Chapter 19

a/n: an extra update to make up for me not updating last week (idk when my days got so hectic lolll) alsoooo, before i forget, happy pride everyone !!! i love all of you 💕💕💕

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Chapter 19 — Non-Discreet Stalking

The walk back to their office after lunch is filled with this weird, tense silence. Actually, Jason has been weirdly silent ever since Liam brought up the topic about Aaron.

Liam does try to divert the topic but it seems like Jason's mind is completely somewhere else.

"Okay, I guess I'll see you later," Liam once says once they reach their floor and they have to part ways.

Jason nods, with a barely there smile but just as Liam turns around, he grabs his wrist, stopping him.

"Wait,"

Liam faces with raised eyebrows, his curious immediately piquing. Is he going to tell what's bothering him or is he really going to make him dig around for it? Liam fervently hopes it's the former — he really hates digging around; he's not a nosy person, he just can't help it.

"There's something I think it's better if I tell you,"

Liam nods, silently encouraging him to continue. He tries to not show just how eager he is to hear what he has to say.

"About Aaron,"

So, there is something between them.

"Um..." Jason's eyes flit once over his shoulder and Liam to turns to see if there's someone behind him, or anywhere around them — there's no one within hearing vicinity as far as Liam can tell, "I... We used to go out?"

There's no use masking the suspense that overtakes Liam. Whatever he was thinking, he certainly wasn't expecting the man to say that. His eyes grow double its size and he has to force himself to not gape.

"Are you asking me a question or–,"

"Yeah, no," Jason scratches the back of his head, trying again, "We used to go out. I'm telling you that,"

"You and Aaron, our boss,"

"Yep,"

"Went out," Liam has to say it out loud for him to be able to process the information, "As in you guys dated,"

"Yeah, but it was a while back,"

"How while back if I may ask?" Liam only added the last part out of formality — he actually wants to know that.

"Just–" Jason shakes his head, pushing his hair back away from his forehead, "It doesn't really matter now. I just wanted to be straight with you from the start,"

"That's not possible,"

"What?"

"You can't be straight with me — you know because..." he wags a finger between them, making a poor attempt of a joke, "...gay," he immediately regrets saying that, shaking his head, "Stupid. That's stupid. Just ignore that,"

"Heh," Jason chuckles, nodding, "Right,"

"Wh– I thought–" Liam shuts his mouth instead of blubbering like an idiot, trying to get his thoughts in a proper order before he says something.

He squints his eyes, taking a closer at his new boyfriend and then thinks back to his boss — he certainly never made the connection that there could have been something between the two of them. Liam doesn't think he even saw them cross paths all that much; now with this new information in his grasp, he wonders if maybe that's intentional.

"What about all the company policy bullshit?"

Jason only shrugs back in reply, and Liam scratches his head. Maybe this is not the best time to be discussing this. He definitely still needs some more time to process what he's come to learn.

He starts nodding and then points his thumb over his shoulder, "I should probably get going before Aaron starts throwing a fit,"

"Right," Jason nods, "But Liam, you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. I just... I'll, um, talk to you later. Bye,"

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Liam cannot stop looking at his boss. He knows he's basically bordering on stalking right now — on his phone is his Instagram page and on the desktop is his Facebook page. Both the pages are set to private so Liam is not able to find any information on him, so he's resorted to good old creepily observing him from a distance. And he's not really being very subtle about it either.

Aaron must have caught him looking at him more than a couple of times now really. But he's only given him a weird look in reply before returning to his work.

It's half past five when Aaron finally approaches him. And this time Liam doesn't even realise that he's staring at him until he's right before him and talking to him.

"Okay, what do you want?"

"Mmm, hmm?" Liam blinks up at him.

"It's half past five," he informs to which Liam just nods, "And you're still here,"

Liam continues to nod.

"Why are you still here? Your shift ends at five,"

"Oh, right," Liam has actually forgotten that he was technically at work and that he has to leave at some point — he has been too engrossed in figuring out is boss, "Okay, then. I'll leave now," he starts to turn off his computer and pack up his things.

"No. You're going to tell me what's going on,"

"With?"

"You?"

"Me?"

"Yes, you. What's going on?" he crosses his arms and looks directly at him.

"Nothing?" Liam shrugs, "Why?"

"You've been off today,"

"How?"

"You haven't done a single thing I've asked you to; all you have been is look at me and I don't think you even realised the time until I told you,"

"That's not..." Liam drawls off, deflating; he knows it's no use denying it. Both of them know the truth. "It's just been a weird day," he settles with at last.

Aaron uncrosses his arms and drops them to his sides, looking like he's mulling over something internally before he says, "He told you, didn't he?"

Liam tenses a little, immediately realising what and who he's talking about but still it can't hurt to be sure, "Who told me what?"

"Jason,"

"What about him?"

Aaron gives him a challenging look, "Cut out the shit, Liam,"

He sighs, running a hand through his hair, "Fine, yeah. He told me,"

"So, what did he say?"

"That you're an absolute hypocrite," Liam replies without missing a beat.

That's not exactly what Jason told him but that's what Liam has been able to draw from it and he's not going be quiet about it.

"I'm pretty sure that that's what you're thinking and it's not what Jason said,"

That's true and it's definitely weird how he is able to guess that almost instantly, Liam stands up and crosses his own arms, "Yeah, so?"

Aaron coughs out a small chuckle and shakes his head, starting to step back, dismissing Liam. Obviously, Liam is never going to allow that, so he continues.

"Admit it — that you're a hypocrite,"

Aaron sighs, "Will that make you happy?"

"Happy?" Liam scoffs, "It's the truth,"

"How would you know?"

"You're the one who said we're not allowed to date co-workers and you did exactly that,"

"You know such policy doesn't exist"

"Finally!" he exclaims, "You admit it. Then, why the fuck would you give me shit for it?"

"Because–" he lets out a sharp exhale, shaking his head, and then with a very much forced smile, he starts anew "I won't bother you or Jason anymore, alright. Do whatever you want. Just make sure Chloe knows about it since she's the HR manager and it doesn't interfere with any of your work,"

"I don't need your blessing, thank you very much,"

"I'm not giving you one," he shrugs, "I just don't care,"

"Sure you don't,"

A deep inhale and then exhale, that's how Liam knows his boss is losing his patience — very quickly too. A sane person would leave him alone, not wanting to aggravate him any further and risk losing his job; but Liam has never said he is quite sane. Seeing his boss worked up only makes him want to rile him further. It exhilarates him.

Aaron starts to walk away again, but Liam is quicker on his feet, walking around his desk and standing in front of his boss, effectively blocking his way. The former takes in another deep breath and rubs a hand down his face, before asking rather exasperatedly:

"What do you want, Liam?"

He wants the truth. He's tired of not knowing the whole story. He doesn't quite know how he can dig it out of Jason, but with Aaron, he's sure he can just annoy it out of him.

"You're jealous, aren't you?"

"Sure," Aaron tries to move past him but Liam doesn't let him, blocking his every more. He sighs, "If you could tell what you want to hear from me, I'll recite it for you, no problem,"

"You still like him, don't you?"

Aaron's eyes snap to his in shock. Liam doesn't get why he is so shocked either — it's not like he's been trying to hide it. It has been so obvious from the start. Only Liam got it wrong at the start, but now, with the new contexts that he knows, he likes to think he has a better read of the situation he's in.

His boss coughs out a laugh, taking a step back, hand moving to his head, ruffling his hair, "Sure, that's it,"

"Why did you guys stop going out then?" Liam is genuinely curious now.

Jason doesn't seem like a bad guy and his boss... well, if he's being completely honest, Aaron is tolerable as well. Something must have happened between them and maybe Liam has no business going poking in their business but still he wants to know.

Who knows, maybe that's why his boss is a dickface now and hanging on to the no dating between colleagues' policy.

Aaron looks puzzled, "He didn't tell you?"

Liam has to bite his tongue and stop himself from rolling his eyes — seriously if he knew the reason, why would he even be asking this dickface. But still, he feigns nonchalance as he shrugs, "Just want to hear your side too,"

Maybe Liam is not a good actor as he thought, as Aaron instantly sees through his bluff, "He didn't tell you,"

"I didn't ask him,"

"But you're asking me?" he smirks, "Hmm, wonder what Jason will think about this,"

Liam reminds himself to not get irritated; it's best to keep his cool, "You're the one who can't leave him alone," Liam mimics his boss from that morning, "Why Jason — seriously what the heck was that supposed to mean,"

"And you're the one who can't leave me alone," Aaron takes a step forward and not wanting to give him the satisfaction of cowering back, Liam doesn't move, so they're standing very close to each other.

It gives Liam a quick reminder of when they were stuck in the bathroom, back at his sister's house. Wait, Liam thinks to himself, if Aaron were still hung up on Jason, what the fuck did that instant at the bathroom meant.

And as if to answer exactly what was running through Liam's mind, Aaron says, "You think I still like Jason?" he lets out a bitter scoff, "If it's only that," and with that he walks away.

Liam is too stunned to stop him this time.

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