Chương 22: A Love Rival

[Adrian's POV]

"Does it really not bother you?"

Rhia craned her neck to look at him with raised brows as they head out of the building, hand in hand. "You mean Johan being gay?"

"Yeah," Adrian said as they walked to the parking lot. He had his black helmet pinched between his arm and torso, while he held Rhia's red helmet in his other hand.

"No, I'm not bothered." Rhia let go of his hand to adjust the strap of her bag over her shoulder. "It just surprised me, but at the same time, it doesn't? Am I making any sense?"

Adrian crumpled his face. "No, Babe. You confused me with what you just said."

Rhia laughed. "I mean, you know I like Korean Dramas, right?"

Adrian nodded, remembering the times he'd sat for hours with her watching TV dramas he couldn't understand the language but shrugged it off because Rhia liked them. They had subtitles, anyway.

"Whenever I see Johan, I always think of him like those boys because he's too pretty for a guy, but he's also got a charisma that can still make a girl swoon. You have no idea how many times I almost called him Oppa."

A hybrid of snort and laughter bubbled from Adrian's throat, and he covered his mouth with the back of his hand. "Is that your way of telling me you've got a crush on him?"

"No, dummy." Rhia pinched his side and Adrian jolted away. "Okay, maybe a little? I like his face, okay? That's why it doesn't bother me when he's joining our table. If I'm being honest, I find it regrettable he's gay."

"Whoa! Babe, should I feel jealous?" Adrian chided. He's unsure if he should be jealous that his girlfriend's having a crush on another guy, or if he should be worried that, in a sudden twist of fate, Rhia might turn into a formidable love rival.

Fuck, maybe he should pursue a polyamorous relationship instead? That would solve all his problems. The nails playfully digging on his skin brought him out of his fantasy, and they stopped in front of his motorbike.

"Don't be stupid. A crush is a crush. I'm just admiring his face. Besides, if he's gay then I have no chance at all." Rhia shook her head, smiling as she rummaged through her bag. "Shoot! I think I forgot something in the locker."

"What is it?" Adrian asked as he clambered to his motorbike.

"Just... Ugh! Can you hold my bag? I'll go back and check." Rhia handed her bag to Adrian and dashed towards the building. "I'll be quick!"

"Okay! Don't trip!" Adrian snickered and put down Rhia's bag in front of him. It's only past six in the morning, and due to the tall trees around, the morning sun still remained hidden. If he dropped Rhia off and went back, he might still catch Johan on the way.

Adrian couldn't help but smile. It's only been a week, yet he felt giddy thinking he'd be back at Johan's apartment. He missed cuddling with him that he started hugging Rhia's bag.

Two people emerged from the building, and Adrian checked if Rhia was one of them. To his disappointment, it's only Diego and...

"Han?" Adrian let go of Rhia's bag and climbed off of his bike. Confusion knitted his brows together as the two men headed together to the parking lot.

Johan met his questioning eyes, but the brunet said nothing.

"Guevarra. You're still here?" Diego asked as he stopped in front of a black and red sports bike. It's a freaking Yamaha YZF-R6, and it made his Suzuki V-Strom 650 looking inferior.

Adrian caught himself staring. "Uhm, yeah. I'm waiting for my girlfriend, Sir."

"Oh, okay. Enjoy the weekend." Diego hopped onto the big bike, started the engine, and motioned Johan to the backseat. "Let's go?"

Johan broke their eye contact and turned to Diego. "Maybe we should go another time. I don't see you having an extra helmet with you."

"Well, I'm single so I don't see the use of carrying an extra. That'll make me look stupid, don't you think?" Diego said and grabbed his helmet.

"Right, smartass. So let's just—" Johan was cut off when Diego put the helmet on his head.

"Use mine then. I don't really need it." Diego locked eyes with Adrian as he worked on the helmet's lock, and he was sure he saw a small smirk on his smug face.

Fury sizzled in his veins. Adrian glowered back, clenching his fists. Questions boggled his mind like, 'why the fuck are they together?', and 'where the hell are they going?' He took a step forward when Johan shook his head and climbed to the passenger's seat, but an arm circled around his elbow.

"Babe?" Rhia greeted, announcing her arrival. Her smile faded into a confused frown when she followed his line of sight. She brightened, however, upon seeing Johan and waved.

Johan only nodded his head in acknowledgment before Diego's bike zoomed to the gate. The sudden motion had Johan jerking forward, hands wrapping around Diego's torso as they drove away from the company's parking lot.

"Isn't that your department head?" Rhia asked, squeezing his arm. "They seemed close. Do you think they're... dating?"

No. Fucking hell, no. "I doubt. Han hated that guy. We all do."

Rhia gasped and put a hand on her mouth as if she just thought of a brilliant idea. "Maybe he's the ex-boyfriend. And maybe he's trying to get him back?"

Adrian shook his head and removed Rhia's grasp from his arm. "Where did you even get that idea? They're not together. That's impossible."

"Why are you getting mad?" Rhia laughed as he swung his leg to his motorbike and started the engine. She grabbed her bag and wore the red helmet, sitting sideways with her arm coiled around Adrian's torso. "Then, do you know who his ex-boyfriend is? I'm kinda curious too."

No. Because the 'ex-boyfriend' doesn't exist.

"Let's not talk about it. That's his private life," Adrian said and drove off.

"Oh, you're right. Sorry."

The drive home was filled with racing thoughts and enraged driving. Rhia had to tell him several times to slow down or else they might get into an accident. Fortunately, they didn't. After Adrian dropped Rhia to the front of their gate, he swiveled his motorbike back to the road and bid her goodbye.

"You're not going inside?" Rhia asked. "I was hoping you'd stay for a while. I have something to discuss with you."

Adrian tapped his impatient fingers against the clutch lever, but he flashed her a smile. "Sure. What do you want to discuss?" He turned off the ignition and hopped off.

The house of Rhia's family was simple. Beyond the orange gate was a single-story house with unpainted walls. It has a terrace where they usually hang out. Her parents were kind and not the terrorizing kind of in-laws-to-be, but they made it clear that he's not allowed in Rhia's bedroom until they got married.

Adrian's legs bounced as he sat on the chair made of bamboo. He knew he shouldn't be thinking about Johan whilst on the premise of his girlfriend's house, but his paranoid mind overpowered any feelings of guilt.

"You okay, Babe?" Rhia placed down a glass of pineapple juice in front of him. "You know we can sit in the living room instead, right?"

"I'm good," Adrian assured. "What is it you want to discuss?"

"Are you in a hurry?"

"N-no." Adrian stopped the movement his legs were doing. "I'm just a little tired, I guess."

Rhia pouted and brushed her hair, trying it in a loose ponytail. "Sorry. Should we just discuss it this afternoon after we have some rest?"

He wanted to say yes, but it would be insensitive of him if he does that. Adrian grabbed the glass to quench the burning acid in his chest. 'Please, give me more patience.'

Rhia took a seat beside him. "Remember what I told you about our shifts getting reshuffled?"

Adrian wracked his memory. "Yeah? What about it?"

A discontented sigh escaped past her lips. "I'll be in a morning shift starting next week. Three in the morning, Babe. Ugh! It sucks. And my off is Sunday and Monday."

"Wait." Putting down the half-empty glass, Adrian faced her. "Three A.M.? Babe, that's a dangerous time to go to work. Should I request a schedule change too? I'm not sure if Diego will grant it, but I can try."

Despite the urge to find Johan as soon as possible, it genuinely worried him to know his girlfriend will go to work in such a dangerous time without him. What was their department head thinking?

"It's fine, Babe. I'll work it out somehow, but I'll talk to Quinn if we can make an adjustment. In the meantime, I'll just ask Papa to accompany me."

"Alright. Let me know how it goes, okay?" Adrian placed a kiss to her forehead.

"Sure."

Rhia remained nestled in his shoulder. As the silence engulfed them, his paranoia kicked in once again. Adrian glanced at his phone. It's already quarter to eight.

"Babe?"

"Hmm?"

"Can I go now?" Adrian hoped she wouldn't question why. When Rhia let go of his arm, Adrian stood and embraced her. "I'll come back in the afternoon, okay?"

"Okay, Babe."

Adrian didn't waste any time as soon as he stepped out of the gate. He jumped to his motorbike and raced to Johan's apartment. He'll just wait for him there.

'Let there be no Diego or I'll go mad.'