Future From Me [ENG Version]

Weather & Tree (PhoomxTon): Chapter 1

Chapter 1

The Growing Tree

"A strong tree must grow slowly over time."

- Ton -

My name is Ton.

My parents are farmers. At home, we grow a variety of fruits and vegetables to sell at markets and factories. Those that we grow depend on the season and which ones are in high demand. My parents named me 'Ton' (meaning 'tree') because they both had an affection for trees.

Everyone calls me Ton. My parents and friends at school also called me Ton. Only my grandma liked to call me "Bak Hum Ton (little penis Ton), although, I don't know why she called me that. But since I have moved into the city, I have never heard that name again.

I have dreamed of studying in the city since I was a child. I have been watching dramas since I was young, with most of them set in Bangkok. The place seemed really foreign to me, so I wanted to try living there, thinking it would be amazing.

It was a pity though, that most of my family only graduated high school and went straight to the workforce, so there was no one to guide me about college. But I still tried my best to pursue my dreams. After looking for some time, I was lucky enough to meet a teacher at my high school that provided me with guidance on how to prepare for the entrance exams. So, I managed to get into one of the top universities in the country.

Even though the faculty I entered wasn't a popular nor prestigious one, my parents were overjoyed. We threw a big celebration because I was the first in the family to pursue a bachelor's degree in the capital. However, our celebration lasted only a few days, as we then had to stress over living expenses in the city.

I was extremely fortunate that my family—parents, uncles, aunts, cousins—all wholeheartedly supported me and wanted to see me become a successful member of our family. Everyone provided for me, each contributing what they could to ensure I had enough money for the expensive tuition. I felt deeply touched and grateful. However, there were still the everyday expenses to consider—meals, accommodation, and various transportation costs. But I assured my parents that they didn't have to worry, because in Bangkok, there should be plenty of opportunities for some extra work.

I have to thank my schoolteacher so much because she helped me with everything. It wasn't just about exams—she drove me to Bangkok, helped me find affordable accommodation, and found me a job at a restaurant. My new place wasn't fancy at all—a rather old dormitory with single rooms with no air conditioner. I had to share the bathroom and kitchen with over ten other people. But it was close to the bus stop and market, so I was quite satisfied with it.

As for the restaurant where I worked, it's quite well-known and busy, with menus full of expensive cuisine. Lucky for me, since the owner was short-staffed, they hired me.

While this restaurant was quite good, the job itself was too challenging for someone inexperienced like me. My only previous experience was helping my uncle sell noodles at the local market, where the customers were mostly our neighbors and we just took orders on paper. I occasionally assisted with preparing noodles, serving, and washing dishes during my free time.

However, in a large restaurant like this, I had to learn how to use electronic devices to take orders, which took me a long time to master. I would often press the wrong buttons, and sometimes too slow, which annoyed the manager. Eventually, they reassigned me to wash dishes and clean tables until I could handle other tasks properly. I was afraid of being fired, so I used my breaks to learn how to operate the equipment. Sometimes, I tried asking my coworkers for help, but city people always seem busy and don't act very friendly. So, I had to learn everything on my own.