Chapter 15: Chapter Fifteen

7 years ago. First week of Junior Year

“P’Off. Can I bring you home with me? I want to introduce you to my mom.”

Off had to double glance at Gun who was beaming at him. He was taken aback by Gun's question that  he wasn’t able to answer for a moment.

“Uhmm. Gun, can I talk to you about something?”

He was nervous. No, nervous was an understatement. His insides were fucking shaking. He didn’t know if Gun would agree to the idea of them hiding their relationship. He was scared that he would stay away from him. Well, he’d been through a lot of relationships before but those  just lasted for weeks or a couple of months and he wouldn’t even blink an eye every time he broke up with someone. But with Gun, he couldn’t bear the idea of losing him. It seemed like Gun was  able to wrap him around his finger without him realizing it.

“I-I don’t know how to say this because I’m afraid you wouldn’t like it, but…,” he paused. There was a confused look on Gun's face. His forehead was creased as he waited for Off to finish his statement.

“Can we, can we not let anyone know about our relationship yet?” Off closed his eyes as he blurted those words. He was afraid to look at Gun's face.

“Why? Tay and Arm already know it, right?”

Off sensed a tinge of disappointment in Gun's voice. Hell yeah, he’d be disappointed too if it was him. But as much as he wanted to show Gun off to every person he knew, he was afraid of his father. He was afraid his father would find ways to separate them. He’d seen it with his very own eyes. And he didn’t want Gun to suffer like how his brother’s lover suffered before.

“Let’s just have them the only ones to know about us, please? Just for now. I-I assure you once we graduate and I can find a job and support you, I-I'll let the world know about us. Just not now, Gun. Please?” Off grabbed Gun's hands and held them tightly.

“O-okay. Okay. Whatever your reason is, I trust you,” Gun smiled and nodded his head.

“Thank you, love. I love you,” Off said before pulling Gun into a hug. He was relieved but at the same time worried. He didn’t know what the future might bring but he just wanted to feel Gun's warmth and it was enough to make him feel better.

“I love you, too.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

Off glanced at Gun who was currently eating in front of him. There was a long stretch of silence between them. After what happened earlier, Gun went out of his room without looking back obviously taken aback by what he said. He might have shocked Gun but he didn’t regret saying those words. He had decided to get Gun back. He was never Jaylerr's to begin with.

“I meant what I said earlier,” Off casually said as he continued staring at Gun who couldn’t even look at him. “You were never his to begin with. I know he’s just using you to get back at me just like what he did before.”

Gun didn’t answer but he stopped eating his food. He was still not looking at Off, instead he just continued staring at his food like it was some sort of an animal he’d never seen before.

“I’m with him, Off.  And what we did earlier was considered cheating,” Gun said in a low voice.

“If you’re really with him, then I wouldn’t mind cheating with you as long as you’ll end up with me,” Off said with conviction which made Gun look at him.

“Huh, and then what, hide me again and deny me to everyone?”

“Gun, I-I didn’t—”

“I’m heading out first,” Gun stood and placed the dishes on the sink before walking back to his room. Seconds later, he went out of the condo leaving Off whose eyes were glued on the door which he just walked out of.

Off just sighed frustratingly not even knowing if he still wanted to go to his office or just sulk all day in his room. He took another breath before slowly standing, dragging his chair in the process. The chair created a sound which resonated inside the room, the only sound that broke the deafening silence. He was about to wash the dishes on the sink when another sound broke into thin air, his phone. He looked at the caller ID and was surprised to see the name on screen. They hadn’t seen each other for years and it was surprising to know that she contacted him after working overseas for a long time. He picked up the phone and pressed the answer button.

“Hey there sweetie. How you’ve been?”

“OFF JUMPOL! Oh heavens I missed you so much! I need to see you ASAP!”

Off couldn’t help but laugh as he heard her scream over the phone.

“Okay, I’m skipping work today just for you. Where am I gonna meet you?”

“Oh let’s have lunch at the restaurant we frequent before  We’ve got a lot of catching up to do. See ya!”

“Okay see you,” Off turned off the call and made a call to his secretary.

“Cancel all my appointments today. I need to meet someone important.”

He announced as he made his way to his bedroom to prepare for his meeting with Mild, his ex-fiancée.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

7 years ago. October 4.

"Are you sure he's gonna like this, Tay?" Off asked for the nth time as he looked at his phone which was ringing as Gun was calling him nonstop. He wanted to surprise  him for his birthday so he intentionally didn't contact Gun the entire day. And now his phone was blowing up and so was his mind. He asked Tay and Arm for help as he set up a dinner table at the place where he first brought Gun, their favorite place, their haven. The place was decorated with fairy lights but he did not put too much. Just enough to illuminate the area since he knew how much Gun loved to watch the stars above. He also asked for Arm's help in cooking the dishes. He wanted to make this night special for Gun.

"I don't think he'll like it," Tay said as he looked at Off who was currently fidgeting.

"Wh-Why?"

"Because he'll love it!" Tay's laugh resonated in the area.

"Bastard!"

"Will you stop fidgeting. Arm just texted. He already picked up Gun from work. They're already on their way here. Goodness, I never thought I'd see you like this Jumpol. Girls are supposed to be doing this to you. Not the other way around."

"Well first, Gun's not a girl, and second obviously you've never been in love that's why you don't know how it feels like to be this nervous and excited at the same time!"

"I don't believe in such thing Off. I don't."

"We'll see about that. I heard you've got yourself an admirer from the business ad department."

"Who?"

"That boy you hit with the ball. Gun has told me about him."

"He doesn't like me, you fool. And besides I'm not into boys. I'm not a bi like you. I mean there's nothing with being bi don't get me wrong okay. It's just that I'm not into men."

"We'll see about that. I've got that same mindset too but look at me now," Off looked at Tay mischievously.

"Whatever asshole."

|We're almost there.|

"Sht. They're almost here!" Off exclaimed as he read Arm's message.

"Will you calm down?!" Tay grunted as he followed a frantic Off to the table to get the cake.

"Turn off the lights turn them off noooow!"

Tay rolled his eyes as he switched off the lights leaving them in darkness, with only the faint light from the moon illuminating the place. They watched in silence as Arm's car parked. Off then hurriedly lighted the candle on the cake as he watched Gun went down the car and looked around the area, a confused look plastered on his face.

"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you  Happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, love." Off sang as he approached Gun.

But instead of receiving a thank you kiss, Gun pinched his side, making him almost drop the cake.

"I thought something bad happened to you! You weren't answering my calls all day you moron!" Gun exclaimed as he wiped the tears on his face.

"Please make a wish first, love," Off smiled playfully as he watched the candle got shorter as it burned.

Gun closed his eyes and clasped his hands together. After making a wish, he then blew the candle.

"Happy birthday again, love."

"Thank you, love."

"Sorry for not answering your calls. I wanted to surprise you. Forgive me already na?"

Gun just smiled and nodded. Off helped him wipe his tears with his right hand, the cake on his left.

"Goodness, why do I have to witness this cheesiness." Tay faked a gag as he turned on the lights.

Off saw how Gun marveled at the sight. Though it was just a simple decoration but it was evident that Gun loved it.

"Why are you still here? Didn't I tell you to scram after Gun arrives?"

"You ungrateful swine! By the way happy birthday, Gun."

"Happy birthday, Gun." Arm greeted him as well. "We have to go or else Off's gonna kill the two of us."

"Thank you, Tay. Thank you, Arm." Gun smiled as he waved at the two.

"Thank you for the help friends," Off's chinky eyes got even smaller as he smiled at his friends.

"Whatever idiot," Tay laughed as he entered Arm's car.

Off then dragged Gun to the dinner table, proudly showing off the food he cooked himself.

"I cooked all of these for you. I hope you'll like them."

Gun looked at Off suspiciously. Knowing Off who wouldn't even bother cooking his own food, he couldn't even believe a word he said.

"I really did. I did not buy takeaway food okay...like what I did before. Arm helped me with these so I can say that these are edible."

"God you're so defensive," Gun laughed as he placed a soft kiss on Off's lips. "Thank you for these."

"Hmmmm. Why don't we skip dinner and do something else. My car's quite spacious," Off whispered as he pulled Gun into a hug.

"Stop it Jumpol. I'm starving," Gun laughed and proceeded to the table.

"Me too, I'm starving, starving for youuu."

Gun's laugh reverberated in the area as he watched Off sat across him.

"I love you, Off  Jumpol."

"I love you more, Gun Atthaphan."

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

Off scanned the place and his eyes landed on the woman sitting by the window. He saw her waved her hands upon seeing him. He could see some changes on her. Her previously black hair was now blonde and she also became slimmer and fairer.

He approached her table in long strides, oblivious to the fact that the girls in the room couldn't help but ogle at him.

"Long time no see, ex," Off greeted her with a smile as he sat down in front of her.

They had their fair share of history but they remained casual and nonchalant about it, often times making it a joke between them.

"Long time no see! So how are you? I mean you look good but not that good," Mild scanned Off's appearance. "Don't tell meee."

"Yeah. We're not back together okay. Stop rubbing it in."

"I thought you made a move! Oh come on! I thought you know your game. I shouldn't have given you up had I known that you still wouldn't end up together," Mild jokingly said with a laugh.

They were used to talking about their past like it was some kind of joke and they had this mutual understanding of not taking it against each other.

"So what made you go home?" Off asked as he looked at the menu the waiter gave them.

"Well, I'm done with my contract there and I'm looking for a new management since my previous management's kinda shaky as of the moment. And I want a new environment. Do you have anything available for me in your company?"

"Are you serious?"

"Does it look like I'm joking??"

"Well we're looking for new talents for the new show. You could audition if you like."

"Okay, I'm in. Just send me the deets."

Mild was an actress. She was offered a show in Singapore three years ago and she stayed there ever since but she made casual trips home during ocassions. They just never had the chance to meet and talk.

"Oh, look what we have here," Mild raised an eyebrow as she looked at the restaurant's entrance. "It's your favorite cousin."

Off followed her gaze and watched as Jaylerr entered the restaurant, following him was Gun who was busy talking on the phone.

"And Gun?! What's he doing with that idiot?"

"They're together," Off huffed as he took a sip of water.

"Holy-Tell me you're joking!"

"Do I look like I am? Hey, hey I don't like that look on your face."

But Mild just smiled smugly and Off felt his breath stopped as he watched Mild waved at the newcomers.

"Jay! Gun! Why don't you join us?"

"I'll kill you after this," Off gritted his teeth as he muttered under his breath.

"No, you'll thank me after this," Mild said as they both watched Jay and Gun approach their table.