Just Friends

Chapter Three

If there was a ranking for the most boring lesson ever, this one would have won the first prize already. The more he tried to focus on the teacher's voice, the more his mind wandered elsewhere. He wasn't usually a rulebreaker but when he felt his phone vibrating in his pocket, he immediately picked it up, desperate to read anything but those mathematical formulas. He was surprised to read Mew's name on the screen:

Gulf morning! ⚽

Please, take it back. It's embarassing. 🙄

I know it made you smile, though. Am I right? 😉

It was true, Gulf was actually grinning like an idiot, which was an improvement from the sleepy expression he had just a few seconds before.

Don't you have class?

Nope, I have a free period, so I figured I had enough time to write to my non-bro. 🤗

And if I'm busy?

Well, I doubt you're doing something interesting if you're here chatting with me. 🤭

Alright, I admit it. I'm bored out of my mind. 😪

I don't know if I'm fluttered or if I'm feeling like a rebound right now. 🤨 What's so boring about it?

MATH. Need I say more? 😭

I love Math! ❤️

...of course you do.

And you hate it, apparently.

I don't hate hate it. Just...it doesn't make any sense to me.

Gulf was about to read Mew's reply when the teacher suddenly took the phone from his hands, confiscating it. Gulf gasped, he was so caught up in the conversation that he had not even heard him approach. "Is my class so boring that you had to find other ways to entertain yourself? YES, YES, A THOUSAND TIMES YES! "I'm sorry sir, it won't happen again". Gulf blushed, the guilt getting the best of him. "Of course it won't. I'll see you in detention after lunch". Gulf opened his mouth to say something in his defense but then closed it immediately.

After grabbing something quick to eat at the cafeteria, he dragged himself towards the school's library - the "detention" his teacher talked about, probably to sound more intimidating. In the middle of the hallway he bumped into Mew, who was talking with his friends. "Uhm, sorry".

With no intention of staying there longer than necessary, Gulf tried to get past them but Mew stopped him, his fingers brushing his hand for a second. "Hey, I was worried when you didn't asnwer anymore".

Gulf noticed how his friends were staring at him, curious to know what was going on between them. "Well, I got detention, so I gotta go".

He wasn't angry at him but he was pissed because he had to spend extra hours at school. Walking into the room, the librarian immediately approached him, a wicked smile on her face. "Seems like I'll have an assistant today. You can start with these books right there, you have to put them back in the shelves, according to their tags". She gently pushed the cart towards him and went back to her post.

Gulf sighed, taking off his jacket and backpack. This is going to take me forever. "Do you need a hand?"

When Gulf turned his face and saw Mew checking him out, he almost lost his balance. Mew quickly put his hands on the ladder, holding it tightly. "Are you okay?".

Gulf took a deep breath, trying to slow down his heart rate. "I think so. What are you doing here?".

Mew smirked, handing him a couple of books to put in place. "Considering it's my fault you're here, I thought I should at least keep you company".

Gulf bit his lip, feeling guilty about how he had talked to him earlier. "You didn't have to. I was the one chatting during the lesson".

Mew leaned over, casually brushing his arm while helping him. "Yeah but I felt bad anyway. That's what friends are for, right?".

Gulf stared at Mew's smile a little longer than necessary. He cleared his throat as soon as he realized it. "Suit yourself".

He finished rearranging the books on the shelf, turning towards Mew to take some more. "I couldn't even if I wanted to". Gulf raised his eyebrow, confused. "I got into trouble too".

His explanation didn't make any sense. "In a matter of minutes? What did you do?".

Mew lifted up his arm to help him stroll down the steps. Not without a certain degree of embarassment, Gulf grabbed his hands, which were warmer than expected. Also, his grip was firm and confident, making him feel somehow...safe. Mew leaned over to his ear, his eyes catching Gulf's for a brief moment: "If I told you I'd have to kill you".

They stayed like this for a fews seconds, until Gulf looked down at their clasped hands. He quickly busied his with other books. "You seem pretty happy for a guy who's been sent here for punishment".

Mew followed him with the cart, giggling. "Well, I guess you're not the worst company in the world, Gulf Kanawut".

The younger smiled, making sure Mew couldn't see it from his position. "So...what's the deal with your friends?".

Mew raised his eyebrow, while checking the books' tags. "What about them?".

Gulf bit his lip, unsure about what to say. "They seemed...they were staring at me earlier".

Mew looked at him for a moment, his cheeks coloring slightly. Or maybe it was just Gulf's imagination. "I'm sorry about them, they like to tease me. But I swear, they're cool. I can introduce them to you if you want".

Gulf grinned, like it was a good joke. "I'm still getting used to having you around all the time, I think I'm good for the rest of my life".

Mew laughed, pinching his hip. "Hey!".

Gulf gasped at the contact, caught off guard. However, he couldn't help but smile seeing Mew laughing like that, trying to keep it down as much as possible. Again, they ended up smiling at each others, the words disappearing into the fold of their tongues. "Hey kid, I think you can go home now. Both of you, actually".

Before the librarian could change her mind, both of them cleared the room as quickly as possible. At long last Gulf took his phone back and called his parents to reassure them he was okay. At the parking lot, Gulf realised he had missed the last bus. "Fuck".

That's when Mew talked again: "Don't worry, I can drive you home".

Before Gulf could even answer, Mew was taking him to his car. "I thought you took the bus too".

The older smiled, nodding imperceptibly. "I prefer driving when I can".

The drive home from school was mostly silent, except for Mew's occasional humming or when he was asking Gulf for directions. Mew stopped right in front of Gulf's home and helped him taking off his car belt, seeing him struggling. His Nong shily thanked him, taking the backpack in his hands. "Thanks for the lift. And the company. I appreciated it".

Mew smiled widely, clearly happy with his words. "So you're finally warming up to me?".

Gulf leaned his arms on the window, which Mew left open to talk to him . "Let's not get ahead of ourselves".

He was smiling though, something he didn't do too often and with everybody. Even he knew it was suspicious. "A man can dream".

Gulf rolled his eyes, waving his hand. "See you tomorrow".

Mew winked at him, before starting his car again. Gulf came inside, tiredly taking off his shoes at the front door. When he picked up his phone again to check the notifications, he suddenly remembered not having read Mew's reply to his last message:

I could help you if you want. Math is kind of my thing. 😉

Gulf grinned, because once again Mew was showing this nerd side he knew nothing about. He stopped for a moment, thinking about his grades. He could not afford to fail another test:

Were you serious about tutoring me?