I.L.Y. - A MewGulf AU

Chapter 15: Bittersweet

The staff decided to pass off the lack of chemistry on the masks, not on Mew and Gulf themselves. Gulf was glad for the excuse, since it meant he could avoid talking about the actual problems between them. No reason for any awkward conversations he wasn't ready for. It also meant, however, that they were tasked to practice every workshop. In other words, every next workshop they were put in the middle of the room again, surrounded by watching eyes, and ordered to make out.

It was surprising how any earlier awkwardness Gulf had had about kissing in public disappeared. He could now kiss the handsome husband without a sliver of hesitation. Locking lips became just another part of his job. He knew for a fact that they were getting better as well. Better in their body language, the mirroring of their lips... Better at faking their chemistry.

Gulf absolutely hated it.

Everything about their interactions had started to feel absolutely fake, and he knew he couldn't be the only one who noticed.

After their first kiss as Wai and Dee, the atmosphere at home had gotten even weirder. They had started talking again, but it always felt forced and unnatural. On top of that, Mew now had this constant look in his eyes which freaked Gulf out. It was too deep and complex, and he couldn't figure out what it meant.

He thought he had gotten to know his older husband pretty well by now, but it seemed he didn't know anything. He felt more and more out of reach to Gulf. The only thing that he had in this strange world was suddenly not his anymore. He didn't know what to do anymore. He felt lonelier than ever.

There had been no actual workshop planned that day, but by coincident he had bumped into Mild after visiting the Gym. Apparently working out was required of a famous actor slash model, and Gulf didn't mind since it gave him an excuse to leave the house. He'd rather go to the local soccer field, but that was impossible in this world.

Mild greeted him with the usual hug, which immediately helped to lift the nong's mood a little. The Phi seemed to notice his emotional distress, suddenly inviting Gulf over to his own condo. Gulf accepted immediately. There was no joy in returning to his own cold apartment anyway, Mew was out for a solo schedule. Not that him being home made any difference. The coldness seemed like the constant in the apartment nowadays.

So, that was how Gulf ended up sitting in the middle of P'Mild's condo, sipping some soy milk because his trainer told him he needed the calcium after a gym session. Mild was busy telling some story about the owner of the gym, but Gulf was only half listening. It didn't come as a surprise that Mild knew all the inside drama of places like these, since the man seemed to be an insider wherever he went. Instead of being annoyed at Mild for talking so much, he was rather thankful to his Phi for taking the lead. He wasn't feeling like the biggest talker right now.

"That's why, never get close to the female toilets as a guy. I swear, there's a ghost there, cursing all males," Mild ended his story, making Gulf laugh. He didn't even know where the female toilets were situated anyway.

"You'd think they'd get a shaman to expel the ghost," he said.

Mild shook his head. "The owner doesn't believe in superstitions. He's a foreigner, that's why," he explained to his nong as if sharing a secret. Gulf rolled his eyes, he had no idea what being from another country had to do with that. Everyone is superstitious. He'd know, his husband is really superstitious after all.

Then he began to wonder. "Phi, do you believe in the supernatural?"

Mild shot him an amused look. "Kinda," he admitted after thinking a bit. "Things like ghosts and shamans. I was raised to believe in some superstitions."

Gulf nodded. He remembered the coloured shirts they were told to wear during the workshops – something they had done during season one's recording as well. His husband followed every instruction diligently.