37 In Your Arms

[Johan's POV]

"Have you calmed down, Jo?" Christy asked from her desk chair.

"N-No."

And that's an honest answer.

Johan didn't realize how livid he was until he felt the tremors of his muscles. The air-con in their department had been turned off. Yet he's still shivering, as if the body pressed against his back was Jack Frost.

In reality, it's just Adrian; propped against his desk, chin on his shoulder, fingers intertwined around his mid-section. With him pulled on his lap.

Through his hazy memory, he remembered pulling away from Adrian at the smoking area and snatching his things in Christy's hands. He plowed through the people, threw his things in his locker, and went straight inside the safety of their department.

Adrian followed a second later, who pulled him in a tight embrace, hence their current position. If it wasn't for Adrian serving as his anchor, he'd still be outside rampaging like a madman. Or breaking down because he just caused a commotion that will bring attention to both of them.

And to think he was the one adamant to hide their affair.

Fuck.

It's a disastrous night. But they needed each other, right at this moment, or they'll both crumble down.

One by one, the girls made their appearance. Through hushed whispers, Christy told them not to ask questions. Something they're both thankful for.

Adrian hasn't spoken a word since they entered their department. He only pulled Johan closer. The warmth spread through him. It helped quell his rage. And his mind blocked the fear of their affair getting discovered by Rhia through the commotion they caused. Johan tricked himself that the only reason he's cuddled against Adrian was because the other needed the comfort, and he needed to calm the fuck down.

Now, the girls surrounded them, watching silently.

Christy pressed her lips together; trying not to smile, trying not to be rude, knowing the situation about Adrian's brother. Still, he could see the quirk in her facial muscle, and the three other girls had the same expression.

"We're just friends," Johan said through the awkward silence. At this point, he'll just fake it until he made it.

"We haven't said anything yet," Jacqueline defended, smiling. "But okay."

A giggle escaped Christy that elicited suppressed laughter from the others. Johan pressed his palms against his reddened face, but a small squeeze on his stomach made him turn around.

Adrian's eyes looked tired, but he had a soft scolding stare. It sent flutters across his stomach, right where the protective hands rested. "Don't do that again," he murmured.

Johan's face only darkened. "Can't promise."

"You had me worried, Han." The tip of Adrian's nose pressed against his cheek, eyes fluttering close with a sigh. "I'm already worried about my brother."

"Sorry. I didn't intend to cause you more stress." Johan resigned to the embrace, trying to get enough of it as much as possible. "But I can't stand people like that."

Adrian took a huge breath in, and exhaled through his nose, the flow of air tickling the side of Johan's neck. "What you did earlier... there will be rumors about it for sure."

"Yeah. There will be. But I'll handle it."

Johan foresaw the rumors coming. It would be harder to hide in a while. Yet, he still couldn't find it in himself to regret what he did. If he's to rewind time, he knew he'd still have done the same thing. Only, he wished Adrian didn't stop him.

"What if he filed assault against you?" Adrian asked. "He said he'll report you to HR."

"Oh, I'm actually looking forward to it."

Curiosity creased Adrian's forehead. "Are you not scared, Han? You may get fired."

"Not if I can turn it in my favor."

Honestly, he's more scared of Rhia finding out about them through the rumors. However, as his self-preservation instinct played every worst-case scenario, Johan knew he could still turn things around. Though, he has to go through lengths he hasn't done in a while.

In the aspect that he was sleeping with Rhia's boyfriend, he would admit to himself he's in the wrong. But standing up against bullies, that's a different thing. The angry tremors of his body stopped, and excitement swirled in his stomach at every confrontation he could imagine.

Now, he needed to convince Adrian to take a time-off at work and visit his brother instead. A time away from him would also help get rid of the attachment he's starting to have. His connection with Adrian served as his Achilles Heel.

"You think you can work today?" Johan asked. "I can ask Diego later to give you a time-off or a vacation leave. Your brother's condition is a valid reason."

"I don't know, Han. But I don't want to be alone at home right now. I have you here at least."

Jacqueline cleared her throat as if she just swallowed the biggest phlegm in the world, and Johan kicked the underside of her chair. "Wha~t? I'm not saying anything."

"Stop eavesdropping," Johan scolded. "Why are you here? It's not even your shift yet."

"Oh, sorry. Sorry." Jacqueline rolled her chair beside Christy and they shared high-fives. He could already envision the incoming interrogation once Adrian parted from him. "Would you like to change seat with me, Adrian?" Jacqueline quirked a suggestive eyebrow.

Johan rolled his eyes when Adrian agreed.

"Um, Jo?" Thesa called with an impish smile. "I hate to break your cuddling moments, but it's already eight-fifty-seven."

Face burning, Johan separated himself from Adrian's lap. There's nothing he could do about the girls finding out. So long as they don't tattle though, he'll live with the embarrassment of their teasing. They've been supportive about him and Adrian from the start, anyway.

But that's the weird part about them. He's yet to uncover why they're choosing a gay guy like him over a woman like Rhia. A gut feeling told him there's more to it than just fujoshi shenanigans.

———

11:03 PM

"Johan!" Diego's voice boomed as soon as he emerged from the door. With heavy footsteps, he trudged to Johan's desk, eyes darting between him and Adrian. "What happened? I heard you're in a fight."

"News travelled fast." Finally calmed, Johan unlatched Adrian's hold from their intertwined fingers behind the desk. He looked up to meet Diego's scolding-boss face and the question of why they're sitting next to each other hung evidently on his stare. Adrian moved a little further. "If it's the fight you heard, it's true. But it happened outside of company premises, and not during my work schedule."

Shaking his head like a disappointed parent, Diego stalked towards his little office. "Come with me. Let's talk."

Johan stood with a grunt. Worried blue eyes gazed at him, and he patted Adrian's shoulder for reassurance. He mouthed 'be right back.'

With a deep breath, Johan walked to the closed space and threw himself at the chair in front of Diego's desk. He straightened his back and slipped into his most confident act.

"So what happened?" Diego asked, fingers interlocked on top of the wooden table.

Johan resisted commenting how professional Diego sounded, and that it suited him more than being his assholic nature. He cleared his throat. "It's a long story."

"I'm listening."

"Okay." Johan looked him in the eyes. "Adrian's brother is in ICU right now."

Diego looked taken aback. He shifted in his seat and grabbed the pen hooked on his black collared dress shirt. "Sorry to hear that. But what's that got to do with you getting in a fight?"

"I was just getting there. Stop rushing me."

The handsome bachelor already had an exasperated look on his face. "Okay. Continue."

"So I was trying to comfort Adrian—" Johan raised his voice to make a point, "—like the good friend that I am."

A small quirk of the lips cracked Diego's facade. "A good friend, okay. Go on."

Thanks to Adrian, Johan had calmed down a long time ago, but he slammed his fist on Diego's desk for dramatic effect. "Then there's this asshole who started saying shit, and it's the last thing we needed to hear."

"Like what?"

"Like gayshit or something." Johan reclined to the chair. "He's a homophobic asshole, okay? What would you like me to do? Ignore him?"

"Yes," Diego said, rotating the pen between his thumb and index finger. "Ignore him like a civilized person would do."

"That's funny coming from you." Fuck, how's he doing that pen thing?

"What?"

"Nothing." Johan snatched the pen and stood, startling Diego. "Anyway, he threatened he'd report me to HR."

Diego clicked his tongue. "That's—"

"Please let me know if he filed a complaint against me." Johan rounded the desk and settled on top of Diego's office table. He offered the pen back, pushing the computer keyboard away. "I'll be there as early as possible to face him."

Diego gave a critical look when he purposely parted his legs. "Can you not do that in my desk, Johan?"

"Why not?" Johan smirked and analyzed Diego's facial reaction. It's time to counter Diego's little game. "I thought you're 'interested' in me?"

Diego averted his gaze from his crotch. Was that repulsion he's seeing? "This isn't the right place for that."

"It's disappointing to know you're really not that interested." Johan climbed off of the office table, hiding a victorious smirk when Diego's jaw muscle tightened. "Anyway, can you give Adrian a VTO? He needed it so he can visit his brother."

"Shouldn't he be the one asking?"

"But I'm the nice friend asking on behalf of him." Johan walked to the glass door. He turned before leaving. "Should I call him in for proper documentation?"

Diego's eyes swept him before sighing. "Fine."