What dreams are made of... (Between Us/Hemp Rope)

Trust yourself

Thank you for taking the time to read.

I hope you enjoy :)

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Win drives Tul to an apartment complex and takes him to one specific apartment, "What are we doing here Win?"

"You were feeling insecure about your relationship right? I'm here to show you that this is not the case in which to be unsure or insecure. This is what he wanted to show you before everything went to hell." Win opens the apartment and lets Tul in. Hia waan gave him the keys a few days ago when he needed someone to get rid of all the stuff and get the apartment in shape for sale. He came in thinking it was an empty space with a few things but what he found shocked him. Never before has he known Hia Waan to be so meticulous when it came to things of this nature, he is more logical, rational, unemotional. But everything he has seen shows that the man really is just a hopeless romantic. Win distinctly remembers one night when they were having a few drinks and taking about their lives, Tul described in detail how he wanted his house to look, every room and how it was to be decorated, from the bathroom, to the type of shower, the bedrooms and even the kitchen. Tul has an eye for things like this, and Hia Waan did everything exactly the way that Tul had described. He had been planning this for a while too, having renovations done and remodeling the place to be an exact replica. He is so lost in thought that he hasn't been paying attention to his friend, who now looks so lost. He sighs, "Are you okay?"

"He did this? He did this for me? Everything here, it looks like..."

"Yeah. Exactly as you said."

Tul pulls in a breath, "All these pictures of me..."

"He probably has thousands more, he likes to take pictures when you aren't looking, He says that's when you look the most amazing, he can capture your smile, your pure, genuine smile."

Tul smiles wryly, "This must have taken a while to do."

Win nods, "A few months at least, in my opinion. This was all happening before you even started to feel insecure, he was always planning to move back to the city. I guess he wanted to surprise you."

Tul rubs his eyes, "I knew that I was being dumb with all that shit. Win that's not the problem I have. P'Waan and my life are headed in different directions. He took on the responsibility of kids, without even asking me. I know what he is doing is a good thing, its actually a great thing. He does things that nobody would do. I just don't know if I am the best person to be a part of these kids lives. They need a strong dependable person and that's not me. I'm childish, irresponsible, petty, I cant even take care of myself. I'm also the least dependable person I know. I'm not Dean and I'm not you, I don't have the caring gene or the personality for this." He looks at Win driving his point home, "I'm not good enough for this role, P'Waan needs someone who can support him in these things, someone dependable to help him with these kids. I know their teenagers but they still need stability. You know me Win, you know that I cant be that person because of who I am."

Win has been friends with Tul for many years, he didn't know that he felt this way. Was he a bad friend? He thinks so. "You didn't ever say anything about this before? You do know this is all you putting these things on yourself. I know Dean and I always mess with you but we don't think any of that." Win sits down and motions for his friend to do the same. "Tul, there is a reason why we always ask you for help, you are very dependable. Maybe we should have told you this before but your contribution to us has always been greatly appreciated. Half the things we accomplished as a team, you had a hand in. You think you wont be any good to those kids? I beg you to just talk to the younger kids on the swim team, ask them if you have contributed to anything good in their lives and they themselves will tell you what I already know, you are great. They would rather approach you instead of us. They feel more comfortable with you and talking to you because you have a welcoming and open presence. I'm surprised you didn't know this."

He listens intently but eventually laughs, thinking this is a ridiculous statement. If that was the case he would have known, right? "Thank you for trying to make me feel better but I doubt that." He sighs and lays back on the couch. 

"I mean that, every single word. The thing is, you aren't alone in this. You have Hia Waan, you have me. My family, our friends, we will always be here to support each other in everything that we do. You are probably one of the only person in this world that I would trust with my children if I ever have any. I trust you completely, so does everyone else. You need to see the good in you and the good things you have done for everyone around you. I promise you that we all see it, even if you deny it, its one of the reasons why Hia Waan fell for you. You were able to help him through something even before knowing or falling in love with him. Trust yourself." He rubs the bridge of his nose. "Stop being dumb, you are losing the one thing that you know you are meant to have in this life."

"Win, I..."

"No, I am not listening to you make any more excuses because you are scared. I know because I have been there where you are. Dont you remember?" Win still feels like smacking himself every time he thinks about how he almost gave up Team because he was an idiot. He watches the gears turn in Tuls head, realization finally hitting him. "Do you get it now?"

"I do." Tul stands up, "We need to go now Win. I need to fix this." He rushes towards the door but is pulled back.

"Dont be an idiot. We need a plan first. And lucky for you, I am super smart. I know just how to make this into something and grandeur as this place." He watches Tul smile for the first time in a while, he nods in agreement. Hia Waan wont know what hit him. 

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