No Fairy Tales in Real Life

Shanghai

A/n - GodtBas look so beautiful together in this video. Credit goes to the owner.

Shanghai (Godt)

Shanghai is beautiful. It’s the largest city of China and the financial hub of the globe. I should be happy and elated to be here and work with them.
Their productions are always large scale and high bugdgeted. Chinese people don’t do anything halfway. Why don’t I feel the same excitement as P'Rose? We were riding the taxi back to the rented house just at the out skirt of the city. I gazed uninterestedly at the passing neon lights.
“Why are you sad, Godt?” P’Rose touched my arm.
“I’m not sad P, just missing home.” I slipped my fingers through my hair. She gave me a peculiar look. Ever since that fateful day she found me with Bas, she had that look, like she wanted to tell me something but holding herself back. I’m glad that she’s going back to Thailand tomorrow. It was getting tiresome.
She got out of the cab and walked into the house declining the land lady's invitation to dinner. She walked to her room and touched the door knob but looked over her shoulder.
“Godt, come to my room before going to bed. I need to talk to you. I’m leaving early tomorrow morning.” I nodded.
I accepted the bowl of clear broth brought by the kind Aunty, whose also our landlady, respectfully.
I was deep in thought while spooning broth to my mouth. What does she wants now?
The vibration of my phone stirred me from my trance. It was a post notification from Bas’ Instagram. Oh the couple event. I missed it. I scrolled through the pictures. Even looking at the photos I could tell that he wasn’t happy. I stared at the boy I come to adore, fondly. Bas isn’t a clingy person but he’s a total attention seeker. If I don’t pay attention to him then he would sulk. He was like that even before we started messing around. I found that endearing instead of annoying. I saw him active on IG

Hey whatcha doing? I sent a private message.
Bbasjtr - Missing you. It’s been ten days.
Counting huh?
Bbasjtr – yep
What’d you need from Shanghai, I’ll go shopping soon.
Bbasjtr – just bring yourself for me
Are you crying? Let’s do face time tonight. Please don’t cry. I won’t be able to bare.
Bbasrjtr – I’m not. I’m sorry P’Godt for behaving like a child.
I like it when you are a brat, even a crying one.
Bbasjtr – P’Godt stop it. I’ll come for FaceTime later, bye bye

Laughing softly, I pushed my phone to the pocket and knocked on P’Rose’s door.
“Come in” came the muffled sound of her voice. I pushed the door opened and went in. “I’ll be out in a minute, Godt” her voice came from the half opened bathroom door.
I walked to her window and stared at the garden. Everything about this place is perfect, from the pots of bonsai, neatly trimmed grass to stone stepped garden paths. As a matter of fact too perfect. I longed for my cheotic little studio apartment. I longed for little bit of normalcy. I longed for Bas Surajit.
I heard P’Rose leaving the bathroom. I turned around and she was in her bathrobe.
“Come, sit for a minute, Godt” she pointed one of the mat woven chairs and sat herself on another. She crossed her legs and the robe opened to reveal her long legs. I averted my eyes. She snorted.
“I wanted to talk to you.” she picked up a pack of cigarettes and lighter. “Did you remember when you were a scrawny eighteen year old and looking for modeling work?” She was turning the cigarette pack between her red tipped fingers. I smiled. I was a total dork then, six foot three and no muscles at all. She placed a cancer stick between her lips and clicked the lighter. She leaned her head back inhaling deeply.
“I saw so much potential in you then.” She closed her eyes let a cloud of smoke drift out of her mouth. “You can go so far and get to the top.” She extended her hand and tapped off the ashes in the wooden ashtray by her side. “I hope you still want to be the best, to be on top.” She drawled, looking at me through her half closed eyes.
“I still want to be the best.” I said confidently.
“Good. I don’t want you to stuck in BL forever. It could damage your future.”
“But it was your idea. I didn’t even want to be in BL and you forced me.” I stared at her in disbelief. She chuckled.
“We needed to start from somewhere. And look how popular you are because of 2moons. Was it a bad idea?” She spread her hands. “I want you to do the fanservise really well during the world tour.”
“I don’t understand.” I clasp my hand between my thighs and looked down. “I thought you don’t want me in BL anymore. I’m confused.”
“I don’t want you to cross any lines with Bas Surajit. It’s alright for fans to ship you two but it shouldn’t be more than that.” She dropped the but to the ashtray and picked up the pack of cigarettes again.
I flushed remembering our compromised situation that day she found us in bed. But I didn’t deny or confirm her suspicions.
“The kid looks innocent but sneakier than I thought.” She was talking about Bas. “ He wants to use you for publicity. He wants to start a scandal with you and be popular.” I stared at her in disbelief, where does she get these ideas.
“What makes you say that?” I asked trying to control my voice from raising high.
“Didn’t you see the clips from the events? He’s leading the fans in, queer baiting them and dragging you into it too.” Oh my God, how does she come up with such ridiculous notions?
“Bas doesn’t need me to get popular. He’s even popular than me. He has a large fan base because he’s genuine and kind. He says stuff without thinking because he has no filter and he’s practically a eighteen years old kid.” I said a bit heatedly.
“Hey I’m only looking out for your future.” She lifted her palms in surrender. “Just use your brain. I’ve seen what happened to people who followed their hearts in this field.” She stood up and tightened her robe. “I’ve invested lot on you, both time and money. And I hate when my investments don’t profit in the end.” It was more than an advice, a warning to remind me who am I belong to. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need my beauty sleep. I have an early flight tomorrow.” She twisted her brown died hair into a knot. “Don’t forgot to report me every night.”
She walked up to me and held my head with her both hands and pulled me down to her level. She kissed me for few seconds. There was a time my blood used to get heated by a mere touch of her lips. But right now I didn’t feel a thing. I let her kiss me few moments. She sighed and let go of my face. Her thumb ran along my bottom lip, wiping away the lip gloss she was wearing.
“Goodnight Godt. Now get out of here.” Her voice sounded weary and old.