Paper Bags

Paper Bags 12

Adam being next to him was a weird concept to grasp. And yet, he couldn't find it in himself to snark at him like he usually did. Haru sighed softly under his breath, keeping his eyes straight ahead. What just happened kept running through his mind over and over again — and it only served to make him want to slam his head against a brick wall. A part of him was... mad. Mad at the fact that while he liked Jason, admired him even, his first kiss was taken away so quickly. It wasn't romantic, it didn't feel nice. It just felt like he was put right on the spot, and he was confused.

Another sigh escaped his lips. Running a hand through his hair, he counted back from ten before his bubbling anxiety took hold of him and didn't let go. A few more seconds of silence kept him company before a nudge on his arm had him snapping his gaze to Adam. The stupid Bag was still on that man's head, but this time, he was greeted with an eyebrow-raised emoji. This time, Haru didn't resist to flick a middle finger at him.

"What?" he asked. "You're being creepy, man."

Adam snorted, his emoji shifting immediately to a smirking one. "Sure, you're nothing pretty to look at. Don't flatter yourself."

Usually, he would have had a response to that. Not like Adam's face was anything special either. But the words got stuck in his throat, the anxiety still hindering his ability from really be himself again. Instead, he flipped the other man off, huffing. Another second of silence passed before another sigh echoed into the sky, this time it came from Adam.

Then there was a shuffle of the dark boots on the wooden stairs and the other man stood up. Haru glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. Was he finally leaving him alone?

But Adam merely shoved his hands into his hoodie pockets and then faced him. "Come on," he said. "Follow me."

Haru raised an eyebrow at that. "And die? No, thanks."

Adam faced him without saying anything for a while. And Haru suspected that he was probably being cursed at. That thought alone brought back a bit of irritation reserved just for the other man. He opened his mouth to speak when Adam beat him to it with a, "Do you want to cry here all alone?"

The words settled in his mind quickly, forcing him to close his mouth with a click. Surprise washed over him as he tried to analyse the words. Haru continued to stare at the standing man, trying to determine what had happened again. "Crying?" he croaked out, his throat suddenly feeling as dry as a dessert. He curled his fingers into fists, placing them on his knees. "Who's crying?"

Adam had the nerve to point at him.

Haru stared at him for a second. The choices weren't as bad when he considered going back inside the motel to see Jason. While he knew he had to confront the situation at hand, for now, an escape was nice. Wasn't that what he had been looking for when he ran out of there? But to follow Adam was a whole new low for him. Surely he wasn't that desperate, right?

But when Adam merely stood there, facing him, and not saying another word, the usual curiosity crept and settled in the back of his mind. The usual curiosity whenever he was faced with an enigma and needed answers. And surprisingly, this time, Adam was that subject of his fascination.

"Okay," Haru said, pushing himself to his feet.

If Adam was taken aback with his answer, he definitely didn't show it. His emoji on the Bag was now a straight-faced one. Not for the last time, his fingers itched to rip that stupid material off his head. Adam gestured his hand, a motion for him to follow the other man. Haru didn't immediately do just that. Instead, he watched the bad boy wannabe take a few steps away, his broad back being the point of his interest. And then, he turned his attention to the entrance of the motel. His dry throat felt drier and his heart tightened at the thought of seeing Jason again.