Under a Million Stars

Chapter Three

Off secretly looked at the boy sitting on his sofa while watching a new episode of Money Heist. Gun had been in his condo for seven days already but they only talked thrice: during his first day there, when Gun asked about the broken shower, and when Off offered him dinner which Gun declined for he already ate with his boyfriend.

He hadn't even asked him his reason for agreeing with the idea of living together. They had their fair share of heartaches and sentiments and their breakup was not that good, so it still puzzled Off why Gun agreed to this setup. Moreover, he was curious what his boyfriend had to say about him living with his ex.

His chest unexpectedly tightened at the thought of Gun being with someone else, moreover, the fact that he was the only one left in the memories of their past just made it even harder for him. They made so many memories together that he couldn't afford to forget them, no matter how many years had passed.

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9 years ago. 2nd week of Freshman year

Off glared at the young man sitting next to his table in the coffee shop. He did not expect seeing him there nor did he want to see his face for the rest of the year. Both of them were given a three-day suspension for the commotion they had caused in the library the other day. We'll he guessed that was better than doing community service wherein he could see that jerk's face. It was their third day of suspension and he got bored inside his room, so he decided to stay at this coffee shop near his condo while waiting for Tay to finish class.

"One Frappuccino for Gun Atthaphan."

The girl behind the counter announced. He side-eyed the short guy as he stood up from his seat to get the coffee. Off noticed that he had his laptop which he thought was an old model open on the table and it seemed that he was typing something. Not that he was observing him but he couldn't help but wonder why he was doing some work while on suspension. He took a sip on his cappuccino as he watched cars passed by. He was about to call Tay when he received a message from him.

Annoying Friend:

Friend, I can't eat dinner with you tonight. My grandmother wants me to come home and you know I can't say no to her. See you tomorrow. Congratulations for successfully completing your suspension.

Off smirked as he pocketed his phone. Tay Tawan was just so annoying as ever, but he loved him nonetheless. He grabbed his things and made his way out of the coffee shop.

-----

Off heard his doorbell ring twice while he was fixing his hair after taking a shower. It must be the food he ordered. Since Tay couldn't accompany him and Arm seemed busy, he decided to order food. He hated the idea of eating alone in a public place. It just seemed weird for him.

He grabbed some bills first and then went to open the door.

"Good evening. Here's the food you---"

Both of them stopped on their tracks as they stared at each other. Standing in front of his door was no other than the guy he hated and the very reason he got suspended on his second week at school, Gun Atthaphan.

"Here's the food you ordered, Sir."

It was Gun who broke the silence between them as he handed the paper bag containing the food Off had ordered. Off was about to hand the bills to him when he noticed that Gun was hiding his other arm behind his back. Off just wanted to shoo the thought out of his mind but then noticed the blood that was slowly dripping on the floor.

"What happened to your arm?" The concern on Off's voice was evident that he himself got shocked of his own tone.

"Just don't mind me. It's nothing." Gun replied while hiding his arm even more from Off's sight.

Off didn't want to hear more from the short guy and just grabbed his wrist and dragged him to his room.

"Your wound will get infected if you don't treat it right now." Off said as he made Gun sit on his sofa before he got his first-aid kit inside his bedroom.

Off then tended to Gun's wound, being careful as ever. He himself was surprised with the way he acted earlier, but he couldn't help but notice that Gun was too thin for his age and his eyes were sunken probably because of lack of sleep.

"How long have you been on this job?" He decided to ask to break that awkward silence between them.

"Since the start of classes."

Off could sense the hesitation in Gun's voice. Maybe because they hated each other so much but there they were, inside Off's condo with Off carefully tending to his wound.

"How did you got hurt?"

"I had a minor accident while going here. My motorbike kinda slipped on the road cause I dozed off for a bit."

"Do you still have any other deliveries?"

"No. Yours is the last one."

"Then, stay and eat dinner with me. I ordered more than enough for me and it feels empty to eat alone ---- so might as well eat with an enemy."

Off saw the hesitation in Gun's eyes but it was then replaced with approval. Never did Off imagine that he would be eating late dinner with the guy he'd been hating since the first day of class.

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"You can ask me if you have questions instead of ogling at me like I'm some sort of a foreign object."

Off got startled by Gun's voice whose eyes were still glued on the TV in front of him. Off wasn't expecting Gun to break the silence between them. 

With a heavy heart and a little bit of hesitation he broke the question he'd been wanting to ask Gun from the very moment he set his eyes on him days ago.

"Have you really gotten over me?"

"If I say yes, what will you do?"