Several days passed. There was a tense atmosphere between Mew and Gulf. Gulf never stopped trying to show his boyfriend that he could still live a normal life. In a little different way, but still function as a fully skilled man.

Although Mew was indifferent to how Gulf was signing, he continued to do so. It was comforting that Mew no longer reacted to this sight with aggression. If he didn't want to talk, he just closed his eyes. Gulf supposedly spread information about deaf people, sign language, deaf culture in various places in the house. Mew surreptitiously read them. From here he learned that 90% of deaf children are born in hearing families. About what difficulties they are experiencing and about deaf discrimination from the hearing majority. That you can be deaf and Deaf, which results from how you identify with this culture. That there is a school for the deaf in Bangkok. That there is a Gallaudet University in the US, this surprised him a lot, but it also gave some hope. If a place created by deaf people and for deaf people can be created, one can function normally with deafness. He was very surprised to read that Ludwig Van Beethoven and Thomas Edison were also deaf. And yet they both achieved a lot and made a mark on history. He was pleased to hear that since 1999, Thai Sign Language has been the official national language of the deaf in Thailand. Because from what he read, not all countries in the world recognize the proper status of the national sign language.

He was just reading about the deaf savoir vivre and was beginning to understand the knock on the table, the flashing light, that Gulf often touches his shoulder or waves to him before he says something, and that he always looks into his eyes as they talk.

Mew was not entirely convinced, but the world of the deaf began to slowly fascinate him.

He found the movie that Gulf had bought and decided to watch it tonight. He also found other interesting productions with deaf actors on the internet, e.g. "Beyond the silence", "Sue Thomas:F.B. EYE "," Switched at birth "," The society"," Feel the beat " That restored his faith in his future. Maybe he didn't lose everything.

****

In the weekend, Gulf said they were going for dinner to his family. Mew was opposed to this when he learned that they would not be Gulf's parents, but his aunt and her family. He still felt bad among strangers. With Gulf, he has already developed a way of communication based on writing and gesturing. He still didn't want to hear about sign language, but he remembered a few signs Gulf used most often. His favorite was "I love you". Gulf told him every night before falling asleep, then kissed tenderly and embraced. They fell asleep in this way, so that Mew felt safe and has some faith that everything would be all right.

It was Saturday morning when they set off to Gulf 's Aunt. When they drove out of town onto the country roads, Gulf stopped the car and got out of it. Startled Mew did the same.

"You drive now." he said to Mew.

Mew opened his eyes wide in surprise and terror at the same time. He began to shake his head in protest.

"You can do this. You can still drive. There is only few cars on this road." Gulf reassured him, knowing what was going on Mew's head. "More often look in the mirrors. Apart from that, nothing has changed. You also have me next to you." He squeezed his hand comfortingly and pulled him towards the driver's door.

Mew got into the car still not sure, if it's a good idea. He has not driven a car for over 3 months. He did not leave the house at all at that time. Gulf quickly jumped into the passenger seat and fastened the seat belt. He looked at Mew, who was sitting motionless. He touched his arm and when he turned to him, he said:

"Fasten your seat belt and let's go. Aunt let me know that she was already preparing dinner. She doesn't like being late." He grinned and settled back into the chair, letting Mew know he was ready to go.

What could he do? Mew took a deep breath, fastened his seat belt, and slowly joined the traffic, as if he'd been driving for the last time yesterday, not months ago. He smiled. A real, sincere, broad smile that Gluf had seen last time on stage, just before the accident.

Mew looked at the navigation, which indicated that they would be there in 100 meters. A moment later, a large wooden house appeared, fenced with a white fence. He stopped at the side of the road and looked at Gulf to confirm whether it was here. It turned out that the boy fell asleep. Mew was angry for a moment that he wasn't guarding him while driving, but then he felt proud that he managed it himself. The fact that Gulf had dozed off meant that he still trusted and believed in him, which was like in the olden days.

Gulf smiled slightly in his sleep. Mew was sorry to wake him up, but he said his aunt didn't like latecomers. He unfastened his belt and approached the face of the sleeping boy, then lightly kissed his lips. When Gulf felt this, he put his arms around Mew's neck and pulled him closer, deepening the kiss. They had not kissed so passionately for a long time, until they lost their breath. They parted their lips, already missing them. Gulf opened his eyes and Mew point out towards the window.

"Yes, it is here." Gulf answered the unspoken question.

They got out of the car and headed to the house. Gulf rang the door. A beautiful, smiling teenager opened them.

"Gulf!"she squeaked and hung around his neck.

"Hey, Thanya." he signed to her as he disentangled himself.

"I'm glad you're here. Mom can't wait." Thanya signed.

Mew couldn't look away as they talked so happily. Although he understood nothing.

They entered the room. Gulf pulled by the hand of the girl, Mew hesitantly behind them. The tasty smell of dinner filled the house. The closer they were to the dining room, the scent was stronger. Aunt Noon and Uncle New and older Gulf's cousins ​​Tharn and Thorn were waiting for them at the table.

"Gulf! Mew! Welcome. The meal is waiting." she signed happily, then embraced them in greeting. "I made your favorite dishes, because I don't know anything about Mew's taste." she added.

"Don'twarry. Mew is not very fussy." said Gulf in the same way.

"How was the road Mew?" asked Uncle New, shaking hands with the boy.

Mew looked at him embarrassed, because he didn't understand what the man was signing. He completely forgot that Gulf has deaf relatives. Gulf came to his rescue.

"Uncle asks how the road has gone." said Gulf silently. "Mew can't sign yet. I'm trying to convince him to do it. That's why we came." he signed to his uncle.

"I understand. So you'll be doing the translation today?"

"For now, yes."

Mew felt very stupid. He wanted to answer the man's unanswered question. He poked Gulf with elbow and showed him what he quickly wrote on the phone:

"How to sign that the road was fine and I even drove a little bit myself?"

Gulf was shocked. Mew wanted to sign something for his family himself. He took the phone from his hands and quickly answered, "Repeat me,"and then put the phone in his pocket, which Mew didn't even notice.

Gulf caught his uncle's attention with a wave of his hand.

"Mew wants to say something. He will repeat after me." he signed to his uncle.

Uncle tried to hide his surprise and satisfaction at the same time. He nodded and stared intently at Mew. The boy repeated the signs carefully after Gulf.

"The road was fine. Gulf gave me a lead as we left town. I was a little scared because I haven't driven for a long time."

"That's my boy!" Uncle patted his shoulder, and others showed him applauding. [A/N: I'm not sure if in TSL the applauding looks the same as in my country, but it can be. You use your both hand, risen up and do some small circular motion in wrists. See the link]

https://youtu.be/Wi8jk-lxTHg

Mew looked at Gulf, not understanding what others were showing him. Why is everyone showing the same thing.

"That'show "applauds" in sign language." Gulf explained.

"Thank you." Mew replied. He already knew this sign. He remembered how Gulf had answered his knock on the table two days ago at dinner.

"Sit down before it will cool down." Aunt urged them.

The day passed pleasantly. Mew learned that as a child, Gulf spent several days of vacation with them and learned to sign very quickly. The family loved him, because he was always a cheerful child and you couldn't get bored with him. Mew thought the whole family was deaf, but it turned out that Aunt and Thanya were deaf from birth, the brothers have profound hearing loss and the uncle is hearing. However, he has deaf parents. As CODA [A/N:Child of Deaf Adult/s] he has always used sign language.

They returned home before it got dark, because Mew was still afraid of the darkness. He would not let the lights go out at night. There was always a lamp on his table, and other rooms had lighting for a motion sensor, just in case he needed to go to the kitchen or bathroom at night. Gulf was been driving. Mew because of all today's events quickly fell asleep. Gulf looked at the calmly sleeping boy who was smiling in his sleep. His heart felt warm. He loved him so much.

See you in next chapter! :-)