Two Birds On A Wire

ch 16

Ivan walked into the basket ball court and his ears got filled with the chatter of the boys and the squeaking in the court. He noticed Johann sitting by the stands in his play jersey, a bottle of water in his hands.

"Hey" Ivan greeted as he walked over and started to seat himself near Johann.

Johann looked up at him and his eyes followed the other boy's actions as he sat down.

"What's up? Why did you wanna meet?"

"Do I always need a reason to meet you, Ivan?"

Ivan passed a pursed smile. "Can you just stop being so cheesy all the time?"

"What? I just wanted to see you" Johann threw his arms up in the air and scoffed.

"Aw, really? I'm flattered" Ivan squinted his eyes. "Fucker"

Johann sighed and leaned back on his spot. "Isma has been acting weird"

There it is.

"Oh" Ivan pursed his lips.

"She just wouldn't listen to anything I say. And she's always flattering other guys in front of me. Makes me wanna crush them" Johann clenched his jaws.

"Well,... Maybe you should just talk to her about it?" Ivan couldn't help, but sound awkward.

"I did. And guess what she said? That I'm a jerk. A control freak" Johann clicked his tongue.

"Well..."

"What do you think?" Johann turned his head to look at Ivan and Ivan found himself struggling to figure out what to say.

Isma was a good friend of his. But Johann was his first priority. But that doesn't mean he was planning to be the cause for them to break up. He didn't want to say something stupid and make things worse.

"Ivan, I spent my junior high years trying to impress her, I made friends with her in middle school, I took all the efforts and took the initiative to confess in high school almost putting an end to our precious little friendship and now she is talking about how good other guys are... What the hell?!"

"Well...."

Johann heaved yet another sigh. "Damn, forget it. Let's talk about us. I really kind of miss you sometimes"

"Sometimes? I don't miss you at all" Ivan shook his head and Johann patted him on the back. He knew Ivan was lying, but it was alright that he kept lying.

"You really are a dousche, Ivan"

"So, wanna hang out sometime? Hasn't it been a while?" Ivan looked up at the other boy expectantly.

Johann made a thinking face. "How about right now?" He wrapped an arm around Ivan's neck and pulled him closer.

Ivan eyed the basket ball court and Johann followed his gaze. "Who cares about the game, Ivan? I just wanna hang out with you. Come on, wait for me while I take a quick shower, okay?" He pulled Ivan to his feet and dragged him out of the basketball court, ignoring the confused calls of his classmates.

***

Ivan sat in the boys' locker room, playing Among Us on his phone. He was the impostor and he was having lots of fun framing some other guy.

He let out a low chuckle as the guy got kicked out and the text "Askyourmom wasn't the impostor" popped up on the screen. He wished to see the face of the others. He could almost imagine them cringing at the harsh words they all spilled at the guy through the chat box.

"What got you so happy there?" Ivan looked up to see Johann towering over him from behind, looking down at his screen.

"Wear a shirt, jerk" Ivan scoffed and looked back at his screen.

Johann made a smug face and walked over to face Ivan.

"What, I thought you liked to see daddy half- naked" he started flexing his muscles in front of Ivan, earning a roll of eyes from the other boy. But Ivan wasn't going to give up either.

He put his phone in his pocket. "What if I say..." He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. "I like it better when daddy is butt-naked?" His smirk grew when Johann choked on his own spit and erupted into laughter.

"You spoiled little shit, come over to my home sometime and I'll show you my new collection of boxers", Johann grinned, pulling his t shirt down his body.

Ivan tossed him his jacket, which he always wears just because he thinks it makes him look cool."Ew, who wants to see your ugly boxers"

Johann decided to ignore the comment and pulled at Ivan's hair earning a yelp from him. "Let's leave already, you brat"

Ivan let out a giggle and walked ahead, opening the door of the locker room. He stepped out and jumped when he almost bumped into Isma by the door.

"Jesus! What the hell are you doing here!?"

"Sorry I scared you!" Isma looked at Ivan apolegetically, and Ivan waved a hand in the air. "Is Johann in there?" She asked looking over his shoulder.

Before Ivan could respond, Johann walked out of the room. "Hey, Isma"

"Are you free right now? Do you wanna join me and Janet for Karaoke?" Isma asked and Ivan felt awkward. How would she take it if Johann says he was gonna leave with him?

"Yep! I was looking for a way to pass time actually!" Johann pushed past Ivan and went over to wrap an arm around Isma's shoulder.

"Do you wanna join, Ivan?" Isma asked, but Johann responded before Ivan could say anything. "He was gonna go home earlier. I'm the one who kept him here for this long. Just let him go and rest" he said with a puppy face and Ivan couldn't help his mouth from falling open.

"Fine then. We'll get going. Bye, Ivan" Isma said and Ivan just blinked at her, words dying in his throat.

"Byeee!" Johann said in an unnecessarily squeaky voice and pinched Ivan's cheek.

"Stop hurting him, let's go, C'mon" Isma dragged the boy out of there and Ivan was left alone to just stand there to wonder what the actual fuck just happened.

Did he just get washed to the sidelines..?