Love and Hate Collide

Controlled♡

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆CONTROLLED ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

A knock on the door made Gulf immediately stand up. It was already past eleven in the morning.

He had been waiting for the man who had called him the previous night for more than two hours. Gulf had been ready since eight. He had already packed everything he needed, arranged his clothes inside two suitcases, and checked his belongings several times to make sure he had not forgotten anything important.

Yet the man had not arrived.

Gulf had been getting more irritated with every passing minute.

He had spent the entire morning sitting on the edge of his bed, staring at the clock and wondering when the stranger would finally show up.

He wanted to strangle him for making him wait. Another knock echoed through the small apartment.

Finally.

Gulf marched toward the door and opened it without even checking who was standing outside.

“You made me wait for two f*****g hours! Did you know that?” he snapped.

He didn't even care who was outside. He was pissed. But the moment he lifted his eyes, his anger suddenly disappeared.

“S-s-sorry.”

Gulf instinctively stepped backward. Standing in front of him was an older man, probably in his early fifties.

Gulf's jaw dropped.

For a moment, he could do nothing but stare. Of all people, why an old man? He immediately wanted to step backward and close the door. He wanted to tell the man that he had changed his mind. But then he remembered the threats from the previous night.

The videos.

His secret.

His school.

His future.

The stranger had everything that could destroy him. Gulf swallowed hard and forced himself to calm down.

“I'm ready,” he said awkwardly. “I'll just... get my things.”

Without waiting for a response, he turned around and walked back into his room. The moment he closed the door behind him, his knees weakened. He sat heavily on the edge of his bed and covered his face with both hands.

“Of all people... why an old man?” he muttered.

He rubbed his face in frustration. “Damn it.”

He had no choice. He grabbed his suitcases and dragged them toward the door. When he stepped outside, his landlady immediately noticed him.

“Hey, Gulf! Where are you going? And why do you have two suitcases?” The woman looking at him maliciously.

Gulf scratched the back of his neck. “I'm just... going on vacation?” He's out of words.

He can't just tell, that he'll move it with this old man in front of him. That would be a total embarrassment.

“Vacation?” Ate Pai repeated, raising an eyebrow. “What about the three months of rent you owe me?”

Gulf lowered his head. “Ate Pai... I don't have any money yet.”

“You don't have money, but you're going on vacation?”

Her voice became louder. He can see that she's pissed.

“If you don't pay me, I'll report you to the police! Just wait and see!” Her anger was so intense that a few drops of saliva landed on Gulf's face.

He quietly wiped them away. He looked at his own shoes and wanted to cry. “I'm sorry.” Was all he can utter to the old lady.

Before the argument could continue, the older man stepped forward. He pulled out several bills and handed them to Ate Pai.

“Here. Fifty thousand. That should be enough.”

Ate Pai's eyes widened. She immediately accepted the money.

“That's more than enough.”

She counted the bills with a wide smile. Gulf turned toward the older man.

“What was that?” The man didn't answer.

"Why are you helping me?" Still no response.

He simply turned around and walked away. Ate Pai looked at Gulf with a satisfied smile.

“You're always welcome if you ever come back.”

Gulf stared at her. “Money-minded.”

Ate Pai laughed and walked away. Gulf grabbed his suitcases and followed the stranger. He didn't ask more questions because the old man seems so quite.

A few minutes later, he found himself standing inside an expensive condominium. He slowly looked around.

“Whose condo is this?”

The place was enormous compared to his tiny apartment.

Everything looked expensive.

The furniture.

The decorations.

The television.

Even the smallest things in the kitchen looked like they cost more than his monthly allowance. Gulf walked around slowly, trying to take everything in.

“Wow.”

He looked at the couch. Then the television. Then the kitchen.

The entire place looked like something from a luxury magazine.

He turned toward the older man.

“Where's my room?”

The man didn't answer. Instead, he simply walked away.

“Hey!”

Gulf followed him. “Where are you going?”

The man didn't respond. Gulf frowned and lightly poked his back. The man finally turned around.

“Yes?”

“Where are you going? And what about what you said last night? I'm already here. Don't just walk away from me!”

His voice was quiet but firm.

He's confuse. His thoughts are running everywhere.

''Is this some sort of illegal business?" The man didn't answered.

"Human trafficking?" Gulf looked at the man. He was taken a back and could feel hi legs shaking.

He is now cursing thounsand folds inside his head. He wanted to cry so bad. But thinking about it, he swallowed his tears back.

Then he saw the man merely smiled. Then he continued walking. Gulf's mouth fell open.

“What the hell?”

The man finally got out. He grabbed a small teddy bear from a nearby chair and threw it toward the doorway where the man had disappeared. Then he kicked the side of the sofa.

“Old and useless at communicating.” He muttered under his breath.

"Guess, my life would end here. Might as well, sieze the moment enjoy this luxurious life for a while." He wiped his tears and looked around.

With a sigh, he returned to the bedroom that had been assigned to him.

It was huge.

Gulf dropped his suitcases beside the bed and began arranging his clothes. Afterward, curiosity got the better of him. He decided to explore. He wandered around the condominium, examining almost everything he saw.

Eventually, he reached the kitchen. Then he saw the refrigerator.

It was a massive double-door refrigerator. Gulf opened it.

His eyes nearly popped out.

“There is so much food!”

There were drinks, fruits, prepared meals, desserts, snacks, and almost everything he could possibly want. His stomach immediately growled.

"I'll eat every piece of you before I die."

He grabbed one of the prepared meals and began eating while continuing to explore the condo. For the first time that day, he smiled.

“Okay... maybe this isn't so bad.”

After wandering around for a while, he decided to return to the room assigned to him. That was when he noticed another door.

It was slightly open. The room was only a few steps away from his.

Curious, Gulf approached it and pushed it open. He walked inside. The room was even bigger than his. It was neat, clean, and perfectly organized. He looked around in amazement.

“It's bigger than mine.”

He glanced at the perfectly arranged furniture.

“And very neat and clean.” He smiled to himself.

“So the old man knows how to keep things clean after all.”

He chuckled quietly and turned around. He was about to leave when he noticed another door.

Without thinking twice, he opened it. It was a walk-in closet.

Gulf's mouth dropped open. Rows of polo shirts, trousers, coats, and suits were arranged perfectly.

The clothes were organized according to color, starting from white and gradually moving toward darker shades. Not a single shirt seemed to be out of place. Below them were rows of expensive-looking shoes.

Gulf whistled. “Wow.”

He reached for one of the coats. He put it on. Then he noticed a pair of shoes. He picked them up and tried them on. They were slightly too big, but he didn't care. He walked toward the large mirror beside the closet. He adjusted the coat and posed.

He raised one arm.

Then the other.

He turned sideways.

He tilted his head.

“It's too big for my size.”

He grinned at his reflection. “But I'm f*****g handsome, huh?”

He laughed.

He walked like a model and changed poses again, admiring himself from different angles. Unfortunately, he was so busy admiring the clothes that he forgot to tie the shoelaces. He stepped on one.

“Urgh!”

He immediately lost his balance.

"f**k!” He fell onto the floor.

“Why didn't you move away?”

He rubbed his leg. "Ouch.”

He was about to stand when someone suddenly grabbed his arm and pulled him up.

Gulf froze.

He slowly looked up.

A handsome man was standing in front of him.

The stranger had a serious expression, sharp features, striking eyes, a slightly pointed nose, and perfectly shaped lips.

Gulf stared for a second too long. His mind suddenly went blank.

Wait.

What am I doing?

Did I just check him out?

“You done checking me out?”

Gulf immediately snapped back to reality. He quickly stood straight and removed the coat.

“Who are you? What are you doing here?”

The man's eyebrow lifted. “I'm the owner.”

Gulf froze.

“Any questions?” The man smirked at him.

“None.” He replied.

Gulf quickly placed the coat back where he had found it.

He was about to return the shoes as well when the man stopped him.

“Put them in the laundry.” It was deep and very stern command. He jolted a little bit, but he disregarded it. He don't want to show the man that he's terrified at him.

He has to fight back!

Gulf frowned. “What?”

“I don't wear dirty clothes.” The man turned away.

Gulf silently clenched his fists. He wanted to punch him.

Instead, he muttered under his breath.

“Show-off.”

Then the man handed him a document. “Here. Sign it.”

Gulf looked at the paper. “What is this?”

“A contract.” The man said coldly.

“For what?” He asked confused. Contract before killing me? He thought.

“For working here.” The man's reply made him stopped reading the paper.

Work?

The man's eyes remained fixed on him. “And more.”

Gulf's expression hardened. “I have a job.”

“What kind of job?” He could sense the mockery on his voice.

The man's voice became colder. And open his mouth again that made him uncomfortable and realised things.

“Posting yourself online and doing things for strangers? You call that a job?”

Gulf's eyes widened. “So it's you.”

“Yes.” The man simply said.

“You're the one who called me.” He is now raising his voice.

“Yes.”

Gulf stared at him. “It's my life!”

The man's expression didn't change. “Then don't make me regret helping you.”

Gulf clenched his jaw. "I don't f*****g want anyone's help! I don't f*****g need your f*****g help!"

He hated the man's calm attitude. He hated the way he spoke as if he already knew everything about him. Most of all, he hated that the man had power over him.

Instead of fighting him. Gulf was kind of shocked when the man just pointed toward the bedroom. “Clean my room.”

“It's already clean!” He snapped back. He wanted the man to speak up the reason!

“It's dirty.” But then man's calm reply made him even more berserk.

Gulf looked around. “Are you blind? Where? Which part?”

He doesn't care anymore if this man will end his life. He don't give a f**k.

“All of it.” The man shrugged and dismiss his hands.

Gulf was about to argue more when the man removed his shirt and tossed it toward him.

Gulf caught it. He stared at the shirt before rolling his eyes.

Show-off.

“After you clean the room, pull the drawer near the kitchen,” the man said. “There's money there. Take whatever you need.”

Gulf frowned.

“Are you trying to make me leave?”

The man looked at him. Confused. "What?”

“You said I would move in with you!” Gulf's voice rose.

“I can't just leave. I don't have anywhere else to go.”

The man sighed. “Move.

“No.”

“I said move.”

“I'm not leaving until you take back what you said!”

The man stared at him. For a moment, Gulf thought he was going to lose his temper. Instead, the man simply sighed.

“You misunderstood me.”

“What?”

“I meant the money is there. If you want to buy something, use it.”

Gulf's expression changed. “Oh.”

He cleared his throat.

“Well, you should have explained that properly.”

Trying to hide his embarrassment, he deliberately bumped the man's shoulder as he walked past.

“Move.”

The man watched him. “Wait.”

Gulf stopped.

“At least clean my room before you go.”

He chuckled.

“After that, clean the living room and the kitchen.”

Gulf turned around. “Am I a nanny to you?”

“You choose.”

Gulf glared at him. “Fine!”

The man didn't respond. He grabbed a towel and walked toward the bathroom.

Gulf watched him disappear. Then he walked toward the bathroom door and lightly punched it.

“I f*****g hate you.” He muttered.

“I don't even know your name.” He didn't know he said it loudly. Even for the man inside the bathroom to hear it. He punched in the air but the bathroom door suddenly opened. Gulf's fist hit the man's chest instead.

He froze.

The man looked down at Gulf's hand. Then he grabbed it and rubbed it against the bathroom door.

“There is dirt here.”

He looked at Gulf's hand. “Doesn't anyone clean this place?”

He even blew lightly on Gulf's hand.

Gulf stared at him in disbelief. “What the hell?”

“Clean my bed first.”

“Okay.” He simply replied out of embarrassment.

Gulf tapped his forehead. He couldn't believe how ridiculous the situation was. He thought only women could be dramatic.

Apparently, men could be worse.

“f*****g s**t,” he muttered.

He began cleaning. After several minutes, he finally reached the bed. As he arranged the pillows, his hand touched something beneath one of them.

Something soft.

Something furry.

Gulf pulled it out.

It was a small panda stuffed toy. He stared at it.

“Childish.” He turned it around.

“What is this? Does he sleep with this beside him?”

He examined the stuffed toy carefully, wondering whether there might be a hidden camera inside.

Suddenly, someone grabbed it from his hand.

Gulf jumped. The man's voice thundered through the room.

“Why are you touching my things?”

Gulf immediately stepped backward. “I was just cleaning!”

“Well, that's not what I saw.”

“But I was only doing what you told me to do!”

The man's expression darkened. "Get out.”

Gulf blinked. “What?”

“Get out. Now!”

For that moment, he was scared. Gulf quickly left the room.

He stood outside, breathing heavily.

He was afraid. Bur he was angry also.

He was confused.

And, honestly, he was starting to get tired of the man's unpredictable behavior. After calming himself, Gulf knocked on the door.

“What?”

“I'll cl—”

The door slammed shut in his face. Gulf stared at it.

His patience snapped.

“That’s it!”

He knocked again.

Harder.

When the door opened, Gulf immediately exploded. “I told you—”

“Told me what?” The man stared at him closely.

“Bullshit! Don't you dare slam that door in my f*****g face!”

His voice was even louder than the man's. He don't like rude people. He doesn't care if this man hold enough evidence that could ruin him, because he is mad. Real mad.

“I was just cleaning! If you hadn't told me to clean, I wouldn't have touched anything!”

He pointed toward the bedroom. “And if you weren't so messy, I wouldn't have found it!”

Gulf's breathing became heavier.

“You kept complaining that your room was dirty! I cleaned it, and now you're angry at me? Wow. Just wow!”

He shook his head. “And don't you dare threaten me again by using those videos!”

The man remained silent. He simply stared at Gulf. For several seconds, neither of them spoke. Then the man's expression softened.

He sighed. His hand slowly moved toward Gulf.

Gulf flinched, expecting something else. Instead, the man gently touched his chin.

“You're right.”

Gulf blinked. “What?”

“You have a point.”

The man's voice was calm now. There was no anger in his expression. Gulf didn't know how to react.

“Fine.”

He turned around. It was very awkward for him. “I'll continue cleaning.”

“Where are you going?”

Gulf glanced over his shoulder. “There. I'm going to clean. Where else?”

The man smiled. “And who else do you think will clean my room? Me?”

He opened the door wider. “Not going to happen.”

Gulf rolled his eyes.

“Inside. Finish what you started.”

The man grabbed his things. “I'm leaving. When I come back, everything should be clean.”

Gulf narrowed his eyes. “And if it isn't?”

The man smiled. “I'll deal with it.”

Then he lightly tapped Gulf's cheek. “And yes, I just threatened you again.”

He chuckled before walking away.

Gulf stood there, completely speechless.

“What an asshole.”

He watched the man leave. Then he suddenly remembered something.

“Wait!”

Gulf ran toward the elevator. The doors were already closing.

“Wait!”

The man pressed the button and stopped the elevator. Gulf reached him, breathing heavily. The man looked amused.

“Hmm?”

“I have a question.” He said.

“What is it?”

Gulf stared at him. “We've been talking. We've even been shouting at each other.”

He paused. “What's your name, by the way?”

The man's lips curved into a smile.

He leaned slightly closer and winked.

“Mew Santander ”

He paused. Then continued. “Mew Santander, Mr. Gulf Velasquez"

The elevator doors slowly closed between them. Gulf remained standing in the hallway.

He blinked.

Once.

Twice.

“Mew San...”

He blinked again. "What? Mew Satan?"

He sighed and shook his head.

“Finally.”

At least now he knew the name of the man who had turned his entire life upside down.

But Gulf didn't know that meeting Mew Sup was only the beginning.

The stranger who had threatened him. The man who now controlled his secret. The man whose home he had just entered. And the man whose name he had finally learned.

Mew Santander.

Gulf stared at the closed elevator doors. Something about the man bothered him. He couldn't explain what it was. Maybe it was the way Mew looked at him. Maybe it was the way he spoke as though everything had already been decided.

Or maybe it was simply the fact that Gulf had no idea what Mew truly wanted from him.

He slowly turned around and walked back toward the apartment. He still had an entire room to clean. And somehow, he had a feeling that his new life was going to be far more complicated than he had ever imagined.

Author's 📝:

There were no smiles or kind introductions when they first met—only sharp exchanges, wounded pride, and the firm belief that they were destined to become enemies.

Thank you for reading🫶

~EDZA♡🖊