Prologue (4)

"I'm not dating any girls or boys." I hurriedly pleaded. I hear a sigh from the end of the line.

"Is studying hard? Are you tired during this period? Did you forget to eat some rice? Don't skip your meals, you'll have a stomachache."

"I'm not forget, mom, I ate on time."

"Get some rest, baby. It's going to enter a windy and drought season."

"I didn't sleep late. Mom, don't worry," I said to the worried Mrs. Phatthanathada. Even though I was twenty, my parent still saw me as a little boy running around in the front yard. No matter how many years have passed, it will never changed and that made me not embarrassed to act like a spoiled child.

"Good. Anyway, rest a lot. Be careful, son, when Nong Thi told mom you almost got hit by a car, mom was really shocked, you know?"

The other day when my mom called, Ai Thi sat beside me while I was eating at the cafeteria and he told her that I almost got hit by a car, making my mom shocked and I was scolded for being careless. Even though it's really not that big. I just almost get hit. Ai Thi likes to dramatize everything.

"Monday is a holiday, will you come home?" Fortunately, Mom changed the topic of conversation. Made me a little relieved that I didn't get scolded more.

"If I am free this week, I will go back. I really miss your cooking."

"Good, this week is Luangta's birthday too. We will go to make merit at the temple. When are you coming back?"

"Probably tomorrow afternoon. After I'm done, I will take the van back home."

"Alright then, Mom will make dinner for you. What do you want to eat?"

"I want to eat shrimp with curry, sweet and sour stir-fried fish…. and uh….. can I have fried egg salad too?"

"Alright, I'll make it for you. Have a safe trip and see you tomorrow."

"Ok madam, good night."

She ended the call and I put my mobile phone on the table like before. Thinking that I would finally go back to my family makes me smile. No matter how convenient the capital city is, the severe traffic jams and all the chaos that I had to go through still made me prefer the atmosphere of the orchards and open roads around my childhood house.

I raise my hand to push the eyeglasses. Time to focus back on the computer screen. I never expected at the time that this visit back home would bring me face to face with something I had never believed in my entire life and never dreamed it would happen to me.