Heal Me

Chapter 4 - The Smile Behind His Tears

Gulf had cried himself empty.

And somewhere between the heartbreak and the silence, he fell asleep—curled in Mew’s arms like a child sheltering from the storm. His breath slowed. The trembling stopped. And dawn arrived quietly, like a gentle hand brushing the world awake.

Golden sunlight slipped through the window, spilling across the room and over the two bodies tangled together. Their legs were still intertwined. Mew’s hand rested protectively on Gulf’s back. The boy’s head rose and fell softly against his chest.

“...Mmmgh…”

A murmur stirred the quiet.

“P… P’Mew?”

Sleep-heavy eyes blinked open. And suddenly—tears. Large, silent tears rolling down Gulf’s cheeks, soaking into the cotton of Mew’s shirt.

“P’Mew is here…” he whispered. “And he’s hugging me…”

The shirt grew damp. Mew stirred from sleep, feeling the wet warmth against his chest. His eyes fluttered open slowly.

“Nong…?” he said groggily. “Are you okay? N’Gulf?”

The boy looked up, and Mew saw it at once.

This wasn’t Gulf.

“P’Mew…” the childlike voice trembled. “Shiv was missing you so much…”

Mew’s breath caught in his throat.

“Nong Shiv…?”

Shiv nodded, sobbing softly. “Please stay with us, P’… Shiv can’t live without his P’… I know Kana hurt you, but Shiv loves you so much… You always wiped Shiv’s tears, always hugged Shiv when it hurt. But for two years… P’Mew was gone. And Shiv was alone.”

He broke down again, collapsing into Mew’s arms.

Mew didn’t hesitate. He pulled him close, running gentle fingers through his hair. “Shhh… Nong Shiv. You’re so sweet. So cute… like always.”

He cupped the boy’s cheeks and wiped away his tears with a soft smile.

“So cute, Nong…” he whispered.

Shiv finally smiled. Just a little. He looked up into Mew’s eyes the way a child looks at a lullaby—longing for warmth, hungry for love.

And that’s when it hit him.

How much sadness are you hiding, Gulf?
How many pieces of you broke just to survive…?

Mew’s smile faltered.

His heart ached.

And before he knew it, tears began falling—slow, quiet tears that dripped from his chin onto Shiv’s soft hair. He didn’t even realize he was crying until Shiv leaned in and whispered against his ear:

“It was nice waking up in your arms, P’… But now I think Gulf wants to come back. I think he misses you too.”
He smiled—pure and trusting.
Then his body relaxed.

And just like that, the shift happened again.

“Mew?” a new voice asked. Sharper. Older.

Mew blinked.

“Gulf…?”

Gulf sat up fast. “What happened? Why are you crying?! Did Kana come out?! Did he hurt you?! Are you okay?! MEW!”

Mew could barely answer. He blinked rapidly and laughed softly through the last of his tears.

“Nong… no,” he said gently. “It wasn’t Kana.”

“Then why were you crying?” Gulf asked, brows furrowed, voice tense.

“It was Nong Shiv,” Mew said, smiling.

“Ahhh…” Gulf exhaled deeply, lying back. “Still makes you weak, huh? Whenever he’s around.”

Mew looked at him for a long moment.

How much sad are you, N’Gulf…?

Gulf smiled suddenly, eyes crinkling. “Awwww, so cute… Mew, marry me!”

“What?”

“I’m serious,” Gulf grinned. “If you marry me, you get to live with Nong Shiv too. You love him so much, right?”

“Stupid,” Mew muttered, cheeks tinged pink.

“Nong Shiv is twelve years old.”

He hesitated.

“…Besides…”

“Besides what, P’Mew?” Gulf leaned in. “You didn’t finish your sentence. So finish it.”

Mew turned away, his voice soft and secretive.

“Already finished,” he said, patting Gulf’s shoulder.

“Huh?! When?! Are you messing with me again?!” Gulf shouted, half-laughing, half-pouting.

Mew chuckled and stood, walking toward the door. “So cute.”

He slipped out, closing the door gently behind him.

Gulf sat there in stunned silence.

Then, in a whisper, barely audible:

“Then marry me…”
He looked at the closed door, eyes softening.
“…If I’m really that cute… then marry me. Because I love you more than anything in the world, P’Mew.”