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Jason nodded immediately, not needing further persuasion. “You’re right. We can’t leave him like this. Let’s…”
Before he could finish, John interjected, his tone calm but firm. “Let’s take him to my place. You heard him earlier. He called out my name. If I don’t follow through, he might cause trouble when he wakes up.”
John had known Adrian longer than anyone else in the room. His quiet authority made it hard for anyone to refuse him, and his years of friendship with Adrian lent weight to his words. He was usually a man of few words, but when he spoke, it was with purpose.
Vivian eyed John curiously. There was something about him she couldn’t quite place—an air of distance that seemed to suggest he didn’t think much of her. But she couldn’t be sure. After all, John and Adrian were close, and she was just a peripheral figure in their world. Maybe she was overthinking it.
Jason, ever the defender of Vivian, spoke up. “Adrian’s completely drunk. He won’t even remember what he said tomorrow. John, why take this so seriously?”
Turning to Vivian, Jason smiled reassuringly. “Nobody takes care of Adrian like you do. Let’s just take him to your place.”
But John’s gaze fixed on Jason with a firm resolve. “I said take him to my place. If you’re worried, you’re welcome to stay and take care of him.”
“John…” Jason started, his voice tinged with hesitation.
Vivian quickly interrupted with a tight smile, though her discomfort was evident. “Let’s just go, Jason. John’s right. It wouldn’t be proper for me to stay here.”
Her words, though polite, carried an undercurrent of discomfort. She wasn’t happy with the situation, but she didn’t want to offend John either. He was Adrian’s friend, after all. Jason, still looking puzzled, nodded reluctantly, and they left.
Back at John’s place, things had quieted down by the time Jason returned with Vivian. The clock on the wall read nearly 2 AM. Jason slumped onto the couch with a sigh, his exhaustion evident as he asked, “How’s Adrian? Is he okay?”
John, emerging from the kitchen with a bottle of water, took a slow sip before responding. “He’s been sleeping the whole time. He’s fine.”
Jason let out a relieved breath. “That’s good to hear.”
But then his tone shifted. He frowned and muttered under his breath, “John, I don’t get it. You know Adrian and Vivian have feelings for each other. Why didn’t you let Vivian take him to her place?”
John shot him a pointed glance, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly. “Why should we send a married man to a single woman’s home?”
Jason scoffed in disbelief. “So what? Adrian and Eva were never a real couple.”
John raised an eyebrow, his gaze piercing. “How do you know?”
Jason leaned back in frustration. “Isn’t it obvious? You told her Adrian was drunk and asked her to come, but she didn’t even show up!”
John’s expression darkened as he processed this. He hadn’t heard from Eva. In fact, when he had tried to call her, she had answered coldly, asking what the matter was. After a brief pause, she had simply said, “I didn’t go out. Please take care of him,” and hung up. The abruptness of her response lingered with him, gnawing at his thoughts. It was strange—Eva had always been a bit distant, but this felt different.
Jason, unaware of John’s internal struggle, continued his complaints. “That heartless woman doesn’t even compare to Vivian! Vivian almost risked her life to save Adrian. She still bears scars on her hand from it. If I were Adrian, I’d marry her in a heartbeat.”
John exhaled, resisting the urge to engage. “You’re confusing gratitude with romantic feelings.”
“So what? Vivian’s beautiful. Any man would be drawn to her.”
The conversation ended there, as John couldn’t be bothered to continue. He simply turned and walked back into the other room, leaving Jason to stew in his thoughts.
The next morning, Adrian woke with a pounding headache. He blinked at the unfamiliar surroundings before sitting up slowly. “You awake?” John’s voice came from nearby as he handed Adrian a glass of water. “Drink this. It’ll help.”
Adrian looked at John, and a flicker of disappointment crossed his features before it was quickly replaced by a resigned relief. He accepted the water, drinking it slowly, his mind still foggy from the alcohol. When he was done, he clenched the empty glass in his hand, brow furrowed.
After a long pause, he looked up at John. “What happened last night?”
John’s response was casual. “You forgot? You were drunk, so Jason and I brought you here.”
Adrian’s frown deepened, clearly unsatisfied with this vague answer, but he chose not to press.
John waited a beat before adding with a faint smirk, “Oh, right. She came.”
Adrian’s somber eyes brightened immediately. “She?”
“Yeah. She offered to take care of you, but you insisted that I bring you here, so I did.”
Adrian furrowed his brow in confusion. “Since when were you so obedient?”
John shrugged nonchalantly. “I couldn’t send a married man to a single woman’s home.”
Adrian’s mind quickly processed this new piece of information. Something didn’t sit right with him. He sat up straighter. “Who are you talking about?”
