The Big Pretense

Chapter 25

A/N: The image above does not belong to me. It belongs to the person who uploaded it on the internet.

Third Person POV

Art was rushing into the lobby at the ground floor of the training building just as Mr. Siripool was walking out of an elevator.

Art bowed to him saying, "I'm so sorry for being late in coming back, sir, I got caught in the rush hour traffic."

Mr. Siripool waved him away.

"Yes, I know," he said to Art, "Gulf told me. Don't worry about it."

Gulf? I thought it was P'Mew I talked to on the phone earlier, thought Art.

Art bowed again to Mr. Siripool and walked into the waiting elevator.

Art greeted the receptionist at the top floor where he and the other actors were staying. The receptionist was just getting ready to leave work for the day.

When Art entered the living room, he found Gulf and Mew sitting on the big couch watching a TV show. They both looked at Art when they saw him enter.

"Thank you, P'Mew, for calling me earlier to remind me to come back," said Art.

"Don't thank me," said Mew. "Thank nong Gulf here. He was the one who asked where you were and told me to call you."

Gulf gave Art a sheepish smile. Art smiled back.

"Thank you, Gulf," Art said, noting how handsome Gulf was, especially when he smiled.

Watch it, Art scolded himself, don't fall for Gulf. His heart is for Mew only. AJ is the guy for you.

"No problem," Gulf replied to Art. "What's that you got inside that brown paper bag?"

"Oh this?" Art said, holding up the brown paper bag, "This is my dinner, but I got enough here to share if you're hungry."

"I am hungry," Gulf said, standing up from the couch.

Mew quickly pulled Gulf back and made him sit back on the couch.

"Don't be such a glutton," Mew scolded Gulf.

"But I just wanted to see what his dinner was," Gulf protested, standing up again and walking towards Art who was already making his way to the dining room and kitchen area.

Mew could only shake his head as he continued to watch the TV show.

Gulf offered to get a bowl and plate and utensils and some table napkins while Art was taking the plastic food containers from the brown paper bag.

"Mmmmm... that smells delicious," said Gulf as he set the bowl and plate and utensils on the table.

"This is mulligatawny soup," Art informed Gulf, pouring it into the bowl that Gulf had brought to the table. "Here, have some of it."

"Thank you," said Gulf, "I really would like to try it."

Gulf went to one of the kitchen cabinets and brought out a smaller bowl and took a soup spoon from one of the kitchen drawers.

"And this is chicken biryani," Art said, transferring the dish to the plate that Gulf had given him earlier.

Gulf eyed the delicious looking dish.

"Your boyfriend must be a very good cook," Gulf remarked, as he scooped a spoonful of the mulligatawny soup into his mouth.

Art smiled, unable to keep his cheeks from growing pink.

"I'm not sure about that," said Art, "I've never seen him cook. These dishes are from his restaurant."

"Ah hah! So you have been to see your boyfriend this evening!" Gulf exclaimed.