Symbiosis: The Art of Relationships | Newtmas

Chapter 9: The Art of Loving

Thomas didn't really mind hanging out with his friends but they always made sure to tease and embarrass Thomas in front of Newt. He should have gotten used to it by now but he really couldn't, not when they were saying how whipped Thomas was for Newt and the latter would gleefully tease him about it. It would have been fine except for the fact that Newt had no idea how true his friends' statements were. Newt had no idea how much Thomas wanted him and how real his feelings were for him.

Often, Thomas would find an excuse not to hangout with them and Newt at the same time. However, it seemed like his friends somehow intellectually improved because instead of trying to convince him to invite Newt to the club with them this time, they directly reached out to Newt. It might be out of courtesy or Newt genuinely enjoyed hanging out with his friends but he readily accepted the invitation.

So, Thomas found himself on Friday night at the club with his group of friends and with Newt sitting next to him. Like expected, they teased him nonstop for the first hour until they finally got tired of it. Some of them went to the bar while some of them decided to dance, leaving Thomas and Newt alone at their table.

"I'm sorry. They're such a noisy bunch." Thomas apologized, palms faced on his forehead in a sheepish manner before taking a sip of his beer.

"That's fine. Is that why you didn't like me hanging out with them too much?" Newt asked, tilting his head to the side.

"What makes you think that I don't like you to hang out with them? I just didn't want to bother you with every little thing they demand."

"Is that so? I thought for sure it was because you're embarrassed of me or something." Newt said with a dry laugh. Thomas was a little confused about the statement since there was no need for Newt to pretend, given that there were only the two of them at the table.

"Why would I be embarrassed of you?" Thomas said before hesitantly adding, "If someone like you is actually my fiance, I would brag about it all the time."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Of course, I'm sure. I think you're a great person."

"Then, I'll do my best to give you something to brag about." Newt said, winking before taking a sip from his beer.

Thomas could feel his cheeks getting warmer. Was Newt flirting with him? It must be the drink, right? Newt did look a little tipsy (Thomas was not sure if the redness of Newt's face was from the drink or a pigment of Thomas's imagination). But then, that wouldn't explain how Newt was acting with him the past few days. He was a little flirtier but it was in a playful way that Thomas just brushed it off as a joke. He was also a lot more touchy and would give Thomas a hug at every opportunity (Thomas never complained because he liked it but he still found it strange). Thomas also brushed that off though, telling himself that Newt was sometimes random like that.

There was no chance that the person he had feelings for was reciprocating his feelings. Life was not too good like that. Even if there was a little chance that it was the case, Thomas did not want to hold onto that chance because raising his hopes up just because of such simple actions, only to find out that he was misinterpreting it all along would just get his heart broken.

Thomas let out a soft sigh before drinking his glass of alcohol in one shot. He then refilled it with the bottle that they ordered. "The alcohol in this bar doesn't taste as good as the ones at the bar where we met. That's why I never liked it when my friends choose. They have bad taste."

"And you have good taste, I suppose?" Newt said with a chuckle, his fingers tapping against his own glass of alcohol.

"Of course, I do." Thomas replied with a playful smile. "I know what the real good stuff is."