for him. He can't believe that he is now dating the man he loves. He is now dating Gulf.
"Where do you want to go next, Gulf? Anything to buy? Just tell me, okay?" said Podd. They are now in the car, off to a date. It's been already days since they started dating. Podd has many plans for his dream dates but today, he asked Gulf who is unusually quiet today. Or maybe Podd just didn't notice that ever since they got engaged, Gulf lost the sparkles in his eyes which is one of the things why he fell in love for the young lad. He is nothing but a robot that answers only with a yes or no.
"Anywhere you like, I'm fine." said Gulf while staring outside the car, not even paying Podd a glance when he said that. Podd felt a little sting on his heart. He can feel it. He can feel that Gulf is just obeying orders, that Gulf is just going out or dating with him all because of the deal, and that Gulf is really not in love with him. But he promised himself that as long as he have Gulf, he will do everything to win his heart. To make him fall in love with him.
"I know where we'll be going." said Podd and stepped on the gas. He just thought of a perfect place where they can both enjoy and relax at the same time.
When they both finally reached the place that Podd personally chose, he saw a genuine smile starting to curve on Gulf's face. They are still in the car but they can already see the beauty of the place.
Gulf isn't aware that Podd is just staring at him while smiling.
"I knew you would like it here." said Podd trying not to interrupt Gulf as he enjoys the calmness of the sea before them. It is the first place that came into his mind and he thinks that he just picked the right place because Gulf is totally starstruck.
But when Gulf realized what Podd has said, he immediately returned to his poker face. For him, he doesn't want to give Podd the slightest idea that he enjoys his company because he is not. Instead of Podd, he is actually thinking that Mew is with him and not Podd. If Podd didn't speak, he wouldn't realized that he's only imagining things.
"Let's go breathe in some fresh air, shall we?" Podd invited Gulf. He immediately get off the car to open the door for Gulf but it's already too late. Gulf already got off the car. He awkwardly smiles at Gulf since he saw him rushing to the other side of the car.
They are now walking by the seashore. The cool breeze of the sea is rather comforting and relaxing. They just kept walking. No one is speaking. Until Podd decided to open up a topic, just to break the ice.
"I grew up in a city and my family barely goes for a vacation. I brought you here because I wanted to spend a special day with you here." Podd smiles while staring at the sea. They are now both facing the sea as they watch how naturally it dances along with the waves, as if they got no problems to mind. Which Gulf is kinda jealous of.
"Podd." Gulf called the other lad who is just standing next to him. He heard a hum from the lad who appears to be a little excited since he called his name.
"You already have me, okay? But don't expect me to give my heart as well. Don't expect me to return all your love because I am afraid I can't. I am sorry."
Podd kind of expected this from Gulf. He is very much aware that sooner or later, Gulf would say this to him. But no matter how prepared he was for hearing this, it still hurts. An excruciating pain. But he didn't give up. He fished out something from the pocket of his jeans and he showed it to Gulf.
"Why do you have that?" Gulf was surprised to see that the napkin from the ice cream parlor from before is in Podd's possession now. It was the napkin on which he wrote his initial and Mew's initial, with a heart in between. But from what he can see, it is now a little different from what he wrote before. The letter M was scribbled and was replaced by a letter P.
"Do you see that Gulf? I will work hard. I will do everything just so you can love me, too. I will do everything for you to forget everything about Mew. I will make you love me. I will make that writings on that napkin come true; you loving only me. Just please. Please, give me a chance na?" said Podd while begging.
"You already have me, Podd, isn't that enough for you?" said Gulf in a very plain tone which answers Podd's request. He knew that Gulf will never open his heart for him. That it will always be Mew and will never be him. It triggers Podd to do something he shouldn't.
His eyes changed. It was not Podd's eyes anymore but monster's. He went closer to Gulf. He cupped Gulf's face and forcefully tugged Gulf to kiss him. But Gulf didn't like what he did. Gulf's palm met Podd's face with a very loud sound. It even made Podd's face red and swollen.
Podd realized what he just did and apologized right away. But Gulf is already crying. It was the first time that someone forced a kiss on him. He was startled. He was scared that he kept calling Mew in his head, for help.
"I am sorry, Gulf. I am so sorry. I was not in the right mind. Please, don't misunderstand. It's just that, I want—"
But he lost his chance to explain himself because Gulf already wanted to go home.
"Just— Just bring me home. I am already tired."
Gulf had to leave Podd for he was startled. He didn't expect Podd to react that way and what scares him most are the possibilities that Podd would do worse than this once they are married. It terrifies him.
When they both has reached Gulf's house, without a word, Gulf get off the car and went straight to the house.
He slumped on his bed, burying his face on a pillow and screamed his frustration. He can't think of anything but Mew. Of how Mew would react once he knew that Podd kissed him. But he was cut from his delusional thoughts when he realized that there is no need to worry about Mew and his feelings. He already hurt him. And he has no right to pour a single drop of care about him, because he wrecked him in the first place.
And because of that, it made him cry harder and harder until he fell asleep, with tears all over his face.
The next morning, unlike the usual, Gulf came to school by himself. He told Podd that he wanted to be alone for the mean time and Podd agreed without a hitch.
Meanwhile, Mew is on his way to their classroom when someone from behind jumps in front of him, clinging into his arm.
"Kaownah, what are you doing?" said Mew as he got irritated with what Kaownah just did. It caught everyone near them their attention. They even started gossiping, which Kaownah liked. He wanted to start a rumor that he and Mew are starting to get closer, now that he is single. He thinks that Mew would eventually see his worth once people paired them together.
"I am doing nothing. Come on, we will be late." said Kaowah while still clinging onto Mew.
Mew tried so much to remove Kaownah's arm but the other party isn't giving in, so he just let him be.
Until he bumped into someone.
It was Gulf.
He saw how Gulf's eyes are locked on his arm and Kaownah's linked together. And his immediate response was to remove Kaownah's arm.
"Gulf, it is not what you are thinking. It was Kaownah— I didn't."
But Gulf just gave him a weak smile.
"You don't need to explain yourself, Phi. There's no need to." said Gulf before leaving as his head was slowly avoiding to have a contact with Mew's eyes.
Mew glared daggers at Kaownah for what he did. He was so angry that Gulf caught them. But he was more angry to himself that he allowed Kaownah to do such foolish things and even got caught by Gulf.
Although there's no need for him to be guilty as they two have split already, he can't help it because he saw the pain in Gulf's eyes. He was hurt. And it is what he hates the most.
Instead of going inside his classroom which is only a few steps away, he turned back and run away from school. He is going to fix everything. He is going to bring back Gulf.
"I'd like to have a minute with you, Mr. Sriphothong." said Mew to the man in front of him.
***
Please vote and comment below. Thank you. See you next chapter. Xoxo.