Longing for You - a PangWave fanfiction

four

Wave showed up at the cafe next to the university at exactly eleven-fifty the next day only to find that Pang was already sitting at the same table Wave was sitting at yesterday with a cup of coffee in hand. Wave sat down across from him before ordering at the counter. Pang smiled at him.

"Wow, I didn't think you would be this early!" Pang exclaimed. "I just got here. Do you want something? I can get it for you."

"I'll get it," Wave said. "It's fine."

Wave stood up to order his black coffee and a different sandwich from yesterday. Honestly, he could use a bit more sleep. The time zone difference between Massachusetts and Bangkok was brutal.

He sat down across from Pang with his coffee and food. "So, where did you go to university?" Pang asked. "You had a bag with you yesterday so I assume overseas."

"MIT," Wave responded. "I just graduated with a B.A. in computer science. I'm going to the University of Michigan for graduate school in August."

"Wait, MIT? Isn't that, like, one of the best schools in the world?"

Wave shrugged. "I guess. It was a lot more difficult than high school, but it wasn't too crazy."

Pang held his head in his hands. "Only you would say that MIT 'isn't too crazy' are you kidding? I had trouble in a school that wasn't internationally ranked."

"You're different, though," Wave said. "You're better at connections and people. That's more valuable."

Pang stared at Wave like he had two heads. "Did you just compliment me? Am I dreaming?"

Wave kicked him under the table. "Don't get used to it."

"You really have changed since high school," Pang commented. "Where did all the bitterness and sarcasm go?"

Wave sighed. "I grew up, I guess. There wasn't any bitterness left in me when I got to the States. Just apathy."

"I just..." Pang sat back to observe Wave for a second. "You're so different."

"You didn't really know me," Wave lied. He was lying through his teeth. Nobody knew him better than Pang did.

"I thought I did. But you're right, I don't know anything about you. But maybe..." Pang trailed off and avoided eye contact.

"Maybe, what?"

"Maybe I can get to know you? I mean, full disclosure, I think you're seriously beautiful, but if you don't like guys like that we can just be friends," Pang rambled. "But maybe you are? I don't know. I'm bi, so I get it I guess. But if you don't want to be friends either, that's okay-"

"Shut up." Pang's mouth closed immediately. Wave continued. "That would be nice, being friends, I guess. And full disclosure, I also like guys, but exclusively."

Pang grinned. "So that means you wouldn't be opposed to going on a date this weekend?"

"That would be correct," Wave said. "But only if it's on Saturday. I'm busy Sunday."

"Saturday sounds great," Pang said. "We can celebrate your return to Thailand. Let's get drunk."

"Are you really taking me to a bar for our first date?" Wave asked. "That's not very romantic."

"Trust me, it will be. You can't talk during movie dates, so what's the point? We'll have so much fun, I promise," Pang said. "Please? You don't even have to drink."

"I wasn't going to say no," Wave mumbled. "And I could use some alcohol after that mess of undergrad."

"There you go!" Pang said. "I'll message you my number, then we can arrange a time through that."

"Okay."

Pang stood up. "I have to go to a workshop, but I'll text you later, okay?" Wave nodded and looked at the time. He had already been there for over an hour. "Bye!"

Wave waved to Pang as he left the cafe, not really registering what had happened. Did he just agree to go on a date with Pang? To a bar? This was so far out of Wave's comfort zone, but he honestly couldn't wait to get to know Pang again.