บท 184: A Bet He's Willing To Lose

[Johan's POV]

Johan hissed at the cotton doused with isopropyl alcohol pressed to a lesion on his foot. His face contorted in pain, toes curling as Raymond continued disinfecting his wound with delicate touches.

"Does it hurt so much?" Raymond asked.

"N-No. Just stings a bit," Johan answered, trying not to cry.

"Well, it's not that bad. I had an even bigger wound before. There's too much blood, but I didn't cry."

"I doubt."

"It's true!" Raymond lifted his right leg to his knee and traced a finger over a noticeable scar at the sole of his foot. "See that? I got it when I stepped on an oyster shell and slipped."

"You must be an idiot to slip—Ow! Hey, t-that tickles!" Johan snatched his foot from Raymond's grasp and glared. "Don't do that! I'm ticklish, okay?"

"Heh."

"Try anything funny and I'll kick you," Johan threatened, lifting his foot from the bamboo bench they were sitting on.