I.L.Y. - A MewGulf AU

Chapter 3: Another Gulf

He didn’t recognize the car as it stopped in front of him, neither could he see inside the tinted glass. It was a white BMW, making Gulf wonder how long he had to work to earn enough money to buy a car like this. All of this felt so surreal. Relief flooded through him when he opened the door and recognized Mew behind the steering wheel. Just now he had quickly said goodbye to the confused N’Art, who promised him she wouldn’t tell anyone about his next drama project. The click the seatbelt made as he seated himself reminded him of the sound of his heart which was rapidly beating at the moment.

“Let’s hope nobody took any pictures or videos of us”, were the first words that left Mew’s mouth. Gulf nodded. He didn’t understand much of this reality yet but understood how that could be bad. Mew was a celebrity and… Gulf was his husband… Who was also a celebrity? He was also married, to a guy? It was still a bit much for him.

The car left the parking space and Gulf took this time to stare at Mew. He was gripping the wheel a little too hard, Gulf couldn’t help but notice the veins which adorned the man – his husbands’ hands. His face was stoic as he concentrated on the road in front of him.

Earlier Gulf had already made up his mind about what he should do, but he could also not pretend to know a husband he had never met, so he decided to choose the middle way.

“You know,” the younger’s voice was soft, “I’m really not joking with you.”

The car stopped abruptly as the light turned orange. Mew sighed, teeth clenching.

“If this is a way to avoid us talking about our marriage, this is very low, Gulf”, the Nong was left omitted, making it sound harsh. But the Nong himself shook his head. He understood the husband – his husband, but still felt hurt at the clear tone of irritation underlined in his voice.

“Why can’t you believe what I’m saying… Listen, I’m not your Gulf. N’Art mentioned how-” he got interrupted as the driver raised his voice. “You literally left to visit an old girl friend as I tried to talk to you, how do you expect me to listen to anything you say when you don’t even listen to me?!”

“She’s not a girlfriend, I never dated her!” Gulf retorted, confused but Mew shook his head. “That’s not what I mean, and you know it. If the media saw you coming out of a girl’s apartment, do you know what bullshit I’d have to deal with?!” Mew met Gulf’s eyes for a moment, his eyebrows were knit together and mouth in a scowl. Gulf felt scared for a second. He swallowed.

“No, I don’t.”

Mew had no answer for that.

“I swear, I’m not the Gulf you know and married. N’Art explained it like… that the me, right now, is Gulf from another dimension. One where I never met you and never became an actor. So, I wouldn’t know what bullshit you would have to deal with.” He explained. After reading the online articles about the two of them, he could kind of imagine though.

Mew sighed again; his shoulder slumped as he used one hand to massage his brow. “Let’s pretend I believe you, be it because you are speaking the truth,” his tone clearly showed he himself didn’t buy it, “or that you are avoiding our marriage talk. What kind of dimension did you come from?”

Gulf gave a half-smile, even if the other didn’t believe him, he still listened to him. He respected that in the man.  “A dimension not much different. I have the same name, age, body and oh! I work at a local television channel”, he tried to remember what he googled earlier, “I never became an actor or model, so I never met you in that drama you played in.”

You played in. The other Gulf acted in. Not me .

The husband nodded. He concentrated on the road as he took a left turn, driving up a large underground parking space. “Yet you’re still the same person? Your name is  Gulf?”