Chương 52: Cuddles And Catapult

[Johan's POV]

Johan lay his head on Adrian's bicep as the hammock resembling a small boat swayed gently, lulling them in the soft midday breeze, sheltered from the sunlight under the rustling mango leaves.

He could feel Adrian's dejected stare at the side of his head. His fingers sifted in his hair with tenderness, while his other arm rested across his chest, their legs tangled with each other.

Turning his head sideways, Johan's nose brushed against the light stubble on Adrian's chin. It tickled his skin as he nuzzled its tip with half-lidded eyes.

"You should sleep," Johan whispered. "It's almost noon. You were looking after your brother the entire night. You need to rest."

"I had little naps, Han. Don't wor-ry," Adrian answered.

The little break in his voice had Johan snuggling closer, pulling closer, embracing Adrian as close as he could. Johan tilted his head up and grabbed Adrian's chin, placing a soft kiss on his lips.

A lone tear fell from the corner of Adrian's eyes before his lids fluttered shut, returning the kiss with a snivel. They exchanged short kisses and made out slow and steady, with Johan's hand over Adrian's chest, letting the lazy thumb caressed the skin above his pelvis.

They stayed like that, nestled in each other's arms, until Adrian fell asleep, his lips pressed to his forehead. If he could freeze time, Johan would stay forever tucked in the safety of his arms.

"Couz?" Sean called cautiously, covering his mouth when Johan pressed his index finger over his lips. He motioned with his arms, inviting him to eat lunch.

Johan shook his head and mouthed, 'later'. He received a nod and gave an appreciative smile when Sean moved the hammock mildly. Closing his eyes, Johan succumbed to the lull of sleep the swaying motion brought.

'If only I met you first, Adrian. I won't hesitate to take the chance with you.'

———

It was past three-thirty in the afternoon when angry whispers woke Johan up. With a yawn, he pushed himself from the hammock, scratching the patterned welt the rattan left on his shoulder blades. Frowning, he noticed that Adrian was missing on his side.

Maybe he went to the bathroom to take a piss?

Johan glanced to the side of the water pump, where Sean and Kristoff seemed engaged in a lover's quarrel.

"What do you want me to do? The guy looked crushed," Kristoff said, a hand clasped to his nape. "The cure to a broken heart is booze, you know?"

"Is your brain made of alcohol? What kind of reasoning is that?" Sean fumed with wild gestures of his arms. "Adrian has to look after his brother later at the hospital. How can he do that if he's drunk?"

"He said he can hold his liquor just fine!"

"Said every man who became a puking duck after a drinking session with you! Just admit that the reason you invited us here was to have an excuse to drink!"

Johan yawned and rested his chin on top of his open palm, watching the two bickered more like an old married couple. He didn't need to ask where Adrian was or what he's doing. He already got the gist of it.

Not that he's any different. If Johan needed to forget, he'd travel far away, seek alcohol, or rent a karaoke. Sometimes, he'd pick a fight with a random drunkard or seduce a cute guy to play with, depending on his mood.

The bickering went on for another minute until Sean noticed him staring. "Couz! You—"

"Let him be." Johan swung his legs to the ground and stood, rotating his numbed shoulders. "But please don't make him drink too much. He still needs to go to the hospital later."

"You're not going to stop him?" Sean asked, pushing Kristoff away, who gave a victorious smirk.

"Why should I? He's not my boyfriend. He's free to do whatever he wants." Johan rubbed his rumbling stomach and ignored Sean's helpless gaze. "Couz, I'm hungry. Let's grab some snacks."

"Oh, we've reserved some food for you, Cousin-in-law." Kristoff scrambled to his side, trying to avoid the hand trying to strangle him. "Just—hey! Mine, stop it. That tickles."

"Don't call me that! I'm not your property!"

"Why not? You'll end up with me, anyway."

Sean grabbed his flip-flops and Kristoff sprinted away, laughing. "Couz! Can you make him stop? He's so annoying! Argh!"

"..."

"He's not my boyfriend either, okay? Stop giving me that look." Sean dropped his footwear on the ground, annoyance evident on his face. "As if I'd date anyone from this place."

"..."

"I'm loyal to Kensuke. He's the only one for me."

"..."

"Why aren't you saying anything? Couz!"

"Whatever, Couz. You're so pretty, you make me so damn speechless." Johan bit his tongue to keep himself from laughing.

Sean slapped a hand to the back of his shoulder, face turning red, and he pulled Sean's spiky hair in return.

They passed by the open door of the nipa hut, catching sight of several young men surrounding a small table, topped with a bottle of a local brandy, a few glasses, and a pitcher of pineapple juice.

Adrian sat on a bamboo bench, holding a shot glass of tawny liquid. Their gaze met for a second before Johan turned and continued walking to the modern house next door.

He would have joined him and Kristoff if they weren't with people he didn't know. Apparently, they built the nipa hut with as a multiple-purpose shelter; a resting place during summer, a drinking lounge, etcetera.

Kristoff's family still lived in a concrete house for better comfort during rainy season, which was understandable since a room with a leaking roof wasn't an ideal place to sleep at. They were hospitable towards them, even granting Johan the permission to pick mangoes in their wide backyard.

After having a late lunch with his cousin, Johan grabbed the slingshot he stuffed in Sean's bag. It's one of the many things he took from his grandfather's house. Since it hasn't been used in a long time, he had to replace the rubber band before using it.

"Now, let's see if I still have a good aim." Johan gripped the wooden handle and pinched the leather pad, stretching the rubber band to the corner of his lips. It felt strange. It must be due to the new rubber. "Shit."

"Please tell me you're not planning to use it on a person, Couz."

"Would you like me to use a gun instead?" The cryptic smile Johan gave painted a worried look on Sean's face. "Relax, Couz. I'm using something else."

"Do you really have to resort into this?" Sean trailed after him as he ventured further into a more remote area in Kristoff's backyard. "It's dangerous, Couz."

"I'm not scared," Johan said, eyes darting on the ground to find a suitable target. He found an empty can of soda. "It really depends on them. If they don't cause me trouble, I won't do anything."

Grabbing the aluminum can, Johan placed it on a low branch and trudged back five meters away. Instead of using the steel-ball attached on the magnetic necklace, Johan grabbed pebbles on the ground. He can't waste ammo for a practice round.

"Do you need my assistance, Couz?" Sean helped him gather small rocks. "I've programmed the USB as you requested."

"I have no plans of dragging you into any mess I'll get into. Just hand me the USB and your notes. You're done with school, anyway."

Putting a rounded stone on the slingshot's pad, Johan pulled the rubber and aimed. The rock catapulted with a flick, whooshing past the target an inch away.

Johan clicked his tongue. "If I didn't get my bearing, I'll be forced to use a gun."

"Couz—"

"Can you watch over Adrian for me?" Johan cut off Sean's protest, firing another slab of stone. "Remind your boyfriend not to get him drunk too much."

"I told you he's not my boyfriend!" Sean stomped his feet on the ground, the fallen leaves crunching under his flip-flops as he marched back towards the nipa hut.

Johan let his smile linger as his embarrassed cousin scampered away. When he no longer felt his presence, Johan knitted his brows in concentration. He flicked his bangs to the side, closed his right eye, and let his muscle memory took hold.

The stone hit the soda can with a clink.

Johan sighed. "Damn. I'm out of practice."

After several more tries, aiming at random targets and at different angles, Johan started enjoying every snap of the black elastic strap. Before Don Juanico drilled gun-shooting in his mind, he first trained him to use primitive weapons.

Looking up, Johan reloaded the pouch with a steel ball and drew his focus to the stalk holding the fruit. With a deep breath, Johan released the ammunition with a good snap, and the mango fruit fell straight in a waiting hand.

Adrian's lips quirked upward into an attractive grin, his cheeks flushed from the alcohol. When his glossed blue eyes locked onto him, Johan felt a sudden wave of deja vu.