LIMELIGHT

14.

Mew felt a loud throb in his chest, "What are you saying?" Mew asked as he stood at the doorway, frozen in shock.*

*Tul sat up, "I want to quit acting. I want to focus on my architecture degree. Well, It's only just a year more..." His voice gradually weaken.*

*The sun slowly peeked out. It's rays went past through the window, the dimmed bedroom slowly became brighter because of it.*

*"Are..." Mew paused as he took a deep breath. "Are you doing this because of me?"*

*The blonde did not even blink before answering, "No... I'm doing this for myself. I want to achieve greater things in a much greater world."*

A week had past. Tul messaged him a couple of times and eventually stopped after not receiving any replies from him. Mew took a deep breath as he sat down the reclining chair in front of the mirror, waiting for his make-up artist to arrive after being stuck in traffic.

He shut his eyes for a second before looking at his reflection on the mirror. Tul's voice echoed inside his head, *"I'm planning to quit being on the entertainment industry."

Even if Tul had said already that his decision is solely for himself, it still did not made Mew feel any better, in fact it made him feel worse. He just can't brush away the thought of Tul quitting something that he worked hard on and him being a  part of the reason why his teerak would do it, even if Tul doesn't say it out loud. His stomach slightly turned upside down with just thinking about it.

"Are you alright?" Jom, his younger sister slash manager, asked.

Mew nodded before he leaned his head on the back of his seat, staring at the bright ceiling. What if he's now becoming a burden to Tul? He bit his lower lip, trying to put a stop on the train of thoughts that are threatening to burst inside his head.

He took a deep breath, "Jom... Tul and I are in a relationship." He suddenly said, breaking the silence inside the dressing room. Well, he won't openly say it if there are people around.

Jom, who's in her phone, answered without averting his eyes off the screen, "I know."

Mew turned his seat 180 degrees to face his younger sister, "you knew?"

Jom smiled sarcastically, "Did you suddenly forgot who fixes your schedule everytime you want to disappear so suddenly?"

"How's that related to my relationship with Tul?"

"You were always escaping with him?" Jom answered nonchalantly.

Mew chuckled as he gave off a nod, "Yeah."

He stared at his younger sister for a while before shifting his eyes away, "Aren't you mad?"

Jom turned her head with a frown. She went closer to Mew and sat on the chair beside him. She stretched her hand out to get the moisturizer that is on the side. Mew turned his seat to face his sister while she squeezed out a little of it's contents in her palm and started applying it on her brother's face.

"Why would anyone be mad?"

"You're glowing." Jom commented.
"You look happier."
"You look more carefree." She turned her brother's seat to let him see himself on the mirror.

"You no longer seek help." She said with a smile.
"You started to look more alive." She added.

"What makes you happy makes everyone who loves you happy as well."

Mew looked at his face. Indeed, what Jom said is true. He's more than happy. Tul saved him in more ways than one, more than the man thought and successfully brought out the best in him. He felt his heart beating erratically.