Surprisingly enough, Gulf does lead them inside the engineering faculty building. Mew is really starting to freak out that he must have forgotten about partnering with the guy on a project supposedly responsible for a good chunk of their final grade. Bright's betrayed and hurtful glare is safely locked in a closet inside the dark recess of his mind to dwell on later. Right now Mew has academic nightmares to contend with. He's about to start demanding answers when Gulf takes a left turn instead of right for the professor's office to march them past hallways and inside an empty mechanics lab.

Mew stares baffled as Gulf bolts the door, leaning against the frame with an expectant look on his face. Chestnut lips quiver in a barely repressed smile as doe eyes track his nervous movements, focusing a fraction second longer on Mew's veiny thin hands to gaze back to his eyes, mirth and other confusing emotions flickering in those dark depths.

"What? You're planning to stare at me all day? You could take a picture instead, you know? I will even pose a selfie with you."

Those playful words (at least that's what he thinks) zap him out of shock and leaves Mew oddly flustered and stuttering a reply which he prays isn't as bad as it sounds in his head. "Wh-phew. I'm not- That's not, um, what I was doing."

"Okay. In that case, don't you have something to say to me then?

Mew cocked his head sideways. "Like what?" He blames the short circuiting of his brain equally on his still recovering mental state (thanks Bright) and on the taller guy approaching him like a panther stalking its prey. He is backed against the cabinets with Gulf nearly looming over him (second instance today where Mew ended up in this position – if he's not careful, there might even be a third time!) and aptly bursts into flames or rather does a damn good impression of it.

Gulf stands dangerously close to invading his personal space, leans down to face him with a mischievous smile that Mew doesn't find attractive at all. No sir! The tanned football player is aware of the potency of his good looks and it shows in his confident gait and near-constant smirk on his stern face. He plants his hands on the counter trapping Mew between him and the flat table surface, leaving him with no option but to scowl and bear with it.

"Hm," Gulf hums keenly observing him whilst acting deep in thought, "you could always start with a thank you."

What? What is he talking about?

It takes Mew an embarrassingly long time to understand that his classmate was just responding to his earlier question and to figure out the context of his hypothetical gratefulness. Once it clicks, a renewed desire to get buried alive or disappear into the floor runs rampant at the forefront of his thoughts.

Smiling sheepishly, Mew tries to buy some time to bluff his way out of this disaster. After all, Gulf couldn't possibly know what he walked into – except for what he saw, which admittedly is pretty damning on its own. "Ah. Listen. I think you got it wrong?" He winces. That sounded bad and questionable even to his own ears. Laughs nervously to cover up how rattled he is at the moment, Mew tries again to clarify things better. He has no idea what Gulf's intentions are for butting in and he can only hope they are not bad. "Bri- ahem, I was just-"

"You don't need to explain yourself to me. Neither are you obligated to offer any excuses if it makes you uncomfortable to discuss this topic, Mew."

Gulf's straightforwardness and sincere tone totally throws Mew off. He scrunches his forehead and purses his lips, debating the best way to word his doubts regarding the whole situation. The typically grumpy guy beats him to it again. Ruffling Mew's hair (and almost giving him a heart attack) Gulf chuckles in fond exasperation, before moving away to stand (or rather slouch) beside him.

"Mew, it is okay if you don't want to talk about it. But I wanted to let you know that I'm always here to help – whatever you need, okay?" He smiles, rubbing the back of his neck. "I noticed that, um, you're perhaps not on good terms with Bright. And, I know it's none of my business, whatever is going on between you guys." Gulf adds hastily, averting his eyes while Mew just gapes at him. "Er, I just- want to be there for you. We haven't exactly spoken much and I know you probably have no reasons to trust me because of my history with Bright. But watching you walk around being miserable and trying to avoid him for the past couple of weeks ... I simply cannot sit by the sidelines and do nothing, you know."

Gulf means well, he can see that. From his concerned spiel, Mew understands whatever animosity he believed brewed between him and Gulf is merely a misunderstanding of sorts. No self-respecting rival would be worried about his personal life or swing by to play saviour like Gulf did. It certainly makes him wonder how many things he had gotten wrong over the years – first Bright and now Gulf. Yet, the one thing that stands out clear as the midday sun in Bangkok's skyline is the slip up Gulf made about Bright.

>*<

"What do you mean by your history with Bright?"

Of course Mew focuses on that. How could he not? From what he remembers of Bright's limited cussing, he and Gulf never saw eye-to-eye because of their opposing teams. The way Gulf phrased it though, sounded like there more to it than mere football matches and annual sports competitions.

He jerks his head, startled and clearly not expecting Mew to latch onto this detail. Gulf snorts, his eyes remaining hard and humorless as he follows an imaginary pattern on the opposite wall. "Let's just say, Bright and I go way back."

"And?" Mew prompts, when no further information is forthcoming.

Gulf raises an eyebrow, wryly. "And ... it doesn't really matter anymore." He shifts, making Mew believe their conversation is done. But then, he pulls himself up to perch on the countertop and sighs. "Long story – will tell you some other day."

Mew wanted to whine and protest that he needs to hear it now. Almost acts on his impulses too. He does stops himself in time when he notices the amused expression Gulf is sporting. However, it is at odds with his defensive posture and the intense curiosity gleaming off of him. Recalls how just a few minutes prior Gulf offered him the courtesy of not prying into his secrets and respected his privacy. The least Mew could do is return him the same favor.

Still, this entire encounter is truly bizarre!

If someone told him a month ago, he and Gulf would be on speaking terms locked away in a secluded room engaged in a personal conversation that too involving Bright, then Mew would have told them to get their head checked – after cracking up wildly first. And yet, here they are – still continuing whatever this weird chitchat is about. Mew, never one for brain-to-mouth filter during distressing moments, says as much. He gets to witness the other guy guffaw loudly.

Why is he laughing at me? What's so funny?

"Nothing. I wasn't laughing at you," Gulf is quick to reassure him.

Wait. Mew widens his eyes, tongue wetting his suddenly dry lips. Did he say that out loud? Gulf's awkward grimace is the answer that he needs. Groaning at the return of his annoying habit, Mew nearly pulls his hair in frustration. What's with today and the humiliating scenarios he keeps finding himself in?

"I'm being serious when I said I wanted to help you. Because I can see you're upset and I- I hate seeing you this way. You're a good person, Mew and I'm in a position to look out for you if you will allow it. I can be a shield against unwanted visitors, a distraction like today when you needed to flee from a confrontation. I can also be an excuse to keep people at bay from approaching you. Think about it. There's no terms and conditions attached to my offer – just a genuine desire to help out a classmate and hopefully, a good friend in the making."

Again Mew has no idea how to react. On one hand, he's incredibly touched by the kindness Gulf is bestowing on him. On the other hand, Mew's mortified that his dirty laundry is aired for the whole world to see. If Gulf, a guy he never really interacted with, picked up on his current prediction then no doubt their whole class knows about this. Mild, Gulf's best friend and the biggest gossip in their department probably alerted his friend and everyone in his friends' network regarding this. Bright is popular – their campus Moon last year. Of course, people are interested in every news that has to do with him. Could Bright have heard something that was blown out of proportion by the campus grapevine?

What even are people saying about them now? He's freaking out and paying attention to the wrong things, Mew can tell. But he also cannot bring himself to stop, worry gnawing away at his reasoning and common sense. Mew almost dismisses the generous overture, hot shame licking at his cheeks and coloring his eyes blind to everything else but the swan dive his reputation took.

Before he could bolt to scream his frustration in some far off corner, Gulf wraps a hand around his wrist effectively halting him. He carefully and methodologically addresses every frightening thought whispering Mew to run for the hills and relocate to states if possible to avoid utter humiliation at the hands of his peers. There's no way he could face Bright ever in this lifetime. Despite Gulf's persuasive voice slowly taming his demons, he could feel anxiety crawling inside him like a particularly stubborn parasite and driving him paranoid. Mew would have still made a run for it, if not for the shocking revelation that drops from Gulf's plump lips and lands a fatal blow to his blistering sensibilities.

"You can't keep running away from your problems every time, Mew. They are going to catch up to you inevitably. I can help you deal with them. If not with Bright, then how about with the other 'stalker' you're trying to avoid."

Mew slowly turns around, heart jack-rabbiting in his throat. He couldn't have heard it right. "I- what do. How did you-?"

Gulf merely shrugs. "Told you, I was sick of watching from the sidelines. Turns out there are a lot of stuff you can pick if one pays attention to the right things. And I can tell this other guy is really starting to bother you ... much more than whatever issue or fight you got going with Bright."

And really, what else can Mew say to that? Gulf is right after all.

>>*<<

A/N: A short update - life's been kicking my ass lately. Would you believe I wrote this chapter in one sitting? Anyways, next up Bright's POV - yay. Really excited about that. Hopefully, it won't be too long before I update again. Thanks again for your patience and understanding!

Please vote and comment if you enjoyed this chapter. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the story so far. Take care! xoxo