C 2

Time does flies fast . The day finally arrived, the day where my life will get fucked up for eternity . I can't believe that from the moment I landed until today I didn't even have any time to play around . Mom and Dad makes me join a Thai language course and everything was going so fast that I don't even realise how many days have past until Dad reminded me the other day .

I took a 15 days off and decided to attend it after that because I need to sharpen my Thai a little bit more and my parents also agreed to it .

" Time sure flies fast ." Dad sits down the chair for breakfast on the other side . " Look son , don't think too much . It's gonna be all fine , OK. " Dad reassure me as I was sitting there with a worried expression .

" But Dad , I'm so weak in Thai . How am I gonna communicate with others . I don't think that I will be able to even understand what the professor is saying ." Of course I am worried . My Thai is weak and I find it hard sometimes to pronounce certain words and even doesn't know what it means .

" Son, don't worry . Mom believes that u can do it and it's not like Thai is completely new to u ." Mom brings out two plates and puts them in front of Dad and me .

" Right , where's yours honey ?"

" Be right back ."

" Look son . When u reach there , just make some friends so they can help u out from time to time though I believe that u won't be needing much help ."

" But I don't think I will be able to make any friends dad ."

" Son , don't think that way about yourself. U don't know until u try . U are scared that u won't be able to understand the language and all . But who knows , u might even be able to understand what is being written on the board . Don't underestimate yourself too much ." Dad gives me an assuring smile . Mom also sits down beside Dad with her own plate .

" Your father is right, dear . U won't know unless u try ."

" Well, I guess ." I smile back faintly even though I'm not really feeling confident .

After having breakfast, Mom and Dad drop me off at the college before they head to work .

' Good luck, my son .' Dad, wish me followed by a hug . Mom also hugs me with a kiss on my cheek . " Good luck, my baby boy ."

" Mom....I'm not a baby anymore ."

" OK, ok . It's just that I can't believe u are going to college now ." Mom smiles, looking at me proudly .

' We are very proud of u , son .' Dad taps me on my shoulder with a smile before I head inside . I wave back at them and enter my college while they stand there with my Dad's arm around my Mom's waist, both with a proud smile .

I walk down the hallway with a face that looks like I just saw a ghost or maybe a bigfoot . I head towards the office of the principal as I already know my way from the last visit with Dad .

" Excuse me, sir . May I come in ?"

" Oh ! Come in, come in ."

" Thank u, sir ."

' Take a seat . I will bring u to your class, ok ?' I took a seat with a smile .The principal has a very smart and clean look but with a friendly face . He closes some files and stack them up on the side .

' Let's go . I'll show u your class .'

Maybe mom and dad were right , maybe I'm not that bad in thai after all cause I'm able to understand everything he's saying .

The principal brings me to my class . It looks like the class has already started . He enters the class first, and I follow him from behind .

'Excuse me, Sir .' The principal excuses himself first to the professor. The professor slightly nodded and steps aside . 'Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please ? He is our new student . He's from Pennsylvania, USA, and he will be joining u guys in this class starting from today . The rest of the introduction I'll leave to u, sir. ' The principal nods towards the professor politely and walks away after wishing me good luck .

' OK, please introduce yourself. ' Professor extends his hand towards the students sitting whose attentions are now all on me . I step forward nervously . ' Hi, my name is Gawin Caskey . Nice to meet u all .' I introduce myself .

' Thank u, Mr. Caskey . U may go and take a seat anywhere u like . And by the way , students, Caskey is a little bit weak in Thai, but he's catching up, so it would be good if u guys go easy on him and help him out . I ask for your cooperation here .' Professor notified everyone the thing that I don't want to let others know . I don't know. I just have that fear, like what if after knowing that I'm weak in Thai, people starts hating me or tease me for it . I don't want that , I want to peacefully maintain my personal space .

But what's done can't be reversed, so I just walk quietly, searching for an empty seat . But every empty seat I turn to , the people sitting there, aren't really welcoming . So I kept on walking at the back until someone suddenly started talking and that too in English, making me startled cause it was so sudden and out of nowhere .

" I don't mind sharing my seat with u ." A guy who looks kind of mixed just like me moves aside vacating his seat and hints his head at the empty seat beside him . When I heard him , I became confused and pointed to myself, asking if he's talking to me . He just nodded and hints at me to sit down . I smile awkwardly and sit down .

" Thanks ." I said, putting my bag on the table .

" So first day, huh ?" He starts talking to me without shifting his gaze from the board .

" Yeah ." I replied .

" Joss Wayar ."

" Huh ?"

" My name . U can call me Joss ."

" Oh, OK ." He is kinda weird, but ok, I can accept this much level of weirdness . But I guess he's also an introvert like me .

The rest of the time, we just kept quiet and listened to the lecture . Even though I find it hard to understand some terms but surprisingly, most of it I could easily understand. Guess Dad was right , I underestimated myself too much . The lecture is finally over, and everyone starts leaving the classroom .

" Um, it was nice meeting u, Joss . Thanks for inviting me to sit with u ."

" Never mind, bro ."

He looks kinda scary and cold at first, but he is kinda warm . I decided to ask notes from him about the lectures I missed, but when I was about to speak .

' Hey Joss .'A guy from behind called for him . ' U coming to Tonight's party, right ?' He sits on the table next to us, folding his hands, waiting for an answer from him .

' What kind of question is that, bro ? I'm the one who is hosting it, remember ?' Joss replies .

' I knew it ! See u tonight, man .' The guy walks away . After hearing the tone of voice Joss used with him , it looks like they are close .

" Sorry about that . He's my friend Gap ." Joss smiles at me .

" Never mind . He seems excited ." I replied, walking down the stairs of my class .

" Yeah . Um, Gawin ." Joss stops walking and calls for me .

" Hm ?" I also stop walking and turn around to him .

" U busy tonight ?" Joss asks me, raising one of his eyebrows . " Um, why ?" I asked, confused . " Do u mind joining my party tonight if u are free ?" Joss asked me with a hopeful face but I declined it as I don't really like going to party . "Thanks, but I rather not go . I got some things to take care of tonight . Sorry, but I appreciate it ."

" Oh, it's ok, man . Then see u tomorrow ." Joss walks away past me . I feel bad to turn him down, but I just don't feel comfortable going to parties and all . But I didn't think that he would be this way . He looks like an introvert for sure, but I guess I shouldn't judge a book by just its cover after all .

I came back home and had dinner by heating up the food that my mom had left for me in the fridge . My parents are still at work and will be back at around 10 . I watched the TV for some time, went through my notes from today's lecture, and my Thai language notes also and went to bed at 9 sharp cause I was feeling really tired .

JOSS'S HOUSE :

' Yo man ! The decorations are lit .'

' Thanks for coming, man .' Joss smiles and fists bump the guy .

' Hey J ! 'Gap calls for him from behind .

' Yeah . Need anything .'

' No man . Everything is all set . I'll manage everything here. u just go to the rooftop .' Gap taps Joss on his back.

' Why ? Don't tell me...'

'Yeah , she's waiting for u, and she told me to tell u that she ain't coming down until u go up there.' Gap shrugs his shoulders .

' Don't act like it's not your fault . Why did u invite her when I clearly told u not to ? '

' I didn't, man . She just came to hear me when I was talking to u on the phone .'

' Just shut up . If this party gets fucked up then just know it's your fault .' Joss walks away leaving Gap with a sigh .

' Fuck !' Gap exclaimed startling the people around him .

At the rooftop :

' What do u want ? 'Joss asks coldly at the woman standing there staring at the stars .

' The stars are so beautiful tonight . Don't u agree ?' The woman said in a soft voice without caring to turn back at Joss .

' Just tell me why u call me here ? Or I'm leaving .' Joss said coldly making it clear that he's not interested.

' Remember ? U used to lay ur head on my lap, and we would watch the stars together almost everyday. ' The woman turns around .

' Look, Anna , I have told u already ok, and I'm telling u again . We are over . Don't make me repeat this again .'

' I miss it all, Joss . I'm sorry . I'll do anything to make u not angry with me anymore . Just tell me what you want me to do ?' Anna walks closer to Joss . Joss steps back .

' U cheated, Anna . Remember ? U know that I hate cheaters the most, and still, u cheated on me .'

' I'm sorry, Joss .' Anna reached out for Joss's arms . Joss steps back again .

' Don't touch me, Anna . I don't like people touching me unless I say so .'

' It's me, Joss . U already gave me permission to touch u already, isn't it ? What's wrong with u ?' Anna tears up .

' U lost that privilege a long time ago, Anna . Don't show me your crocodile tears . It makes me remember how I felt that day when u chewed my heart and spit it out like it's of no value .'

' Joss....'

' Please excuse me , I have to take care of the guests . U can leave if u want to . Lee will be outside .'

Joss walks away from Anna and comes downstairs . He walks outside towards Lee, who is their driver, to inform him .

' Lee , if Anna comes down . Drop her to her house .'

' Yes, Khun Joss .'

' Thanks, Lee .'

Joss walks inside and searches for Gap . ' Hey guys , did anyone see Gap ?' He stands in front of the people sitting on the couch .

' At the toilet .' Someone replied.

' Thanks, man .' Joss walks out and makes his way to the toilet . He opens the door to the toilet and finds Gap making out with a woman .

' Sorry for interrupting, but Gap, we need to talk .' Joss said with a serious face . Gap hints the woman to go out, and he tidy up his dress .

' Uh , go on . What is it ?' Gap ask, leaning against the wall .

' Why the hell did u do it ?' Joss asked, slightly mad at his friend .

' What did I do ?' Gap pulls an innocent face .

' I know Gap , u invited her . Why did u do it ?'

' Who told u that ? Anna ?'

' Just answer the damn question, man !'

' Uh ! I invited her ! Satisfied !? '

' So why the hell did u invite her !? '

' Ow ! What should I do then ? Huh ? Tell me ! After breaking up with her , u changed a lot . Did u know that ?'

' Still, u don't have any right to do such things . Don'tdo something like this again . I don't wanna stop my friendship with u. ' Joss turns around, walking away, leaving Gap shouting on his own .

' Uh ! It's my fault ! I just want my friend back ! Damn it !!!' Gap kicks the door shut .

《 see u on next chp >< 》