I Am Here [COMPLETED]

Part 8

"P..." Gulf just stared at Kao, his heart beating fast in that moment.

"Uhh, what I mean is, since you're here, it's the same as you buying it for me," Kao quickly clarified.

Gulf nodded, not knowing what to say or, at least, afraid to say anything.

"Let's eat. You must be hungry."

Gulf took out his food and was surprised to see what was inside. It was crispy pork with fried basil leaves. How did Kao know?

"Their crispy pork is so good. I can assure you," Kao said, offering Gulf a spoon and fork. He also pushed a water bottle towards Gulf after loosening the cap.

They ate in silence, but it felt comfortable for both of them.

"So, you're okay with me being your co-actor?" Kao broke the silence, teasing Gulf again. Despite his earlier playful remarks, Kao was still uncertain about Gulf's true feelings.

"Yes, P. Besides, we've worked together before," Gulf assured Kao.

"But that was for a concert. It's different from a drama," Kao pointed out.

"P... It's the same for me. Besides, I'm glad to work with people I'm familiar with," Gulf replied with a smile.

They continued talking about work and how to improve their chemistry throughout lunch. Gulf didn't realize that he had been smiling the whole time. He was grateful to have Kao as his lunch companion today. After they finished eating, Gulf received a message from P'Best, informing him that the meeting was over. Before parting ways, Kao handed him a cup of hot chocolate.

"What's this, P?" Gulf looked at the cup.

"Dessert," Kao replied with a smile. Every time Kao smiled, Gulf felt his cheeks getting warm.

"Thank you, P," Gulf said, avoiding direct eye contact with Kao.

"Gulf, if you need anything, I'm here," Kao smiled and waved at Gulf before running off to meet his manager.

Gulf stared at Kao's retreating back. Why did Kao keep saying that? Was he genuinely worried about him? Gulf got into his car and saw P'Best already waiting.

"What's that?" P'Best asked.

"Hot chocolate."

"Hot chocolate? You never liked that before," P'Best gave Gulf a questioning look.

Gulf looked at the drink. He had indeed tried hot chocolate once before and didn't like the sweetness. Maybe it was because Mew always gave him coffee or green tea, which were bitter but good for his health. For Gulf, loving Mew meant getting used to bitter drinks, so he stopped drinking sweet beverages after that. Gulf smiled slightly.

"I thought it might be nice for a change," Gulf replied. P'Best looked at Gulf, finally realizing the reason behind Gulf's recent changes. He was relieved to see that Gulf was slowly moving on.

The next day arrived, and Gulf had a live event scheduled. Just as he arrived at the venue, he received a message from someone he never expected to hear from. Gulf stared at his phone for a long time, his hands trembling slightly. He didn't dare to open the message, especially when he had to focus on his event. Taking a deep breath, he decided to ignore the text for the time being. He didn't want to have a breakdown in public.

Gulf did a good job at the event, but his mind kept wandering back to the message. What did P'Mew want to say? Why did he suddenly contact him after two silent years? These thoughts made Gulf look a bit pale, causing concern among his fans. One fan asked if he was okay, and Gulf just smiled at them, explaining that his schedule was packed and he lacked sleep.

When the event ended, Gulf sat alone in his car and received a call, but he simply closed his eyes. The phone rang again, prompting Gulf to answer the call before looking at the caller's name.

"Hello?" Gulf rubbed his temples, feeling the need for some rest.

"Gulf, are you there?" Gulf opened his eyes and sat up straight.

"P'Kao?" Gulf was surprised to hear Kao's voice. He never expected Kao to call him.

"Yes, it's me. Don't you have my number saved?"

"I do. I just didn't check the caller's name earlier."

"Oh, that makes sense."

"Why did you call, P?"

"I, uhh, I forgot."

"Huh?"

"I'll tell you later when I remember."

"Okay, P," Gulf dismissed the matter.

"... " Kao remained silent on the other end.

"P? Is everything okay?"

"Are you okay?" Kao finally spoke up.

"Yes, I'm okay. Why, P?" Gulf furrowed his brow. Kao was someone he couldn't quite figure out. He was so unpredictable.

"Nothing. I noticed that you looked a little pale, so I was wondering if you're okay. But hearing that you're okay, I'm glad. That's all. I have to go. Bye."

"P-" Kao ended the call. Gulf stared at his phone, wondering what was wrong with the older man.

"Wait, did he just say he saw me? When? I must be hearing things now," Gulf shook his head. As he realized, he needed some rest.

Upon arriving at his apartment, Gulf sat down on his bed and looked at his phone, which he had been holding tightly. The text message was still there, unopened. Gulf took a deep breath before opening it. His breath caught for a moment when he read the text.

(P'Mew❤)
Hi, Gulf. I was wondering if we could meet up.
-Received 9:50 a.m.-

TBC