5 years ago.
Gun was never the irrational one. He would always weigh things before acting because he didn't like blowing things out of proportion. That was why he waited for Off to approach him first after the petty fight they had last time. He wanted to give Off the time and space he needed. And if there was one thing he regretted, it was the way he lashed out on him last time. It gave him so much remorse he had a hard time sleeping. He couldn't even finish his requirements which were already past due date.
But as much as he tried so hard to keep things under control, all his rational reasoning went downhill as he stared at the Mild's newly uploaded photo on IG. He didn't wanna spy on her profile but he got curious about her relationship with Off. So with indecisiveness and a churning feeling in his stomach, he searched her name on the app and clicked her profile.
He clutched the phone tightly as he read the caption of the photo. They were with their families in what seemed to be an engagement party.
itsmemild: We're getting married! ðð
With tears slowly streaming on his face, he grabbed his bag and stormed out his room oblivious to the fact that his slippers were mismatched and his shirt torn.
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Gun couldn't reach Off no matter how many times he dialled his number so he went to his unit and punched in the security code he had given him when they started dating. He was about to call out his name when he heard someone shouting and who else would it be, the one and only Mild. So instead of butting in their conversation, he concealed himself behind the shelf.
"Oh come on Off! We're already engaged! Of course we have to start preparing for the wedding. As much as possâ"
"Yes we're engaged because you left me with no choice! You're practically holding me on the neck by blackmailing me with that stupid video! I don't even fucking know how you got inside!"
"You know me Off. I always get what I want. Now get your ass moving or your father will be watching you banging a man!"
"Oh shut up!"
Gun stilled, confused on what he should do. His feet remained rooted on the cold tiled floor of Off's unit as he tried to process what he just heard.
"Oh, Gun!" Mild, who was on her way out saw him standing behind the shelf. Off immediately followed obviously shocked of his sudden appearance.
"Gun-I..uh.. What are you doing here?" Off stuttered. His hands clenched like he was using them as a source of strength to talk to Gun. "When did you arrive?"
But Gun couldn't find his voice. Instead, he bit his lips to prevent himself from crying.
"I uh. I just got in. I just wanna ask something about the requirements for the major. But I-I guess you're busy. I'll just come back later," Gun made his way towards the door in the fastest pace he could ever make.
"Gun wait!" Off tried to follow him but Mild quickly grabbed his arm while giving him the you-know-what-will-happen look.
Gun closed the door behind him while slowly clutching his chest, sniffing along the way as he let his tears cover his entire face.
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30 missed calls
1 message received:
Gun can we talk, please? I'll explain everything to you.
Gun threw his phone in the bed and continued working on his requirements.
It was around 11 in the evening when he finished working on them. He couldn't even believe that he was able to finish his work considering the state he was in. All he needed to do was to submit his work to their professor. He was about to go out his room to check on his mother when his room's window slid open and came in a sweaty Off Jumpol.
"What the-"
"Shhhhhhh."
"What are you doing here?" Gun asked in a hushed voice. He really wanna shout at him but he knew that his mother would come running to his room.
"Come with me," Off grabbed his wrist dragging him towards the window. He wasn't able to retaliate when Off effortlessly scooped him up and made him cross the window. He softly landed on the grass outside and Off followed shortly.
"This is trespassing and kidnapping," Gun fumed at Off but the latter just grinned at him before holding his hand and dragging him towards the pickup truck parked meters away from his house.
Off opened the truck and pushed Gun inside.
"Where the hell are you taking me?!" Gun asked the moment Off hopped inside.
Off winked at him and revved the engine.
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Gun woke up to the sound of the waves and the soft stream of the sunlight on his face. He rubbed his eyes and stretched his arms when he hit something. That was when he realized he was still in Off's truck. He turned to look at his side and saw that he was no longer there. He got off the vehicle and scanned the area when he noticed a figure sitting in front of the sea. He slowly approached him and sat beside him. He knew that Off noticed his presence but he didn't say a word. They just stayed there sitting in silence while looking at the waves and listening to the several birds hovering around the area.
"I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry."
They chuckled at their unison, each of them trying to break the awkward silence between them.
"My family's marrying me to Mild," Off said whilst burying his feet in the sand.
Gun remained silent for he wasn't surprised after all. He actually saw this coming the moment Off said that he wanted to talk to him.
"Gun, you know I love you," Off shifted his position to face Gun. "If there's one person I'd want to spend my whole life with, it's you. But,"
Gun felt his chest tightened as he stared at Off's eyes and saw confusion in his eyes.
"Gun. Do you trust me? I-I'll solve this. I'll find a way to stop this fucking thing. Just please don't leave me okay? I don't know what I'll do if you leave me."
Gun nodded and reached for Off's hands and held them tightly giving him the assurance that he'd stay no matter what may happen.
"My brother once had a relationship with a man. My father was furious about it saying he did not raise us just to engage ourselves in such relationship. He was sort of homophobic because his father cheated on his mother with another man. He always says that he doesn't have anything against same sex relationship, but his actions say otherwise. He even went as far as removing my brother's boyfriend from the scholarship list and terminating his mother from work, and I, I don't want that to happen to you, Gun. That was why I told you to keep our relationship a secret first, but I promise you, once we graduate and I can support you, I'll do what it takes to have you with me. I just need you to hang on and trust me, okay?"
Gun didn't say a word. He just nodded and wiped Off's tears as he smiled to assure him that he understood the situation. He just loved him so much he was more than willing to wait for him no matter how long it would take.
He cupped his face as he placed small kisses on Off's forehead, eyes, nose, cheeks and lastly on his lips. His lips lingered there, staying still as he felt Off's presence with him. Then Off started moving, gently sucking and nibbling his lower lip. He responded to his kisses fervently as their tears streamed down their faces.
"I love you," Off whispered through their kisses.
"I love you," Gun smiled but then shrieked as Off scooped him and ran to the sea.
"Off! What the! Put me dooowwn!"
Gun felt the cold water consuming him as Off dropped him into the waters. His screams resonating the whole area while Off laughed mockingly at him.
"Urrghhh! I hate youuuu!"
"You told me to put you down!" Off retaliated as he defended himself from Gun's sudden attack as the shorter guy jumped on him and tackled him. Their bodies made a huge splash on the waters, their laughs reverberating in the area but they couldn't care less for they were in their own world, the world they both created for themselves.
âââââ ââ ââ â âââââ
Off was acting weird, like really weird. Aside from the fact that he kissed Gun out of nowhere, him driving Gun to work was probably the weirdest thing he did that day. He even said that he'd fetch Gun from work and Gun was definitely confused of how he was acting. Gun mentally cursed as he remembered the events earlier.
"I miss you," Off grinned at him before putting a spoonful of rice in his mouth. Gun just stared at him wondering about his sudden change of actions.
"Did I, did I do something weird last night?" He nervously asked.
He had this tendency of blabbering the most random things when he's under the influence of alcohol and he was anxious for he might have said something that caused Off's sudden change of behavior.
"Hmmmmm. Well, none!" Off grinned while munching on his food but Gun knew better. He definitely did something that changed the course of the wind and he was nervous for he had a hint of what it might possibly be.
"Hey!"
"Holy sh-!" Gun jumped as he turned to glare at the person who just arrived. "Like seriously?!"
"Oh come on, baaaabbe. I'm just tryna wake you up. You seemed to be lost in a daze," Jaylerr pouted his lips as he followed Gun inside the elevator.
"Babe your ass. I told you to stop calling me that if he's not around."
"Ouch! Why is your tongue sharper than any sword out there?"
Gun just rolled his eyes and pressed number 4. He needed to finish revising the script for the movie Jaylerr was starring in and the moron just wouldn't leave him alone.
"So are you back together is that why you're already dumping me?" Jaylerr dramatically sobbed as he cupped his own face.
"You know for yourself that there's nothing going on between us. And for the record, it was your idea to fake a relationship to get back at Off. And the idiot that I was gladly took your offer and viola. Where did it get us? Your plan backfired. He's getting married to Mild," Gun scoffed upon remembering the reason he got wasted last night. His head felt heavy and Jaylerr wasn't helping at all. He had this urge to smack him on the face so he'd stop talking nonsensical things.
"Oh come on, you should really move on from him. Get over him will you. I'm here to help you forget him so come on. Won't you give this handsome man a chance to love you?" Jaylerr put on a cute face, blinking his eyes multiple times as he pouted his lips.
"You're not funny," Gun eye rolled as he got off the elevator with Jaylerr closely following him.
"Who said I'm kidding? I have always tried to get my feelings through you but you always take my confessions as jokes, " he sulked.
"Because I know you're just joking! Why would you be in love with a fucking mess like me? I'm not even worth loving to begin with!" Gun stopped in his tracks and turned to face Jaylerr. He was towering over him but it didn't stop him from glaring at him. Several people were stealing glances at them but Gun couldn't care less as he engaged in a staring competition with Jaylerr. And he somewhat felt his chest clenched. Looking at Jaylerr this close had always been difficult for him for he reminded him of Off. They looked so similar that he sometimes had hallucinations that it was Off who was with him and not Jaylerr. And he hated that he felt that way. It seemed like he was using Jaylerr for his own delusions and he wanted to stop it right at that very moment.
"None of them was a joke, Gun. I was damn serious when I told you I'd help you get over Off."
"Come on Jaylerr. Please, we're good friends and workmates. I don't, I don't wanna ruin that."
Jaylerr reached out for Gun's hand and held it tightly like his life depended on it. Gun tried taking his hand back but Jaylerr was holding on it so tightly he wouldn't even budge no matter how hard he tried to release himself from his grasp.
"I don't wanna ruin shit too but I won't just stand and watch you go back to him without fighting. I'm stopping this fake relationship with you cause I'm courting you for real. So Gun be prepared because I'm gonna make sure you'd end up with me no matter what it takes."