LIMELIGHT

10.

Mew stared at the LEGO toy that he and Tul built together as he sat on the couch with a glass of beer on hand.

They have been each others best friend for over a decade. Both had seen the highs and lows of each other, both cheered for one's success, both cried for one's heartache.

They became each others wall against the harsh current of life. Just like how Tul built the LEGO bit by bit, he built Mew's life and smoothen the rough edge on its corner.

Mew stared at Tul as they both sat on the floor across each other with their fellow ocean eyes cast on the sides. Tul kept on talking playfully, everyone's attention was all on him. Mew smiled. He loved hearing stories from Tul or perhaps he just love watching him and having his presence around.

Maybe Mew had started liking him even before or maybe not. No one knows even him.

Tul's eyes met his across the room, knocking off Mew's breath. How can he do it with just a single gaze? Like a kid that was presented with different magic tricks on his birthday, Mew wasn't able to hide the spark in his eyes.

"That's illegal." Mew who was lost in his train of thoughts mumbled out loud which unfortunately was heard by Tul as they went out of the shooting location.

"What illegal?" Tul asked curiously, squinting his eyes as he roamed it around the place. Thinking that whatever Mew is pertaining to must be just around the corner.

Mew laughed. Can't deny the fact that Tul is just so adorable.

"If you found it, I'll give you a present." Mew retorted, challenging Tul which the latter answered with a competitive grin.

"If I'll be able to see it, you'll give me a set of your LEGO collection." Tul negotiated. Mew's eyes grew wide as he took a step back, "What? Nooo." He answered, pressing a hand over his chest, his lips forming an 'o'.

Tul laughed his heart out, "That's a deal then."

"Hey! I never said yes!"

After pointing a couple of different things that Tul thought might be the one that Mew is pertaining to, he halted, "Are you kidding me?" He asked sarcastically after Mew answered a complete 'no' on everything.

Mew chuckled as he breathe out a sigh of relief. Not his precious collection.

A joke suddenly came into Tul's mind, "Me?" He suddenly asked with a smirk which made Mew cough in surprise.

"Illegally hot." He added confidently completing the joke, raising both of his eyebrows a couple of times. Their eyes locking on each other.

Silence engulfed and for a second there, Mew's heart almost jumped out of his chest.

Tul took out a large sigh, shaking his head in disbelief, "It's so hard." He said, as if he'd been carrying the weight of the world ever since.

The side of Mew's lips quirked up. He wrapped his one arm around Tul's shoulder pulling the man to walk by his side, "Fine. Fine. You're really hot." He agreed which made Tul's fist jokingly hit his stomach.

The next day, Mew came to the set earlier than the call time he arranged. He needs to fix some things and check the videos that were taken yesterday.

The pool looked deeper than how he usually sees it, the set felt larger, the whole place felt more eery than usual.

He placed his laptop down the table that is set a few steps away from the pool. He pulled a chair and sat there. His attention all focused on the monitor that he hadn't noticed the additional presence that came in.

"I thought I'll be the first one here." Tul said as he placed his bag down on the side. Mew raised his head and greeted the other with a smile before returning his attention back on his laptop.

Mew spoke, "Have you had your breakfast already?"

"Yeah."

After a couple of minutes, Mew heard a water splash. He raised his head and looked at the pool in front of him. A minute passed before Tul's head popped out of the water with a big, 'Haaa.'

"Why is the water so cold?" He complained.

Mew stood up from his seat and quickly strode towards the pool, Tul on the other hand, swam towards the corner. He placed his arm on the side of the pool before resting his head on it, waiting for Mew.

"It's still too early in the morning, what do you expect?" Mew retorted as he slipped off his sandals and sat on the pool side, dipping his feet in the water.

"You look pressured." Tul commented.

Mew's eyes fell down to his best friend's wet and bare face, "I never thought producing your own series can be this hard, stressing yet full of fun." He's being completely honest. "The thrill of having everything made by you and the fear of being criticized..." it all runs inside his veins.

"I just want to create a series that is beautifully crafted." He added.

Tul smiled, "There are a lot of people who would pull you down, it will be really tiring to fight different battles all at once, but I know you can do it and bro, I think Ocean Eyes is beautiful." He gave a light smack on Mew's thigh. "Stop looking weird at me. I'm just lifting your mood up. I still haven't forget the LEGO set you owe me."

A faint chuckle escaped Mew's lips but before he can even answer, a hand pulled his feet down the water and before he could even blink an eye, the water started entering his ears.

Their eyes once again met, this time the world turned quiet. The bubbles coming off their nose and mouth as they exhaled air felt like beautiful decorations on the blue water.

Mew moved his body closer to Tul, his hand slowly reached for Tul's face. It's probably the water that went in his ear or maybe the blue hue or maybe the coldness... he doesn't know. All he could think of is Tul's lips pressed against his.

Ocean eyes... in the eyes of the ocean, our feelings are just a mere water. That no matter how we try to contain it in our hands, it will still slipped out and scatter all around the place.

Tul quickly pushed Mew, creating a distance between them. Both of them looked at each other with wide eyes. Realization kicked in. Mew quickly swam up and went out of the water, leaving Tul...

Mew took a sip from his beer. The past still felt surreal.