You don't know about Us - A MewGulf AU

Chapter 2: Against fate

It was as if fate was giving him another chance. As for what that chance entailed, Gulf wasn't exactly sure yet. He was tired and slightly tipsy, and as he tried opening the documents attached to the mail, the letters seemed to dance in front of him. The alcohol was probably getting the better of him. He figured his mind was playing tricks on him and that all of this would end up being a dream in the morning when he woke up. Like the dream of that world far away. Surely something like this would never happen in his normal life.

Closing his eyes, he dropped the phone next to him. As he surrendered to the dark, dreams of impossible chances and fateful encounters took over his consciousness.

Morning came too quickly the next day. Waking up due to sunlight shining on his eyes, he quickly turned away and hid underneath his blanket. However, as he became more aware and the headache seemed to become more and more evident, he had no other choice than to leave the warm comfort of his bed in favour of searching for some painkiller to still his incoming hangover. He could swear he hadn't drunk that much the evening before, but it seemed age was catching up to him.

(You're still young, nong, don't say silly stuff like that.)

Gulf snorted. Right, headache or no headache, he still had his trusty phi to wake over his every thought. He deliberately thought this to spite the voice, but there was no answer. Gulf wasn't sure if he was happy about that or sad.

It took half an hour of sitting at the kitchen table and staring at the glass of water until the painkiller finally seemed to start working. Although he wasn't really hungry, he figured stuffing something in his mouth might help with the disgusting dry flavour which remained even after he had brushed his teeth. However, as Gulf opened his kitchen cupboard in search of anything edible, he was greeted to the sight of sheer emptiness. Right, he had planned to go shopping today, but after yesterday he really didn't feel like it anymore.

Could this Saturday morning get any worse?

With a sigh, Gulf dressed in whatever clothes smelled clean enough and left the apartment. The supermarket was at least two blocks away and the sunlight was too bright for the hungover man, so instead he simply crossed the street to the coffee shop he loved to hate.

The jingle the door made as he entered was too loud on his ears, and he suddenly wished he had brought some earphones with him to drown out everything. However, turning back now seemed like a wasted effort, so he just walked up to the nearest table and sat down. The barista had already spotted him entering the shop and was quick to stand at his table to ask his order.

"Chocolate milk and today's cake, please," he ordered. However much he disliked the shop, he did like some sweet cake and milk. The combination seemed the best and yummiest hangover cure a cheap guy like him could buy. Staring in front of him, he couldn't help but sigh and think of the fancy desserts his phi had ordered him after work one evening. Gulf could go for those at the moment, but he doubted he could even afford them right now. He had to think twice about spending money from now on, if he was going to be fired soon.

Another big sigh left him. At least the headache was gone.

"Here you go," the barista – a man in his twenties – set down a cup of hot chocolate milk and a colourful cake in front of him. Gulf was impressed by how fancy it all looked. "I got your favourite cake." The man smiled proudly as Gulf felt slightly confused at his words. "It's been a while since you've visited, I was waving at you last night but you didn't answer."

Gulf tilted his head in confusion. In the spur of the moment, he wanted to sarcastically ask if they were close. After all, he was pretty sure he didn't frequent this place at all, before a sudden realization came over him. It hadn't been him who had come here, no, it was the other one.