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Pang and Wave both had one thing in common besides their love for taking over things that needed help. Cooking.
If you had asked any of the other gifted kids if they ever saw both Pang and Wave cooking their meals in the future, they would have scoffed and laughed in your face. Now they would agree and sing praise for those two.
It started the day after their win. Pang and Wave had stayed up all night talking about their future until the early hours. They hadn’t eaten a good meal since the start of the fight. This was their chance.
They walked down the stairs hand in hand because, for once, they didn’t have to hide themselves and let themselves into the kitchen.
"Wave, do you know how to cook?”
“Obviously I do; my parents are dead, and my grandparents hate me.” Pang paused his walking. “I’m sorry.” Wave looked at him. “For what idiot?” He gestured in the air, signifying what he was talking about before. “It’s okay, Pang; you know I don’t get hurt from speaking about it anymore.”
Pang nodded and let the conversation go. He didn’t want to bring up any more painful memories.
“Will you cook with me?” He asked Wave. The other nodded, and they started to get the ingredients. There was no speaking between each other, as if they magically knew what to make without consulting each other.
As they started to make breakfast, it was still silent between them, and their small adventure ended with them making a classic American breakfast that fed way too many people.
“There is no way we can eat this all.” He stated. “You’re stating the obvious, Pang.”
“Okay rude.”
“Go call the others.” “Who are the others?” He asked.
“Pang, I know you’re dumb, but come on, we just saved the juniors with them.”
“Oh, them.” Wave didn’t answer, and he took it as a sign to get the others from the lounge.
The lounge was the twins room, who had moved in with Korn in order to free up a room. They had spent countless days decorating it during their junior year, and now it was a comfortable spot for them all.
They had all made a mutual agreement to meet there every morning once their lives became peaceful.
When he entered, he found Jo, Korn, Jack, and Ohm sitting on comfortable beanbags they had added. “Do you know where the others are?” The two respective couples looked at each other before shaking their heads. "Okay, well, me and Wave made breakfast, so go to the kitchen.”
They all nodded, and Pang turned to walk out before Ohm called out, “Punn had a sleepover with the girls, so they’re probably all in the same room.” He thanked Ohm and left to walk down the hall until he made it to the girl’s dorm room.
He knocked lightly since the room doors were thin. He waited outside till he heard light footsteps reaching the door to open it. The door pulled open and revealed Punn. “What do you want so early in the morning, Pang?"
“Me and Wave made breakfast come to the kitchen.” Punn nodded and closed the door. He left and walked into the kitchen to see all four boys plating food in an assembly line while Wave watched.
“Forcing the others to work for you?” Wave flipped him off in silence. "No, they offered and said that they needed to let the parents, who worked so hard on breakfast, rest and eat comfortably."
Pang coughed a bit in surprise. “Are we the parents?” He asked. Wave nodded with his ears tinting pink. Pang was embarrassed but found it oddly adorable.
He slid into the chair next to Wave, letting his arm rest on the other’s waist and bringing him closer to himself. "That's cute, don’t you think?” Wave slapped him on the arm in retaliation. Pang knew Wave wouldn’t say anything, but he knew the other thought it was cute.
He leaned back into the chair, getting comfortable, and let Wave lean onto him as they watched their other friends arrive and serve themselves.
This is what they wanted to see. All of them were together and happy. The only thing missing was Namtann.
The two got up to serve themselves when Claire made the motion of sitting down with her hand. She brought them both a plate before sitting down in her chair. There was light conversion at hand, as some of them were still drowsy from sleep.
The light conversation allowed Pang to think about their future.
He knew that everything that they had been through in the last few years had made them inseparable, and it was painful enough for Namtann to leave them, so he couldn’t imagine everyone else.
Pang had been dubbed their leader, while Wave, the co-leader despite hating that title, knew they had to talk about what was to come next. Wave was looking at Pang as if he knew what he was thinking. Maybe Wave did.
Breaking up Pang’s thoughts. “What do we do next?” Punn asked.
Everyone turned to stare at Pang and Wave. “We live the way we want.” He replied. “Separately?” Ohm asked. The mood started to degrade. “If everyone has their own plans, that's okay if we need to separate. and if not, we can plan something else. Everyone has their own choice now.” Everyone was silent and nodding their heads slowly.
The breakfast was coming to an end, but no one was making a movement to move. “What if we all stayed together?” Everyone gasped and turned towards the voice.
No one would have ever thought they would hear Wave say something like that.
“Logically speaking, it would be better. Seeing as some of you look frighted at the thought of us going our separate ways, people could get uneasy now that anyone can get potential, and overall, it just seems like a better situation if we’re together in case something comes up and then we have to scramble to meet up.”
"Wave, that is the cutest thing you have ever said and the longest time you have spoken in awhile.” There were several nods from the others, and Pang couldn’t help but stare lovingly at the other. He was so enamored by Wave.
“Does anyone disagree?” He looked around the table as everyone shook their heads in a no motion. "Alright, people, let’s plan this.”
The memory of their first breakfast together was still fresh in their minds. It had only been a year and a half since that day.
The planning of their lives after that ended with everyone finding a close college or university by their apartment building. They had roomed together most of their high school lives, and no one minded seeing as there had been established couples who could live in one room regardless.
It was simple. Pang, Wave, Claire, and Punn all shared one apartment. Pang and Wave are in one room, while Punn and Claire are in two other rooms. Even after their breakup, nothing had changed, and they had become good friends with Wave. Claire and Wave were the only people who could help Punn if the unwanted version of him came out.
Next were Jack and Ohm in one room, while Jo and Korn occupied the other room. Lastly, Mon and Namtann had an apartment to themselves. Pang and Wave had made breakfast ever since that faithful day.
Pang and Wave didn’t mind it. Even if they had to wake up earlier to make so much food, it didn’t disturb them. It warmed their hearts that everyone had trust in them.
It also gave them time to be in their own space. Pang loved to watch Wave crawl out of bed with his hair fluffy and not combed down. He was like a fluffy cat.
Pang wouldn’t change this for the world. He was attached to his friends in ways that some would probably describe as unhealthy, but he didn’t care. So what if they were all trauma bonded.
–
Claire was someone who looked as if she didn’t care for others, but that was far from the truth. Or at least now it is. Being a student in the gifted program and having to go through the unbelievable things they did had changed her.
She will admit that she was not fond of both Pang and Wave at the beginning, but now she is. That's why it was her mission to make their one year anniversary about themselves only. For once, they could enjoy themselves and not worry about others.
Even if that meant waking up three hours earlier than she was used to, she could gather the others and make their own breakfast and a nice breakfast for Pang and Wave.
Claire was thankful for that day that Wave brought up not separating from one another. She was happy she could live near her friends, seeing as they had never made other friends after everything. They were okay with each other and didn’t want to ruin the dynamic that they had by bringing in others.
She had discussed this plan with Punn the night before and hoped he told the others like he said he would. As she walked past his door, she heard music softly playing so as not to disturb the sleeping couple and knocked softly to alert him of her presence before leaving her apartment to knock on the two doors in front of her.
The doors opened, revealing a sleepy Korn and Mon from their respective apartments waving her off. She guessed they knew and were getting ready already.
Their plan was to recreate the first breakfast the other two had prepared for them that day. It was simple because Claire had done extensive research and Punn had managed to learn the day before. They just need the extra help from the others to make sure it runs smoothly.
She texted their juniors in case they weren’t going to stop by, but as always, Third sent a message saying they would be there. Those three never missed breakfast with them. Claire wouldn’t say they were attached to them like their own gifted class, but they were still there during that time.
Claire was in charge of everything going right, so she took it upon herself to make sure that the couple was still sound asleep. Once she made sure they were still asleep, she returned to the kitchen to supervise.
It was surprisingly nice to watch the others interact and cook. It was a change from her usual, as she usually helped Pang and Wave make the coffee and tea before everyone came rushing in.
This was their family, and she was happy to keep it that way.
She felt an arm lay around her shoulders and turned to find Grace. “Hi Claire.” She gave her a side hug, mumbling hello. “Where are Pang and Wave?” She asked.
“They’re still sleeping. It’s their one year anniversary, and I wanted to make it easy and allow them to sleep in, so I turned off all their alarms and planned to make breakfast for them as they always do for us.” Claire replied.
“That’s nice and sweet. I’ll set up the table with Time and Third.” Claire waved her off, and her eyes landed on the almost completely done food. Everything was okay now.
The silence in the room was comfortable until a yelp and a gasp broke it. “That would be Pang and Wave,” she announced. Claire knew it would happen, and she was prepared for it.
The two came rushing out of their room, bickering slightly when they both looked up and took in the sight of all their family there. She could see the confusion oozing from them. “Calm down, PangWave. You didn’t miss breakfast or oversleep. I did this.”
The couple still had a confused look on their faces but sat down where Claire instructed. “What is this all for?” Pang asked.
“It’s your anniversary, and I just wanted you guys to enjoy breakfast for once.” She replied. “Thank you for doing this.” Pang gave her a side hug, while Wave looked at her and mouthed a thank you.
Claire was content. She could see everyone else was as well. The gifted program might have changed her in ways she didn’t want, but seeing all thirteen of them try to fit into a table made of 10 so they wouldn't be apart made her heart swell with love and happiness.
Their apartment might be small at times, but it was worth it because it bound them together tighter than before.