Small doses

Chapter Twenty-Six

Gulf stayed right there like a perfect idiot for a few seconds, but then he let her in. "Ehm, sorry. I'll go...find my shirt". The walk of shame was made even worse when Mew appeared up the stairs, with only a towel on his waist. "Mama?". God, hit me with a lightning bolt. Now.

He looked at Gulf for a brief moment, realizing how their non-existent outfits made the situation painfully clear. Once fully clothed, he went downstairs again, finding Mew and his mother chatting. Mew was wearing a tracksuit now. Gulf seriously wanted to dig his own grave. This wasn't how he had imagined to announce his relationship with Mew, even though he knew it was going to happen at some point. He wasn't sure if he was capable of looking at his mother-in-law (kind of) without wanting to die inside.

Hearing someone knocking at the door, Gulf rushed out of the living room, anything to delay the inevitable. And there it was, Mild, completely oblivious of the current situation. "Ah, now it's you". Mild didn't understand what he meant with that, but he cheerfully let himself in. "Sorry I'm late. Why are you so grumpy already?"

Seeing how he wasn't answering, Mild put down his bag on a stair. "Since yesterday you two were so busy making out, I brought you P'May's gift, which you had left on the table where you were unloading your sexual urg..." Gulf vehemently covered his friend's mouth with a hand. "Shhh, keep it down". Mild looked around and then smiled. "Hey, don't take it on me. Have I interrupted anything...?". Gulf ran his fingers through his hair. "I wish".

Mild raised an eyebrow, hands on his hips. "Gulf, I love you. But I'm not into that kind of things". Gulf rolled his eyes. He didn't know why he was still surprised by the twisted brain of his friend. "What the hell are you talking about?". Then Mild came up to him. "Why are we whispering?". Gulf closed his eyes, unsure whether to strangle his best friend or not. "We're not whispering. I'm whispering, you're incapable of talking without shouting". Mild put on his baby face, wanting to make him feel guilty. "Ouch".

And, of course, he succeeded. "The thing is...earlier I kind of assumed it was you when I opened the door, half-naked...". Mild returned to smile, amused. "And why did you want it to be me, exactly?". Gulf blushed, remembering the embarassing scene from earlier all too well. "Because it would have been definitely less humiliating than having Mew's mom seeing me coming out of the shower. Wearing only jeans. Followed by Mew with nothing but a towel".

Mild shamelessly laughed at loud, arms crossed over his belly. "Mild, not helping". His friend covered his mouth with a hand, in the attempt to control himself. Epically failing, obviously. "Sorry it's just...hilarious". He kept on laughing, almost in tears. "MILD!". He took long, slow breaths to pull himself together. "Sorry, you're right. This is the worst possible scenario. I wouldn't want to be in your shoes". Gulf looked at him, shocked. "Geez, thanks for the support man". He smiled innocently, grabbing his jacket. Gulf immediately took him by the wrist. "Mild, Mild. Where do you think you're going?". Mild put his hands on his shoulders, trying to calm him down. "Home. You'll be fine. I believe in you". Gulf shook his head with pleading eyes. "No, no. Don't believe in me. Stay here. Please". With a little effort, Mild freed himself from his desperate grip. "May the odds ever be in your favor". He stupidly kissed two of his fingers, imitating Katniss from The Hunger Games. "Everything's okay?"

Mew's mom peeped behind them, a sweet smile on her face. "Yeah...he was leaving". Mild respectfully greeted her, before leaving the three on their own. Mew touched his hip to get his attention. "Hey, relax". Gulf bit his lip, exasperated. "It's easy for you to say". Mew laughed nervously. "It's easy? My mom just saw me coming out of the shower, clearly not alone in that". Gulf blushed, all his confidence completely down, scared of what she must be thinking of him now. Mew took his hand on his, leaving a comforting kiss on the back of it. "Let's talk, shall we?".

Gulf offered some coffee to mother and son, with a polite smile on his face. Mew took his cup and put a hand on his boyfriend's leg, trying to instill in him some calm. His mother smiled, sipping the coffee for a minute, before addressing the two: "It was not my intention to make you uncomfortable. I'm sure next time I'd better call my son first". She smiled amused, looking at his son getting shy all of a sudden. Gulf thought he was adorable. At least he wasn't the only one feeling this way. "On that note, maybe you should come over for dinner this week. When you don't have a busy schedule, of course".

Mew hold his hand tight, noticing his boyfriend's worried look. Gulf didn't know if he was ready, but he didn't want to let her down. He didn't want to let all Mew's family down. Mew's mom looked at Gulf encouragingly, with the same smile she always reserved to him. At least some things never change. "We're still the same people. I would really love you there".

So he agreed. When they were alone again, Mew put his hands on his hips, seeing Gulf lost in his thoughts. "Hey. It's gonna be okay". Gulf hugged him, suddenly feeling the need for affection. "You think so?". The older smiled, holding Gulf's face in his hands. "I know so. They already love you. You know that". Of course he knew that. But now it was different. Now they knew they were not only close friends. He could not help but think that this was a game-changer. "You just have to be you, and you'll be okay". Mew kissed his forehead and Gulf closed his eyes, reassured for a moment.

With Mew by his side, he could face everything. Even his in-law's.