The Sound of Your Name

Chapter 04: The Observers

Thomas liked to people-watch. He'd never admit it in those words—too poetic, too weirdly-romantic—but it was true.

He and Kong were sitting under the awning outside the campus convenience store, two iced drinks between them, sharing a bag of shrimp chips. The rain had started an hour ago, and neither of them had made any real effort to move.

Thomas leaned back against the wall. "I'll give them one more session before they kiss."

Kong didn't look up from his phone. "Bold of you to assume Namping kisses anyone without submitting a risk assessment first."

Thomas laughed. "Keng would be into that."

"He would, wouldn't he?" Kong paused, thinking.  "You know, I used to think they'd hate each other forever. Like, sworn enemies. Epic disaster."

"And now?"

Kong finally looked up. "Now I think it's an epic disaster with really good lightning."

Thomas grinned. "You and I, we should've been matchmakers."

Kong shrugged. "We kind of already are. Unpaid, under-appreciated matchmakers."

They sat in silence for a while, the kind that felt earned—easy and slow. The kind of silence that only happened when two people weren't try to impress each other anymore.

Thomas tapped his shoe against Kong's. "So, you've known Namping forever??"

"Since high school," Kong said. "He was the guy who always finished the group project before anyone else had even opened the document."

"And you?"

"I was the guy who did nothing and still got an A because of him."

Thomas laughed. "Classic."

Kong smiled faintly, but then his voice softened. "He's changed, though. College has made him... sharper. He's always had walls, but now they're taller. Like he's afraid of letting anyone in who won't take life seriously."

Thomas looked at him. "And Keng??"

Kong raised an eyebrow "You tell me."

Thomas ran a hand through his hair. "He's a walking contradiction. Lazy and brilliant. Avoidant and annoyingly honest. He acts like nothing matters, but I've seen the way he handles that guitar like it's part of him."

"Sounds like trouble."

"Exactly. The best kind."

Kong chuckled. "They're gonna break each other open, aren't they?"

"Hopefully not break," Thomas said. "Just... crack the armor a little. Let some light in."

Kong didn't answer right away. Then he said, "You're deeper than you look."

Thomas gave him a wink. "I get that a lot."

The rain began to lighten, and the world outside the awning softened. Everything looked slightly blurred, like a watercolor painting that hadn't dried yet.

Kong nudged him. "You ever write songs too??"

Thomas shook his head. "Nah. I just listen."

"That's important too."

Their eyes met—brief, curious, not yet something but maybe on the way to it.

Thomas grinned. "So... next move in Operation KengNamping??"

Kong raised his cup. "Let's make sure they end up in the same open mic next week."

Thomas clinked his cup against Kong's. "Matchmakers it is."