Off turned off the engine leaving them in darkness. They drove for about 30 minutes before stopping somewhere Gun didn't even know.
"Where are we Off? And can you please turn on the lights?"
"Why? Are you afraid of the dark?"
"In some way. It makes me uncomfortable not being able to see anything."
"Then how can you see the beauty above you?"
Quite confused, Gun looked through the windshield and saw the most beautiful stretch of night sky dotted with many sparkling stars above them. It was as if the constellations above connived to make the night sky even more beautiful than it was before.
"Woah, this is beautiful. This is the most beautiful sky I've ever seen in my entire life."
Off suppressed a snicker.
"You sound as if you've never seen the night sky before."
"We'll I have. But the stars were usually drowned by the city lights. And besides, you know I work at night. Stargazing is something I can't do while struggling to make ends meet."
Off felt sorry for Gun upon hearing that. All his life, he had never experienced being short on money since his parents were well-off. And hearing that from Gun just made him even softer for him.
Off turned to look at Gun. It was dark with only the stars and the faint light from moon illuminating the place, but for some reason, he could clearly see Gun who was now sleeping soundly on the passenger seat.
Off may be uncomfortable sleeping on the seat of the car, but somehow, he slept soundly that night.
-----
8 years ago. 6 months into Freshman year
"What's with you and that Gun?"
Tay asked over lunch.
"Why?"
"You seemed very close to each other. The last thing I remember you were so eager to cut off each other's heads and now I just knew that you sent him home last night."
"Can't we be friends or civil with each other?"
"No, cause as far as I could remember in our seven years of friendship, you don't make friends with your enemies."
Off just shrugged his shoulders and continued munching on his food. He couldn't deny it but for the past months, he and Gun got even closer. He even sometimes drove Gun to his working place and fetch him so they could watch movies at his condo or go to Gun's favorite place, the one with the most beautiful night sky as Gun said.
He and Tay watched Arm as the latter plopped down on the seat beside Tay.
"Hello to this friend who just ditched me last night," Arm said with a hint of sarcasm and mockery in his tone.
"Ditched you for what?" Tay asked with a confused face.
"We're supposed to go to this new club around the block, but he called me last minute to ditch on me."
"Wait, what?! You made plans without me?!"
Tay almost rose from his seat upon hearing what Arm said.
"How can we tell you when you're out of reach you bastard?! I guess you were out hooking with some random chick you met online," Off smacked Tay's head making the latter glare at him.
"Don't change the topic here. Here's the most surprising thing, the reason he ditched on me." Arm slapped his hand on the table making the plates and utensils rattle a bit.
"What is it?" Tay may have snapped his neck with the way he turned to look at Arm.
"He said he was gonna fetch Gun from work and eat late dinner with him," Arm emphasized every word he said while looking closely at Off who was now playing with his spoon and fork.
"Oh, so you have a new best friend now. I guess that explains the reason you always shoo me away every time I wanna crash in your condo. You're making it as your love nest."
"Love nest my ass! We're just friends and I'm just helping him out. He already has a lot on his plate and I wanna somehow make him enjoy the little things in life."
"You don't have to sound defensive you know," Tay chuckled. Off's ears were now red signifying that he was getting shy about the topic.
"You're thinking weird things so how can I not defend myself? And besides we're both guys so stop thinking absurd things, Tay Tawan."
"Oh, my friend. We are now living in a modern world where love no longer sees gender. You fall in love with a person, not gender. So whatever you feel for each other, always know that we are just here to support you no matter what happens, right Arm?"
Arm smiled at the both of them, "Of course. You have our support."
Off chuckled, "You're both crazy. I'm a hundred percent straight. There's no way I'd fall in love with a man, let alone Gun Atthaphan."
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
Off puffed a smoke from his cig while looking at the night sky in his balcony. This was what he hated about nights. He was always reminded of the times they spent together, either going on late night road trips or just staying under the stars after he fetched Gun from his work. There were also nights when Gun slept in his condo and they would go to university together with Gun wearing oversized uniform thus getting suspicious looks from Arm and Tay.
"I didn't know you smoke," Gun stood beside him and looked at the night sky.
"From time to time, when I can't sleep and need to think about things," he put off the cigarette on the ashtray before turning to Gun who was now looking at him.
"Am I bothering you to the point you can't sleep?"
"I haven't slept soundly since you left, Gun."
Gun did not answer him. They just looked at each other's eyes under the night sky, a perfect replica of the nights they shared years ago.
It was Off who broke the silence.
"Night Traveler I Still Love You 0:53-1:40.
Good night, Gun."
____________
Author's note:
Night Traveler I Still Love You 0:53-1:40
It's been so long without you
I don't even know who I am without you
[Pre-Chorus]
Say we can't go back
That I'm losing you
I know what I did
Swear it hurts me too
[Chorus]
You know, you know
You know I still love you, babe
Don't wanna hear you say I don't
You know, you know
You know I still love you, babe
Don't say I don't
YOU ARE READING
Under a Million Stars
Romance[COMPLETED] offgun | BoyxBoy _________ Off has always been in love with Gun, but time was not on their side as they got separated. Several years later, Off found himself sharing a unit with Gun. Eager to rekindle the love they once had for each othe...
