It was you all along

01

"Oh shut up Gulf." Earn snatched the letter away from her brother who was still stunned from the shock earlier. Neither Earn nor Gulf would've expected the letter to come. God they didn't even know that Mew Suppasit had a thing for guys. And out of all guys, he had to choose the most ordinary one of them all - Gulf Kanawut who had nothing to his name, just a shabby old apartment that he was struggling to even pay rent for and a sister who owns a small coffee shop downtown. 

"So are you going to reject him?" Earn asked, as she fiddled with the letter as if trying to check its authenticity and that it wasn't a scam or prank of any sort. 

"Did you not read the letter carefully?" Gulf replied with a frustrated sigh. "Even if I want to, I can't. Unless we have $100 million dollars to spare right now." 

"I mean we could go around borrowing if you really don't want to get married." Earn assured him sympathetically, but Gulf thought she was unrealistic. It was impossible for them to raise $100 million dollars in a short span of time or rather, Gulf thought bitterly, it was impossible for them to raise that much money ever in his lifetime. Guess he'd have to accept the marriage no matter what then, but divorce is always an option right? 

The restless night passed too quickly and before Gulf knew it, he was packing up the remainder of his suitcase and was about to leave home. Earn was panicking right now - her brother was about to be wedded to a man they've never even met. She appeared more flustered than Gulf was, for she was pacing hurriedly back and forth in the living room, muttering frantically to herself. 

"Just chill out.." Gulf shook his head, amused at his sister's reaction. It looked like she was the one getting married to a total stranger, not him. While Gulf was no doubt nervous, he knew he had to remain calm otherwise he was certain his sister wouldn't let him leave and instead, would insist that her fundraising idea would work no matter how irrational it sounds. 

After a tearful goodbye (Gulf swore his sister was just so dramatic), they finally bidded farewell and Gulf hopped onto a fancy limousine that was waiting for him outside his apartment as arranged. Before he closed the door, he took one last look at the apartment that he once shared - it wasn't the most pleasing one for it looked run-down, the paint on the walls were peeling off and the apartment was also extremely small compared to its neighbours with missing bricks on its roof and an unkempt garden. Yet, Gulf never thought he'd missed it now that he was about to leave. It was after all the first apartment he and his sister had rented with whatever scraps of money they had ever had since their parents passed on, leaving them with nothing. 

After giving the apartment one last reluctant look, Gulf shut the limousine door behind and off he was. As the limousine took off, leaving behind the streets he once grew up in, Gulf knew his new life was just about to begin. 

Gulf was probably too exhausted to have noticed that they've arrived at the destination. He had been dozing on and off during the ride and the chauffeur had woken him up, gesturing for him to alight. Gulf did as he was told. He was going to carry the suitcases himself since it wasn't heavy so he didn't require much help, but the butlers (or at least Gulf assumed they were), were insistent on carrying for him despite Gulf telling them he could do it and there was no need for trouble. After a game of push and pull, Gulf eventually conceded with a sigh as he allowed them to take his suitcases in while he trailed behind wondering if it was a norm for people in this area of Thailand to be that polite with their guests? 

Since his suitcases were taken care of, Gulf's eyes began to wander around the unfamiliar surroundings. He was walking along some garden that had luscious green trees that swayed gently with the wind and beautiful flowers of different colours sprouting. There was also this magnificent water fountain made out of marble and touches of gold that stood in the middle of the garden and was surrounded by rose bushes that were neatly trimmed. The water in the fountain seemed to sparkle under the moonlight and Gulf couldn't help but marvel at how picturesque it  looked, unlike his garden which was dreadful. 

Before he had any time to continue exploring the garden further, he was called into the mansion by a man who'd Gulf supposed was the housekeeper. Gulf nodded and he'd quickly followed the man in, making a mental note to visit the garden first thing tomorrow to continue where he'd left off. When Gulf thought that nothing could possibly  get any more luxurious than the garden, he was so wrong for the breath-taking interior of the mansion rendered him speechless. 

The living hall was extremely spacious, putting it into measurement, it was at least 10  times the size of his entire apartment. There was an exquisite chandelier that hung from the ceiling, engraved with diamonds that twinkled under the streaks of light that now passed through the large window panes which overlooked the garden Gulf had seen earlier. The marble floors were also squeaky clean. They were so clean that Gulf could even see his reflection in them and he now wonders, if scrubbing the floors were all what the maids did for the entire day. 

Passing by the living room, he was guided up the winding stairs to where his room would be. The housekeeper held the door open for him and Gulf entered his soon-to-be room. 

It was spectacular! Down from the ceilings to the bedside table, everything was strangely what Gulf had always dreamed of when he was a kid. He remembered vividly that he wanted a room with lots of natural sunlight and a canopy bed preferably in dark blue with the supporting pillars in gold. And as stupid as it sounds, he also wanted those glow in the dark stars scattered across his ceiling because he had always wanted to go stargazing even at a young age stemming from his interest in astronomy. 

He was starting to question if this was really all just a coincidence. No one, not that Gulf could remember anyways, knew about his dream room. It was rather personal and Gulf doubted he told anyone about it. He was starting to think crazily that maybe this Mew Suppasit had been stalking him, though Gulf quickly dismissed the thought with a laugh, because why would someone so important be interested in a small fry like him? It just didn't make any sense. Well, Gulf shrugged, it didn't matter anyways as long as he had a roof over his head he was contend.

Speaking of this Mew Suppasit, he's supposedly husband- to- be was nowhere to be seen. Not that he cared but he was just genuinely curious about the man - he was after all the nation's heartthrob.

"Ah. My apologies, Mr Kanawut. Mr Suppasit would have loved to greet you personally today but something cropped up at the office at the last minute. He has told me to convey his sincere apologies to you." The housekeeper explained and Gulf nodded wordlessly. 

"Ohuu no worries." Gulf shot the housekeeper a reassuring (forced) smile along with a wave of his hand, before muttering under his breath, "Not that I cared anyways." 

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< Mew's POV > 

Mew traced his fingers along a photograph that looked like it had been taken years ago for the edges were turning yellow and the picture was fading. Yet, one could still make out that it was a photo of a tanned young boy whose most distinctive feature was his heart shaped lips and round eyes that made him look adorable. The boy in the picture was also making a peace sign with his hands and was smiling brightly. 

Mew's eyes glistened with longing as he stared at the photograph endearingly,

"We meet again."

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a/n: credits to @fanzul_art for the wonderful borders!