Partner in Crime

Chapter 2

The friendly match was just on the corner. It was Thursday night and both Gulf and Bright were recharging. The coach finally gave them the time to sleep and recharge as they needed right 2 days before the match.

The practice was dismissed earlier, Gulf and Bright fell asleep the moment they arrived at Gulf's home. The sun already set when Bright opened his eyes. It was pitch black, they didn't bother to turn on the lamp, only care to switch on the AC.

Silently, Bright got up from the bed that felt cramp because they squeezed their tall bodies on it. He turned on the lamp. Now he could see the peaceful face of sleeping Gulf.

His stomach then grumbled. When he checked the digital clock on the desk, it was already past 9 in the evening. They skipped the family dinner.

Bright stepped out of the room, leaving Gulf having his much needed rest and went downstairs. As he stepped on the last stair, Gulf's mom looked at him and she beamed a warm smile. She was watching tv program when his 'second' son met him.

Bright gave her polite greetings and she rounded her arm on Bright's shoulder. She was much shorter than both Bright and Gulf.

"You must be starving.." She guessed right, she knew Bright like she knew her own son. "Here, eat first before you head home. Or you can go back to sleep here. Just spread the folding mattress. I put it at the corner of Gulf's room."

Bright was already seated on the dining chair. Gulf's mother made his favorite stew, so Bright digged in once he received a plate of rice from Gulf's mother. "As expected, it's yummy..." He praised the home cooked meal. "I love your stew.."

Bright's mother was a working mom. She rarely cooked, only once in a while. Bright grew up mostly in Gulf's home since both his parents worked until late. Mom cooked the best meal.

"I was going to wake you up, but you both seemed exhausted. Was the practice hard?" She asked out of concern.

Bright nodded slowly. He admitted that the practice made his body sore, "But I'm alright." He added.

"Gulf whines that the practice is hard. So I'm worried. I've told him to stop following you to apply for any friendly match but he won't listen. He said it would be boring to spend his time alone while you're working on the upcoming tournament. So he tagged along." Her explaination made Bright chuckled.

He knew Gulf's whining. And he could guess that Gulf felt lonely without him. But hearing it himself from Gulf's mother felt different. It's funny how Gulf mocked him for unable to live without him yet Gulf sacrificed his sleep to join the match.

Gulf loved sleeping yet he changed it with bone-wrecking practices. He was juggling between his studies and football practices. Gulf always caught some sleep during classes and as always, Bright let him be. He covered for Gulf most of the time.

Just in time, Gulf stepped into the dining room, "What the hell.... You're eating without me!" He whined. He was still sleepy and Gulf was always grumpy when he woke up.

"Do you want to eat?" His mother asked.

"Of course! I'm starving!" He sat next to Bright and snatched Bright's spoon to taste his mom's stew. He nodded in approval. Gulf put the spoon back to the plate.

"What?" He questioned when his eyes met with Bright's.

The other guy shook his head and continued his eating. Not long after, Mrs. Traipipattanapong brought a plate of rice and a bowl of stew. Once she put it before Gulf, her son ate it. Just like Bright, he was starving.

Gulf's mom smiled seeing the two children eating heartily. She always liked seeing both Gulf and Bright eating her cooking. Just by watching them already made her full.