Capítulo 3: Billiards And Lullabies

[Johan's POV]

Johan stood in front of a three-story building, dressed in a black and white long-sleeved shirt, dark jeans and red Converse shoes. Disco music blared from the speakers outside as the karaoke bar's signage flashed in neon lights: BL Lounge, short for Billiards and Lullabies KTV Lounge.

What an interesting name for a night business.

After typing a quick message to Thesa that he's outside, Johan stood beside the entrance to avoid the crowd going to and about the busy street of Olongapo City. The night was still young, and since it's the weekend, more people swarmed Magsaysay Avenue.

Across the BL Lounge was a gay bar he's tempted to check, but doesn't have the backbone to do so. Burly guys in a tight-fitting shirt, short shorts, and knee-high boots stood by the door, acting like a beacon to attract moths.

Johan would rather roll in the mud naked on the rice fields than risk going inside that place. Those freaking thighs were tempting, though.

The sound of his ringtone alerted him of an incoming call, pulling him out of his thoughts.

"Hello?"

"Just come inside," Thesa said from the other line, the sound of a familiar voice singing could be heard in the background. "We're on the second floor, room number eight."

"A-Alright."

Johan pushed through the tinted glass door with apprehension. The techno music playing increased in volume as he ventured inside. Multi-colored lights blinded him, and he almost bumped into someone if his fast reflexes hadn't saved him in time. Luckily, the first floor's not yet crammed with partygoers, so he didn't have to wedge himself against wild dancing bodies.

After climbing the stairs, Johan passed by several billiard tables and went straight to a door with the number eight neatly painted on it. He knocked three times and waited for someone to open it.

The doorknob rattled before it swung open, and a cheery plump girl greeted him with a grin. "Hey, Jo! Come on in!"

"Thanks, Christy. Hey, guys." Johan entered the private room and greeted his officemates present for the party, trying not to look disappointed when he didn't see the tall blond around. Maybe Rhia forbade him to join the party?

"I told you he'd come," Thesa said in a meaningful tone, smiling.

Johan ignored the suspicious glimmer in her eyes and plopped down on the black leather sofa beside Christy. "I can't miss a free karaoke, Mommy Thesa," he said, returning her smile.

Thesa did not take offense of him calling her Mommy. This lady was in her late thirties and was as good as his own mother. However, she would have anyone fooled because of her youthful looks. She appeared ten years younger in a literal sense.

A sepia-colored bottle was handed to him, and he took it with his left hand. The coldness seeped to his fingers, but he didn't mind.

"Adrian said he's on the way," Christy announced beside him, and his heart skipped in a mixture of dread and excitement.

Johan took his first sip of the beer, wincing as its bitter taste burned his tastebuds. He reminded himself to watch his alcohol intake, just to be safe.

What he liked about BL Lounge was the privacy they could get through renting a karaoke room. It was fully air-conditioned with posh couches on three sides, a glass table in the middle, and a huge flat-screen TV with a clear stereo system.

Aside from Christy and Thesa, they also have three other girls from their department. Although he's the only male in the group, Johan felt at ease. What brought them together was their apparent dislike to their department head.

Johan used to have great respect for Diego, especially when they're still new in their roles. The guy has the natural abilities of a leader and he admired him for it. But Diego let his promotion into his head and turned into an absolute douche. He made fun of people's flaws; he body-shamed girls and acted like he owned the damn place.

The only person who had the guts to stand up against him was Johan. Why? Because he's a hero.

No, not really. He just found pleasure in handing people their asses when it's due and letting them taste their own medicine. He's one of their quality analysts. His ability to see fault even in minor things got him the job, and it's his job to point a mistake if he saw one.

He was halfway through his second bottle when someone knocked on the door, and Adrian wearing a plain yellow collared shirt emerged.

"Sorry, I'm late. Rhia is just—"

"Oh, hush!" Christy cut him off from spouting excuses. "We know your girlfriend's the jealous type. Now sit." She patted the space to her right. "We have Johan here so you won't feel out of place."

Adrian's face beamed at the sight of him, his lips curling into a smile as he sat down next to him. "I'm glad you came."

He flashed him a small smile in return, before bringing the bottle to his lips and took a huge gulp. The heat radiating from the body beside him made the hair on his arms stood. When he met Thesa's eyes, he almost choked.

"You okay, Han?" Adrian rubbed his back.

"Y-yeah... it just... went on the wrong pipe..." Johan swallowed the moan that threatened to force its way out of his lips. Adrian's hand running up and down on his back felt good. It made him shiver.

"Don't rush, Jo," said Jacqueline, the sponsor of their party. "We've got plenty of time."

"Who's singing 'Closer, You And I'?" Jenny quipped, holding the microphone out.

"That's mine." Johan reached for the mike and switched seats to see the lyrics better. In reality, it's just an excuse to get away from the man causing weird sensations all over his body.

"Hey, there's a look in your eyes,

"Must be love at first sight.

"You were just part of a dream,

"Nothing more so it seems."

Their night went on smoothly, song after song, bottle after bottle. Adrian had excused himself to play billiards outside while they sang and talk about random things. By the time Johan grabbed his sixth bottle of beer, he's already belting out Sia's Chandelier.

Johan wobbled out to find the bathroom. His vision swayed, and he felt light-headed. Even when drunk, he kept his expression blank, not wanting to make a ridiculous face in case someone took a picture and post it online. It never happened before, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

After he emptied his bladder on the toilet, Johan walked to the sink and his reflection glared at him through the gigantic mirror. No, wait, that's just his resting-bitch face.

"I should get some prop glasses," Johan said to himself, pulling his bangs to cover his slanted and narrowed eyes. He's going to attract trouble just by looking at someone. And with alcohol in his system, the word-filter of his mouth was turned off.

"Han?" Adrian called, pushing open the door to the bathroom. "You okay?"

"I'm fine," he said, not looking up.

Blue sneakers met his vision, and a hand nudged his bangs to the side. Adrian's deep-set eyes looked at him with worry. "I think you've had too many drinks."

"Just six."

"No wonder you look wasted." Adrian cupped his flushed face, and he instinctively leaned to the warm touch. "Can you walk?"

"Am I a toddler? Of course I can walk." Johan slapped the hand away and took a step forward to prove his point, but only stumbled.

A lean arm caught him before he fell, his face landing on Adrian's chest. The musky scent made him want to snuggle to the man supporting him, but a knock on the open door alerted them of someone's presence.

"Is he okay?" Christy asked.

Johan pulled away, recovering his two brain cells of logic and reason. What the hell was he thinking? Fuck!

"I'm good! I'm okay! Thanks."

Johan stepped out of the bathroom with the two following him behind. Despite his light-headedness, he managed to reach their room while chanting 'catwalk' in his head like a mantra.

He slumped on the sofa and grabbed another bottle of beer, but Adrian snatched it away from him.

"Han, stop."

Johan glared and seized another bottle on the table, not caring if someone owned it or not. But it was taken away from him too and before he could grab another, strong hands clasped both his wrists.

"Stop or I'll tie your hands with my belt," Adrian growled in a low voice, sending bolts of pleasure to his groin. He stopped struggling. "Good. Now stay still. I'll just go grab some coffee downstairs."

"... 'kay."

"Watch over him for me," Adrian said before walking out of the room, not bothering to close the door.

Five pairs of eyes stared at him as if he just performed witchcraft. Jacqueline and Christy sniggered at his drunken state, and Johan slumped back, grabbing the songbook beside him.

"Jo?" Christy asked from his side. "Can I ask you something?"

"What is it?" he asked, not taking his eyes off the list of songs, trying to find something he could sing.

"What do you think of Adrian?"

"Hmm... What do you mean?"

"What she meant is," Jacqueline butted in, "like, do you find him attractive?"

Johan looked up from the song and reached for the remote. "Yeah. Who doesn't?"

There's a collective sound of approval. Christy giggled beside him. "Do you like Adrian?"

"Yeah. He's cool."

"I mean, like more than a friend?"

"Are you asking me if I have a crush on him?" he asked, an automated voice reciting the numbers as he punched in the song's code. "Where's the mike?"

Thesa handed him the microphone as the two girls answered.

"Yes. Do you have a crush on Adrian?"

Through his intoxicated mind, Johan couldn't find it in himself to care if they knew or not. He just wanted to sing. "Yeah, I do."

As music began to play on the speaker, and lyrics flashed at the bottom of the television screen, a cup of piping hot coffee was placed in front of him.

Johan dropped the mike as Adrian took a seat beside him.