Chapter Text
When Langa had been invited to go on vacation with Joe, Cherry, Shadow, and Miya, he never thought that he would be allowed to go. I mean, come on. He had never gone to a single place without his mother.
However, when he brought up the idea at the dinner table, he was almost insulted by the excitement his mom showed at the idea of him not being around for five days. When she explained that she was ecstatic and so happy that he had friends he wanted to, and planned on doing something so special with though, he felt a lot better.
So, here he is. All packed up, with his bucket hat that had a string that tightly hugged him around his neck on his head, as he’s going through airport security. Langa thought it gave himself more of the tourist aesthetic. It’s definitely goofy, but he likes it. He likes it so much in fact, that he forced all the others to wear one too.
***
“Langa, no.” Joe had said without even a second thought.
“But-“
“No, for once I agree with the gorilla. I’m not wearing one of those hats. They are quite pointless. And ugly.” Cherry declared.
Langa frowned. “Guys, come on.”
“Nuh uh,” Shadow stated firmly. “If some cute girl is there, I will not be caught wearing that. She’ll think that I look dumb.”
Miya had the audacity to snicker. “Right. That’s why you'd look dumb.”
“Hey, what’s that supposed to mea-“
“Okay! Okay fine, how about this?” All four of them waited in anticipation to hear Langa’s last ditch effort to get them all to wear matching hats. He ducked his head down, murmuring the sentence as if he regretted it before it even left his mouth. “I’ll buy all of you ice cream when we get there.”
“Two scoops.” Miya proposed.
“What? No, one scoo-“
Then, Joe decided that was the perfect time to chime in. “No, I’m with the kid. Two scoops each or no hats.”
Langa kicked the pebble at his foot in defeat. Cherry is right. You really are just a dumb gorilla, Langa seethed.
***
He is most definitely in despair over his soon-to-be lost money, but feels a lot better as he looks at all of his friends.
God, they look stupid. The money was worth it.
Finally, they were through all of the security precautions in the airport. Now, all they had to do was wait. A long time. A really long time. Too long for Langa’s taste, actually, because even though he had his skateboard with him, he knew that he wasn't allowed to skate inside the airport. So, without the exciting prospect of skateboarding, Langa was feeling even more fidgety than he usually would.
In class, if he was bored, he would usually just sleep. But here? He had nowhere to rest his head and was feeling too thrilled about their trip, the adventures they were going to go on, and the skate parks they were going to get to skate in to even think about sleep as an option. So yeah, he was a bit restless. He sighs, knowing there is no chance he is going to be able to sit here for another hour and a half until they board. He turns towards Joe and Cherry, who are, of course, battling it out (verbally) as usual.
“I’m going to go to that cafe over there. I’ll probably get something to eat before we board. Do you guys want anything?” Langa asks.
“No, that’s quite alright Langa. Be careful. Also, you can leave your skateboard here with us if you wish.” Cherry responds.
“No thank you, I’ll take it with me.”
“Hey slime!” Miya calls out after him just before he’s on his way. “Get me a chocolate chip muffin, please.”
Langa throws him a lazy thumbs up as he waddles up to, and through the doors of the small, comforting cafe.
As soon as he enters the cafe, he is immediately embraced warmly by the aroma of sugar and coffee as they dance in step with one another in the air. It’s a small place, that’s quite quiet, and has beige walls with white lining. Langa appreciates the homey feel that it gives off. Every person looks like they belong here. Just quietly tapping their feet, reading a book, or methodically humming with a timid smile as they get flashed a grin by the person in front of them. They all fit into the pleasing atmosphere this tiny little cafe has created within this airport.
“I’ll just have a chocolate chip cookie. Oooo ooo wait wait, I’ll have a hot chocolate with whip cream on top too, please!”
Except maybe that guy, Langa thinks to himself.
“That guy” walks over to the side, his hands linked together behind his head like he doesn’t have a single care in the world. Maybe he doesn’t, with how loud he was in this peaceful place.
He’s standing on the side, patiently waiting with a wide, genuine smile sitting on his face. Langa thinks he looks so chaotic, but in the best way possible. His bright yellow hoodie, which is so big, it covers a good part of his jeans, looks ready to fight for the spotlight against his own red, untamed hair. His hair is only held back by his dark blue and white headband. As Langa studies him, he’s shocked and wonders how it took him this long to realize. The boy has a goddamn skateboard! He rests his chin against the top of his skateboard as he holds it up vertically. It looks pretty new, to Langa at least. The boy continues to wait for his fresh cookie. Langa thinks they look around the same age. Then, he thinks about how he really likes how wild his hair is. Then, he starts to think even more.
I wonder where he’s going? Maybe we’re going to the same place? Or even better, maybe he lives in my area.
Langa is snapped out of his trance after he starts to feel a smile creep up on him at the thought, betraying his, rather usual, stoic behaviour. What was happening? He ponders.
Don’t get him wrong. Langa had heard of airport crushes before. Heard of them, yes, but thought they were stupid? Also yes.
For example, as soon as they walked into the airport, Miya gasped and blushed. He removed his hat immediately, the thought of free ice cream, for him at least, seeming to disappear from his head. When Langa questioned him and asked if he was okay, Miya simply responded “I just…I think that person over there is kind of cute.” And then, Miya points to a child who is around his own age.
Langa raises an eyebrow, curious to hear Miya speaking this way. Miya can clearly tell because he says, “Idiot! Don’t look at me like that. Crushes on random people at the airport are normal. Okay? Don’t give me that look, they are! A slime like you wouldn’t understand. Seeing someone your age is…exciting? I don’t know, okay?! Leave me alone.” And finally, the embarrassment settles on his cheeks.
“I’ll leave you alone as soon as you put the hat back on.”
Miya looked at him like Langa said he didn’t want to skate with him ever again. The betrayal was that expressed on his face. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“No hat, no ice cream, or hat, and ice cream. Your choice.”
Miya grumbled as he put the hat back on, shame washing over his face. Not that Langa could see it, because he walked with his head down all the way through security in fear of seeing his crush again. Langa laughed.
Two hours ago, Langa thought that he was right. Of course he wouldn’t understand. How was it even possible to start liking someone without even knowing them? Langa looks over at the redhead. He receives his order, his teeth whiter than the whip cream on top of his steaming hot drink, he smiles, and proceeds to thank the barista who made it. As he walks out with his blinding grin and hot chocolate made mustache, Langa thinks he just might get it.