Written In The Stars ☑️

CHAPTER 31

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"Babe, are you okay?"

I looked at Gulf who got glued to his seat and was now looking at Eian with hot tears falling down his cheeks. Something wasn't right. I shook his shoulders and cupped his face. "What's wrong?"

Gulf turned pale. He was also gasping for air.

I kneeled in front of him. "Baby, what's wrong?" I tried not to panic although my insides were already shaking in fear. I didn't want to catch people's attention not until I knew what was going on. Thankfully people were still busy clapping their hands and getting emotional over Eian's heart-warming closing remark.

"K-Kuya..." That was all Gulf could utter, his gaze never leaving Eian.

Why was he suddenly calling him kuya? And why was he crying? He was fine just earlier.

I didn't understand what was happening to him at first. But when I did, I paled in an instant. My eyes grew bigger in total surprise. I couldn't believe what was happening in front of my eyes. Benny! Eian just said he lost his brother Benny in a bombing attack sixteen years ago. Gulf's given name was Ben.

I looked at Eian's direction. It all started to sink in.

Eian was Gulf's long lost brother!!!

Everything started making sense. Both Gulf and Eian were hot-headed. Both had distinct facial features that I didn't notice at first or probably refused to notice since I hated on him a lot. Both kept meeting each other. Both felt an unexplainable pull towards each other even from the very beginning. Everything made perfect sense. Gulf and Eian were bound to find out about each other soon. They're brothers who were destined to meet and it was appalling how it happened. And for me to witness such a moment was just tremendously astonishing.

Eian glanced at us. He frowned when he saw our positions and our shaken facial expressions. He then started making his way towards us. But before he could even come closer, Gulf stood up and quickly walked away. I stood up and was about to run after him when Eian held my arm, stopping me from going after Gulf.

"What happened?" he asked.

Should I tell him? What do I do?

"Is Gulf okay? Did he get sick?" Eian seemed genuinely worried.

I looked at Eian as I let out a deep breath.

Sorry, babe. I guess I'll have to burst the bubble to your brother first.

"I know this is hard to believe but..." I hesitated. Am I doing the right thing?

"But what?" he impatiently asked, sounding just like Gulf somehow.

"Gulf is your brother. He is Benny."

Eian froze and just went speechless.

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I was crying. Eian was crying, too.

We were in his hotel room. Both he and Mew caught up with me in the elevator and before I knew it, I just found myself inside this reserved hotel room. Eian was kneeling down in front of me, hugging my legs tight, crying ceaselessly and repeating long-overdue apologies as I sat on the couch.

Mew just silently watched us in a corner. He was in tears as well.

"I'm sorry Benny... Kuya is sorry... I'm so sorry..."

Eian kept repeating those words for half an hour already. He also kept calling me Benny. I felt nostalgic. It's like we were transported back into when we were younger.

"Sorry I left you... Sorry I never looked for you... I thought you died, Benny. I almost died, too... You were so small, so weak, so hungry... I just didn't think you'd make it... Kuya is so sorry... Kuya will forever be sorry... Sorry I couldn't protect you..."