R❤️❤️mmates

1

Khao sits on the floor, picking up the final book from the floor and putting it in the last box. He looks around, taking in the memories of the previous two years he has lived here. Never had he thought that this tiny room in the village, which he only knew from pictures and a quick trip years ago, would turn out to be the place he calls home. His eyes stay on the only family photo he has with his parents. He picks the frame up and feels rage rising inside him. He had almost turned out to live in the streets if his grandmother had not stepped in to take him in.

Flashback 2 years earlier

Khao sits on the floor in an empty living room. There is no furniture left, and tears fill his eyes as he looks around at the vacant rooms. Everything is gone except for a paper on the floor – an eviction notice that gives him only two days before he becomes homeless. Khao starts to cry in despair, his head resting on his bent knees. The faint sound of his phone ringing in his school bag makes him look up. He quickly grabs the bag and searches for his phone, hoping it is his parents calling to help. Unfortunately, it is only an unknown number. Nonetheless, he picks up.

"Hello?"

"Khao? Lûuk, is that you?" A sweet female voice calls him.

"Chai, who is this?" Khao is suspicious of the stranger calling him.

"Lûuk, where are you? This is your grandmother. Are you safe?"

"Yâa, is that really you?" Khao starts to cry again. He cannot believe he is talking to his grandmother, the woman he had last seen ten years ago when his father took him to visit his hometown.

"Yes. Lûuk, don't cry. You will be fine. Listen carefully to me, and in no time, you will be here with me." Khao's grandmother tries to comfort the young man, who cannot stop sobbing.

The next day, Khao is on the plane heading to his grandmother's house. He will never forget the moment he saw her waiting for him at the front gate. It was the happiest day of his life so far.

Flashback end

"Are you done?" his grandmother peeks inside the room, rushing him to bring down his last belongings to put in the waiting taxi.

"Last one," Khao says as he puts tape on the box.

"You need to hurry. The taxi will not wait forever."

Before closing the door to his bedroom, Khao takes one last look. He will truly miss the cosy, small room with a beautiful shore view.

With a heavy feeling, Khao puts the last boy in the taxi's trunk. He turns to his grandmother, who is waiting at the front gate.

"Don't be sad," she comforts her grandson as tears swell his eyes. "You will come back to see me soon."

Khao jumps into her waiting arms for one last soothing hug he wants to remember forever.

The loud noise from the taxi driver closing the trunk makes Khao look up. The neighbour is approaching with a box and a smile.

"Khao! Wait," trying to catch their breath, the neighbour stops in front of him. "Can you take this to give to First?"

The woman hands over the package she has carried from her house.

"Sure, Khun Pâ. I will give it to him as soon as I arrive." Khao agrees with a smile before giving the driver the box to put in the trunk as well.

"You really need to go now!" Khao's grandmother urges him to board the taxi. "Or you will miss your train."

"Here is the address. First will be waiting for you. I've texted him earlier this morning," the woman confirms as she gives Khao a piece of paper.