Fated to be yours

Chapter 61

Gulf wakes up with a splitting headache, a cold bed, and Mew nowhere in sight. "Must have left for work already."

It's good though, he thinks in dismay. He isn't mad at Mew but isn't sure what to say to him or how to face him either. He knows it's not fair to put all the blame on Mew, his husband had been just keeping his promise to his father, but it still hurts. Hurt, fear, betrayal, guilt, confusion, all these emotions are making him unable to think and he doesn't know what to do, or where to go. Mew would understand, right?

He groans in pain as he sits up. His head hurts, and so do his eyes. Though the pain in his eyes is much tolerable and they don't feel puffy much. He knew Mew had put the ice pack on his eyes back when he thought he was sleeping, he had felt it. And now the man has made sure his headache will be taken care of too. Waiting for him on the bedside table is a glass of water and medicine. Gulping down the medicine with the whole glass of water, he decides to get ready for the day.

Standing under the shower, he wishes that everything that happened yesterday was just a bad dream and will be washed away from his mind just like the remnants of sleep, but no matter how cold the water is or how long he has been standing under the freezing water, yesterday's events keep playing in his mind like a reel. Yesterday, returning after work, when he had opened the door, he had expected the food delivery Mew had ordered for him and not an envelope that held the papers containing something that he had been unaware of. That his father has been fighting a life-threatening illness, alone.

His father is sick, has been sick for a long time and he had no idea about it. Could he be any more oblivious?

Once again he feels the burning behind his eyelids but decides that it's enough. He has cried enough, he isn't going to break over this. He will stay strong, for his father, for himself, for his family. He will become their strength, not their weakness. Mew said his father is going to be okay, and he is going to believe that.

Getting ready for the day, when he reaches the dining room, P'Fon is just finishing setting up the table. She smiles, greeting him warmly as usual and he tries to return it, but he knows he fails. The thought of eating has the queasy feeling back in his stomach, like yesterday and he doesn't want a repeat of what happened after Mew had tried to feed him. He hadn't meant to do that but the grief, the fear, the guilt, it was all too much to handle and before he knew it he was scrambling to the bathroom, puking his guts out.

Sitting in his chair, he is contemplating between leaving and staying to eat so P'Fon doesn't feel bad but just then the woman returns with his breakfast. "Congee, for you. Mew said you weren't feeling good yesterday and asked me to make this for you" placing the bowl in front of him, she smiles at him affectionately.

Gulf looks at the bowl feeling his lips wobble at her words. Leave it to Mew to take care of him even when he is being so rude to the man. Yesterday and now too. Why is he like that?

Gulping the lump in his throat, he picks up the spoon to eat, smiling at P'Fon when she takes a seat at one of the chairs. She does that once in a while because she knows he doesn't like eating alone and today he was thankful for that. And more importantly, she isn't pitting or fussing over him or treating him like a sick person. She is being her usual self, chatting away, telling him about the play he had gifted her the tickets to. It helps in distracting him enough from his gloomy thoughts and he is able to finish his breakfast.

The congee does make him feel a bit better. His sore throat feels better and his tummy is warm, the painful knot twisting inside him easing up a bit. He thanks P'Fon for the breakfast and is about to leave when her words stop him.

"Oh, you aren't going to make coffee for Mew?"

He blinks, "Mr.Suppasit is home? I thought he left already."