Where The Sunflowers Rest

05 Home

"Um..." the vibration of Mew's voice sent shivers down Gulf's spine. He pulled away immediately and distanced himself. He slid at the opposite side of his single bed and pretended that he wasn't feeling the utmost abashment from embracing the man he just punched in the face a couple of hours ago.

"So... I think it's better if you sleep with me tonight." Gulf gives Mew a surprised look— eyes widened and mouth agape by his choice of words.

"No! Like not in my bed! In a separate room. Your own bed! I mean after what happened here tonight, there is no way I'm leaving you here. I want you safe." Gulf watched Mew push his hand at arm's length and wave it desperately.

He gets flustered when he's defensive. Gulf smiled at the thought. Since he met Mew, he only saw him as this very attractive but also a domineering guy who never broke his tough facade. But now he couldn't even make eye contact and there's a shade of pink coloring his pale face.

"You know what, I might as well just move in with you right now. As you can see, I don't have much. I can fit this all in a bag." It was a little sad but Gulf laughed anyway.

☀️🌻

All Gulf could offer Mew was a glass of water (which wasn't even cold) and a sit on the one and only plastic chair he has in the room. He promised to make it quick because Mew was waiting inside his small, hot apartment, that didn't have any air conditioning, and smelled kind of funny because of the lack of ventilation.

"Is this your father?" Mew asks while looking at the portrait hanging on the wall.

"He looks like a fun guy."

"He is. And every time I look at that photo even on my hardest days, things lighten up." Gulf stands beside him and looked at it as well.

"When he was still around, the lack of money didn't seem to be a problem because I was always laughing with him. I didn't know how he did it because living like this... isn't funny at all." To him, he was a remarkable man no matter what other people said. He couldn't give him the moon and the stars but he has given him what he needed.

"I actually came by to apologize for the things I've said earlier. I was out of line." Gulf gives Mew the same stunned look. He was yet taken aback again.

Maybe he isn't as bad as I thought.

"Are you taking it with you?"

"I could leave everything except for that. It's the only thing he left me. It's what made this dump a home."

"I hope it can make my house feel like a home and I hope you can make Natasha and Alexander your home too."

☀️🌻

Gulf wished that Mew had turned on the stereo if they were going to stay silent during the whole ride. The lack of social interaction was beginning to get awkward. Just a few minutes ago, they were casually talking but as soon as they got inside the car, the conversation died down immediately.

Gulf would eye Mew from the side to see how he is reacting from all the quietness. But it seemed that he wasn't bothered at all. He looked straight at the road with one hand on the steering wheel and the other massaging his forehead. Gulf wondered if this was going to be their setup the whole time. Will they just pass by each other? Would they eat together? Will they just exchange a few words?

This won't work. They were strangers and at some point, he needs to know Mew. Even just a little.

"Is something wrong?" Gulf flinches from the question. He unconsciously sighed too loudly.