章 21: Cutting Stars

[Johan's POV]

"Oh."

That was what Rhia has said so far, and Johan already wanted to grab his lunch box and leave. But he remained rooted to his chair and forced down the food that felt like a rough boulder against his throat.

"I'm sorry, Jo," Jacqueline said, realizing the mistake she had done. "I was just surprised."

He could feel the stares drilling in his skull. However, Johan refused to cause a scene and make a big deal out of it. "It's fine. It's the truth, anyway."

Christy rubbed his back in an attempt to soothe him, scolding Jacqueline with a hushed voice when the latter still prodded at the identity of his ex-boyfriend.

Warmth clamped around his bouncing legs. Johan looked up to find Adrian's worried but comforting blue eyes, as he circled his ankles around his shin. Despite the raging storm inside his chest, Johan smiled.

Adrian's with him. He's trying to tell him he's there in the best way he can.

Rhia cleared her throat. "Sorry." she grabbed her bottle of water and sipped from it.

Johan tried not to frown. What was she sorry for?

"That was rude of me. I didn't mean to stare and not say anything. Uhm. It's okay!" She clapped her hands and beamed. "I mean, it's the twenty-first century. People like you exist, and I don't mind! It's not like you're doing anything wrong. Right, Babe?"

Adrian's lips turned into a wobbly smile as she looked up to him for confirmation. "Y-yeah. Yes, you're right, Babe."

Johan bowed and focused his eyes on the contents of his lunch box. He felt uncomfortable. "Thanks," he said and spooned the rice and chicken pastel, and brought them to his mouth. The sooner he finished, the sooner he can have an excuse to leave.

It would have been better if Rhia was detestable girlfriend. At least, he wouldn't feel so wretched with guilt if he ended up demolishing their relationship.

Reality was a vindictive bitch, though. Because truth was, Johan's the unwelcomed intruder. He's the homewrecker immersing himself in someone else's property for his own pleasure. But as Adrian's legs remained attached to him, he knew it's a little too late to distance himself from the man that made him yearn helplessly from human touch.

After Johan consumed the last of his meal, he grabbed his things, flashed a fake smile and excused himself. "I need to plan the board's design," he reasoned.

He still has fifteen minutes left in his one-hour lunch break, but after stuffing his unwashed lunch box to his locker, he went straight to Diego's office. He needed something to get his mind off of things. The dark-haired man looked up from his monitor upon his arrival.

"Do we have materials?" Johan asked as he slumped to the guest's chair in front of Diego's desk.

"I think the Lesbie left a stack of cartolina and construction paper in the bottom drawer," Diego pointed at the metal grey-colored cabinet in the corner of his office.

"You think? Did you ever check or clean it even once?" Johan caught the key Diego threw at him and stalked towards the cabinet, frowning at the term he used to describe Quinn.

"I'm busy with reports."

"Yeah, whatever." Johan checked the contents of the bottom drawer and found the stuff he can use. "Okay, these will do. Uhm. I need to conceptualize. Can I use your PC because, you know, only you have access to Google?"

"Okay." Diego motioned to his reclining office chair. "Just don't watch porn."

"Excuse me, but am I you?" Johan glared at their smirking department head. Who cared if he's a position higher than him? Douche or not, he held no reservation when it came to Diego.

Diego hovered behind him when Johan sat on his chair and searched for 'office bulletin board decoration'. From time to time, he would catch Adrian glancing at their direction through the glass panel with a sharp look.

Amusement had him raising his eyebrows. Adrian's stare was a glass-cutter who wanted Diego's head on the floor. And he's not even being subtle.

Johan rolled his eyes and put a little distance from Diego. As tempting as it would be to poke fun at the jealous man outside, he doesn't want an office controversy. It's already a miracle Rhia didn't question their closeness after finding out his sexuality.

They spent fifteen minutes in choosing a concept. After coming to an agreement, they went with a star-themed decoration.

"I still think the snowflakes-theme is better," Johan said as he gathered the materials he needed in a small box.

"It's not even Christmas yet." Diego leaned to his chair and put his feet up his desk. "You can just do the artsy stuff here, you know?"

Johan pulled his most displeased face at Diego's position. "Nah. Your office is too cramped, and too much exposure with your smug face will deprive me of creativity."

"Rude. Why are you like this to me? I'm your boss."

"You're our leader, not our boss. The money we're earning isn't from your pocket. Get your facts checked." Johan ignored the disgruntled man and left his office.

Cutting a perfect star out of the colored paper wasn't easy. Fortunately, he could ask the others to help as he outlined the shape he can be satisfied with.

Jacqueline volunteered to cut the designs, still feeling guilty from what she did at the pantry. She alternated between checking documents and cutting stars, while Johan remained on 'Idle Mode' for the rest of the shift. It's the reason he accepted doing favors for Diego. He's still getting paid even without doing actual work.

Adrian also volunteered to help. But after ruining three stars in a row, Johan asked him to stay out his way before he could stab him with the cutter. He invested time and focus to perfect those stars, damn it!

Hours passed, and the end of their shift came. They managed to cut out a considerable amount of paper stars, but they'll have to wait until Monday to finish decorating.

"You can head out first," Johan said as he put the materials back to the box. "I'll just drop this off to Diego's office."

"Okay, Jo." Irene logged out of his computer. "Have a great weekend, guys!"

"We'll get going, Jo. I need to go to the market," Thesa said.

"Alright, Mommy Thesa. Take care!"

"Are you gonna stay long?" Adrian asked, clamping a hand to his waist to give a slight squeeze.

Johan shrugged. "Probably not, but I'll check with Diego first if I can get a budget to buy more materials. I didn't find a glue or a glue gun in his drawer."

"You really like this doing stuff for him, huh?"

"Stop that." Johan lowered his voice. "And stop glaring at him."

"Why not? You're doing it too, and he's fine with it."

"That's..." Johan sighed, hands tightening around the box. "That's me. I can get away with it because it's me. I don't think he'll take it lightly if you started acting hostile towards him all of a sudden."

"What's your relationship with him?" While it came as a whisper, Adrian's voice held a clear malice.

Johan looked around if someone was paying attention to their silent conversation. No one. People became more occupied with work at the reduced staff. He turned back to Adrian. "We're not having this conversation here. Get going. I'll see you whenever."

"Fine." Adrian walked out with heavy steps. Several heads turned to the glass door as the magnet detached loudly upon verifying the person going out.

"Is everything okay?" Jacqueline looked up from her monitor. "He seemed mad."

"He's a little upset he can't help much." Johan lifted the box he's carrying and Jacqueline laughed. Shrugging at the little lie he said, he ambled towards Diego's office.

"We've finished cutting stars." Johan put the box beside the drawer. "Do we have some glue or a glue gun? I didn't find any in the drawer."

Diego stood and shrugged his broad shoulders. "We can just buy some. What else do you need that isn't here?"

"Hold on. Let me make a list. Can I borrow a pen?"

Diego grabbed the pen on his dark blue collar. "Here."

"Thanks." Johan bent to the desk and listed the things he needed for the decoration.

"How much do you think it would cost?" Diego asked.

"Honestly, I don't know. I haven't been to National Bookstore in a while."

Humming, Diego glanced at his expensive wristwatch. "Let's just check later. Wanna grab some breakfast?"

Johan stopped writing and looked up. "I haven't finish decorating yet."

"It's fine." Diego smiled and grabbed his key. "I'm starving and there's a nearby restaurant that opened a week ago. I wanna check it out."

"As long as you're paying." Johan handed the pen back to Diego.

"Deal."

Johan headed out of the department head's office and bid his goodbye to Jacqueline and Christy.

"Sorry again about what I did earlier," Jacqueline reached for his hand. "I stepped out of the line."

Despite the discomfort it caused, Johan couldn't find it in himself to stay mad at the girl. Maybe because they're more accepting towards his orientation. He flashed her a reassuring smile. "It's fine. Just try to keep it down next time. For me?"

"Alright."

"Johan," Diego called and motioned to the door with his thumb. "Let's go."

クリエイターの想い
K_Contiello

I usually hate a Mary Sue/ Marty Stu character, but I'm gonna give it to Rhia (for now). It'll give Johan a harder time around her despite her being accepting.

I'm thinking about writing a POV for her to delve deeper into her character, but it might disrupt the flow of the story. I'll think about it.

What do you think? Let me know!

Oh, and have you seen the new book cover? Isn't it lovely? I drew it! *proud happy face*

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