Tay and New

Almost Unrequited (Part I)

"New, you know I am currently in a relationship, right?" May asked bewildered by the unusual question.

May and New have known each other long before they became a couple and eventually an ex-couple but she has hardly spoken to him since they broke up. He said it was part of his healing process and May, knowing how stubborn her childhood friend was, just let him be. So, it came as a surprise to her when he suddenly called to ask a weird question.

New sighed exasperatedly, "I know. That dumbass asked me for advice on how to court you"

"She is my cute dumbass so shut it" May forced a laugh before she cleared her throat to ask New why he called out of the blue.

"I may need your advice?" New said reluctantly. The person at the other end of the line just hummed in response prompting New to continue with his explanation.

"I am just so confused May" New said softly "Us becoming a couple all those years back was an easy process for me. We were friends, I developed feelings for you, I courted you, you became my girlfriend, and we lasted for a long time"

"Until we realized that we were no longer romantically in love" May added.

"Harsh" New grumbled.

"You're the harsh one. Love is not a process" May chided him "It was never supposed to be systematic. There's no formula that you can follow because love is crazy and unpredictable"

She exhaled roughly "So, tell me what really happened and stop with all these roundabout bull"

New hesitated for a moment before finally letting out a sigh, "A close friend of mine confessed to me recently and for once I don't know what to do"

After letting out those words, New felt a bit of weight lifted off his shoulders. He has never told anyone about what happened. Heck, he has not even let himself dwell too much on Tay's confession.

"Interesting" May said, her tone now laced with a bit of humor "Tay finally confessed his feelings for you and you called me because you don't know how to respond to him"

New scratched his head "I did not mention any names and I did not call to ask for advice on what to say to that person because I already rejected him"

May chuckled, "You said 'him', you did not deny my claim, and I don't know any other person who is as in love with you as much Tay is" May interjected "But, if you already rejected him then why did you say that you don't know what to do. Clearly, you already did something"

"I think...maybe...I made the wrong move" New mumbled.

THREE INSTANCES WHEN NEW WRONGED TAY

Tay was observing New who was sitting alone in a corner of their filming site for 'Five Live Fresh'. The boisterous laughter from their area could not seem to penetrate the younger boy's concentration as he mulled over the papers he was holding. He found the image to be quite lonely.

Tay exhaled sharply and stood up startling the people in his group. He started for New's little corner, rehearsing what he would say to the boy along the way.

"Hey" Tay choked a little on his words "The guys are planning to hang out after the filming. Would you like to join us?"

Without looking up from his reading, New replied "No. I have priorities"

Tay was shocked by the rejection but he couldn't find the words to counter the other person so he ambled back to his group like a wounded puppy.

One of the crew members who witnessed the exchange regarded Tay and mouthed "Asshole" while pointing at New.

"If you can't say those words to his face then just don't say anything at all" Tay looked at that person squarely.

Tay has always found it easy to get along with people and everyone else seemed to like him instantly, except New. But, Tay was determined to get along with the mysterious boy.

New was busy ransacking the contents of Tay's refrigerator when he felt a hand ruffle his hair followed by Tay's head on his shoulder.

"What are you doing?" Tay whispered to his right ear.

"I forgot to buy groceries so I'll just stay over for the night"

Tay bypassed New who was going through the packs of chocolate which the older bought specifically for when the younger needed some sweet fix. Tay gathered the ingredients for his grandmother's signature soup. His earlier plan of instant noodles for dinner, trashed.

As he chopped the smaller ingredients, Tay observed New who was chomping chocolates on his couch while staring placidly at the ceiling.

"May and I had a fight" New looked pointedly at Tay from across the room "She believes that I am in love with someone else"

"You can apologize to her" Tay suggested with an exasperated sigh. New has been fighting with his girlfriend more frequently over the past week and it's all about the same topic which made Tay wonder if May's accusation could have some foundation.

"Why would I? Her accusations are not true" New flared up "But of course you would not know how I feel cause you're just a coward who can't confess his feelings to the girl he likes"

New stormed out of Tay's condo and went back to his own where he sulked over his girlfriend's jealousy and his best friend's insensitiveness. A short while later, Tay's grandmother's special soup was delivered to his doorsteps.

Tay was in a good mood. He drummed his fingers on the dashboard of New's car as he hummed his favorite song. He just had a sumptuous dinner at a nice restaurant with New and it seemed like nothing could strain his happiness.

"I mean, you knew I won't be filming for the whole day so if you had called my phone instead of just sending a message I would've noticed it immediately and I could've accompanied you to that exhibition" New said indignantly

Tay was baffled. He stared at New who kept his eyes on the road. "Are you seriously being sulky over not being able to attend an exhibition that you were not even interested in seeing in the first place?"

New remained silent until they arrive at Tay's condo. The older man did not immediately step out of the vehicle. He waited for the younger one's explanation but it never came, New remained tight-lipped. With a sigh, Tay bid goodbye.

New rested his head on the steering wheel of his car. It's true that he did not want to see that stupid and high-hat exhibition nor did he want to eat with stupid and caring Pat but New couldn't help how his emotions have been going topsy-turvy since Tay confessed.

(The whole chapter was supposed to be comprised only of New and May's conversation but I got so bored reading the first draft that I divided it into two parts and added some snippets of Tay and New's relationship in the past.)