LIMELIGHT

11.

I... I kissed my best friend.

I kissed my best friend.

I kissed Tul.

He ruffled his hair as he plopped down on the small sofa inside his dressing room. Why did I even do it? Didn't I learn anything after what happened the last time I kissed someone off cam? He stared at his reflection in front of the mirror. His clothes still wet, water dripping down his hair: he looks pretty messed up and frustrated. He brushed his hand over his face.

Of all people, why Tul?

Mew closed his eyes, feeling his heart beat erratically, unable to calm down. Tul's soft lips remained lingering on his own. It taste like freshly pick strawberries and feels so smooth and plump like a grape. He gulped.

The sound of people coming in pulled Mew out of his deep thoughts.

With Mew avoiding Tul after what happened, the whole day felt extremely long and exhausting.

Mew stayed inside his car after the shooting, trying to shake off the annoying voices inside his head: those voices that kept on repeating how mess of a person he is.

A sudden knock on his car window made him jolt in surprise. It's Tul. For a second, Mew felt his body froze. Another knock made him come back to reality.

Mew quickly unlocked the door. Tul immediately went inside. Silence felt deafening, much annoying than the water that is still inside Mew's ear.

"Do you like me?" The question that Mew would like to avoid came to him like arrows slashing through the wind: quick, straight, frightening, unavoidable, and he know the moment it hit him, it would hurt.

A moment of silence passed. "Do you like me?" Tul repeated.

Mew with his remaining bits of courage answered almost barely audible, "Yes."

Tul's eyes remained staring blankly in front of them, Mew did the same.

"Since when?" Tul asked.

"Who knows?" Mew felt more relaxed now.

Tul faked a cough as he felt his cheeks burning up, "how?"

"How did I came to like you? How did I realized I like you? How the-fuck did I ended up in this situation? Hey bro, can you be a little more specific with your question?" Mew felt the heavy weight on his shoulder lessen. He chuckled.

"Wait a second. I'm also processing things, bro." Tul's eyes shifted to look at Mew who's now smiling at him, he frowned which made Mew's smile turn wider.

"Just turn me down if you want to. I just want to admit what I feel, it doesn't mean you have to like me as well. And... uhh... I'm sorry for the ki---"

Tul pulled him in for another kiss. Mew's eyes grew wide as he held on to the headrest of Tul's seat, supporting his body. This time the kiss is more passionate, warmer, freeing, a little bit more laid-back. The latter slowly closed his eyes.

As they let go of each other, Tul spoke, "No need to say sorry, we're even now." Before hopping out of the car.

Mew stared at Tul's back. He felt a funny feeling inside his stomach. His fingertips slowly travelled to his lips as the side of it slowly curved up.

The next days felt normal, nothing changed as if the confession did not happened, as if the kiss they shared did not happened. Mew went up to the hotel floor where they are currently staying for their outdoor scenes.