Forbidden Lovers (MewGulf AU)

🌞Chapter 6🌻

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"Oh, Mew, are you shopping by the bookstore near the train station again today?" a friend of Mew's asked by the school gate.

"Uh...uhh...well, I'm looking for a reference book and I just can't find it." Mew said as an excuse, and pulled his bike out to walk with his friend who were headed towards the train station.

"Well, whatever," his friend said. "We usually walk home in opposite ways, but I always thought that kinda sucked."

"Huh? Why?"

"Cause if I walk with you, girls always look our way. So it gives me a little boost." His friend laughed, without a hint of jealousy in his voice.

If he was with Mew, girls would pay more attention to him. All of Mew's classmates knew that Mew wasn't as confident on the inside as his good looks might suggest. He could draw girls in, but nothing would come out of it. After girls were disillusioned by Mew, they would drift to his friends. So even though Mew was good-looking, his male friends couldn't dislike him, couldn't feel any enmity towards him. But of course, students from other schools didn't know this, so just Mew's looks were effective enough to catch the attention of girls.

Just as his friend hoped, numerous interested girls approached them from afar, and some were very attractive. They asked if they wanted to go out for tea, or if they could exchange phone numbers.

Mew was honestly confused. He had the opportunity to talk to girls, but his head had been in the clouds. When asked, "can I have your number?" he'd make some lame excuse like, "I don't have a cell phone," or "I forgot it at home."

After this, Mew parted with his friend by acting like he was searching for a book as he killed time in the bookstore. It was getting dark outside when he pedaled down the brightly-lit road, heading for Gulf's house. He was anxious and hesitant, but his legs still carried him to that place.

"Ah, the lights are on," he observed. Faint light escaped through the curtains from Gulf's apartment window. "Teach's home already."

He didn't see any shadows behind the curtains, but he had a painful feeling in his chest just imagining Gulf's figure. Every day he told himself he'd go straight home after just catching a glimpse of Gulf's apartment, but every day he lingered there instead.

It wasn't like he was going to do anything, or expected anything, but the longer he stayed, the harder it was to go home. He was in his usual place in the corner of the parking lot, spacing out, when a car's headlights approached. A small domestic car pulled into a spot in the parking lot.

"That's Teach Bright's car."

Bright Vachirawit, Gulf's good friend, whom he had apparently invited over. Mew concealed himself and watched as Bright entered Gulf's apartment building.

When a girl at school asked Gulf about Bright, saying their relationship seemed suspicious, Gulf answered coolly, "We're friends here at work, but not good enough friends that we'd hang out afterwards. We don't even know where each other lives."

"He was lying," Mew's heart pounded.

Before he relaized it, he was standing in front of Gulf's door. Although he had come to Gulf's apartment many times, he had never considered going near the door. If Bright hadn't arrived, Mew probably would never be standing there.

Even though he had come all the way to the door, he didn't have the courage to knock. He was anxious and worried about Bright, but he would rather die than act desperately like this. He was unable to move when suddenly a pizza delivery boy walked up the stairs.

"Huh?"

Seeing Mew's face, the boy said, "Sorry to keep you waiting!" and held out the pizza box.

"I-I don't live here."

"Oh, I know," the boy answered. "Teach Gulf always gets a medium, but tonight he ordered a large and a ton of side orders. Plus, it's Saturday, so I figured he had some of his students over."

"Teach...Gulf? Huh?"

"Oh, I'm a former student of his. In other words, your senior," the boy said amiably, piling the pizza boxes in Mew's hands. He pushed the button on the intercom. "Sorry to keep you waiting. Your pizza is---"

The door opened before he got a chance to finish, and Bright gleefully bounced out. He was not wearing a shirt. "Finally! I'm so hungry I thought I was gonna die!"

"Geh!" the delivery boy cried out. "Teach Bright, why are you dressed like that?"

"Yo!" Bright answered amiably. "Long time no see. I was just about to take a bath when the doorbell rang, so I decided to eat first! But---hey! Why is Mew helping you deliver the pizza?"

"Mew?" Gulf peeked over Bright's shoulder. His eyes widened in surprise and he said, "What are you doing here?"

Mew was unable to hide his embarrassment. Meanwhile, Bright grabbed the piping hot pizza and disappeared into the apartment, saying cheerfully, "I'm gonna go ahead and eat!"

After the boy was paid, he went away immediately, leaving just Gulf and Mew at the door.

"I-I'm sorry." Mew quickly bowed and turned on his heel to run away.

But Gulf grabbed his arm and stopped him.

"Wait, Mew. Bright ordered all that pizza and there's no way we can finish it. Why don't you come in and eat?"

"...What?"

Mew couldn't believe his ears.

TBC