Nong'Chili 🌶️🌵 Phi'Cactus (TulMax / MaxTul) - FF

#18 - Great

"NOO!" Tul almost shouted. With few rapid steps he inserted himself between Max and the others. "I mean Max doesn't want to take his shirt off. And you can't just force someone like that."

Everyone turned as one to look at Tul.

"We are not forcing him..." Veera started, a bit startled by Tul's reaction.

Tul wondered how he was going to explain his sudden outburst. But he needn't have worried. Max seemed to be adept at reading the situation and jumping to Tul's rescue.

"What? Don't look so surprised. I think I have already made myself clear I am not going to pose for any photoshoot whatsoever." Max stated coolly stepping in front of Tul.

"Yes and you shouldn't force him either. Its his personal choice." Tul added, sweeping a nervous look over the sea of faces watching them intently. "There is Mew. He has posed for photo shoots. I am sure he will be a much better option." Tul completed. Suddenly looking pleased with himself.

"And Mew is going to agree to this because....?" Tomo questioned skeptically looking at Tul curiously. He knew who Mew was but he found it a little odd the way Tul casually mentioned Mew.

"Coz my big brother is used to cameras and getting his photo taken." Tul replied.

And Tomo nodded as understanding dawned.

Tul avoided eye contact with his brother. He knew he was sacrificing his brother, but he was most definitely not going to let anyone force Max to take of his shirt and get a view of that hickey.

As eyes turned from Max and Tul to Mew, Gulf burst out of nowhere. "NO! You can't ask P'Mew to pose for the photoshoot."

Immediately the startled crowd looked from Mew to Gulf. The moment all eyes turned on him Gulf turned a shade paler. He was not used to being the center of attention. Mew realizing that soon Gulf would be hit with a barrage of questions stepped in front of Gulf, effectively screening him from everyone's questioning gaze.

"I would have loved to pose for the photoshoot, but as you know with my celebrity status and all, my manager won't approve," Mew interjected smoothly.

He knew he could pose for the photoshoot if he wanted to, and nobody had the power to stop him. Except maybe Gulf. He was a little pleased and a little puzzled at Gulf's sudden outburst and made a mental note to pursue the matter. Later! Away from curious, questioning eyes.

But now the main focus was to shift everyone's attention from Gulf and him to someone else. The only name he could think of was Tul. "How about Tul? I am sure he would be the most suitable model you could find. In fact I have been telling him to get into modelling for a long time." Mew informed the public. And as his eyes settled on Tul triumphantly he added, "Right little brother?"

Max immediately frowned at this proposition. Tul sure was center fold material, and he could vouch for that, but he wasn't so sure he wanted others to be swooning and drooling over Tul.

Min who had been standing on the sidelines with an unsmiling Great by her side observed the whole drama. She could tell from Max's expression and the way Tul peeked at Max's face that Tul wasn't any ready to do the shoot than Max was. From the corner of her eyes, she glanced at the big silent man next to her who was making her feel increasingly irritated and frustrated with his depressing, brooding stance.

She immediately came up with a plan to throw the big man under the bus. It was the perfect opportunity to get his focus shifted from everyone else to himself.

"In my opinion Great would be your best option." She stated with her most convincing smile. "And I am sure he will be more than willing to take of his shirt too. See its already unbuttoned." She turned towards Great and looked up at his shocked face while she deftly undid the 2 remaining buttons on his shirt.