A Test Of Trust

Richard watched Glenn pace back and forth from across the living room while repeatedly calling someone on his phone. His eyebrows only shot further into his forehead as Glenn let out a growl and gripped his phone tighter.

"Did your date ditch you?" Richard asked.

Glenn side-eyed him, released an annoyed sigh through his nose, before storming off to the balcony. Whoever he was trying to reach, it seemed their plan had been compromised. He wouldn't likely try to sneak out if that's the case, but it meant Richard would see him mope around the cabin all day.

Richard stood from the couch and trotted to the balcony to eavesdrop. He knew he was being a nosy father, but he was curious to know about what Glenn was up to recently.

"Hey! What's taking you so long to answer?" Glenn almost yelled when the receiver of his call finally answered. "I've called you, like, twenty times already! You are testing my patience."

Richard peeked outside as Glenn's voice rose like an irate customer reaching the customer service hotline to complain. It was an interesting sight.

Normally, girls would call several times until it pissed Glenn off and changed his number, but the situation had been reversed today. Glenn had been denied attention, and it's pissing him off. Just what kind of girl had he met yesterday?

"What do you mean, you can't meet me today? We had an agreement—hey! What the fuck?" Glenn stared at his phone in disbelief. He tapped both his thumbs on the screen several times, then pressed it against his ear again. "Hey, you! How dare you hang up on me—hey!"

Richard almost laughed as the person on the other line dropped the call again, amplifying Glenn's annoyance. It looked like this brat had found his match. He would have peeped through the door again, but Glenn was already heading back inside, so he ran away from the door to appear inconspicuous.

As soon as Glenn stepped inside, he directed his dark gaze at him. "Stop eavesdropping on me, Dad!"

"What? I'm not," Richard said, shaking his head. "I just heard you yelling, so I thought I'd check."

"Yeah. Whatever." Glenn plopped down on the couch, letting out a grunt.

"Having a girl problem?"

"I thought you weren't listening?"

"It's not like I can block your voice and hear nothing." Richard sat on the couch and looked at Glenn while rubbing the stubble on his chin. He jerked his head to the front door. "If she's ignoring, why don't you pay her a visit?"

Glenn gave him a look before he sneered. "And show up with three bodyguards? Wonderful advice, Dad," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He shook his head. "No, thanks."

Richard pressed his lips together as he contemplated the next words he wanted to say. With a popped of his mouth, he said, "Then go by yourself."

The stare Glenn sent him was the look of utter distrust, so Richard elaborated further.

"You managed to do it yesterday. I figured that since you're here in Baguio, you can relax and enjoy your vacation like you want to. Just don't get into trouble, I guess."

Glenn still had a doubtful expression, but he pointed a finger at him. "No taking it back," he said, then bolted out to his room to get changed. His head peeked through the doorway. "And no one secretly following me!"

Richard's gaze flickered to Eadric, who stood by the door, then went back to Glenn's closed door. He smiled. "Sure!"

———

Yves stared at the number of text messages filled with threats and his left eyelid twitched in annoyance like a camera shutter. It's one thing to blackmail him, but to send him ridiculous threats made him want to bury someone alive.

"Still getting pestered by your admirer?"

Yves rumpled his face at the edgy tone of Timothy's voice. He didn't want to start another argument about Glenn. They only made up, but he couldn't just ignore the threats, either.

"Why don't you go meet him already? I won't get mad," Timothy said, securing his hair in a neat bun while facing the body mirror. "Want me to drop you off?"

"Tim."

"What?" Timothy laughed, looking at him through the mirror. "I'm serious. Since when did I ever tell you not to take on a client because I don't like them?"

"Yesterday."

"I did?"

"You said you expect not to see him around me anymore, so I won't see him, even if he pays me triple," Yves said, already planning how to discard the stupid video Glenn was holding against him.

One of the things he thought of was hiring a pick-pocketer. They were a nuisance in famous tourist spots in Baguio, but they could come in handy in a situation like this. Was it ethical? No, but he didn't care. Glenn could buy a new phone, anyway.

"That won't do. We need to make money." Timothy marched to the bed, where Yves was concocting his evil plan. He crouched down and rested both arms on Yves' thighs. "I think I just said that yesterday because I was intimidated. He's freaking handsome, okay."

Yves pinched Timothy's cheeks and smiled. "Admittedly, he is. But he's a real headache. Why would I leave you for someone handsome but a pain in the ass? You're still more responsible, caring, funny... and the most handsome guy in my eyes."

"You just hesitated at the word handsome."

The teeth that sank on his thigh reduced Yves into a giggling mess. He did that on purpose, though, knowing how Timothy would react.

"I can be a pain in the ass too, you know." Timothy smirked, raising Yves' legs to his shoulders. "You were literally screaming earlier while I fucked your ass."

Yves gasped for breath, his face flushed, still giggling. "That's different."

"How so? Ah, because you're enjoying it."

"Argh!" Yves clenched Timothy's head between his thighs and he fell back on the bed. He would have continued fooling around with his boyfriend, but his eyes landed on the clock. "Wait. Tim, don't you have work today? We will be late at this point."

"You're right. Let's get going." Timothy pushed Yves' legs and stood. He held out a hand to help Yves up. "Where should I drop you? Burnham Park or the City Hall?"

"Burnham. My client's hotel is near Burnham Park."

"Which one?"

Grabbing his waist bag on the computer table, Yves followed his boyfriend and pinched Timothy's ass as they headed outside. "The vlogger girl, of course. Who else? Stop with your low-key jealousy."

"I'm asking which hotel! Why are you so defensive?"

Yves locked the door and jumped on Timothy's back. "Shut up and carry me. I don't want to walk."

"Damn it, Baby. You're heavy!" Timothy groaned, but carried him to the stairs anyway. He gave Yves' butt a little squeeze. "Does your ass hurt? That's why—ow! Ow! Not the hair!"

"Move! You're my horse today."

Yves' apartment was only on the second floor of a four-story apartment building, so carrying him downstairs wouldn't be too hard for his boyfriend. It was one of Timothy's whims a long time ago, and so far, they hadn't slipped on the steps even once.

The Burnham Park was near Yves' apartment, so they reached it through Timothy's motorbike in less than ten minutes. They hadn't even parked yet, but Yves already spotted a familiar face near the lake.

"There's your admirer," Timothy pointed out, slowing down. "Let's go meet him."

"Ugh! Tim!"

"What? Really, I don't mind. I don't like him, but I trust you. And I know you can break his neck if he tries something funny, so... empty his wallet. I'm cool."

Yves resisted a groan as Timothy parked near the park. He preferred the idea of pick-pocketing Glenn, but that could get him in trouble, so he jumped into the side-street with a begrudging huff.

"But don't play beyond the limit. I'm going to Manila soon for a special project, so you better behave."

Yves froze. "What?"

"I said, behave."

"Not that. You're going to Manila? When? This is so sudden."

Timothy removed his helmet and pulled Yves by the waist to kiss him. "Yes, but let's talk about it this weekend or after work. Now, I have a special task for you."

"Tim."

"After work, Baby. Now." Timothy pointed at where Glenn stood beneath a tree, who hadn't noticed them yet. His golden gaze turned serious as he looked at Yves in the eyes. "I trust you, okay. But I want you to prove I can continue trusting you even if you're with a guy like... like that."

"You trust me, but you want to test me?" Yves asked, his tone incredulous. "Tim, are you serious?"

"Let's face the reality, Yves. Gay or not, temptation is the number one enemy of every couple. If you can't resist temptations even if I'm around, then what's stopping you if I'm away?"

"You think I'm tempted to cheat on you with him? Tim, I already explained—"

"I know. I know. But I'm not going to lie to myself. I can see you falling for a guy like that and it scares me." Timothy grabbed Yves' hand and kissed his knuckles. "But if you don't, then I can be at peace wherever I am. It's just for a day, right? You'll just accompany him, right?"

Yves didn't even have the strength to argue. Separation anxiety already filled his mind at the thought of Timothy going away. With a sigh, his shoulders dropped in defeat. "Yeah, just for a day."