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Looking at him behind the counter was just like admiring a priceless piece of art; it never gets tiring or boring.
Even after looking at his sunflower for 1095 days, Mew still looks at him with fresh passion and love.
"How long are you planning to just sit here, Phi?" An all-too-familiar voice interrupted his lingering memories.
Mild.
Mild might have been there since their Day 1, but being called out in that instant certainly did not make Mew feel good.
"I don't know what you are talking about..." The older one chose to play dumb and shifted his position of comfortably leaning forward.
Mild opted against saying anything further. Instead, a defeated sigh left his lips and he helped himself with a sip of Mew's coffee.
Scrunching his face in disgust, the younger one quickly washed his throat down with water from his own tumbler.
"If only you saw Mild now, you would probably laugh until your side hurt..." Mew thought to himself as he shot a glance towards the barista.
The said barista was joking around with his colleague but the melodic laughter pained Mew.
Again, his train of thoughts was pulled back by Mild.
"Why is this coffee so bitter, Phi?"
He coughed a couple of times before dramatically taking a couple more gulps.
It was now Mew who couldn't help but laugh at Mild. He was always so funny, cheerful and fun to be with. Nobody has to worry about running out of topics to talk about since Mild is so talkative.
"Do you remember how we used to gang up on Mild, Tua?"
How long has the time passed? I don't know...
But I’m still here at the place we used to be together...
Try to bring back those good memories when…
Silence fell briefly upon them before Mild spoke again.
"Phi, it's been a year… why don't you go talk to him?"
It wasn't the first, second nor the third time someone had suggested that. Most of it came from Mild and Run since they were their biggest and strongest supporters.
"Do you remember Kaownah, Mild and Run... Tua? They cheered on us so hard...."
Mew's expression fell at that question. It wasn't like he did not want to but what rights does he have?
This world has only us in it… when you still don't have that person...
If it weren't for him, Gulf wouldn't have suffered and lost his memories. Mew had robbed Gulf of what he had fallen in love with; performing.
Mew was the one who ruined him. He hurt the one person he loves the most; his beloved sunflower.
So what rights does he have to go back to his life now?
But in the end, I understand… it's all worthless...
Can only just force myself to keep it in...
No matter how many times going over those memories...
Since that dreadful accident, there wasn't a day that went by without Mew feeling guilty. And there wasn't a night that passed where Mew wouldn't cry himself to sleep while going through his photo gallery filled with him and his sunflower.
You probably erased all of them by now...
If it was not for that fight, Gulf would not have wanted to return to his family's home for that night. All Mew needed to do was to ask him to stay but he was livid to think things through.
The car accident resulted in Gulf spending 6 months in a comatose state. Mew stayed with him day and night. He had become so haggard that it became too painful for both families to watch.
Nobody in the Traipippatanapong family blamed Mew. Knowing how much Mew love Gulf, they knew that nobody would be as sad as Mew.
Even going back~ through time~ going back with the trails of tears...
You probably don’t even know my name, but I'm just missing you again...
Mew stayed away from the media during those 6 months. He wanted to concentrate on praying for Gulf's recovery. Mew prayed incessantly, fasted and did merits frequently in exchange for Gulf's recovery.
It was a painful thing to pray but Mew promised to stay away from Gulf if he woke up.
And Mew did.
But you probably forget it all… you probably forget it all...
Telling myself that I have to be able to live alone from now…
It'd probably be okay if I don't have you here anymore...
But I'm still waiting for you at the same place, not going anywhere...
Even though I knew that you're never coming back...
When Gulf woke up, Mew hid and left after making sure he was fine. He found out only later from Mama T that Gulf had lost his memories.
Apart from remembering his family and himself, Gulf does not remember anything.
Settling the media part was fairly easy. After a thorough discussion, Gulf decided to leave the industry since he could not remember 'himself' in that world anymore.
What surprised the family was his decision to open a cafe but they supported him anyway. Gulf does not like drinking coffee, to begin with — but somehow, the idea of operating a cafe appealed to him.
Still reading the same book no matter how many times I have read it...
Read to the point I can remember the story, keep repeating it so that my heart felt cold...
But in the end, I understand… it's all worthless...
Can only just force myself to keep it in...
Losing Gulf in the entertainment world was a huge blow to the fans. But they understood his stance and supported his cafe.
But the biggest supporter was none other than Mew.
Mew was equally dumbfounded when Mama T told him of the news but Gulf was someone full of surprises and Mew loved him for that.
Mew would come in at the same time every day and he would sit at the same place since the first day. Thankfully, fans were sensible enough to give him space and avoided bringing up the topic of MewGulf to either one of them.
No matter how many times going over those memories...
You probably erased all of them by now...
Even going back~ through time~ going back with the trails of tears...
You probably don't even know my name, but I’m just missing you again...
A year had passed like the waves kissing the footprints on the sand. There were many times he had to hold himself back whenever Gulf accidentally scalded or injured himself.
There was no reason for Mew to jump to his rescue anymore since he was replaced by someone else. But the fact that his sunflower no longer shines for him was not enough of a hindrance to his coming.
Gulf, in his very existence, had become Mew's vitamin. A vitamin that he could not do without.
More often than not, Mew wished he was wrong and that both of them were just friends. But looking at his colleague reminded Mew of himself — it was filled with adoration and bliss.
"... but Gulf doesn't look at him the same way he looked at you, Phi." Mild reminded Mew when they first brought up the topic months ago.
It was when they noticed the man was trying to court Gulf.
But Mew was convinced that it might be his own selfishness and greed that was hindering him from accepting the truth.
But you probably forget it all… you probably forget it all...
You probably forget it all...
But I’d probably be fine… I'd probably be fine...
For how long must it take to forget you…
Like how you erased me from your heart, I don’t think it's that easy…
….the truth.
It was slightly after the morning peak hours when Mew entered the cafe. Gulf was cleaning the counter when the doors opened and he looked up.
Gulf frowned almost invisible when he laid eyes on the man. He tightened his grasp on the cloth so hard that his knuckles turned white.
His heart was slightly racing when the man got near. Gulf could swear that sparks flew. Melancholy and nostalgia whirled in his pool of emotions. He also felt a strong sense of familiarity and a pang of sadness that made his eyes go red and watery.
The scent from the handsome stranger sent chills creeping down his spine; it felt too close to home. If Gulf hadn't had enough restraint, he would ask the stranger if they knew each other.
On the contrary, the handsome stranger's smile seemed forced and his eyes looked sorrowful and hollow.
"It isn't supposed to be like that..." Gulf suddenly thought. "His smile doesn't look like that..." When a stray tear threatened to fall at the corner of his eye at the silent thought, Gulf pulled himself back to his senses and cleared his throat.
Sad was an understatement.
Who kidnapped my lover? Please give him/her back, give him/her back, oh...
My same old lover disappeared, don't know where he/she is...
From then on, Gulf would have dreams about him with an unknown man. The couple in his dreams were so deeply and madly in love, it felt like they were truly made for each other.
Gulf would wake up tearing or smiling blissfully. It felt like past memories of someone else had invaded his mind.
I want my lover back, please let's make up...
Let's make up, could you please...
Miss you, the same old you, so much...
Please come back, my angel...
One of his staff —or as he prefers to call it — colleagues, Up, does have feelings for Gulf but it was purely one-sided. The older confessed but only to be rejected by Gulf.
Somehow, the thought of being with someone felt impossible. It was as if deep down, Gulf knew he belonged to someone and he's waiting for that someone to claim him.
Gulf had felt so connected to the dream and the lover also vaguely resembled him as the handsome stranger.
Miss you my baby...
oh please forgive me...
I’ll be a good boy...
If it was up to Gulf, he would very much like to go up to the handsome stranger to exchange their LINE ID. But his introverted personality disagreed with his desire so instead, Gulf prayed that the man would not stop coming by.
At least long enough until Gulf gathered enough courage to ask the handsome man for his Line ID.