At the age of seventeen, Gulf was already married and has been so for a year. Of course, no one knew, and of anyone put aside his close family and friends found out, they probably wouldn't even believe it-- especially if they knew whom he was married to.
How did it happen anyway?
Two years ago, Gulf's mother and her best friend met a car accident that took their lives. Upon their death, their husbands took it upon themselves to make their lifelong plan come true: to arrange the marriage of their children to each other.
And so it goes that at sixteen and seventeen, Gulf Kanawut and Mew Suppasit Jongcheveevat were whisked off by their fathers to New Hampshire, where they could be legally married at such young ages. They didn't exactly know what the hurry was, but they just couldn't say no. It was all out of respect for their dead mothers, they both thought. But now, after a year of being married, it's all suddenly creeping up on Gulf just how unusual their secretly marriage was.
And so it goes that Gulf was legally registered as Gulf Kanawut Jongcheveevat. Yes, Jongcheveevat, as in Mew Suppasit Jongcheveevat. That famous actor whose face could be seen everywhere.
He was so famous the slightest move he made could create Twitter trends worldwide.
Every morning, Gulf would get two knocks on his bedroom door. Both knocks were Mew's who occupied the room across from his. These knocks were quick raps on the door, accompanied by his voice just saying his name. He looked forward to these knocks because they were only seemblance that Mew actually cared for him- enough for him to care about he was actually awake to get to school on time.
"Gulf!" Mew said through the door. "I'm leaving for school."
Mew always went to school a few minutes earlier than he did. They couldn't be seen going to school together because no one was supposed to know that he was in relationship, let alone married.
To spite his husband, Gulf opened the door, which startled him. Mew was never seen the inside of his room because even though they were married, they weren't allowed by their parents to enter each other's rooms because of- you know- hormones.
No trouble with that, Gulf thought as he took in Mew's frown. "Fine."
Mew turned to leave.
Just as Gulf was about to close the door, he came back and stopped it with his hand. Gulf couldn't help but feel like this could lead to something else, but then he ruined all illusions on his side and said, "Also,don't talk to me in school, okay?"
"What?" Gulf asked in disbelief.
"Just text me or something if you have anything you need to say." He added.
"Fine,fine. Whatever."
"What?"
"Whatever you say,sir." Gulf said before slamming the door in his face.
It's not like he needed reminding. Part of Mew's celebrity status required him to hide this particular facet of his personal life just because many or make that all of his fans were girls. Just one careless rumor could end his career.
Not that Gulf cared, really. Gulf never even wanted to be married to him in the first place. It's just that it's so hard keeping a secret. Every movement he made served one purpose: never to reveal their secret marital status.
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After a few more minutes, Gulf walked his way to the international school just a few minutes away from their house. There, he met Mild his best friend and one of the few people outside his family who knew about his arranged marriage. Mild was waving frantically at him as he entered the hallways with a frown.
"What's wrong? What happened to your face?"Gulf smirked at him as they walked together to class.
"Hey, is this about your husband again?"
"Hey, will you keep your voice down? People can hear you." He loved his best friend, but sometimes he could be prone to overreacting.
"Whatever. I don't understand why you're still with him when he annoys you so much. Why don't you just get a divorce?"
"It's not that easy!"
Mild saw Gulf's hesitation.
"What?"
Mild giggled. "Look at you! You like being married to that jerk!"
Gulf couldn't believe Mild. What was he thinking?
"Shut Up!" Mild was still giggling. "Stop giggling. It's just not funny anymore. He doesn't even want me to talk to him in school. You know what he said?"
"What?"
"Just text me or something if you have anything you need to say," Gulf said in his mock-Mew voice which wasn't a very good imitation.
"The nerve!"
"Exactly! I mean, I'm not allowed to talk to him here in school, but he's allowed to talk with all the pretty girls and boys in his class?"
Mew had a reputation for being a playboy, Every month, he could be seen with a new conquest, which would be posted on all showbiz news sites and talked about on showbiz news shows. Gulf never really knew the truth about these flings, but his fans seemed as if his playboy status made him even more desirable.
"I don't know Gulf. This all didn't use to bother you so much. Maybe--"
"What?"
"You're already in love with him!"
"Shut up! I thought you were my best friend!"
"Friends always tell the truth."
As they walked their way to class, they passed by Mew's classroom. They were both senior high but were in different sections. Aside from being ridiculously good-looking, Mew was also blessed with the gift of over achieving. Gulf, not so much. He didn't really like school. And now, with what he's seeing, he had more reason not to like it.
"Look!" Mild pointed.
Through the glass panel window, they could see Mew talking Yaya, another celebrity who was also in the same grade. Yaya then playfully touched Mew's hand.
Gulf couldn't help himself. He imitated the quick knocks that Mew would make on his bedroom door there on the glass panel. Mew immediately recognized the sound and looked his way, Mew's eyebrow raised.
Ugh, what a flirt! You're already married, jerk! Gulf wanted to scream. He was so caught up in his thoughts that he was starled to find Mew standing right in front of him.
"Don't you remember what I said earlier?" Mew asked through gritted teeth. Everyone in his class looking at the two of them.
"No," Gulf said in a voice that's even smaller. He felt guilty. For all he knew, he could be ruining Mew's career right at this very moment.
"Didn't I already tell you...," Mew began to say in his normal voice. Gulf startled. 'What's he doing?' he thought.
"That I don't date a guys I don't personally know?"
As if this weren't enough, he then took her hand as he said,
"What's your name again?"
What the hell is going on? Gulf thought as Mew tightened his grip on Gulf's hand. Mew then took a pen from his pocket and proceeded to sign his name on the back of Gulf's hand.
"Here's an autograph. Is that okay?"
Gulf wants to barf on his nice-guy act. Gulf's memorized Mew's celebrity signature because Mew forced Gulf once to help him forge his signatures on the posters Mew was giving away to his fan club. Gulf took his hand away from Mew, who was still smiling at him.
"Mr. Kanawut? What are you still doing here? It's almost time for class," Ms. Jane, Mew's Professor, said as Gulf approached the classroom.
"Sorry, ma'am."
Mild pulled Gulf away toward class.
"What are you thinking? Just a few minutes ago you were shushing me, and then you started going hysterical there? So embarrasing!"
"Sorry, Mild. Ugh, He's so annoying! Did you see what he did?"
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Right after school, Gulf went straight home, going through the back door of their own house. Yes, He had to because no one was supposed to know that he was sharing a house with Mew. He was then surprised to find Mew's father, Alex, in the kitchen.
"Hi, Dad," He said. He still felt a bit giddy whenever he called Mew's father Dad.
He had a father in law. He still couldn't believe it.
"Where's Mew? How come you never come home together?"
"Well, you know your son. He always acts like he doesn't even know when we're not home."
Alex could only laugh it off.
"Sorry, son. He's just wary how to go about this because, you know, he just signed a major contract... Anyway, we've been talking about how make the big reveal on your eighteenth birthday since that's the legal age here."
Gulf shrugged.
"Hmm, well, I don't even know if Mew will push through with thay plan."
"I'm really sorry. Anyway, you two are doing great, right?"
"Ah yes, of course. Why wouldn't we be?" Gulf lied.
Of course, he couldn't say the truth because Mew's father wouldn't believe him. Mew always put up such a big display of affection toward him whenever their parents were around.
They then heard the front gate opening.
"Mrs. Anada!" Mew said.
Mrs. Anada, the caretaker, then rushed into the kitchen and started brewing coffee. This was Mew's after-school treat: to drink brewed coffee and annoy Gulf to no end.
Mew entered the kitchen.
"Dad, you didn't say you were dropping by. Have you been waiting a long time?"
"No, of course not. I was just here a few minutes before Gulf."
Gulf could feel Mew inching toward him, and this made him want to scream.
He just couldn't stand another minute of acting all sweet with Mew.
"Hey, babe." Mew gave him a peck on the cheek, which he tried to avoid by moving his face away. But Mew caught him in time and was still successful with Mew fake kiss. Mew then took Gulf hand and laced Mew's fingers through Gulf. Gulf tried to remove his hand from Mew's grip, but Mew tightened it while still managing a fake smile.
Mrs. Anada, who was privy to howew and Gulf really were, was surprised to find the two holding hands as she handed Mew his coffee. Mew momentarily freed Gulf from his death grip to take the cup.
"Hmm, okay, you two seem to be doing great. I better go. I just checked onthe utility bills." Mew's father looked at them. "You kids better behave."
Gulf nodded. He was caught off guard when Mew hugged him from behind and said "Yes,sir."
There was a hint of playfulness in his voice.
"Mrs. Anada, do look after these two," Mew's father said to the caretaker. Then he turned to them. "And you two, I'm telling you, behave. You're still kids, for god'sake."
The moment Mew's father closed the door behind him, Mew dropped his arms.
"Ha! You enjoyed it, didn't you?"
"I didn't even do anything, you jerk!"
Gulf ran upstairs to his room, but before he could get in, Mew called him.
"Hey,didn't I tell you not to approach me in school? What were you thinking, making a scene like that?"
"What? You're the one talking- making a scene with that Yaya! Need I remind you that you're already married?"
"So what? It's not like anyone knows I am. And, It's good for my image. Yaya has tons of fans."
"Whatever."
"And Yaya can't help talking about me. That's good press. I'm the ideal girl's ideal man."
"Fine. Whatever."
"Anyway, why are you acting like that? Are you jealous?"
Mew's grin started getting wider, which annoyed Gulf. He wanted to throw his bag at Mew's face.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"Someone's jealous~"
Gulf sighed theatrically and closed the door behind him.He then went straight to his bathroom where he planned to drown his annoyance away in the bathtub.
Just as he was getting cozy, he remembered his science project.
"Ugh!" He screamed as he got up from the tub, almost slipping as he stepped down. Just as he was toweling himself to dry, he remembered that his project was due tomorrow. "Ugh!" He screamed even louder as he ran out, still dripping wet.
As soon as he was done dressing up, he collated a the materials he had for the project a light dimmer, the kind you see in cinemas. He had no idea why they would even have that for a school project, but he had no choice.
After hours of tinkering around with his project, he looked up at the clock and saw that it was already 11:00 p.m. 'What, I've been doing this for five hours and still nothing?' He thought.
'Hmm, maybe I can put this here...'
"Ack!" Gulf screamed. A painful jolt of grounded electricity shot through his fingertip. He almost dropped the little he had accomplished. "Ouch!" He was making a lot of noise but not a lot of progress.
Maybe a little midnight snack will help, he thought as he got up.
Just as he opened his door, he found Mew opening his door. Mew had a huge frown on his face.
'Ugh! What now?" Gulf thoughtas their eyes met.
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