Ping's mom's voice echoed from the living room.
"Ping, let's go,! We'll arrive late!"
"I'm coming. Give me a minute", ping replied.
He stood still in the middle of his room, his luggage already packed. His eyes moved slowly around the house – every corner familiar,every silence heavy. His gaze lingered on the spot outside, the place where he once stood listening to laughter that no longer echoed there.
The last place.
The last time he saw keng.
Ping exhaled softly and picked up his bag.
The road to Bangkok was long, buildings grew taller, streets busier, and everything felt louder than home.
"Ping", his mom said gently, breaking the silence. "Bangkok is a big city. You have to take care of yourself,my baby –"
"Mom", ping interrupted, turning toward her.
She paused.
"When are you going to stop calling me "your baby"?", he said lightly "I'm an adult now, you know".
She smiled, though worry still sat in her eyes.
"Okay, okay. Adult or not, you still have to promise me something. You'll have a roommate – don't argue with him. Be patient. Be kind. And make sure you –".
"Mom", ping said again,softer this time.
" I heard you. That's enough".
The car slowed as they arrived at the university dormitory. His mom insisted on walking him inside, to help check his room,to see if his bed is soft enough, to see if his window is closed properly.
"Mom, would you like to be my roommate instead?" Ping teased her and that made her calm down.
"Earlier,I wanted to say", she added as she adjusted his collar,"make sure you have a good relationship with your roommate. And everyone around you. Make friends okay?".
Ping nodded "okay,mom . Take care of yourself. Call me when you arrive home".
She hugged him longer than necessary before finally leaving.
Ping dragged his luggage inside when a voice spoke up.
"Are you... my roommate?" Ping turned.
"Yes! I'm rain ", the boy said cheerfully. "Nice to meet you ".
"O...Kay ", ping replied. "I'm ping. Ping pong".
Rain laughed like it was the funniest thing he'd heard all day.
What a talkative roommate,ping thought as he unpacked his things.
That night passed quickly.
The next morning –
"Ping! ping!ping!".
Rain called loudly,"we're going to be late!".
Ping opened his eyes slowly, irritation written all over his face.
"Rain ", he said,"what's your course of study?".
"Fine art. And you?".
Ping stared at him . "You woke me up and you don't even know my course?"
Rain blinked "oh"
"Anyways I study fine art too ", ping sighed.
Rain's eyes lit up. "That's great! Oh, did you hear? A new transfer student arrived. A sophomore from England. They say he's really handsome. Everyone's talking about him".
Isn't this guy a freshman like me? Ping thought. How does he know everything already.
"All freshmen, please head to the theater art studio for orientation", a sophomore announced.
"You'll be registered by seniors afterward".
"I really hope I get registered by senior handsome". Rain whispered.
"Senior handsome?" Ping repeated, rolling his eyes.
After orientation,ping sat quietly, waiting his turn. Time passed, students came and went.
Seriously.... Ping sighed internally, rubbing his temple.
Then– someone stopped in front of him.
Ping sighed, muttering under his breath about how he was delayed.
He raised his head quickly, ready to scold the one who delayed him.
But the words died on his lips.
The person standing in front of him– tall, poised, and radiating a familiar presence – was not who he expected.
The scent hit him first, clean subtle, intoxicating.
Slowly, almost unwillingly,ping lifted his gaze fully.
"P'keng?"...