Chương 23: A Game Gone Wrong

[Johan's POV]

"Johan, dear." An elderly woman holding a broom made of ribs from coconut leaves approached him.

Pausing in his steps, Johan smiled politely to regard his landlady. He grabbed her wrinkled hand and pressed its back to his forehead. "Good morning, Granny Martha."

The smile she returned was kind. "You came home a little late today. Overtime at work?"

"Kinda," Johan said with a shrug. He hid his curiosity over what made her came up to him. They rarely talk to each other because of the nature of his work. Could it be to collect rent payment? But his uncle already paid for everything until the end of the year. "Is something the matter?"

"Oh, no. Not really." She pointed her broom to his apartment's direction. "It's just that there's a foreigner waiting for you in front of your door. He's been sitting there for hours, so it got me and the neighbors curious."

Foreigner? It must be Adrian. Figures. Johan resisted cursing to not offend the old lady. Adrian seemed to forget he's in the Philippines, where people don't know how to mind their own business. And with his non-native appearance, he's like a beacon attracting gossip-hungry moths.

"That's probably my... my cousin," Johan lied. He bowed and excused himself. "Thanks for letting me know."

"Cousin? He said he's your workmate."

'Fuck.' Johan bit the inside of his cheek. "Uhm, yeah. He's my cousin... who's also working in the same company as me."

"Oh. I see." Granny Martha pushed her glasses up and continued sweeping the ground. "Well, I'm just glad to know he isn't a sketchy person or something. He's too handsome to be one, anyway. But you know people these days. You can't just trust anyone."

"R-right. Thanks for your concern, Granny."

"No problem, dear."

Johan marched towards his apartment. Even through the gardenia bushes, he spotted the blond head easily. Shaded under the roof of his apartment, Adrian sat on a Monoblock chair that belonged to his neighbor.

Adrian perked up as soon as Johan came into view. Smoke puffed out of his parted lips. Standing, he flicked the butt of his cigarette to a potted plant that ticked Johan off.

"Pick up your trash before you go inside," Johan whispered, exchanging a quick bow to his neighbors, a couple in their mid-twenties, who gave a smile he didn't like. He unlocked the door, went inside and left the door ajar.

He was removing his shoes when the door clicked shut, and Adrian did the same.

"What are you doing here so early?" Johan asked as he walked to the living room and removed his bag.

"Early? It's almost eleven. One hour before lunch."

He swiveled. "That's not what I—"

"Where have you been?" Adrian's eyes pierced him. He trapped him at the back of his couch with both his arms on either side of his body. "Why were you with Diego this morning?"

Johan didn't reply. The scent of tobacco would usually disgust him. But as Adrian's breath wafted to his lips, the odor didn't bother him much. Johan tasted frustration, jealousy, possessiveness, and it forced submission into him.

"Well?"

"We just grabbed breakfast," Johan said with baited breath. "And I waited for the bookstore to open so I can buy stuff."

"Breakfast." Adrian spoke low. "I haven't even taken you out on a date yet, Han. And you're already having breakfast with someone else. With Diego of all people."

"Sorry."

"Why are you sorry? What did you do?" The growl in Adrian's voice dissolved the irritation he felt earlier. Excitement roused inside his pants.

"Nothing you need to be mad about."

His landlady's scrutiny, his neighbors' knowing stares, his talk with Diego, and even the thing with Rhia in the pantry. All of them were pushed to the back-burner of his mind as Adrian shortened the gap between them in a hungry kiss.

Johan groaned when Adrian wedged between his thighs, pressing against his clothed erection. The couch's feet screeched when it was pushed. Hands grabbed his ass and Adrian heaved him only to slam his back to his bedroom door.

Such dominance!

Adrian twitched the doorknob and cursed. "It's locked."

"Key's on my left pocket," Johan breathed, eyes hazy. He bit his lip when Adrian's impatient hand inside his pocket grazed against him.

Adrian unlocked the door, and they barely saw Scythe scrambled out of the room at the sudden noise. He's got to reward him fish later for giving them privacy.

When Adrian dropped him to the mattress, Johan realized he hasn't taken a shower. Sweat and air pollution still stuck to his skin, and fuck, he hasn't cleaned nor prepared himself. But if he proposed they took a bath first, it might disrupt this lovely tension they're having.

And the air-con's unplugged. Shit. It's gonna get messy.

"Why aren't you stripping, Han?" Adrian asked as he fumbled with the buttons of his white dress shirt.

Johan gulped as he watched Adrian undress. Damn, can't he just fuck him with his office attire on? It would be hot. One look and he did as he was told. But he's only halfway through unbuttoning his shirt when Adrian untucked the hem and pulled it over his head.

The predatory gaze in those darkened blues turned him on so badly Johan almost forgot the most important thing.

"C-Condom's on the drawer." His voice shook with anticipation that it may sound like he's scared. But he's not. "Can you also plug the air-con? It's hot."

With a lingering look, Adrian went over to the bedside table and pulled the drawer. He took a packet of condom and also grabbed the bottle of lube. The air-con was turned on at its lowest as he requested.

When Adrian faced him, Johan's already stripped down to his boxers. Was it obvious he's excited? Johan eyed Adrian as he unbuckled his belt. Fuck. How can he tell him what he wanted without doing so?

"I changed my mind," Johan said and swung his leg to the side. "I wanna shower first."

"We can shower together later." Adrian dipped a knee into the mattress, blocking Johan's escape.

Johan pulled the belt out of the loop and palmed Adrian's hardness through his boxer briefs. "But I feel dirty." He looked up and met his lust-filled eyes. "Right at the place where Diego touched me."

His back landed on the bed as soon as he said those words. Adrian pounced on him, hatred rolling out of his tongue like venom. "Where did he fucking touch you?! Fuck! That son of a bitch! Tell me!"

Rage blinded Adrian that he failed to notice the smirk on Johan's face. "Why should I tell you? It's not like you can undo the things that's already been done."

Silence reigned between them. Instead of attacking him, however, Adrian pulled away. Tears brimmed in his eyes.

Oh, shit!

"What did he do to you, Han?" Adrian asked. His voice has softened, and he caressed Johan's cheeks with light touches.

Johan looked away as disappointment shrunk his arousal. Wrong choice of words. Wrong provocation method.

"Han?"

"Nothing. He just touched my hand.

Adrian pulled away, completely. He stared down at Johan, hurt flashing in his eyes. "Is this another one of your game?" He rubbed his thumb and index finger against his eyebrows. "Am I just... Am I just a game to you?"

Johan pushed himself up. Adrian wasn't the only blinded. He, too, was blinded with his desire for bondage play. "I'm sorry. What I did was uncalled for. Sorry."

"Haaaaan!" Adrian half-growled, half-whined. "I've been thinking about you this entire morning! I was worried! Fuck! Do you have any idea how many weird shits played in my mind when I saw you with him? Do you?"

"I was wrong, Adrian. I'm sorry." Johan circled his arms around his waist. "I just got carried away."

"Fuuuuck!"

"I'm sorrrrrrry!" Johan whined against Adrian's stomach. "I just want you to tie me up but I'm too embarrassed to ask, okay? I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Ugh!" He slumped back to the bed and covered his face.

Idiot. He's such an idiot. He ruined the day. He done fucked up.

"You could have just asked," Adrian said as he grabbed the belt beside him. "Though I'm not sure how you do this kind of stuff."

"Go figure it out. Or ask Diego, or whatever." Johan rolled to his stomach and planted his face on the mattress. But a strike on his ass jerked him up.

"You do like bringing Diego's name to piss me off, don't you?" Adrian made a slapping sound with the belt in his hand.

The stinging sensation sent life to his placid dick. Johan gulped. Before he could stop himself, another provocation jumped out of his mouth. "Well, Diego seemed interested. And you turn jelly and possessive if I bring him up so—"

Another slap had Johan fisting the sheets. Fuck!

"Is that so?" Adrian clamped his hand around his wrists. "If this is what you want, Han." He leaned to his ears and whispered. "Then I'll play with you."