"Mae, where are phi-phi?" Gulf asked through the video call.

"I made them sleep! You have no idea how hard it was. They all were up last night thinking about you and trying to find you." Mae replied

"I am sorry na, Mae! I will be there as soon as I can and you need to rest too. Are you guys eating?"

"I made them eat and to do that, I needed to eat too." Mae chuckled.

"I love you, Mae! Now please go and sleep otherwise you will have dark big bags under those beautiful eyes of yours." Gulf pouted and Mae couldn't help but laugh at her cute son.

With their usual goodbye and kisses, Gulf ended the call.

"So what do we do now?" Gulf asked looking at the boys around him on the couches and bean bags.

"We could do something indoor! We can't go out with your injured legs." Tap said.

"Wait guys! Are you all this free to actually have free time with me?" Gulf asked with wide eyes.

"Why do you ask that, Baby?" Off asked

"Becau- wait, what did you call me?"

"He just called you baby!" Max said with a grin.

"No-no! Not again!" Gulf slumped his shoulders down and sank into the couch on seeing the numerous grins. Mew just sat beside him with a small smile.

"I should be used to this but I still am not." Gulf pouted.

"You should be!" The boys just teased him.

"Wait, I was asking something! Yes, so you guys are from the Mafia and all that. Then why are you all this free? Shouldn't you all be pacing back and forth with guns and talking about how you need more stock of bullets and gun powder?" Gulf asked with wide eyes.

1, 2 and 3 seconds, then they all burst out into fits of laughter including Mew.

"Did I tell some joke for you all to laugh?" Gulf asked.

After getting no replies but more laughter, he spoke again.

"Or is this some sort of an inside joke?"

"No-no! We aren't from any Mafia." Tul said after laughing very hard.

Gulf's eyes got wider and his mouth opened in shock.

"Then who are all of you?"

"So basically we are from the Investigation department! We are no Mafia. We had to disguise ourselves as the members of a gang to find out some truth and basically catch the criminals with proof." Mike said.

The boys nodded their heads in agreement.

"Why tell me now if you couldn't tell me yesterday?" Gulf asked.

"Aren't you too curious for your own good?" Mew remarked from beside him.

"Curiosity killed a cat! Not a human so I guess I could still be curious and get away with it." Gulf grinned widely.

"I mean we never told you that we were from the Mafia. You just heard Mew saying that to Luca right?" Tul asked.

"Luca? Who's that?" Gulf asked.

"The man who kidnapped you." Off said.

Gulf shivered on thinking about the incident of the previous night and he felt short of breath. Gulf closed his eyes tightly and fisted his hands tightly. Tears streamed through his closed lids and onto his rosy cheeks.

The boys were alarmed at the sight of the distressed Gulf.

"I think it's a panic attack." Tap said.

"What can we do?" Mew asked in panic.

"We need to try to get him out from that state and calm him down."

Mew hugged Gulf and drew soothing circles on his back. He whispered softly into Gulf's ears.

"Gulfie, you are safe. You are with us. I am here to protect you." Mew kept on whispering sweet nothings into Gulf's ears.

"M-me-mew! He-he w-will co-come f-for me." Gulf stuttered in Mew's embrace with his eyes still tightly shut.

"Listen to me! I will never and when I say never, I mean never let him get close to you. I will forever protect you." Mew said.

"Ask him to open his eyes. He will calm down a bit more." Tap said before he disappeared into a room.

"Gulfie, open your eyes and look at me. You are safe. Let's see it for yourself." Mew cooed into the boy's ears while placing him on his lap facing him.

Gulf buried his face into Mew's neck while shaking his head. He was too afraid to open his eyes.

"Just once, Gulfie! Just once!" Mew encouraged him.

Mew held Gulf's chin and placed it in front if his face and tried to motivate the boy to open his eyes.

Finally Gulf opened his eyes and stared into the deep brown orbs that belonged to Mew. Gulf relaxed and calmed down.

Gulf slightly winced when he felt something sharp prick into his hand. He turned to the left to see Tap injecting a clear liquid into him.

A few minutes and Gulf lay unconscious on top of Mew. Mew picked him up and carried him bridal style into his room. Mew carefully laid Gulf on the bed and tucked him in with a warm blanket.

"We have a lot to discuss!" Mew said after closing the door behind him.

💛