Under a Million Stars

Chapter Twenty-six

"Then why are you still keeping the ring, Gun?"

Gun stilled as Off reached out to touch the ring that was hidden under his shirt.

"This is the ring I gave you, right? Please tell me it is."

Gun sensed a tinge of desperation and hope in his voice.

He made a step backward to distance himself from Off.

"I-It's from Jaylerr."

"Oh, really? Come on Gun. Can you drop the act. I know nothing's going on between you and Jaylerr."

Gun's eyebrows furrowed as he looked at Off who was smiling from ear to ear.

"Don't be so full of yourself, Off."

"I am not. You're even the one who told me that right, on the night I picked you up from the bar."

He mentally cursed. So that explained Off's treatment towards him the next day.

He only remembered bits of what happened that night, but he couldn't remember Off picking him up.

"You don't believe someone who's drunk, Off."

"Drunken words are sober thoughts, Gun. I believe people let out everything they want to say when they don't have inhibitions."

"I-I broke with him! Yes! We just broke up. We broke up that day! That-that was why I got drunk, yes. That was why," Gun defended himself, stuttering as he scanned his mind for some excuses.

Off advanced forward, getting closer to him while he took a step backward, trying to widen the distance between them.

"What are you doing?" Gun asked as he continued stepping back while Off approached him.

With one long stride, Off closed the gap between them.

Soon, he found himself wrapped in a hug, a very tight one.

"Off, hey, wha-what are you-"

"I miss you, Gun. Please don't ever leave me again. I don't know if I can survive if you leave me again."

Off buried his head in the nook of his shoulder.

"Off, I-I can't breathe," he complained as Off tightened his arms around his waist.

But Off didn't budge. He just continued wrapping his arms around Gun's waist silently.

No one was saying a word between them.

They just stood there in the middle of the beach, with Off hugging him.

He lifted his hand, wanting to embrace Off, but he hesitated.

As much as he wanted to cave in to his feelings, he was afraid, afraid to face another uncertainty, another disappointment.

"Off we-we have to go back. Mild might be waiting for you."

But Off just giggled as he pulled Gun closer and Gun almost lost his breath when he felt his hot breath on his neck.

"Off-he-hey."

"Please, just let me hug you. I miss this. I miss you."

Gun bit his lips and sighed in surrender.

He slowly lifted his hand and hugged Off back, finally breaking the walls he built and forgetting all his inhibitions.

_____

"I ran away on the day Mild and I were supposed to get married," Off said as they sit down by the beach, the waves softly hitting their feet.