บท 5: Flattery

[Johan's POV]

Johan roused from his slumber around 11:43 AM, stomach growling from hunger. Aside from the chicken drumstick they had yesterday while drinking, he hadn't eaten any proper meal. He pushed himself from the bed and swung his legs to the side, running a hand to his sleep-tousled hair.

He didn't bother throwing on a shirt as he pushed open his bedroom door. He liked staying in his boxers when he's at home. It's liberating, and it cut the amount of laundry he had to deal with on weekends.

"Good morning, Sexy."

Johan's eyes zoomed in to the guy sitting on his couch, feet propped comfortably on the coffee table. Adrian had a lopsided grin plastered on his face as he scrolled on his phone, and Johan had to slam the door shut when he raised his arm as if to take a picture.

He forgot Adrian stayed the morning after their karaoke party. He stayed after Johan announced to the world he's got a crush on him. And now his crush sat on the couch where he jerked off while imagining him.

Johan shrank to the ground, holding his aflamed face. Please don't let there be any suspicious-looking stains on the fucking sofa. Oh, God!

"Han?" Adrian knocked on his door. "Aren't you hungry? Because I am."

Right. Lunch. His stomach growled in protest at the thought of food. "H-Hold on. I'll just put on some clothes."

After throwing on a blue sleeveless shirt, Johan walked out of his bedroom. The shirt was large enough with its hem dropping past the curve of his ass, so he didn't put on any trousers. It's his house. Why would he feel embarrassed wearing what's comfortable for him?

Adrian whistled upon seeing him, eyebrows shooting up as he gazed at his exposed thighs. Johan ignored the blond. He knew he's just messing with him. He's a guy, and not a chic in a bikini to be leered at.

Yet, knowing Adrian's eyes were on him, on his lower region, he's starting to regret not grabbing a pair of shorts. Damn jerk!

"What would you like to eat?" he asked, walking to the kitchen and checking the contents of his fridge. "I can whip up something, like, hold on, do you eat vegies? I only have vegies and... frozen chicken breasts. Maybe we should just order something?"

Adrian hummed, thinking. "You always bring a lunch box at work. I've been wondering how your cooking tastes like."

"It's nothing special. I'm mostly self-taught and not a professional chef so don't expect anything phenomenal."

Adrian hesitated and stood awkwardly in his kitchen doorway. "As long as it's edible, I won't complain."

"Okay. You've been warned." Johan smirked, taking out carrots, potatoes, and bell pepper.

"Is there something I can help with?"

He'd rather not make a guest do some work, but Adrian's offering. Plus, they're both hungry and it would be faster if they worked together. Johan looked at the carrots and potatoes in his hands. "Can you peel these for me?"

"Sure."

He thawed the frozen chicken breast with hot water. While waiting for the iced meat to soften, Johan started preparing the rice, using the line on his fingers to measure the water.

"You're just like my Mom," Adrian commented, laughing when he added more water on the rice cooker. This guy, did he just mom-zoned him? And what's so funny about his method of cooking rice?

"Shut up and peel this too." He handed him the onion and garlic. Soon, he was the one laughing as he watched him teared up from peeling and slicing the onion.

After the ingredients were cut and prepared, Johan heated a pot to saute the onion, garlic, and chicken. Adrian stood on the side, watching him stirred and poured tomato sauce and water on the pot. He'd be lying if he said Adrian's presence doesn't affect him. It's more unnerving than Gordon Ramsey.

"Do you really have to watch me cook? I'm not gonna put some love potion in it if that's what you're worried about."

The playful smirk that spread on those lips gave him an increased heart rate. "Why? Are you trying to make me fall in love with you?"

"I'm... not." Johan added the carrots and potatoes, covered it, and checked the rice to distract himself.

Scythe made an appearance after sniffing lunch, mewling loudly as he sauntered to the kitchen, brushing against his legs affectionately.

"You only seek me when you're hungry, but ignore me when I need cuddles," Johan grumbled at the white and black feline.

"Ah, so this is your cat. I always see it in your posts," Adrian said, reaching a hand to pat Scythe, but the cat made a disapproving noise.

"Careful," Johan warned, reaching for the cupboard to get tuna. "Scythe is a stray, and he's not too friendly to strangers."

Being the taller guy, Adrian had it easy grabbing the packet and handed it to him. "That's nice of you, Han. Picking a stray and giving it home."

Johan willed his blood vessels to calm the fuck down after their skin brushed for a second. "All the cats I had were stray."

"You have other cats too?"

"Back in the province."

Johan gave Scythe the food and checked the chicken afritada he's cooking. He grabbed a bowl and added the bell pepper. After adding salt and ground black pepper, he had Adrian taste it through the ladle.

"You'll make an excellent wife, Han. I like it!"

W-wife?! Blood colored his cheeks as red as the tomato sauce of chicken afritada. "I'm a guy, stupid! Don't call me a wife."

Adrian laughed. "Alright."

God! This guy just won't stop making fun of him.

It was already past one o'clock when he announced the food's ready. Adrian had insisted on helping distribute the plates, but Johan was having none of it. He already helped enough. After the long wait, Johan served the bowl of rice and chicken meat bathing in red sauce and vegetables.

They sat across from each other on his glass table and ate in comforting silence. Johan filled his plate with potatoes, because potatoes tasted awesome with tomato sauce. Adrian watched him as he chewed on a piece of chicken meat.

"What?" He paused in blowing his food.

Adrian shook his head, smiling. "Nothing."

"You're weird. Stop staring."

"Seriously though, this tastes good."

Johan rolled his eyes. "You're talking like you came from a prehistoric cave. It's not a rare food. Anyone can cook afritada."

Something in his dark blue eyes flashed. "Rhia doesn't cook like this."

"She doesn't cook afritada?" Johan asked, trying not to think too much at how her name sounded ordinary when it escaped Adrian's lips. Perhaps it's because they've been together for five years that he'd grown familiar with saying her name.

"She does." Adrian gripped his fork and nipped at the tender meat, savoring its taste. "It's just... different. Yours is just filled more with..."

He trailed off at the sound of his vibrating phone on the coffee table. Excusing himself, Adrian stood and went to the living room.

Johan gulped. He reached for the glass of water and drank. A strange feeling settled in his gut at the muttered whispers of Adrian as he talked to whoever was on the other line. A few minutes later, he strolled back to the kitchen.

"Sorry about that. Where was I again?"

Johan shrugged, feigning ignorance. "I don't remember."

He'd already watched too many dramas in his spare time to not know what Adrian's hinting at. While it made him feel giddy that the blond's praising his cooking, he reminded himself that the man's in a relationship, and all the crap about 'a way to a man's heart is through his stomach' doesn't apply in this situation. He just fed him out of hospitality in exchange for the ride this morning.

"Ah!" Adrian exclaimed like he just got the most brilliant idea that would change humanity. "I was talking about how your afritada tastes good."

"It tastes normal to me. It's neither good nor bad," Johan said, finishing his meal. "I appreciate it, but stop flattering me. Flattery won't get you anywhere."

Adrian's shoulders sagged a little. "That's too bad. If it's up to me, I'd eat any food you prepare every day."

Now, he's acting like a kicked puppy. Johan sighed. "Bring something home then if you liked it that much."

"Really?"

"Yeah. There's a tupperware in the drawer. I'll wrap up some before you go."

Johan busied himself cleaning the sink as Adrian finished his food in silence. After putting the leftover in a clean plastic container, he handed it to Adrian who was drinking a glass of water.

"Thanks, Han. For letting me stay, and for this." Adrian raised the plastic bag he put the container in.

"No problem. What are friends for, right?"

"Yeah."

He accompanied Adrian to the front door, asking him if he forgot nothing inside, like keys or wallet. Adrian slipped on his sneakers with difficulty and almost tumbled because he got a plastic bag in one hand. If Johan hadn't offered to hold the bag, he would have face-planted on the floor.

"Adrian," Johan called after he stepped out of his apartment. Adrian turned and raised his eyebrows, smiling. He looked unaffected even after he literally just kicked him out.

"What is it, Han?"

His hand went to his nape, suddenly feeling embarrassed. "Just... thanks. For being accepting and all."

"Don't sweat it," Adrian said, reaching a hand to ruffle his hair. "It's not the first time a guy got a crush on me."

"Are you comforting me, or are you just being cocky?" Johan resisted kicking him. With a slight smile, he removed Adrian's hand on his head. "Drive safely."

Warm fingers curled on his own, squeezing a little. "I will."