18 A Secret Affair

[Adrian's POV]

"Han."

"What?"

Adrian wriggled his eyebrows as he put the hotdog in his mouth and swirled his tongue provocatively. Johan flushed, and the kick on his knee made him chuckle.

"Stop playing with your food." Johan was about to raise the meaty sausage to his mouth. He paused when he met Adrian's laughing eyes. He put it down and started slicing it into tidbits. "Pervert."

"Coming from you?" Adrian dodged the incoming kick behind the table. He stopped teasing Johan and chomped on his breakfast, a mischievous smile still plastered across his lips.

Despite the conflicting feeling he had on their first sexual play yesterday, seeing how he could still draw out Johan's soft side gave Adrian a little boost of confidence. He may not be as skilled in sex like Johan, but he knew how to wriggle his way in someone's heart with affection.

'Next time, we'll make love with feelings. And I'll be the one taking the lead.'

After having breakfast together and helping Johan wash dishes, Adrian bid him goodbye. He pulled Johan in a deep kiss before stepping out.

"I'll see you later at work?" Adrian caressed his lower lips before leaning in for another chaste kiss.

"Remember to keep your promise." Johan looked up with a stern look. He was serious about keeping it a secret, and Adrian had no complaints.

Pulling away, Adrian twisted the doorknob and gave a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Han. I will."

"Drive safely," Johan said through the slight gap before closing the door.

———

8:21 PM

The roaring of his motorbike stopped as Adrian pulled over at Blue-League Mortgage's designated parking space for two-wheeled vehicles. Rhia removed her arms around him and supported her as she climbed off.

"I'm gonna go ahead, Babe," Rhia said as she removed her helmet. She handed it to him and smoothened her wind-tousled hair with her fingers.

Adrian frowned as he grabbed the helmet from Rhia. "Isn't your shift the same as mine? Why the rush?"

"We have pre-shift overtime." She said and pulled her brown bag to her shoulder. "Oh, and we're reshuffling shifts next week, which is a bummer. I prefer this shift because it's aligned with yours." Rhia leaned in to peck him on the lips. "Anyway, gotta go. See you later at break!"

"Alright. Love you." Adrian flashed an endearing smile and watched her half-ran-half-walked to the glass door. He raised his hands to his mouth like it's a megaphone. "Don't trip, Dwarfiny!"

Rhia stuck her tongue at him and walked inside the building.

Shaking his head, Adrian hopped off of his motorbike and kicked the stand on. It's still too early to head over to their department. He fished a pack of cigarettes from his small bag and walked across the road.

Adrian leaned his arms on the metal rails. The river below reflected the fire of his lighter as he lit a cancer stick. Taking in a mouthful of smoke, Adrian couldn't help but think how peaceful the night was.

The sky was free of clouds. More stars scattered across the night sky and the pale waning moon was far ahead. A nudge on his shoulder almost made Adrian drop his cigarette to the moving water below. "Fuck—!"

Christy's laughter cut off his cursing. "How's your weekend, lover boy?" she said in a teasing voice and motioned for him to hand over his cigarette so she can light hers.

Adrian was eager to tell her every detail of what happened over the weekend. Of how a half bottle of his mother's Hennessy gave him an overwhelming confidence to show up in Johan's apartment, asked him to go on a walk so he can apologize, but ended up kissing him instead.

Then there's the messy jerk off session they had on the sofa that had his mind reeling, and the steamy shower they had together. Although he's not about to tell her that much information even if he was allowed to. Adrian took the cigarette back and smiled, shaking his head. "Nothing much. How was yours?"

Christy gave him a look and twiddled with the cigarette she pulled from her plump lips. "Nothing? But you're smiling like you just got to third base? Last time we talk, you were bitching about Johan not talking to you anymore."

"Nothing happened. You're imagining things." Adrian blew the smoke out and he received a playful smack on his arm.

"Stop trying to fool me. I can tell by the look on your face that something has happened. You're hiding something from me now?"

"We already made up. That's it. Stop taking things out of context," Adrian said, and Christy rolled her eyes.

"Whatever."

Adrian doused the fire and tossed the cigarette butt in the nearby trash can. Johan asked him to keep it a secret. His trust mattered more than Christy's hunger for gossips.

After Christy finished her cigarette, both of them head in to their department to set up their working stations. Thesa and Irene were already inside, chatting among themselves.

Night differentials and day off on weekend aside, working in a night shift schedule doing repetitive tasks for years can bore people out. And when things became as boring as the cold tiled floors, their focus would divert from analyzing documents to observing people, their relationships, and gossiped about it. Analysts like them could be scary sometimes. They're like shrinks who read minds by interpreting gestures and body language.

That's how Adrian was found out with his secret obsession. While he was busy stealing glances at the pretty boy two desks away from him, the girls were putting two and two together, except for Christy who had known his sexuality since high school.

As the digital clock on their computer monitors flashed 8:56 PM, all of them had their anticipating eyes fixed at the door.

"Eight-fifty-eight," Irene said, fingers clicking furiously against the keyboard.

"Is that your final answer, Irene?" Thesa challenged with a laugh. "I'll go with eight-fifty-nine. What's your bet guys?"

"I'm with Irene," Christy said. It's not even her shift yet, but for the sake of gossips and avoiding the risks of getting late, she's two hours early. "What about you, Adrian?"

Adrian smirked with confidence. "Nine. Sharp."

"Harsh!" Irene stopped clicking. "That means he's gonna be late."

"Nope! He can log in at before nine-o-one." Adrian leaned back to his chair. He's observed Johan enough to know he'll win their silly bet. "You're all gonna lose."

"Such confidence." Christy gave a smirk of her own. "If you lose, you'll tell me what happened."

"Wait. Hold up." Thesa caught on immediately. "What's this? What are you taking about?"

"Nothing!" Christy and Adrian chorused. Thesa was about to protest, but the beeping sound at the door cut her off. Adrian could already picture Johan cursing at the biometric door lock.

The clock struck nine and the beeping sound continued.

"Shit!" Adrian leaped to his feet and rushed to the door but it opened before he does. Frustrated hazels met his gaze. "Good eve—!"

"Move." Johan pushed him out of the way and ran to his computer desk. Ouch! That hurt, but Johan's gonna be late, so he forgave him.

Adrian knew he won the bet when relief washed over Johan's sweaty face. Did he run all the way from the gate? It tempted him to reach for his handkerchief and wipe the moisture, but Adrian reminded himself to behave.

Johan kept a straight, emotionless face that would have convinced Adrian how great of an actor he was. If only his flushed face didn't deepen when their eyes met for a split second.

Adrian flashed a charming smile and Johan looked away. He passed by his desk and tickled his ear before plopping down his chair. The glare Johan sent him translated to 'what the fuck are you doing?'

He also needed to act normal, alright? Teasing him was part of the normal in their department. Christy made an out-of-this-world noise only a fangirl could produce, and the tips of Johan's ears darkened.

"Oh, my god! Have you two finally reconciled?" Thesa gushed, stomping her sandaled-feet on the floor like an excited child, heels click-clacking against the tiles.

'We more than just reconcile,' Adrian wanted to say but only rolled his chair towards Johan and raised an arm for a fist bump. "We're friends, okay?"

Johan eyed his awaiting fist for a few seconds before he looked away. "I don't do that kind of stuff. You're so cringey."

"What the—?"

"Go back to your desk." Johan clasped his fist instead, smiling as they made an awkward exchange of handshake.

That was lame, but the warmth of those fingers sent reassurance to his chest. Adrian uncurled his fist and let their palms touched, wrapping his thumb around Johan's, giving him a hand-hug.

"As long as you are friends, boys. We're good," Thesa said, and Irene agreed with a nod. Christy's face screamed she wanted details, but didn't press the matter for the time being.

Johan withdrew his hand before the girls interpreted it differently. "Let's get to work."

Adrian couldn't wait for the weekend to come. While he liked how Johan was being timid around others, it's only making him want to be as close and intimate again, behind closed doors.

"Okay, Han."