Coffee With B(l)enefits

Next Step

Almost immediately everyone agreed to Mild's proposal. Mild decided that as Tay was a keen photographer so he would be supplying the camera and taking the photos of the other couples then Zee said photography was also a hobby of his so he would be happy to take the photo's of Tay and New. With all that decided Mild told them all to be back for 10AM the next day before letting them know they were free to go. Saint and Zee left together before anyone else and the remaining people all looked at each other knowingly. "If those two aren't together already I'll show my ass in the window of the shop." Tay said huffing a laugh.

New pulled a disgusted face the chimed in with "Oh please lord don't!" Making everyone laugh. Before Tay got a chance to respond Off said "Yeah Peng, if you're going to bet at least play with stakes people want to play with." They continued laughing and chatting for a while before Gun had to leave to get his bus. After the lesson they'd just had from one of his idols he was feeling brave so he said his good byes to everyone else then walked over and hugged Off whispering "Speak to you later Papi." before all but running out of the door.

"Hmmmm maybe Zee and Saint aren't the only new real couple huh?" New joked making Tay laugh, while Mild just sat back waiting for Off's inevitable devastating reply. "Is this your way of saying you and Tay are official already?" He asked in a scandalised tone. "I hope you're using protection at least I'm too young and beautiful to be an uncle." He finished before picking the dirty cups and heading to the kitchen in the back. Mild wasn't sure which was funnier Off's brilliant reply or the gaping fish faces Tay and New had made in response.

Once the place was cleaned and the shop was ready to shut, Off left Tay and Mild in New's capable hands to wait for their driver while he headed up to do some more unpacking in his new apartment. "Text me later guys OK?" He said as he was heading upstairs. In all honesty Off needed some space to think. Everything was moving at a crazy fast pace and his anxiety had been starting to get to him a little. Between the stress of moving and getting the cafe ready to open his brain was too noisy so he was so relieved to finally have some time alone to think.

He grabbed a beer from the fridge and got comfortable on the sofa. He scrolled through the messages between him and Gun smiling at the small guys cheekiness.

That had been the start of their interaction and Gun had just carried on being cute and funny so Off couldn't help becoming friends with the little guy.

As the first beer starting buzzing around his body Off began to feel himself relaxing. It was nice to have a place to call home that didn't make his anxiety worse. He was contemplating what to order for his dinner when his phone pinged with another message from Gun

Off knew things must be really bad, Gun had lost all his cheekiness and there wasn't a single emoji in sight. He was worried sick and prayed that Gun would listen to him.

Off smiled. That shorty had really gotten under his skin at first it was just that he thought he was cute but the more he got to know him the more his feelings grew. Off grabbed himself another beer and waited for Gun. He wanted to text him again and try to find out what had happened. He knew Gun lived with his father from some of their previous chats but that was the extent of Off's knowledge of Gun's family situation. 15 minutes later his bell buzzed and Off went down to let Gun in.

Off's heart broke seeing Gun, he was soaking from the rain and his eyes were red. He wasn't crying right now but he looked ready to begin at any second. "Come in Gun." Off said softly "You can get a shower and I'll get you some dry clothes and get those cleaned for you." He finished leading Gun inside. They made it upstairs before Gun burst in to tears apologising over and over to Off. "Hey! It's fine, I promise. We're friends right? Friends help each other." Off said pulling Gun into a hug. Gun squeezed him tightly and let himself cry.