Chapter 4

It was midnight but Gulf is awake. He is just lying down staring at the ceiling.

'Why is my life like this? All my life, I thought my family was my real family. My twin is not my twin and then my parents...

Tears start flowing at the side of his eyes.

'...and those dreams, those faces. Are they my real parents? But where are they now? Are they still alive or?

*sobs* Gulf can't hold it anymore and starts crying harder. His friends woke up due to his loud cries.

"Shit! Gulf!" Miko runs to him followed by the two.

"Are you okay?" Will asked.

"Hey, stop crying, buddy. We're here," Brient said.

They help him to sit properly. Gulf is not saying anything and just continues crying. He doesn't know what to feel anymore. He's so confused and to know that his friends might be someone he doesn't know.

"Calm down, Gulf," Miko said. Gulf is looking at them one by one.

'Are you three, really my friends? Am I safe with you three around me? I don't know anymore. I don't know who to trust anymore,' Gulf thought to himself while crying. He just keeps on crying until he fell asleep.

***

*groans* Gulf groaned waking up. Will went to his side hurriedly and help him to sit.

"Are you okay?"  he asked. Gulf looks around the room.

"Brent has a shift at the café while Miko went out to buy us food," Will answered his silent question. He just hummed and asked for some water.

"Thanks," he said after drinking.

"What?" he asked Will who is staring at him.

"Nothing," Will said

"I know it's not,"

"Really, nothing," Will insisted.

"Okay then, but I have something," Gulf said staring straight at Will.

"H-huh? W-what is it?" Will asked stuttered nervously. Gulf's eye twitched.

'Who are you?'.  this is what he wanted to ask but he can't voice it out, not yet.

"Are you angry at me?" He asked this instead.

"Of course not! What made you think that?" Will answered him bewildered. Gulf only shook his head.

'Are you truly my friend or you are one of those who want me dead?'

"Am I cursed?" He asked again. Will gaped at his question.

"Fuck, Gulf! What the hell are you saying? You, cursed? *grabbed Gulf's hands* ...Listen to me, you are not cursed or anything bad. Things happened for a reason a-

"I am the reason. I am the reason why Nattalie died. I am the reason why Papa died. I am the fucking reason why mama died! All of these happened because of me! They, they died because of me, Will. I-if I'm not with that family they-

Will hugs him. "Stop it, Gulf. It's not your fault. P-please stop blaming yourself," Will said rubbing his back.

They are both crying. Will pulled away and holds his face with his hands. "Listen to me, your twin died because she didn't listen to you and you are too young to help her. I'm sure she's not blaming you. She loved you. And your papa? We don't know what exactly happened to him and I'm sure he will be sad knowing that you are blaming yourself for whatever happened and lastly, your Mama. You gave her all the love despite everything. You didn't hate her for forcing you to be someone you're not."

Will wiped Gulf's tears and tucked his hair behind his ears and just hold his hands.

"You see how she smiled seeing you for the last time. She recognized you. Until the very end, you made her smile. And it was the real you that time. It's not your fault, Gulf. She was sick. I know it's hard but, you have to accept everything. Little by little. We will be here for you,"

"You're not gonna leave me like them?" Gulf asked

"I won't. I promise."

"All of you?"

"Yes. We swore to protect you," Will said making Gulf look at him, confused. He realized what he said so he covered it.

"The moment we witnessed all your hardships, we swore to protect you. We are not only friends but brothers. As brothers, we promised to ourselves that we will do anything to keep you happy and swore to protect it," Will said.

Gulf knew it's more than that. He just hugged him and thanked him.

-----------------

Gulf is finally discharged after two days. All the hospital expenses were paid by J. Enterprise.

Time flies fast because it was already Gulf's and his friends' graduation. He is having a mix feelings because this is the day that he's been waiting for. Not because he finally finished his studies but because it's time to confront his friends.

Throughout the months that passed, he investigated privately. He learned who his three friends are. And as for the CEO of the J.Enterprise? Let's say that they became close. He learned that Shion is the don of the biggest underground mafia.

He used that to asked Shion to help him find out his real identity. If he was truly Kanatha Trion. Since Shion knew about the missing heir, it became easy to confirm that he is truly the lost heir of Trion. He didn't tell his parents that he found Kanatha already and he divert the investigation of his parents about Gulf's father. He also trained Gulf how to fight and how to hold and use a gun. Gulf is a fast learner.

Gulf's mission now is to make his friends bring him to his grandfather who hired them to look after him. Though he is not sure if his grandfather is doing this for his sake or because of something else. He needs to do this to make himself complete again. He will do it at their graduation party.

***

//flashback//

Two days before the graduation party Gulf is with Shion at the latter's condo.

"Are you sure about this?"

"Yes, Mew. It's time they tell the truth," Gulf answered. Shion told him that he can call him by his nickname.

"Whatever your decision is, I will be here for you," Mew said caressing Gulf's face.

Gulf leaned on his touch.

"Thank you. I'll never get the chance to properly thank you for everything you've done for me," Gulf said holding Mew's hand on his face.

Mew's free hand tucked his hair behind his ear.

"Anything for my donna," He said lovingly making Gulf blushed.

Mew confessed to him two weeks ago but he didn't give him his answer yet. He told him that he wanted to fix his identity first. And Mew understands him and is willing to wait. Also, Mew always makes sure that Gulf has bodyguards that are silently watching him for his safety.

// flashback ends //

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Present time

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"Yey!"

"Finally!"

"We made it!"

Gulf's friends yelled in glee. He is just smiling watching them goofing around.

"Are you guys done? We need to prepare for tonight," Gulf reminded them.

"Oh, right! We need to prepare the café. Let's go!" Miko exclaimed.

They left the campus and hurriedly went to their house to change before going to the café. They're going to have a simple celebration there with Shion, Zeke, and Sean.

"Hey Gulfie, are you okay?" Brent asked when he noticed him being quiet.

"Yeah, I'm good. Just thinking," Gulf replied.

"He's coming, so just chill and be pretty," Miko teased him.

He smiled, "Oh, he's not. He messaged me a while ago," Gulf said.

"Oh? No wonder you're gloomy," Brent stated.

"Still, you should be happy for this day," said Will.

Gulf sighed. 'Of course, I'm happy. But I will be happier if my so-called best friends will stop lying to me," He answered.

The three were shocked hearing it and now gaping at him.

"What do you mean?" Will asked

"We are not lying to you," Miko said.

"Not gonna say anything, Brent?" Gulf asked him when he didn't say anything.

Brent is weighing things up. But Gulf is tired already. Those months, he waited for them to come clean but they didn't. So, he decided to end it today. He wanted to start a new life but not as the lonely, pitiful Gulf Lewis.

He grabbed the knife that is on the table and stand. The three are eyeing his movements. They can't let Gulf hurt himself again.

"You see, I treated you three as my brothers. I am very thankful that you never left my side. Before, I always thought that I am so blessed to have you guys with me as my friends, my brothers. Heck, you are the family I got left. But now? I don't know anymore. I don't know if you are staying with me because I am your friend or you consider me as a family-

"We do. You are our brother," Brent cuts his words. Gulf chuckled. Tears are already pooling in his eyes.

"Is that so, Brent? You guys are with me because we're like brothers?" asked Gulf.

"Of course, Gulf-

"Not because I'm your obligation?"

Gulf interjected, playing the knife in his hand.

"What are you saying, bud?" Will asked.

"Enough, please! Enough lying to my face," He said painfully.

"Guppie, we're no-

"I said, stop lying to me!" Gulf yelled. "If you three considered me as your brother, tell me the truth! Stop acting like you don't know what I'm talking about, please," Gulf said crying.

"Brent?" Miko looks at Brent but the latter shook his head. Miko and Will wanted to tell the truth because they are worried that Gulf might hurt himself again. Gulf grimaces seeing Brent's rejection of Miko. He took a deep breath.

"Okay, I understand. You can keep the truth to yourself for all I care. But I will never let you lie in my face anymore," Gulf said firmly.

"What do you mean?" asked Brent. Their eyes widened when Gulf put the knife on his wrist.

"G-Gulf" Miko and Will called out.

"Don't do it, Gulf," Brent said trying to reach Gulf.

"Stop right there! I'm so fucking tired of this. Since I lost everything and you three chose for me to stay miserable, I'd rather end everything with my life now and maybe... Maybe I'll get my answers in the afterlife," He said before trying to slit his wrist.

"No!"

They all screamed at the same time. But to their relief, Shion came and took away the knife from Gulf before he hurt himself.

"Gulf, calm down!" Shion exclaimed.

"Let me go!! Let me die! Let me go!"

Gulf is struggling in Shion's hold. He is crying hard. Miko and Will are crying seeing him. Shion is genuinely worried. This was not included in the plan that Gulf told him. He was listening to everything inside his car with Zeke and when he got the feeling of what Gulf is planning, he hurriedly went out to stop him.

Gulf is crying hard while Brent stood frozen.

"Babe, let's tell him, please," Will begged his man.

"No."

"What the fuck, Brent?! Do you really want him to kill himself?" Miko yelled angrily.

"We can't risk-

Will grabbed his collar.

"Risk?! Look at him, he lost the will to live because of everything. We promised to protect him but this isn't protecting. If keeping the truth from him will risk his life, then I'd rather choose to let him know everything," Will said trying to knock some senses to his man. Brent is about to respond but...

"Gulf!"