Thomas entered his room and started to get his stuff for the exam he's got to study for tomorrow. The music was getting louder as the sun sets. Thomas groaned trying to prevent himself from going to Minho's party and yell 'KEEP IT DOWN OR I'LL CALL THE POLICE!'. He shoved his things to his backpack and started heading out only to be stopped by Minho.
"Hey!" Minho cheered, hugging Thomas. It was still quite early but Minho already smelt like alcohol.
"Hey." Thomas responded, patting Minho's back.
"You're not coming?" Minho asked, disappointment on his face.
"As much as I want to but I have to study for the exams tomorrow." Thomas said. He wanted this pointless conversation over so that he can finally go somewhere and study.
"Thomaaaaaas! Grades don't matter in the long run you know!" Minho threw his hands up, "live for once!"
"Yeah, I'll live when I pass my chem midterms." Thomas said sarcastically.
"Your grades are fine! C'mon, just tonight!" Minho persuaded.
"Nope. Sorry." Thomas said unapologetically and walked ahead. Minho just sighed behind him.
"You owe me!" Minho yelled.
"You're the reason why I can't study at my own dorm room! You owe me!" Thomas fired back before he heard a chuckle from Minho.
He signed out from the dorm and made his way to his car. It was not fancy but it was not cheap either. As he was walking, he felt his phone vibrate.
Thomas: Yo!
Gally: You finally got out?
Thomas: Yeah. I don't think studying in hell would help me.
Gally: *chuckles* We're still on for a group study. Are you sure you don't want to join us? Last chance.
Thomas: As enticing as that sounds but I don't work well with people. Not my thing.
Gally: Okay okay. Just be careful, alright? You have any idea where you're going?
Thomas; I was thinking the library first then after it closes I'll move to a coffee shop.
Gally: Taken my advice huh?
Thomas: I don't really have any choice, do I? I need to go, I'm in my car. See you tomorrow.
Gally: Okay. Drive safe! See ya, Buddy.
Thomas dropped the call and started the engine. He slowly drove out of the parking lot and made his way to the nearest library he could find and it was 30 mins away. The night was cold but the stars were out, in short it was a peaceful night. Thomas liked these kinds of nights. It reminds him of the time where his parents would take him out camping and making a bonfire in the middle of their backyard. It was fun back then when times were simpler.
Thomas almost missed the library because of his thoughts but luckily he quickly resolved the issue. He parked somewhere near the entrance. He got out of the car and walked his way to the entrance, backpack clinging to his back.
The library was very big and looks old, it was amazing. It was literally full of books. There was not any corner of the building not covered by it and that's why he adored it. He smiled at the lady at the information desk and proceeded inside. He picked a table far away from the entrance so that people won't be coming in and out all the time.
'Ah. Peace.' Thomas though as he sat down.
The peace and quiet was a nice change. He was always around loud people but as much as he adored his friends, a little silence is not that much to ask for. He dropped down his bag and took his things out of there. His pens, highlighter, notebooks, notes and his books. God, this was gonna be a stressful evening. He opened his chem lecture notes and got right to it.
He liked his studies. Sure, it was difficult at times but he likes a challenge. Teachers were not like in high school. They were tougher and meaner but Thomas guessed that motivated him to work harder.
Couple of hours in, he's already done with two subjects, made notes and highlighted every possible topics that might come out on the exams. No wonder he felt exhausted. He stretched his arms and arched his back, hearing it crack. He groaned from the stretching and leaned on the table. He looked around and noticed that there weren't many people there.
'Probably wasting their life away and attending that god-awful party.' Thomas hissed in his thoughts.
He kept gazing around and then he noticed a familiar looking blonde sitting not far from him. How did he not notice Newt earlier? He smiled and he was about to stand up and approach the blonde when he noticed that he wasn't exactly alone. He was with other two girls, one was blonde, a little lighter than Newt's, and the other was short-haired. Thomas immediately sat back down. For a normal person that would be a breeze to talk to three people together but for Thomas it was both awkward and difficult. He decided to just go back to his book and start studying again. His face fell back to his book, highlighting some certain parts.
He knew he was not getting work done because he had been reading the same sentence over and over again. He kept stealing glances at the blonde across from him. Why? He didn't even have the answer to himself. He fidgeted on his seat, wanting to do something but he can't. He felt restless. Then he felt his phone vibrate next to him. He looked at his phone and it was a text from Newt. He felt his heart leap in excitement. Wait, what?
From Isaac Newton: Hey, loner.
Thomas smiled at the text but refused to look up. Great, he knew that Thomas was here. Great. He was afraid how Newt's face was going to look.
To Isaac Newton: Hey! Getting bored from studying?
From Isaac Newton: How'd you know I was studying?
Thomas panicked for awhile. Eyes wide open and hands trembling. What does he say? He then heard a small laugh. He looked up and he saw the blonde looking at him, chuckling. Thomas was sure he was blushing so he shifted his gaze back to his book, covering his face with his free hand.
From Isaac Newton: You look funny freaking out while looking down at your crotch.
Thomas got even redder. God, this was so embarrassing. He needed to change the subject quick or he might die of shame.
To Isaac Newton: It's exam night, you idiot. Of course you would be studying.
Thomas hit send. He slightly looked up and saw Newt typing on his phone, smiling.
"Newt, stop texting!" Thomas overheard the blonde girl say.
"Get off his back, Sonya. He might be texting that boy from his lit class. I think he's smitten, if I may add." The short-haired girl teased. Newt just looked at the two girls and flipped them off. Thomas chuckled when Newt did not notice that he overheard that.
From Isaac Newton: Yeah yeah. Now stop staring so that I would be able to get some work done around here.
Thomas read the text and got flustered again. "I was not star-" Thomas said loudly, making the lady from behind him to shush him. Thomas turned to his back and apologized before turning forward. This time Newt and the two girls were staring at him. He felt his cheeks burn and ducked down.
From Isaac Newton: Okay, I'll leave you alone. Just stop stealing glances, yeah? It's greatly distracting.
Thomas was officially melting from embarrassment. He set his phone down and sighed, not looking up at the blonde. He rarely feels this way about other people. He was somehow nervous and fidgety when Newt was around and he just talked to him today! 'Great self control, Thomas.' Thomas cursed himself.
The rest of the evening was pretty uneventful although not stealing glances at Newt was better said than done. He knew that the other end was not willing to take on the challenge too because he caught the blonde staring at him at some points. He does not know if it was a good or a bad sign because if he caught Newt staring then he must know that Thomas was too.
He was not interested romantically in the blonde per se but he was curious about him. He was the silent type and, mysterious? Anyways, he never really heard the blonde talk so far for the first semester this year. They were at their second year in college and Thomas knew for a fact that Newt was not in their school last year. Newt was different from Thomas' friends. Gally was friendly and outgoing, not exactly loud but not discreet either. Minho was LOUD and had this booming sense of character. It would've annoyed Thomas but the asian dude clicked with him. Teresa, well, she was like his sister, they grew up together and they were basically siblings.
Thomas was pulled back from his thoughts when he heard a bell. He turned to the front desk and saw the lady there holding out a sign saying that the library was now closed. Thomas sighed and started to pack his things.
"Okay, that's it. Ready to go home?" The blonde, Thomas assumed was named Sonya, said to Newt.
"Um, can Brenda take you? I have other plans." Newt said, scratching his head. Thomas grinned at the sight. God, he was adorable.
"You have other plans? You?" Brenda, from what he heard her name was, asked. Thomas can only imagine the raised eyebrow that she was giving Newt.
"Yes. Now please take my sister home." Newt said. 'Sister? Hmm, that explains the hair.' Thomas thought.
"Fine, just don't come home late."
"That depends." Newt then shifted his gaze to Thomas, who was now staring at the group. Thomas winced and grabbed his backpack and started to walk out. Was Newt well-aware that he was eavesdropping?
Thomas walk to his car. He got on the driver's seat and started the engine, as he was about to pull out when he heard a yell and it made him jump.
"Hey, Thomas!" The familiar voice called.
"FUCK! Don't do tha-" Thomas scolded, hands on his chest. He felt his heart skip an beat because of the fright. Hw looked up and saw that it was Newt. "Newt, it's just you!" Thomas greeted, slightly nervous now.
"Where you going?" Newt asked, all smiles. It was contagious.
"Study some more. You?"
"That too. Mind if I tag along? I'll be good, promise." Newt pleaded.
"Uh, yeah sure! Get in."
"Thanks!" Newt went around and sat next to Thomas. Newt smiled at Thomas and they took off. Thomas drove to this coffee shop he knew that was not too crowded. Plus, he knew the owner personally. Okay, he was his cousin. So he gets a discount. Perks of family ties.
"You going to the The Maze coffeeshop?" Newt asked, tapping on the headboard.
"Yeah! You know that place?" Thomas asked, not taking his eyes off the road.
"Yeah. I love that place! Their cakes are gooood." Newt praised. Thomas just smiled. Thomas always thought that Newt was silent because he was shy but based from the given evidences, he was not definitely shy. He was just silent by choice.
"Well, I know the owner. He's my cousin and people who works there knows who I am so maybe they'll give you a discount too." Thomas boasted.
"Really? Yes! That's great!" Newt cheered.
"Let's speed off then." Thomas encouraged. Maybe they can start the assignment now, Thomas thought. They were together anyways so why not hit two birds with one stone? Plus, it would satisfy Thomas' curiosity about the blonde.