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The night before the Final exam, Pang was alone at the rooftop.
A bottle came shooting towards Pang. He reached out and caught it without a glance.
It was Wave.
"Took you long enough," Pang complained, not without a smile on his face though. "And you just love to make an entrance, don't you?".
"'Just because YOU were spacing out."
Pang looked at the bottle of Oishi Honey Lemon drink in his hand.
"Did you get Ovaltine too? You know it is my favourite." Pang asked playfully.
He would have if it wasnt sold out.
"Give it back." Wave reached for the bottle.
"Nope! I like Oishi, too." Pang gave a cheeky smile. He was happy to drink whatever Wave bought him but he just couldnt miss any chance to tease Wave.
Pang was actually amazed that Wave had came such a long way. Wave even knew what to get Pang for lunch now without having to ask. Afterall, indifference and coldness were just facades Wave put on to shroud himself from the pain of betrayal which was too much for his age.
"Don't you dare daydream tomorrow and screw up all our plans."
"I got bored," Pang yawned. "Plus it was YOU who kept me waiting."
Not true. Pang seemed to be daydreaming but he was actually rehearsing their plan for the thousandth time. He couldn't take any chances. He could not afford getting Wave hurt.
"Namtaan caught me downstairs. Took ages to ditch her. If she manage to get hold of any of my stuff, she would be here sooner than you think."
"If she appears, we still have this." Pang held out his hand. "You know what I am capable of."
"You can stop reminding me by now." Wave did not want to recall his defeat time and time again. He probably knew better, or worse really, than anyone else in the gifted room how powerful Pang's potential was.
Pang took a sip of the Oishi lemon honey and passed it to Wave. He took a sip and sat right next to Pang on the wooden boxes.
"Hey Pang, Why do you keep this from Namtaan?"
Pang sighed. "This is dangerous. She would either stop me or join me. I dont want to put her in danger."
"Because you have a crush on her?" Wave asked.
Pang seemed amused by Wave's response. He turned around to face Wave. His face so close to Wave’s their noses were almost touching, “Why? You jealous?” Pang asked with a dubious smile.
A hint of pink appeared on Wave's usual poker face. "As if!" Wave shoved Pang away. Subtle as it was Pang did not fail to notice the blush.
“How nosy will you become if you keep hanging out with Namtaan?” Pang chuckled. “She is like a sister to me. I just want to make sure she is safe.”
Wave did not respond yet he seemed satisfied with the answer.
“Wave, are you scared?”
“Me?” Wave looked up with his signature smirk. “Worry about yourself first.”
"Why would I be scared?" Pang laughed.
"Stop bragging already would you?" Wave gave Pang a nudge.
Pang really knew how to get on Wave’s nerve which he enjoyed doing so much.
"Seriously, Wave," Pang put his hand round Wave's shoulder. "I have you by my side, why would I be scared?" He smiled, "if there is one person whom I want to do this with, it would be you."
"Yeah, right." Wave might have rolled his eyes but his straight face lightened with an almost undetectable smile. Pang enjoyed seeing Wave smile.
"We'd better be careful. We are still in the dark about the headmaster's potential." Wave reminded Pang.
"You think he is one of us?"
Wave shrugged. "Just imagine how hard it would be to control a bunch of gifted if he isnt one himself."
"Indeed. Our potentials have not even fully developed yet, but Kru Pom is having such a hard time dealing with us already. You almost turned the school upside down." Pang shook his hand while recalling the incident.
"The headmaster is probably more wicked than we think."
"Well at least I haven't revealed my potential to Kru Pom. And we knew all about their shady past."
"I got to admit your potential is really impressive."
"But i need to touch and feel that person's pulse to be able to use my potential. Kinda inconvenient."
"Oh right, who asked you to throw your practice out of the window? class 8 genius."
The two boys giggled. Pang never imagined there would be such a day when Wave became a teammate and neither did he imagine that Wave actually could smile. The thought of fighting the world with Wave by his side put a big grin on Pang's face.
"Thank you for risking your future to do this with me. Wave, I really appreciate it."
"Ain't doing it for you. You better keep your best guard up tomorrow and don't ruin things for me." What Wave actually wanted to say was 'thank you'. Afterall Pang was the only person who understand the pain he went through because of Kru Nara. He was the only one who could understand his revenge on Kru Nara. The only person who was willing to be his friend.
"Okay, okay." Pang smiled. He didnt even need to ask for Claire's help to read that Wave didnt really mean what he said. After spending a whole month with Wave, he could interpret Wave quite well already.
"I also want to thank you for hating me."
"What?" Wave almost couldn't believe his ears.
"You hated me and you never pretended otherwise which actually made me feel comfortable around you," He thought of Nac, the 'best friend' he used to have, as well as Mon's teammates who were so friendly yet secretly hating her all the same. "So glad we turned from rivals into...well...teammates."
"Not sure if its better or worse." Wave just enjoyed being sarcastic. However, Wave did not say the rest of his sentence out loud. He wanted to say "No, Pang, I don't hate you, not anymore."
The boys, both lost in their own thoughts, sat in silence. A silence that Pang had got so used to, and had learned to enjoy, in Wave's company. However, there was still one thing on Pang's mind.
“Wave, what if we lost and we ended up with no superpower? Would you be mad at me?”
“You guess?”
Pang’s heart sank.
Wave read Pang's expression. He gave Pang a pat on the shoulder, saying,"Don't worry, I am prepared."
“You knew my plan already?” Pang was surprised.
“You think you can hide anything from me? Remember when you acted like a child and created a ‘No Wave Group’ on Line? I suggest you write paper notes from now on if you wanna talk behind my back.”
“You knew I am going to take away your superpower and you still let me?”
“Oh come on, Pang! I don’t need no superpower to do all those. Don’t forget why we are taking on the Headmaster.”
Pang was moved. He never expected Wave would give up his power.
"I am more disappointed that you still wanted to hide things from me." Wave complained.
"How am I suppose to say this? Just the thought of us being enemies again...." Pang could not finish the sentence. His greatest fear was not losing the fight, nor losing his potential. What he feared most was to lose Wave's trust, to lose Wave.
Seeing Pang's worried expression,“Just use your potential on me then." Wave said.
"I won't have any potential left by then."
Wave sighed and held out his wrists. "Alright, you can do it now."
Pang smiled. “Great idea!”
Pang grabbed Wave’s wrist and felt his pulse. For the second time. Last time he held his hand was on the day of “The Purge.” The situation was so hectic and urgent back then Pang had never really thought about it. Things were definitely different between them now. To have Wave’s wrists in his palms once again, he wondered why Wave’s heart was beating so fast. Pang knew his own feeling very well. He could hear his hearbeat almost overlapping with Wave's. But did this boy in front of him feel the same? He looked up trying to look for an answer, just to see him in his usual composure. Who would imagine his heart was beating so fast underneath that poker face? Pang chuckled.
“What was that for?” Wave became self-conscious and retrieved his arms. Pang grabbed them again, this time, holding his hands instead of his wrists, tightly in his palms.
“Your hands are so cold.” Pang smiled gently. Wave’s cheeks flushed. "You know what they say? Cold hands, warm heart."
A blush was taking over Wave's face, "Just let go if you aren't doing it" Wave was about to lose his cool.
Pang held his hands even tighter, gazing right into Wave’s eyes. “Wave, I was compelled to use my power on you last time but I don’t want to use it on you ever again. I want you to forgive me but only at your own will. ” Pang did not want to use his power on Wave but he did not want to let go of his hands either. He continued, "I can order anyone to do anything against their own will. If I do not deal with my power carefully, it could become very dangerous. Maybe that is the downside of my potential."
Wave was not familiar with this kind of situation. He had been a loner all his life but the boy in front of him was holding his hand and pouring his heart out at the same time.
Pang carried on, "...and I hope there will be someone who truly wants to stay by my side, truly believes in me and truly wants to take on the world with me. And i hope that person would be you, Wave. If there comes a day when I forgot what we set out to do in the first place, please be the one to wake me up."
Wave wondered why his heart was beating so fast. He never had such emotion before. Not even with Khru Nara. He did not hate it, though he did not understand the feeling either.
"...Sure." Wave said.
"Promise?"
Wave nodded his head with certainty, "So, can you let go now?" Wave’s face was blushing so much that Pang had to spare him. He finally let go of Wave’s hands and was all happy again after having Wave's words.
The boys sat side by side upon the wooden boxes on the rooftop. The sky was clear and bright with stars. A gentle breeze brushed through the rooftop. The night would probably be more enjoyable if they hadn't got so much to think about.
“Wave, don’t try to save me if things go wrong.”
“Same here. I hate owing favours.” They looked at each other and smiled. They both knew none of them would ditch the other person ever.
Nobody knew what the future holds. Nobody knew what would become of the gifted or even them after tomorrow. But right now, Pang and Wave just wanted to enjoy each others company.
"Pang?"
"Yes?"
"Sometimes I wonder what it really means to be a gifted."
"Tell me." Pang turned to face Wave.
“There is so much one can do with their superpower. Some uses them to their advantage, some to prove themselves to others, some use it for fun, some doesn’t even want it. But you, you are the only person who chose to change the world to a better place using your power. To me, this is a real gift. You are amazing, Pang, you truly are.”
“Are you actually complimenting me? The smartest boy in our class?” Pang looked flattered and showed a big grin on his face. Pang was happy because Wave trusted him enough to speak his heart and his true feelings out.
“I hate to admit it, but maybe you really are smarter than me.” Wave’s face flinched slightly.
“Wave, I don’t need to be smarter than you, I just want to fight the world with you.”
Wave smiled. A real, sincere smile.
"Moreover, Wave, not everyone would sacrifice their superpower but you are willing to do this for me. You are truly amazing too."
"Don't make me repeat again. I am not doing this for you!"
"Alright alright."
"Anyway, it's time to go. Don't stay up too late." Wave took off as he spoke.
"Wait for me!" Pang caught up with him, locking Wave's arm in his.
"Get off me!" Wave tried to shake his arm off but in vain as Pang just held him tighter.
Wave looked at Pang underneath the pale moonlight. The boy who seemed so naïve and carefree was in reality so meticulous and so reliable. Perhaps, Wave thought, perhaps, they really could change the world together.
"Pang."
"Yes?"
"Me too."
"What?"
"I trust you, Pang, and you only."
It felt so good to be able to trust again.