Chapter Eight

Joong came back home, ran to his room and slammed his bag on the couch. 

"Argh!" he screamed in frustration. 

Knock knock.

He looked up to see his eldest brother on the door looking at him worriedly. 

"Hey bud! What's wrong?" Off asked. 

"Nothing! I'm just tired." Joong said blandly. 

Off entered his baby brother's room and sat down on the couch and stared at him for a moment before speaking. 

"Something must've happened to make you this tired." Off stated. 

Joong just looked at his elder brother and sat down sighing, knowing that he won't give up until and unless he told him what was wrong. 

"There is this guy in uni that I met accidentally and he is getting on my nerves." He said. 

Off looked at his brother with a raised eyebrow. "You never get bothered by people no matter how much annoying or pissing off they possibly be so what's the sudden change?" He asked. 

You surely know me too well, Joong thought to himself. 

"Um.....well...there is this other guy that I met today accidentally when we bumped and...." He looked at his brother who looked at him curiously. "...and.....?" 

He took a deep breath and continued "...and I guess I like him, but this guy got in between and pressed my nerves. They seem close as well. Too close." 

He looked at his brother who seemed to be processing the whole situation. He was nervous of what his brother night think of him saying that he likes a guy.

Off finally broke the silence. "Well basically he gets on your nerves because you're jealous he's close to the guy you like. Interesting." Off said which shocked Joong since he thought his brother would be pissed at him.

"Wait. You aren't mad that I like a guy?" Joong asked which made Off laugh his ass off. 

"What made you think like that you idiot! What's wrong with liking a guy. Hey bud, your brothers aren't narrow minded and it doesn't matter if it's a girl or a boy. It matters what that person makes you feel about them and as well as yourself. I have to say something though. You never ever got jealous when you were with your girlfriend but one glimpse of this guy and you're already ready to be burnt into ashes? I'm so looking forward to meeting this guy." Off said staring at his blushing brother. 

"Oh my god! Now he makes you blush as well? Who is it tell me." Off asked curiously. 

Joong looked at his brother for a while before answering. "No! I wont. Now get lost!" Joong said pushing Off out of his room and closing the door behind. 

Off just chuckled at his baby brother's cuteness and he was way too curious to know who was the guy who had his baby bro all smitten.

Joong on the other hand, walked towards the mirror and stood there staring at himself in disbelief. "What the fuck is wrong with you Joong? You're the coolest "alpha male" kinda guy, not giving a fuck and not bothering about feelings and shit. Why now? Oh my god! I just know his name and I am already behaving like this? No! You cannot you fool. Don't act stupid and act calmly and coolly just like you've always done." Joong said to himself. 

.

Knock knock.

"Come in." 

"Mew, I wanted to ask you whether you'd be attending the competition that our company is sponsoring." Off asked as he sat down on a chair opposite to Mew. 

"What is the competition about Off?" Mew asked his elder twin brother.

"It's a national level shooting competition. The one which Joong is attending." Off responded.

Mew froze for a moment hearing the information. Competition? Shooting? Nationals? Gulf. 

Off noticed the change in Mew's behaviour. 

"Mew, if you are busy it's ok since I'll be going there anyway. It's a big thing for Joong." Off stated. 

"NO!" Mew almost yelled which startled Off a little since his brother never ever showed any emotion practically. 

"I mean no, I am not busy and I will be attending it and how come I didn't know that Joong had applied for something big like this?" Mew asked looking at Off. 

"You see, you're busy most of the time and rarely interact with us. Even when we talk, we talk about work and nothing else and you hardly talk to Joong at all. You don't even eat with us since you're so packed with everything and it's just me and Joong. You never seem interested in anything and don't ask us as well, so that's probably why." Off sighed.

Mew felt bad hearing all those. He misses his family as well. He just doesn't know how to do that and seeing Gulf and his family made him want to get closer to his as well. It's just that he doesn't know how to open up at all to his family after being closed off for so long.

"I'm sorry Off. It's not that I am not interested but because I don't know how to spend time with you all." Mew said with a hint of sadness in his voice. 

Off was shocked to the core seeing Mew like this. His brother showed emotions and apologized as well which hasn't happen ever since what happened with their mother. He almost teared up at this sight. 

"Don't be sorry Mew, I understand you and if you ever need anything, just tell me my baby brother. Don't keep it inside anymore. It actually hurts to see my baby brother hurting so much. I feel useless as your elder twin brother, that I couldn't do anything when I should've been the one to shield you both. I'm sorry Mew." Off said with tears in his eyes. 

Mew just shook his head vigorously. " You are the best elder twin one can ever have Off. I'm glad to have you as my other half so please don't say sorry." Mew said looking at his brother sadly. 

Off couldn't control it and he stood up and embraced Mew in a tight hug and surprisingly Mew responded the hug. 

After a while Off broke the hug and looked at his brother. "Buddy, if you have anything to share with me, or need my advice, come to me anytime be it about literally anything." He said smiling.

Mew just nodded his head in response and watched Off leave the room. He strangely felt a sense of satisfaction after saying those words to his twin. It felt nice to interact in that way though it wasn't much but to him it was something he could've never ever done in his life. 

He smiled at the thought of his twin addressing him as buddy and telling him to come to him anytime he wanted to talk. Maybe he should thank Tae for having him over dinner, so that he could see how beautiful family interactions could be. He was determined to try to do this more often. 

As he was lost in his thoughts, his phone chimed and distracted him. He looked to see who it was and his face immediately lit up. 

Cuteness💞

Hey Mr. Hotness, how was your day? 

It was not that great. How about yours cuteness? 

Boooorrring as usual just missed you alot. 😉

I couldn't concentrate on my work since I had you on my mind the whole time. 😉

Ouuuiii! So now you know how to flirt as well huh? How much are your wanting to destroy me with your never ending charms? 

So much that you never get tired of me, cuteness. ❤️

Oh my god! Let me breathe please. If you shower me with so much altogether then I might not survive at all. Anyways, I gotta go. Talk to you later hotness.😘

Bye and take care and all the best for your competition. Do well. 😘❤️

Thanks, and I will do good. Take care as well. Seeya! 

Mew smiled at the little flirty conversation that they had. Though it was short, it was enough for both to keep their day going with a tinge of happiness and satisfaction in them.

He put down his phone on the table and headed out to join his family for dinner, for the first time in years. 

Joong was shocked to see his elder brother walk towards them and take a seat on the dining hall. Off too was shocked but he was more overwhelmed at his brother's effort in opening up to them. He smiled at him while Joong sat there completely frozen. Never once have he had a normal conversation with him and he was scared to death to even start one since hemis elder brother looked so grim and stern all the time and never once had he smiled at them. 

Mew noticed his younger brother squirm in his seat and he knew it was because he was nervous of him being there and it saddened him a little. He felt a hand on his thigh and looked up to see Off smiling at him assuringly. He took a deep breath and looked up at Joong. 

"Hey bud! How's your preparations going on for the competition?" Mew asked smiling at Joong. 

Joong froze for a moment and just stared at Mew blankly. He smiled. He freaking smiled at me. Unknowingly, tears strated brimming in his eyes, threatening to fall. He looked at Off who smiled softly at him and nodded and then he looked at Mew who was smiling at him. Sincerely. He couldn't control and tears rolled down his cheeks. 

Mew got worried seeing him this way and immediately made way to him. He kneeled down taking Joong's hand in his and wiped the tears off his face. "What's wrong? Did something happen or you aren't ok with me being around?" Mew said the last sentence with a sad smile. 

Joong frantically shook his head and sniffled. "Th... that's not wh..why I cried." Joong said as his lips curled and he cried more. 

"Then stop crying and tell me bud. What's wrong?" Mew asked wiping Joong's tears with the sleeve of his dress shirt. 

"Yo...you...sm...smiled at me. You came to...eat dinner with us." Joong said biting his lips inorder to not cry anymore. 

Mew smiled at Joong and to everyone's surprise, hugged him tight and caressed his head softly. "I'm sorry. I haven't been a big brother to you all these time. I'm sorry for distancing myself from you both and acting cold all the time. You both are all that I have and I am sorry for having acted like an asshole all these time. I promise I'll do better. I promise." Mew said, patting Joong's head.

Joong cried his heart out hearing that and Off teared up as well but he was overwhelmed with happiness that his brother made progress and a bit sad since his twin had been all alone these years hurting on his own, without letting anyone know. 

Off stood up and went over to Joong's side and hugged his brothers tight. They stayed in each others' embrace for a while, taking in the warmth and love that can only be found between family. It was probably the most happiest night for all of them and a bit more for Mew, since what he did was a huge step according to him.

They broke off the hug and looked at each other before bursting into laughter. Messy hair and tear stained cheeks and red puffy eyes. They really looked terrible. "Let's eat shall we?" Off said ruffling Joong's hair and patting Mew's shoulder. Both nodded and sat down to eat their dinner peacefully, as a family together, for the first time and they finally felt complete. 

They bid their goodbyes and went to their respective rooms for the night. Mew went to his office and took his phone and smiled. 

He remembered Gulf telling him something the night they exchanged numbers. 

Gulf had called him late at night saying he couldn't sleep and they ended up talking till 4 in the morning, until it was time for Gulf to go for practice. 

They talked about almost every thing. Gulf's childhood, how his family teases him all the time and how he is with them, but when Gulf asked him about his childhood and family, he didn't know what to reply. 

Flashback~

"So, tell me about you, since I've practically told you everything about me." Gulf asked.

"Me? There is nothing interesting about me. I lost my parents when I was 12 and had worked my ass off since then to support my family. That's it." Mew replied void of emotions. 

"I'm sorry about your parents." Gulf said apologetically.

"It's fine. There's nothing to be sorry about." Mew said.

"Ummm...so tell me about your brothers. How are they? Are they anything like mine?" Gulf asked curiously.

"Um.. I..I don't know." Mew answered awkwardly

"..."

"Gulf? Are you there?" Mew asked.

"Yes, I am Mew. Can I ask you something?" Gulf said.

"Sure. Go on." Mew responded.

"You aren't close to your brothers, are you?" Gulf asked.

"I am not a very expressive person Gulf. Not even to my family. You are the only one I opened up to. I have always been cold and distant from them and I don't express myself to them, since I don't know how to and they don't approach me as well." Mew sighed.

"You know Mew, I might be mischievous but I am not dumb. I know you aren't an expressive person since I can see it but you know what, family needs each other the most. I know for sure they do too and that they miss you a lot. It's just that they cannot approach you because you don't let them. Answer a question Mew, have you ever once tried to let them in your life and did you ever try to approach them?" Gulf asked in a serious tone.

"Umm...no, I haven't." Mew answered sadly. 

"I want you to understand something. I'm telling you this since I genuinely care about you. Mew, they are the only one's you have in your life and you're the only one they have. You don't want to waste your life shutting yourself out from them. I don't know what happened and I won't ask since that is your privacy, but...if you keep being this way because something happened in the past, ask yourself is it really worth it? Is it worth it to treat yourself and them this way? Are you happy this way Mew?" Gulf said.

"N....no.." Mew replied biting his lip controlling himself from crying. 

"Mew, you need them and they need you. Try to open yourself up since you deserve to be happy so do they. If they are afraid of approaching you, then you take the initiative. Don't live in darkness anymore Mew, cause you look the hottest when you laugh and smile you know." Gulf said giggling. 

Hearing this, Mew's heart melted. He wondered how could someone who knew nothing about him understand him so much? He couldn't control anymore and broke down. 

"Tha...thank you Gulf. Thank you....for understanding me so much. Though you don't know about me, yet you understand me so much. Thank you for talking about this to me." Mew said sobbing. 

"It's ok Mew. Don't thank me yet since you'll have more chances to in future and it's ok to cry your heart out. You cannot always stay tough and strong." Gulf said and Mew broke down completely. 

Mew cried his heart out while Gulf waited patiently, comforting Mew with warm words. 

"I am grateful to have met you. Even though things might seem too fast, I don't regret any of it." Mew said, after calming down. 

"Neither do I Mew. Now go to sleep and I have to go for my training or else Monster trainer is going to torture me if I'm late." Gulf said huffing. 

"Ok, ok. I'll let you go now, cuteness." Mew said chuckling. 

"Bye bye and remember to think about what I told you. Take care. See you soon." Gulf said. 

"Yes Gulf, I will. Thanks and take care of yourself as well and don't overdo it." Mew said. 

"Yes sir!" Gulf said before ending the call. 

. 

Mew smiled at the memory. He was thankful to have someone like Gulf in his life. Bold, brave, approachable, understanding and so much more. Mew thanked the heavens for making him meet Gulf. He was someone who brought the best out of him. The more he thought about him and got to know him, the stronger his feelings towards Gulf got.

Talking to Gulf once a day was enough for him to retain his will and strength to get through with the day. It didn't matter if they didn't get to talk for long since just hearing his voice was soothing and energising enough. 

Gulf always thought the best for him and never wanted anything in return from him. He never pressured him to talk about his past or even mentioned about it. That was something Mew loved about Gulf. 

Mew didn't know what the future beheld ahead of him, but he knew one thing for sure that he'd do his best to not let go of Gulf, ever. 

"Thank you for being in my life Gulf. Thank you for being the sunshine in my dark life." Mew said, smiling to himself.