Laundry Day

[Johan's POV]

"I love y—"

Johan didn't intend to abruptly end the call, but the last words that fell out of Adrian's lips through the phone moved his thumb. It was too soon. Reading it on a piece of paper was fine. But hearing Adrian say it, in a voice that made the words sounded genuine, it scared him.

'Don't be swayed.'

'He didn't mean it.'

'No one falls in love that fast.'

'No one falls in love because you had sex.'

'No one would truly fall in love to someone like you.'

Staring at the blank screen, Johan sighed and typed a quick message. Adrian might question him the next time they saw each other, and he's not ready to explain himself. They're happy with the way things were. No need to complicate it with feelings.

'I luv u 2'

The smartphone squeaked as Johan slid it onto the coffee table before he stood. He felt the need to run, so he grabbed a red sleeveless hoodie in the bedroom and walked out of his apartment.

———

Sunday was meant for doing house chores and taking care of dirty clothes. Since his apartment doesn't have a laundry area, as an alternative, Johan used the front of his apartment whenever he had to wash clothes.

After filling half the plastic washtub with water and dissolving the floral-scented detergent, Johan was ready for battle. He grabbed his ultimate weapons; a washboard and a rolled fishnet and started scrubbing his clothes.

"Such a hard-working boy," Roland commented from his spot in front of their apartment, amused. "Blondie's gonna fall in love if he sees you."

Johan fixed his neighbor with a glare, the tip of his ears turning red. What's doing the laundry got to do with falling in love? Last time he checked, it's nothing phenomenal. Roland and his stupid logic. "Shut up before I scrub your face with the fishnet."

"Feisty!" Roland approached and leaned against the wall. "Hey is that..."

Johan looked up to meet Roland's smirking face. "What?"

"He's got a hickey!" he teased.

Embarrassment flooded his face, and Johan's wet hand flew to his neck on reflex. The back-and-forth movement of his arm must have ruffled the collar of his shirt, exposing the bite mark Adrian left at the junction of his neck and shoulder. Fuck!

Roland's guffaws increased his blood pressure. Johan flushed an angry red, and the rolled fishnet in his hand flew at the man's direction. It hit him in the forehead, splashing his face with soapy water and bubbles. Instead of stopping, however, Roland only laughed harder.

"What's going on?" Isabel emerged from their apartment just-in-time Roland zoomed past her at the door.

"He's got a kiss mark on his neck! Johan finally did it with Blondie!"

"Can I just murder your husband for a minute?" Johan approached the braided-hair girl with the washing board in his hands.

Isabel pressed her lips together to suppress her own laughter. She even slapped a hand to her mouth. With her free hand, she motioned to Roland who was hiding behind their sofa. "Go ahead," she said, shoulders quaking, eyes crinkling with amusement.

"Thanks." Johan flashed her a devilish grin as he stepped into their living room.

"Hey! This is trespassing!"

"I've got your wife's permission. Come here so I can end your life, you asshole."

Roland's scream and laughter marked the beginning of a deeper friendship between him and his next-door neighbor. After beating the fucker in the ass, Johan went back to finish his laundry.

"Do you have something to cover that up?" Isabel sat across from him and motioned to his neck. "I can lend you a concealer."

Johan squeezed the last shirt he scrubbed as he tried to hide his blush. "T-that's nice of you, Isabel. But I don't know how to use a makeup."

"Oh. I can teach you."

"I'm not really interested in those kinds of stuff," he confessed. "Thanks, though. I'll just put a Band-Aid on it."

This kind of conversation embarrassed him. It felt awkward to explain that because he's interested in men, doesn't mean he's interested with makeup. Besides, if he applied it on his neck, it will smear on his shirt and he'll have a harder time on washing it.

"Alright." Isabel smiled in understanding. "But if you change your mind, let me know. I can teach you ways that work on men."

Johan nodded and proceeded in rinsing his clothes with clean water. "Uhm, Isabel?"

"Yeah?"

"I'll trust that you won't tell others about this. Please let you 'dear' husband know."

"Haven't you accepted yourself yet?"

The question made him pause. Has he not? Johan knew he's more attracted to men that women since high school. He met Isabel's inquiring gaze. "It's... not that. I just don't like unnecessary attention. That's all."

Isabel patted his arm. "I understand. Leave Roland to me."

Whether he's accepted himself or not, it's yet to be determined. It just happened he's not the type to announce he's a unicorn in search of gold pots at either end of the magical rainbow.

Besides, the secret he's hiding was irrelevant to his sexual orientation. And he can't attract attention if he wanted it concealed for eternity. Johan doubted Adrian can still say 'I love you' once he learned the truth.

———

A series of knocking on the door awoke Johan from his slumber. He finished his chores around four in the afternoon, and he'd fallen asleep on the couch because of exhaustion. With bleary eyes, Johan dragged his feet to the door. The smile on Adrian's face fell the moment he stepped inside.

"Han, you okay? Is something wrong?" he asked as they ventured into the living room.

"Just tired. How's your day?"

"I'm alright." Adrian pulled him to sit together at the couch. "What did you do? What happened to your hands?"

"The boring house chores, what else." Johan sat on Adrian's lap, leaning his head on Adrian's shoulder. "And I took care of the laundry I accumulated for two weeks."

"Wait, you wash clothes manually?" Adrian traced his wrinkled digits, and Johan winced when he caressed the wounded cuticles. "Don't you have a washing machine?"

"Do you see any washing machine here?"

"What the..?" Adrian bit his shoulder at his sarcastic tone. "I ask nicely, didn't I? What's with your grumpy attitude?"

"You shall not question someone who just woke up about a washing machine." Johan laughed and pointed a playful finger at his nose, but quickly pulled it away when Adrian threatened to bite it. "Are you a dog?"

"Are you a cat?" he countered, and they shared a laugh at their silly banter. Adrian picked at the dead skin at the tips of his fingers. "You should buy a washing machine. This is why you're having trouble with the biometric lock. Look at your hands."

Spreading his fingers, Johan scratched the calloused skin. He was once told he had the hands of a woman, only if he'd take good care of it. But that's not a simple task since he's living by himself. "Well, sorry for having ugly hands."

"That's not true." Adrian linked their hands together. He brought it to his lips and kissed the tips one by one. "Your hands show the evidence of your hard work. That's beautiful to me, Han."

 The ministration had his heart thumping against his bones like a bird wanting to break free from its cage. Emotions trickled through the fissure in his walls, and fear had him withdrawing his hand. "You're so cheesy sometimes."

Adrian pulled him back when he attempted to stand. His lips skimmed over the bruised skin on his neck.

"I-I haven't taken a bath yet."

"It's fine." Adrian traveled to his ears, fingers cupping his chin to turn his face sideways. The kiss felt different today.

"I just woke up. I haven't—"

Adrian kissed him, soft but firm. Short, but heartfelt. "Han?"

"Hmm?"

"I love you."

Johan stilled. He hadn't prepared himself yet at the sudden face-to-face declaration of love. It's still felt too soon. Responding through text was fine. Adrian couldn't see his expression, couldn't hear his voice.

Adrian seemed to catch his hesitation to answer. His eyes lowered when he didn't answer, and his hold around his waist loosened.

'Don't be swayed.'

'He didn't mean it.'

'No one falls in love that fast.'

'He's still with Rhia.'

'You're just his pastime.'

'So, don't fall in love.'

In his panicked state, Johan could only close his eyes, and he leaned in for a kiss. When Adrian began to respond, he pulled away and smiled.

"You didn't answer back."

Shit.

"A-action speaks louder than words, you know?"

"Yeah? I still want to hear it." Adrian pleaded with his eyes. "Han."

Johan climbed on his lap, cupped Adrian's face and looked him in the eyes. He sucked in a deep breath. "I love you too. Satisfied?"

"With emotions."

"Oh, come on!"

Adrian chuckled and pulled him closer, pressing his ears against his chest. "Sorry. I'm being pushy."

"Sorry I'm not good with words."

"I know, Han. I know."