Work Text:
pang and wave did not end up going to an open university together.
the two had a lengthy talk and weighed the pros and cons of the situation, like two grown ups. because that's what they were becoming after all, they weren't in high school anymore and they had avoided the elephant in the room for a long time now.
wave, who with his whole heart was willing to go with pang despite being admitted to Thailand's top university, argued that it was a decision where he would be genuinely happy. what was the point of studying in a prestigious school and accepting what would probably be the best offer he had in his lifetime if he didn't have pang by his side?
pang spent the whole two hours reminding wave that the open university he had applied to did not offer computer programs and that wave would have more opportunities in bangkok. he didn't want to put wave's future at risk just because they wouldn't be seeing each other everyday. the one thing pang wanted the most is to see wave become all the things he wanted to be and achieve all the goals that he used to tell pang with gleaming eyes. that wouldn't happen if he would pull him back.
wave realized pang had a point. he did want to take up a computer course. he was passionate about it and he knew it would be better if he accepted the offer. it was something that doesn't pass by everyday. pang encouraged him even more, and that reassuring smile that nothing between them would change has concluded their conversation, and so pang won.
however it took a toll on their relationship, and things weren't the same. the distance, conflicting schedules, and new people didn't help either. it wasn't like before when they would have inside jokes and spend lunch break together and hang out in each other's dorms.
pang had better grades and his part time job was paying well though he didn't have many friends in university. most of the time he would feel lonely. he would see something that would remind him of wave, call him, and the other line won't pick up. same goes with wave, who only clings to the scent of pang's hoodies he had left with him.
today was gloomier, metaphorically and literally. pang has a two hour lecture which he had absolutely no interest in, and his co-worker took a day off and asked him to cover his shift. the clouds were as gray as the soles of his worn out shoes, and all he could do was let out a deep sigh.
-
pang took the long way to work after his classes. the food stalls were just about to open and he could smell the aroma of strong spices and smoke. he heard a faint, familiar tune become louder as he walked towards a café by the corner which was warmly lit with orange hues and cozy wooden walls.
he stopped in his tracks as he listens to the live band inside play the song that he and wave listened to after his 'running away from the government' fiasco. he vividly remembers the way wave mouthed the words while holding his bottle of green tea, and how they both shared that moment of peace and fulfillment.
pang misses wave so much.
-
wave had just finished his classes for the day when he decided to call pang. his heart almost leapt put of his chest when he picked up. it was a rare occassion nowadays, especially when he didn't expect it because he knew pang was on his way to work.
"hey." wave speaks into the phone, suppressing his eagerness to hear pang's voice again.
"why are you drinking coffee at 5 pm?"
wave's eyebrows curl up in confusion. "what?" he asks as he looks up from his cup of coffee and sees a tall figure walk towards his direction from afar.
correction, a tall handsome figure. and... wet?
he wanted to run up to him and give him the tightest hug ever, he did. but his feet were glued to the ground.
pang had come to see him. pang, whose clothes were drenched. pang, who had a part time shift. and pang, who he had missed the most.
pang, who was in front of him now, embracing him and washing away every bit of tired in him.
wave hugs him even tighter. "what are you doing here? and why are you soaked?"
"it was raining and i rode my motorcycle here. i couldn't wait to see you anymore."
wave is trying his best at 1. to not cry at the fact that pang drove three hours in the rain because he wanted to see him and 2. to not kiss him in his school's parking lot.
"you idiot, you could have taken a cab here."
"if i had the money to do that i wouldn't be taking a part time job."
wave laughs because pang is funny and because he is happy and because all is right in the world. "i missed you."
pang smiles, the kind that wave loves so much. the sight of wave fills his heart with so much joy. screw his co-worker's shift and screw the ugly weather.
he was so caught up in the moment that he almost didn't hear wave's stomach rumble.
pang chuckles. "someone's hungry. come on, let's have dinner."
wave teasingly throws him a smug look. "how about you change first? you're still dripping wet. let's go to my dorm and then we'll have dinner after that. i know a place around here."
"alright."
wave removes his sweater and puts it around pang's shoulders as they walk to his motorcycle. pang, who was slightly shivering took wave's hands in his. it was worth it.
maybe today isn't such a bad day after all.