Body Language (MewGulf AU)

🌞Chapter 21🌻

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He felt a hushed silence descend upon the area. As soon as he entered the cafeteria, everyone's eyes gathered on Gulf. Mew was sitting in his regular seat.

"This is a rare pleasure, to have you come in so early. You're usually not here until three o'clock."

"But if I came in then, there wouldn't have been anyone here."

Today he didn't just have coffee, but he also seemed to have eaten lunch. In front of Mew, there was an empty plate on his tray. "The cafeteria food isn't too bad, huh? It's so annoying to have to prepare food when you get up in the morning."

Gulf thought that Mew was being annoyingly lazy, but he couldn't get into a verbal argument here. It was obvious that everyone's ears were alnost as large as Dumbo's at the moment.

"I heard you've been spreading some weird rumors, Mew."

"What rumors?" Mew was being evassive, determined not to lose. If they had been alone in a room, Gulf would have grabbed his collar and throttled him.

'It had to be him!'

"People are saying that we're dating."

"They're always saying things like that. Why is it only today that you're bothered by it? Did you and me date?"

Mew grinned at Gulf. Gulf wanted to hit him so badly, but shrugged.

"Well, I don't care. But after second period, someone came running up to me straighaway to ask. For some reason, they seemed fairly certain that the rumor was true. So it would had come from a reputable source...namely, you."

"And what would you do if I was the one who spread it?"

"You'd have to buy me lunch."

"And if I didn't say anything?"

"Then I'd have to say sorry."

"Hmph, I see. Well, what do you want then?"

Mew smiled. Gulf sighed.

"...curry and a salad."

"Today's special is pretty good."

"Oh, well then...get me whatever's most expensive. Get me tea as well."

"Yep. Do you admit to it, then? Dating me, that is."

He knew that everyone around them was holding their breath. Gulf looked around the cafeteria. When he looked around, he could tell that even though everyone had averted their eyes, they were still listening very intensely.

"Let's leave it to people's imagination."

"But I told everyone that I had sex with you already! I'm going to look like an idiot now if you say nothing."

'...what?!'

What made him say that?! He stopped himself from screaming out loud. That was as good as admitting it.

'Always stay cool. Always stay calm.'

If he panicked, he would make it obvious.

"Oh, you did, did you? So, was sex with me good?"

Mew whistled in admiration.

"I get it. That's how you're going to play it, eh? You're not going to make a fool out of me, but you're not going to come straight out with it either. Oh and the sex..." Mew winked. "...was amazing."

"Thank you," Gulf replied, giving his most charming smile. Even if someone had been listening in, they still wouldn't know who to believe.

He had told Mew that he wouldn't confirm or deny their relationship, so he hadn't broken that promise. As if knowing that listening any further wouldn't give them any results, the cafeteria regained its usual noise level.

Mew came back with a lunch tray. "Here is today's special. Japanese-style hamburger and egg. Do you really like this kiddie food?"

"Shut up."

They had returned to their normal style of conversation, so Gulf went back to his normal tone.

"I just like kid things."

"Yeah, that's true. When you eat out, it's always omelet and rice. Or a hamburger. It doesn't match your face, you know. You'd look better drinking at a bar."

"I can't. I'm a lightweight."

"Wanna go?"

Mew asked, gulping down his coffee. Gulf cocked his head.

"I know a good bar. Let's go. I always go to the same place. Is that all right?"

"...Fine with ne. But I'm not going to drink much."

"No problem. They have weak cocktails anyway."

"Why are you asking me all of a sudden?" Gulf asked, holding his chopsticks in one hand. Mew didn't like franchised bars and they had always gone to smaller bars when they went drinking.

"It's a date," Mew laughed. The students sitting behind sounded like they'd just spat something out. Gulf sighed. It seemed that Mew was really set on making it clear that they were an item. "Going to a cozy bar is a part of the fun of going out, right?"

"...perhaps."

The area around them had fallen silent again. Gulf couldn't understand why everyone would want to know the details of such a personal thing. Who cares if he was dating or not dating?

He wouldn't say it. He wouldn't admit to it.

But it was indeed a problem. Mew only dated him to mess around, but Gulf was the one who was truly in love.

The end was definitely going to come. And thinking about what everyone would say...he didn't want to have to make an announcement like that.

'You knew you were going to break up when you dated a bastard like him, so try and get over it, etc, etc.'
He didn't want to hear things like that, and he didn't want to  answer questions about what happened either.

Being in love with Mew was personal.

In Gulf's heart, Mew really was special.

And Gulf didn't want anyone else to know that.

TBC