William knowing he had been caught, leaned back slightly but did not hide the fact that he had been studying Adrian with a little too much focus. His voice dropped, quieter now, his smile tempered by something gentler.
" What happened to you earlier? Is it an illness ? When did it start? "
he asked, the teasing edge gone.
Adrian's brows drew together. He hesitated, his pride warring with the truth, but finally he sighed.
" It began few months ago. It was actually quiet sudden as I am very healthy and have never had any illness. It's just... a cold. It's on rare occasion that I faint like I did earlier." His hand brushed the rim of his cup, avoiding William's eyes. " I'm using some medicine which was gotten with the help of Idowu and it is helpful."
Adrian noticed William's face- worried, look like he was not convinced and that made Adrian uncomfortable. So he quickly added, his tone firm: " It is nothing serious and nothing I can not handle. "
William gave a slow nod, lowering his gaze to his food as though convinced. But Adrian saw it— the way his jaw tightened, the way he forced his expression neutral. The man was worried, even if he was hiding it behind calmness.
For a few moments, only the sound of spoons against bowls filled the air.
Seeing the man seemed to be convinced, Adrian tilted his head slightly and his gaze stopped on the kid who was eating quietly beside William. The boy ate quietly, his little hands careful, his eyes occasionally flickering between the two older men as though wary of their constant tension. He stared for some seconds before turning to William.
" Where did you find the boy?" he asked suddenly, his tone sharp. "Did you kidnapped him? "
William nearly choked on his drink. His head snapped up, eyes wide.
" What? Temi- mine, what do you take me for? Do I seem like that kind of man to you? "
(Temi- mine)
Ignoring what the man had just called him, his face cool, he replied. " Well..one can never be sure. " Adrian said straightening his back on purpose. He reached for his cup of wine, lifting it with deliberate elegance.
William stared at the man almost dumbfounded. The man was actually serious— or pretending to be. Scoffing, William shook his head.. " I did not kidnap him. I'm not like you- who steal people's heart. "
The words slipped out, laced with meaning, and for a brief second their eyes locked. Adrian's chest tightened, but he covered it quickly with a sharp retort.
" Is he yours then? " he asked almost immediately, the corner of his lips twitching into a mischievous curve. Then, widening his eyes in mock surprise, he gasped. "Are you his father?"
William froze, utterly caught off guard. "What—?" He was shocked by that question but before he got to give him a reply, Adrian had already turned to the kid with an expression of sympathy on his face. " Oh my..oh my. Poor thing. It must have been hard for you- To have this man as your father. It must have been so hard and troublesome. I truly feel for you. I really do feel for you. You poor thing. "
Idowu blinked, his spoon halfway to his mouth, caught between confusion and laughter.
William did not get to say a word- he sat stunned, his mouth opening to speak— but Adrian cut him off, his voice dripping with mock pity.
" And you-" Adrian turned to him and continued, feigning concern.
" It must not have been easy raising a child all on your own. It must have been so hard for you too. Oh that's it! I have always wondered what was wrong with how you behaved and act so strangely, why you act like a fool but now I know. It's because of the hardship you faced in raising him alone. Oh my. Tell me- Did his mother leave you because of your attitude?
William's lips parted to speak but Adrian beat him to it again, his tone almost gleeful.
" Ah..that must be it. That is truly sad. It is not surprising though. It's understandable. It is not surprising you must have been in a lot of romantic relationship given your flirtatious mouth and that's why his mother left you. she could not tolerate it. Poor thing, truly. Poor, abandoned man."
Adrian said with a smile at the end of his sentence feeling really contented. He was not going to let the chance to taunt the man back pass by. For once, he had the upper hand, and he was not going to let go of it. His eyes glittered with triumph, his voice calm yet biting.
William scoffed softly at the man and stared at him in disbelief as the man pulled a sturt on him in which he seemed to be really enjoying. He was surprised to see this side of him. He seemed like a totally different man now. The man across from him— normally so composed, so cold— was suddenly lively, sharp- tongued, and merciless in his mockery. And worst of all, he looked like he was enjoying himself.
For a moment, William was silent, caught between disbelief and a strange amusement. Then, slowly, a soft laugh escaped him. His usual grin returned, though it was tinged with something new— admiration.
William, not wanting to be at the losing end, he replied with his usual frolic smile.
" Temi- mine..." William drawled, shaking his head. "You seem to be well and alright now. High in spirit too. Earlier.., it was different when I carried you. You seemed so light weighted for a man. I thought I was holding a bundle of cloth instead of a man." His eyes dropped deliberately, scanning Adrian's frame with that same playful audacity. " You need to eat more, talk less. Gain some weight."
He pushed a dish closer, sliding it across the table. His grin widened. " Here. Eat this. It will nourish your body."
Adrian's smirk faltered. The triumphant gleam in his eyes dimmed, replaced by a flash of irritation. His jaw tightened, his hand curling slightly into a fist beneath the table.
"…" He cursed under his breath, the sound sharp enough to cut.
And William only smiled wider, watching the shift in his expression with unhidden delight.
To be continued...