Some Secrets Are Better Off Hidden

Chapter 4: Okay, Maybe Tom Got On His Nerves

Tom quietly approached the couch as to not draw any attention to himself.

He circled around the back of the sofa and slowly sat down on the left side. Red guy didn't look his way, but Tom could tell he noticed him.

Since he shifted a little to the right after Tom sat down.

Tom felt absolutely awkward. He twiddled with his thumbs as he thought of something to say. He opted to look up at the television to see what Red Guy was watching. It appeared to be some sort of zombie horror film.

Maybe he should start a conversation? Cause if he talks too late the words will feel out of place. Oh no... Maybe they already will be. He feels so out of place himself.

They haven't even talked and the atmosphere feels so tense that it's making Tom sweat. When did his hands start to shake?

Tom clapped his hands together over his lap as a way to calm them. But his left leg decided to shake instead. Making his foot tap the floor repeatedly.

"Um so, what show are we watching?" Tom asked quietly and definitely was not regretting how weird it sounded, nope.

This got Red dude's attention. He finally turned around to look at Tom. And Tom wished he hadn't, cause the look he was giving made him feel small.

Like he was looking at someone who answered wrongly on the simplest question. It made Tom feel dumb and it made him look away.

Red guy looked away too, setting his attention back to the screen. He didn't answer the question.

Tom held in a shaky sigh to avoid such a look from the latter again. Instead, he tried to start another conversation.

He attempted to clear his throat but he only ended up coughing. The choke's of air a little too loud for Tom's liking. He propped his elbows on either side of his legs and leaned forward. He tried his best to calm down his throat. God kill me now.

And yet, even while he was coughing, Tom found it oddly quite. When he finally settled down, he sat back up with teary eyes. But those teardrops were quickly blinked away as he realized something.

There were two things different from before. 1: the television was paused. And 2: Red guy was staring at him.

Tom choked a bit inside his throat but made sure to not go through another coughing fit.

Right at that moment, was the longest and most awkward 30 seconds Tom assumed he has ever experienced. The silence would have continued if the lightbulb didn't go off in his head. Tom you idiot! You just cleared your throat, you're supposed to start talking!

He started with an awkward, silent laugh. As a form to lighten up the mood a little. When he got the same irritated expression, Tom decided to take a different route.

"Soo..." Tom started, fiddling with the hem of his hoodie. "Do you normally end work this early?" Tom chanced a glance at Red guy.

And he was met with the same look. A look that says the other person thinks they're better than you, smarter. One that tells you that they know more than you ever will. It makes him feel inferior to him, Tom doesn't like that feeling.

"No." He finally answered. And just as he was about to unpause the film, Tom took the chance to say something else.

"Oh, sick day then is it?" Tom asked. And as he saw Red dude turn towards him with a raised eyebrow and curious look, Tom finally thought that this talking thing was going somewhere. He thought.

"No." Red guy looked away and replayed the film. 

Tom blinked. What the hell? What's up with this guy. And for once instead of feeling anxious, he felt irritated.