Anyone But You [PhayuRain] [Love In The Air]

7: WALKING ON SUNSHINE

Rain walked through the streets of Bangkok.

I can't believe I'm walking through the streets of Bangkok, he thought laughing to himself.

He couldn't ever remember doing this when he was younger, mainly because it was usually too damn hot and humid or because he was in too much of a hurry to get somewhere.

And frankly, many parts of this city weren't exactly walking-friendly.

But after living abroad and visiting so many other cities, he had learned to appreciate walking and getting lost as the best way to truly discover, appreciate, and entrench himself in a place, to get the full flavor of the neighborhoods, culture, and people.

So during the weekends, he was enjoying playing tourist in his hometown. 

Thank god it was the cool season!

He could have asked friends to join him, but he never knew how long he was going to walk, where he would linger or where he would end up. So he opted to do this as a solo activity.

He had promised himself when he was in far-off places that he would make time to explore neighborhoods and tourist attractions that he never had while growing up here. He had longed to immerse himself in the foods, things, and beauty that he had felt homesick for while he was away.

Rain had thrown himself heart and soul into his career when he started working after graduation. Mainly it was a way to distract him from his heartbreak, but it also successfully allowed him to set himself apart and show his dedication to his craft.

So when he was nominated by his boss to help the Firm build their practice in Singapore, he jumped at the chance.

He had been a little scared and maybe his initial reasons for accepting were more out of needing an escape than anything else, but ultimately it ended up being one of the best things that he could have done.

He spent three years in Singapore and then moved to South Korea to help grow the Firm there.

Along the way, he traveled a lot and got to work on projects in the US, Japan, and Dubai. He learned that he had the facility to learn languages, easily picking up enough to have conversations with vendors and locals without embarrassing himself.

He had initially gone because he felt empty and lost, wanting something to distract him from his saudade. 

But in the course of living his life, having to figure his way around, and meeting the demands of his job, he actually found himself.

He was a different person now than the naive, fractured boy he had been back then. He had finally allowed himself to open his heart again, to meet and connect with other people, both friends and lovers - some very casual, others more meaningful. 

He came out the other side as he had vowed to when he was wiping his tears in that bathroom, in that building. And just maybe, he had even become a better version of Rain than the one he would have been had he stayed.

So, in the three months since moving back, he took the time to keep his promise to himself- to discover his hometown on his own terms.

He walked through parks, even trying a morning run in Lumphini Park, meandered through the temples and monuments in Old Town...