Forbidden Lovers (MewGulf AU)

🌻Chapter 2

🌻

"Oh, someone's still here?"

The staff room was usually deserted after school.

"Oh, it's you, Gulf? Let's go home together for once," called a voice to Gulf, who was absent-mindedly wrapping things up at his desk so he could go home.

The voice belonged to his co-worker, Bright Vachirawit, who was spinning his key ring around his finger.

Even though he was still wearing a sweat suit, Bright had an aura about him of 'the picture-perfect adult man.' Consequently, he attracted a lot of attention from the female students. He seemed like the kind of person you'd want to get close to, but if you did it carelessly, he would take you for a ride. The smart girls sensibly felt this danger, and counted that among his negative attributes.

Therefore, Gulf Kanawut was an easier target for their affections. He intrigued the girls with his subtle nature and his androgynous, yet still somehow masculine appearance. Even though he looked like a loner and a 'cool beauty,' he was surprisingly open, so the female students flocked to him. The reason being that men and women, young and old, love beautiful things.

Gulf stared at Bright.

"What?" Bright asked.

"Nothing," Gulf replied. "It's just unusual for you to invite me is all."

'He probably only does this once a year.' Gulf thought.

"Really?" Bright said, feigning ignorance. "Well, to tell you the truth, I do have an ulterior motive."

"Ulterior motive?" Bright might be a rough person, but he would never be cruel to Gulf, and Gulf knew this. "What's wrong? Do you need money or something?" he asked casually.

"Umm...kind of," Bright mumbled.

"We have two more weeks until pay day and you already ran out of money?" Gulf asked incredulously. "You're careless as usual."

"If you could just lend me enough money so I can stay in a hotel..." Bright trailed off.

"Do you have a good reason?" Gulf demanded.

"It's not a big deal," Bright explained, "but my apartment's undergoing construction, and the hot water heater is all messed up. I went around and asked my neighbors and they're having the same problem. I put in a work order, but I don't know how many days it'll take. So I don't have any hot water."

"And?" Gulf prompted.

"So...can I use the bath at your house then?" Bright requested sheepishly.

"Why me?" Gulf aksed. "Didn't you say you don't know how long it'll take? So why don't you stay with your lover or something?"

"Oh, didn't you know? I'm free now," Bright said, almost carelessly.

"Well, even if you don't have a lover, I'm sure you have somewhere else to go," Gulf reasoned out. 'There must be tons of girls out there waiting for him.' He thought.

"But then they'd want me to do something for them," Bright complained. "Ever since I was put in charge of the third year students, I've been so stressed out, so when I come home I just wanna relax. If I stayed with some girls who wasn't even my girlfriend, I'd have to service them every night---it'd be torture!"

"I see," Gulf mused.

'Service, huh.'

"At times like this, it's great to have friends..." Bright said hopefully.

"I'll pass," Gulf said bluntly.

"So I'll just bring over a little somethi---what?" Bright screeched to a halt.

"You have plenty of other friends besides me," Gulf said.

"So what?" Bright protested. "Besides, your apartment isn't very far from mine."

Gulf considered this. "I guess...about 15 minutes by car at the most."

'But it takes at least an hour to walk there---that's really far.'

"Why can't I, Guuuuulllf?" Bright wheedled.

Gulf looked at Bright with a teasing, resentful look. "Because you're a slob. When I come home tired from work, I don't wanna to clean up your messes."

"What? I am not!" Bright cried out, insulted.

"Anyway, why don't you just use the shower in the gym before you go home at night?" Gulf suggested. "You're the club advisor, after all, even if it's in name only---you watch everyone else sweat without breaking  out in one yourself."

"You're merciless."

"Well, then. Good work today, Teach Bright." Gulf picked up his bag and left the room.

Bright watched as he disappeared into the dark hallway and smiled. "I knew he'd say no...so why'd I even ask him?"

Bright wanted to spend time with Gulf today for some unknown reason. Even though he did have a legitimate favor to ask, he just wanted to have some excuse to spend time with his co-teacher. He'd wanted to take Gulf to his apartment, then say something like, " wanna have dinner together?". Anything to be able to spend the night together. But he didn't know why.

"What am I doing?" Bright laughed wryly and crossed his arms. "He was quiet for a little bit after I asked him...he must have been surprised..."

Suddenly Gulf seemed very precious to him.

Even though Bright would never admit it, those feelings of love he had back then were beginning to surface again. He had rushed to the staff room just to see Gulf. But he didn't called out to him as casually as possible. It was so unlike Bright. It wasn't like him to feel this way.

Later, Bright would deeply regret not chasing Gulf that day, and not convincing him to spend the night together.

TBC