A Play To Remember

[Johan's POV]

"Uh..." Confusion flashed Adrian's face as he approached. Stopping in front of Johan, he scratched the side of his neck, a little bashful. "You said I should come to visit where you're staying so you can introduce me to your cousin?"

He did? Johan remembered mentioning to Adrian yesterday night where he's staying. But he has no memory of inviting him to introduce to Sean.

Wait. Hold the fuck up.

Johan turned to his cousin, who had a not-so-innocent grin plastered across his youthful face. This little—! He hacked into his phone, didn't he? Johan stabbed Sean with a glare.

"Oh, hi." Sean gave a meek wave at Adrian and nudged his shoulder against Johan's. "Introduce me to your 'friend', Couz."

"Why don't you introduce yourself?"

"Come on. I'm your cousin, right? I'm your favorite cousin."

Johan rolled his eyes, meeting blue patient ones. Adrian's lips quirked in a loop-sided smile, his dimple showing. It's a trait that Johan always found attractive in a guy. Even Raymond had one.

Sean nudged him again. "Your gay is showing, Couz," he mumbled under his breath.

Johan pinched the skin above Sean's elbow and cleared his throat. He introduced the two to each other, pinching Sean more when Adrian averted his gaze to look around. God, he hated introductions. Why can't they just introduce themselves to each other?

Sean clapped his hands together and stepped back. "Alright. Uhh. We can't really play two-on-one, can we? So I'll just stay there and cheer for you two. Ganbatte kudasai, Couz!"

Johan stood in the middle of the court with Adrian, feeling baffled as he watched Sean toddled back to the side of the court, sending them two thumbs up.

"Is your cousin Japanese, Han?" Adrian asked, taking notice of Sean's Nihongo.

"No. But his boyfriend's half-Japanese," Johan said, shaking his head. He'd only seen Kensuke in a photo once or twice and he already understood why Sean was head-over-heels for him.

"So he's also..."

"Yeah."

Adrian stepped closer to him, leaning down to his ears. "Does that mean he knows about us?"

Glancing at Sean who sat on the concrete bench; with his wide grin and starry eyes, Johan could only sigh. Sean's expression already said it all. He looked like a fanboy watching a live-action BL drama. 

A side peck on the cheek and the ball had been stolen in his hand. Johan's cheeks went aflame. "You—!"

Adrian started showing his dribbling prowess, taunting him to snatch the ball from him. His shoes squeaked against the smooth floor, his footwork resembled an impressive hip-hop dance move.

Johan raised an eyebrow. Was he playing or trying to impress him?

"Why are you just standing there, Han? Come at me." Adrian challenged. He dribbled the ball between his legs and swooped past him.

Johan could only watch as he dashed to the concrete pole, jumping for a perfect layup shot and scored.

Adrian raised his index finger, indicating a point. 

Breathing a long sigh through his nose, Johan said, "this is going to be an annoying day."

Adrian picked up the ball and jogged back to him. "There should be a reward for every score."

"Reward? What reward?" Johan asked, catching the ball that was thrown at him. 

"One score. One kiss." Adrian's smirking face thrust forward in his personal bubble. He snatched the ball again and trotted backward near his cousin. "Hey, Sean. Can you be the scorekeeper?"

"Sure!" Sean agreed without a second thought.

Adrian sent Johan a challenging stare and stalked forward, while Sean giggled like a child excited for Christmas. Johan glowered at his cousin, feeling betrayed. What kind of conspiracy was this?

Shoulders slumping, Johan skidded forward to take the ball back. Remind him again why he didn't like ball sports. Oh, right. Because Johan felt stupid running after a freaking ball. He's more than tempted to kick Adrian in the balls right now.

Ten minutes into the game, and irritation already built up in Johan's chest. He hasn't scored once and he's not keen to do so. It's not that the kiss reward wasn't enticing, but he wasn't thrilled that Adrian and Sean were ganging up on him.

Johan swiveled around when Adrian blocked him. His damp back pressed against solid chest, feeling the erratic heartbeat. Adrian's distinct scent of musk and Burntwood intoxicated Johan, making him want to snuggle closer and pull away at the same time.

"Give me a good game, Han," Adrian breathed, tickling the skin on his neck. "You haven't scored once. I want to kiss you too."

Johan suppressed a groan when Adrian reached and tapped the ball away, his crotch brushing against his rear. "Damn it, Adrian!"

Adrian chuckled and went after the ball, leaving Johan to crouch down and sat on his heels. The thing about basketball shorts was that it's hard to hide an erection whenever he got one.

Johan adjusted his boner and willed himself to calm the fuck down because they're still in public. He glared at Sean who he caught taking pictures. And who the hell was that sketchy gangster reject beside him? 

They got another spectator aside from his cousin. Great. Just great.

"You okay, Han?" Adrian jogged back towards him, eyebrows pinching together with worry. "Tired? Want to rest for a bit?"

Johan gulped and shook his head. Hesitation had him clutching his stomach. "W-were you in a basketball club in high school, Adrian?"

"High school and college." Adrian grinned with pride. "I'm a Power Forward."

He's the same as Raymond. Adrian's form and playing mannerisms reminded him of Raymond a lot. Johan could only scoff at the irony because not only they're both basketball players, they're also cheaters. The only difference was that Raymond cheated on him, while Adrian's cheating with him.

'Fuck my life.'

The more he played into the game, the more he kept seeing Raymond's face—his carefree smile, his playful stare, and the side fringe dangling above his right eyebrow. Johan rubbed his face to get rid of the memories flickering like a movie flashback at the forefront of his mind.

'Damn it!'

Suddenly, an arm scooped him down from his squatted position, making him yelp as Adrian lifted him bridal style. His heart thrummed like a wild canary wanting to break free from its cage.

"Hey—!"

"Are you hurt somewhere, Han?" Adrian asked, gazing down at him. "You didn't sprain your ankle, did you?"

"N-no." Johan whipped his head vigorously and tried to wriggle out of Adrian's grasp without causing too much of a scene. "J-just put me down. Put me down, Adrian. I'm okay."

Adrian looked reluctant, but he let him go since Johan already swung one leg to get down.

Johan strode to where his cousin sat and grabbed a bottle of water. "Stop that, Couz."

"What?" Sean blinked at him, clutching his phone to his chest. "I'm not doing anything."

Like he'd believe that. Knowing Sean, he's being his paparazzi self in his subtle way. Johan gulped down the water, eyeing the stranger beside Sean as Adrian sat next to him.

"Uhm, Couz." Sean gestured to his company with two thumbs, his smile, awkward. "Kristoff. Kristoff—hey are you listening?" He tugged Kristoff's stylish top knot to get his attention. "This is my cousin, Johan, and his—uhh—friend, Adrian."

Kristoff quirked a pierced lip into an attractive smile, saluting with two fingers. "Yo, cousin-in-law."

"Kristoff!" Sean had an interesting blush that made Johan raised an intrigued eyebrow. "W-we're friends, Couz—come with me for a sec, Kris."

Johan's eyes trailed after the two as Sean gripped Kristoff's tattooed arm and dragged him out of the basketball court. Now, that's something.

Adrian nudged him with his knee, snatching his water bottle. "That's your cousin's boyfriend?"

Johan shook his head. "No. His boyfriend's in Manila."

"That's far. A long-distance relationship?"

"Yeah." 

They haven't met in person yet though. From what Sean had told him, he met Kensuke through social media. They have only been communicating with each other through texts, calls, and video chats. It's a relationship formed behind digital screens.

Johan had his doubts that they could sustain it for a long time. But Sean was already planning to look for a job in Manila, so he'll soon be with the person he's in love with.

Adrian downed the rest of the bottle's content and wiped the water off of his mouth. "That's quite hard, isn't it? Being away from the person you love."

"Yeah. It must have been hard for you."

"But you're here with me." Adrian's fingers clamped around his waist, caging him in a side hug, his forehead resting over his shoulder. "Han?"

"Hmm?" Johan managed through hitched breath. "What is it?"

"I've been thinking a lot. About us."

Johan stayed quiet, unsure of how to respond, but he knew where Adrian was going by the tone of his voice. His heart drummed faster against his ribcage the longer the suspenseful silence stretched between them.

A cool wind ruffled their hair.

The morning sun ascending in the sky burned his retina.

But even through the piercing roar of a passing truck's engine, Johan heard Adrian loud and clear.