Kapitel 4: Overdrive
[Johan's POV]
Johan gripped the coffee cup as Jacqueline's voice flittered out of the speakers like a theme song in a third-rate romance movie. Casual conversations were thrown about as laughter echoed through the four corners of the KTV room. They're acting like he just didn't drop a bomb several moments ago, and he's not going to complain.
His neck had gone stiff, like a rusty clock in desperate need of oil. Johan refused to turn sideways. He sipped the coffee even if black liquid burned his tongue. Adrian's presence beside him served like a bucket of iced water, drenching him in cold sweats, removing the spirit of alcohol in his body.
He just outed himself in front of everyone, with the object of his fantasy hearing every word, of all people.
Johan needed a plane ticket to Antarctica, or the fastest bullet train of humanity to come hit him in the face, whichever came first.
He's so stupid.
They exited BL Lounge around three in the morning. The girls chattered among themselves as they head down the flight of stairs, Johan and Adrian following them behind. The first floor was still rowdy, filled with drunk people dancing like monkeys. A flailing arm almost struck him in the face, but Adrian brought a hand to shield him.
"Watch it, Dude," he warned, and the man cowered upon seeing his towering form.
"S-sorry!"
Adrian only gave a cold stare, hand grabbing Johan's waist to guide them out.
He bristled at the touch, especially at the subtle squeeze of Adrian's fingers, pressing him closer to his side to avoid bumping against random drunkards.
"I can walk," Johan said, removing the hand clasped on his waist as they pushed open the tinted glass doors. Thankfully, he had sobered enough after several trips to the bathroom.
The others were already outside. He can't have them getting the wrong idea if they saw them hip to hip. He has a crush on the blond, but that doesn't mean he's going to hook up with him like a low-class prostitute.
'Adrian's got a girlfriend,' he reminded himself.
"Let's go to that bar next." Christy pointed at the gay bar he saw earlier, a mischievous grin plastered on her reddened face.
"Next time, friend. We will," Jacqueline agreed, looking pointedly at Johan. "Wanna come with us?"
"What?" He took a step backward, eyes widening in fear.
"Girls, stop bullying him." Adrian came to his defense, slinging an arm to his shoulder. The two girls raised their hands in surrender.
"We're not forcing him to go," Thesa said with a smile. "But it's an open invitation. He's welcome to join us if he wants."
The arm on his shoulder tightened a little as Adrian tilted his head down, trying to meet his eyes. "Would you go?"
"Why does it matter? Can't we just go home?" Johan looked away, but didn't pull out of Adrian's warmth. The cold mist of the dawn nipped at his skin despite the long-sleeved shirt he's wearing, and he couldn't help but succumb to the protective heat on his side.
"All right. Let's go home. You must be tired."
The girls agreed and discussed if they should ride a tricycle or jeepney. In the end, Thesa, Irene, and Jacqueline went for the tricycle since it's more convenient for them. Christy and Jenny chose the jeepney so they'll be dropped by the bus station.
When Christy hailed a yellow jeep, Johan pulled away from the blond to come with them, but Adrian grabbed his wrist.
"I brought my motorbike," he said. "I'll drop you home."
Johan tried to protest. "No, it's okay—"
"Take care guys!" Christy called from the jeepney's window, smiling.
"Drive safely!" Jenny quipped as the vehicle wheeled away, leaving the two of them standing in the pavement.
Johan trailed the yellow jeep with helpless eyes until it swerved left and disappeared from his sight. He couldn't believe they just left him here with Adrian. Those bitches! This conspiracy was planned from the start! He will get back at them and he'll give them below eighty percent quality score at work.
"Let's go, Han." Adrian tugged his arm and started walking to where he parked his motorbike.
"I-I can just wait for the next jeep," Johan said, but the blond refused to let him go. "You don't have to do this."
"It's okay." Adrian smiled, stopping beside a black bike and grabbed a red helmet. He would have given another protest, but Adrian spoke again. "If you have a crush on me, it's okay. I don't mind."
Blood rushed to his cheeks as Adrian placed the red helmet on his head. "D-don't you feel awkward? Aren't you, like, disgusted?"
"Why? It's not like you're planning to do dirty stuff with me," Adrian said, working on the helmet's lock. "Or are you?"
Johan kicked him on the shin, his face bursting in vermillion color as the blond chortled, tickling his ears with the sound of his laughter. He was sure his face was the same color as the helmet.
After wearing a helmet of his own and kicking the stand, Adrian swung his leg and rode the motorbike. He inserted the key in the ignition and wheeled to the highway. The engine roared to life, its taillights blinking.
"Hop on."
Johan hesitated, but complied when he started feeling awkward standing on the sidewalk with the helmet on his head. He got on the passenger's seat with ease, thanks to the elevated pavement.
"You live in Subic, right?" Adrian clarified, patting his waist for him to hold on, but he shook his head.
"Just drop me to the bus station. I'll manage." Johan steadied himself, putting his hands to his thighs.
"To the bus station then."
The drive started slow. Johan doesn't have trouble balancing himself as they passed by several establishments. But as they rounded the head statue of Apo, Adrian didn't stop. He picked up the pace and passed by the bus station.
"Hey! I said drop me to the station!" Johan yelled through the noise of the engine, his heart drumming across his chest as the stiff wind slapped the exposed part of his face.
Adrian didn't respond. If any, he only sped up, forcing Johan to grab tightly on his waist.
"Adrian, slow down! You're drunk!"
"I'm not! Unlike a certain someone, I only have two bottles!"
"Shut up and slow down, you jerk!"
Adrian slowed his driving, thankfully. The route from Olongapo to Subic has lots of swerves, cliffs with metal road rails, non-working lamp posts, and creepy old trees. They even have to pass a public cemetery that churned his imagination wild. Burial chambers were practically a meter away from the highway, for fuck's sake!
Johan squeezed Adrian's torso and held for dear life. He's unsure if this was a dream or a freaking nightmare.
After a lengthy drive from the city, they arrived at Johan's apartment, breathing and with their limbs intact.
"You can let go of me now," Adrian said in a sing-song voice. "Or would you like to stay huddled to my back?"
Johan pushed himself away from the blond, heart still going into overdrive as he jumped off of the motorbike and removed the helmet.
Adrian watched him struggle with the lock, lips quirked in an amused smile. After wrestling with the damn buckle for five minutes, he managed to unlatch it in succession.
"You could have helped, Asshole." Johan glared, handing the helmet to Adrian.
"You could have asked," came his retort, grinning. The smirk directed at him brought another shade of red to his face.
"You are enjoying this, aren't you?"
Adrian snorted. "Are you not?"
This fucker! If he's not busy trying to regulate his blood flow, he would have smacked him on the head. Johan inhaled sharply.
"Okay, stop. You're making fun of me. Thanks for the ride. Please go home." He turned around, hand grabbing a key in his pocket. As he fumbled to open his door, Adrian yawned with the sound that came from the depth of the ocean.
"I should get going then," he said, sighing dramatically. "It's going to be a long drive. Pray I don't fall asleep while driving. Well, I have insurance anyway, so—"
"Shut up and come inside!" Johan glowered as the man hopped off of the motorbike and stalked forward, grinning like an idiot. Shaking his head, he flicked the light on and closed the door. Hopefully, he has nothing embarrassing thrown around the house.
"Do you live alone?" Adrian asked while removing his sneakers.
"Yeah. My uncle already moved with his wife." Johan stood in the middle of his living room, eyes darting from each corner like a frenzied detective as Adrian took a seat on the couch.
"Can I have some water? I'm a little thirsty."
"S-sure. Hold on." Johan ambled to the kitchen to grab a glass of water. "Cold or just… Regular?"
What the fuck was regular even? Holy shit!
"Anything is fine, Han."
Since he started working in the company, he didn't have anyone come over to his place. He had kept his life private from anyone for years and it's unnerving to have Adrian in the same space, just the two of them, with alcohol still lingering in their bodies.
Fuck. Inviting him in wasn't a good idea. But it's not like he can just send him away. It's a miracle they reached his apartment without getting into an accident.
After filling the glass with water, Johan walked back to the living room and found Adrian already asleep on the couch.
AUTORENGEDANKEN 
K_Contiello
K_Contiello OMG! I really love this chapter. That's why I'm updating early.
I feel awkward asking, but if you enjoyed this chapter, please do vote with a power stone. This is an entry to WPC#125. Help me win even if the gap is already huge with the leading stories. I'd appreciate it! ^^
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