Chapter 5

Gabriel's

"As much as I want you to know everything about Mew's past, I'm afraid I am not in any place to answer your questions, Gabriel. It's much better to ask Maze. After all, you're a team. He may have a hard time telling you but I know for sure that he doesn't want to keep it from you if you really want to know. I know you trust my friend more than anyone under this roof, Gab. And I'm sure that he doesn't want to break it and you just need to sit down and talk things over once and for all."

I know for a fact that Royce's actually trying to soothe me with his words but instead of calming down, I don't know but I feel more anxious and scared at the same time. 

Royce sounded like he's telling me that there's still a lot of things that I don't know about my husband. That there's something more about his past that he kept from me for 11 years. 

And I can't help but to ask myself. 

Wasn't I able to probe deeper?

Did Maze never really let me in after all these years?

Such questions overshadowed my mind that I didn't realize that I'm already in front of Nathan's playroom to call them in for lunch. 

I can hear Michael and Heather's sound laughter and cute childish giggles from Nathan and Mysty. 

By the sound of it, I'm quite sure that they're having fun. 

And I smiled, sadly. 

I can't help but to think that those precious giggles and smile of our son would be endangered because of all the things that's happening unbeknownst to him. 

He's too young to face such struggles. 

I know that Maze will protect us, and I'm also willing to do whatever it takes just to protect him.

But how can I act according to the situation if I don't even know what's the real deal is. 

It's like I'm about to go on a battle without any armor or weapon. 

And I don't like it at all. 

I don't like the thought of having Maze for all these years thinking that he had finally and totally let me in then find out afterwards that he's still keeping a lot from me about his past all along. 

That'll break my heart. 

Even just the thought of it made me feel a pang of pain. 

What more if Maze had already laid the truth in front of me. 

I know for a fact that I shouldn't be thinking morbid things but I can't seem to stop myself especially after seeing those three guys and hearing the same stuff from Crim and Royce. 

It was then I heard Nathan's laughter and it brought me back to reality. I smiled once again. 

Just a single laugh from my son lifts my mood. 

I wish Maze is with me right now so that he'll hear our son's laughter too. 

Just so his mood would be lifted too.

But then again, he's still busy talking to his so called subordinates which I don't know what sort of 'subordinates' does he mean by that-- and so I sighed before trying to put up a normal expression and knocking at the door in front of me.

"That must be Dad!" I heard Nathaniel excitedly before I heard his feet running towards the door. 

Seconds later, the door swung open and a warm smile from a cute boy welcomed me. 

Behind him is the cute little girl named Mysty who's also smiling widely at me. 

"Dad!"

"Uncle Gab!" 

The children said in unison as they both run towards me and gave me a hug and I chuckled softly. 

If only Top brought Tim here today, I'm sure it'd be livelier. 

The three of them are the main reason why every gatherings was ensured to be happy and lively. 

They never failed to make all of us smile by simply being cute. 

I may sound ridiculous but I like it the most when Nattarin and Mysty is bickering. They looked cute. Arguing over simple things and apologizing to each other afterwards. 

It's fascinating to see two young creatures knowing how to conform with each other at a very young age.

"You interrupted the play time, Dude." Michael jested so I looked at him before smirking. 

"I bet you won't be complaining if I tell you that lunch is ready." I said sarcastically and I heard Heather laughing beside him. 

We both looked at him and I saw how Mike glared at him because it's obvious that he's taking my side. Simply because we all know how Mild loved to eat, especially when it's free. 

"Nye, nye, nye." Mike tried making a face at Heather and the latter couldn't help but to shake his head. 

Looking at Mike right now, no one would guess that he's now a Guidance Counselor at a Secondary School after years of working as a professor.  

He's still the same dork I've known for years. Just happier this time. And more responsible as well.

"What did you cook for lunch, Dad?" Nathan asked so I looked at him and smiled when I saw how cute he is while looking up at me. Even Mysty is doing the same so I kneeled in front of them before pinching both of their cheeks. 

"Uncle Royce and I prepared mixed vegetables and chicken curry for lunch." I said but before the kids could even react we all heard Mike clapping excitedly before walking past me and the kids.

"What are you waiting for, Kids? It's mealtime! Let's go!" He said, trying to sound as childish as possible. 

The next thing I knew, Nathan and Mysty had also walked past my kneeling figure and they all ran downstairs and I was left kneeling, totally dumbfounded with how Michael was able to lure the kids with food. 

If it wasn't for Heather's laugh, I know that I'll be kneeling for another minute with such an expression. 

He helped me stand up and I can't help but to smile and shake my head because of Mike's antics. 

But then, I stopped when I looked at Heather and saw that he's looking at me intently. As if scrutinizing me.

"Is there something wrong?" I frowned when he asked me that question. 

Was I too obvious?

But instead of answering, I forced a smile before I shook my head. 

"N-noth--"

"I know that everything seems to be a bother now--"

"I actually don't want to hear more about that right now, Hit. As much as possible, I want to show Nattarin my usual as we all eat our lunch. I don't want him to know that there's something wrong. At least, not yet. H-he's still a kid, Hit. I don't want him to feel the extreme perturbation that I'm feeling right now. He's supposed to be enjoying his summer vacation." I said and I wasn't able to stop my tears from streaming down my cheeks. 

He sighed as he massaged my back as if trying to soothe me but I'm sorry to admit it but it's not helping. 

I feel like my heart and mind is being pressured right now and the pressure is getting worse every time I hear about how clueless I am about Mew's past. 

But then again, I tried wiping my tears as I continued to take deep breaths just to calm myself. 

As much as I want to know the truth right now, I also don't want Nathan to see me after knowing about it. 

Cause I know for a fact that it's not just a simple back story. 

If Maze chose to hide it from me even after 11 years of being together, I'm guessing that it's much darker than his past that I've always known. I'm sure that it's more than just his mother. 

"Let's go, Hit. They might be waiting for us." I tried to sound as casual as possible and he nodded nonchalantly as we descend downstairs. 

Maze's

The day went smoothly, I guess.

I couldn't be more thankful to Michael, Royce and Heather for making Jake, First and Heine feel at home cause I noticed that Gabriel was still stiff around the three guys. 

I can't blame him, though. He have never seen them before, let alone heard about them from me. So he doesn't really know how to act around them. 

But I also know that there's something else with that face he's making whenever Nathan's not around. 

"We're only one call away, Maze." Jake said as I sent them off outside our house. Mike, Mysty, Heather and Royce had left an hour ago. The three stayed longer as we all polished our initial plan.

I know that I'm not the only one who can feel the keen eyes observing us from afar and I know that they're Mark's Dad's underlings. 

I've already contacted Mark to look for a house not far away from ours for the three of them to stay in. But while we're still looking for one, they decided to just sleep in a hotel even if there's a lot of rooms available for them in our house. 

Simply because they can also feel Gab's stiffness and they don't want him to feel uncomfortable inside our own home and I couldn't be more thankful to them because of that. 

"We'll start checking the perimeter tomorrow and also keep in touch with our intel." Heine said pertaining to one of their colleagues that they met after working for me. 

They said that I can trust her and I need not to worry and I agreed. 

After all, I trust them all and I know that they would never jeopardize me and my family. 

"Please tell Gabriel that I liked his cooking and I would like to eat more next time." First said and the next thing he got was a smack in the head from the two guys beside him. 

"Pig." Jake snorted and he pouted. 

"I'm just complimenting Boss's husband! What's wrong with that?!" Hearing how he acknowledged Gab as my other half made my heart flutter. 

I know for a fact that Gabriel had been called and branded as my other half for years now but the effect never faded. 

The magic didn't leave the day after we said our I do's.

It still feels magical. 

That amidst of this kind of situation, I still can't help but to feel flattered just by hearing other people calling Gab as my husband.

It was then I remembered what Gabriel said before he went inside to cook for us this morning. 

"Make sure that you have something to tell me or else you'll be sleeping outside, Mr. Johnson."

My heart pounded so hard as I came upon the realization of telling Gabriel something that I don't know if I'm ready to tell him. 

"You can go inside now, Maze." Jake may have noticed my anxiousness so I looked at him and he nodded. 

I also looked at First and Heine and they also nodded at me as if they all know what I'll be facing in the next hours. 

So I took a deep breath before nodding at them. 

"Thanks." Is the only thing I'm able to say before waving at them and walking inside our house. 

Every step I take feels so heavy as I drew nearer and nearer to the master's bedroom. 

Nattarin is now sound asleep at his room so I need not to worry about him seeing me acting all stupid and nervous while walking towards our room. 

But then, I stopped right in front of our bedroom's door when I saw the door slightly opened and I can hear some sniffles inside. 

Even if I can't see him, I know that it's Gab and he's crying. 

Thinking that it's because of me made my heart ache to no end. 

I can see my hand shaking as I swung the door open. 

The creaking sound got my wife's attention and there, I saw Gabriel sitting on the carpet with his arms wrapped around his knees and he's crying. 

He's giving me those eyes with such expression that I don't know if I can bear staring at for another minute so I looked away from him and let guilt creep inside my while system. 

"Tell me." His voice cracked right after saying those but when I looked at him, he's already looking at somewhere else and he suddenly looked like he doesn't want to see me at all. 

"G-gab--"

"Did I just remained on your surface after all these years?" His words pierced through my heart. It sounded so painful. 

It was then he looked at me once again and I saw some tears streaming down his face. 

"Did you really let me into your life, Maze?"