Love Stories Over A Cup Of Coffee

Twenty: The Answer

It's been months since the Nong got back at the headquarters. He is happy with his promotion but somewhere deep down in his heart, he feels empty. It's not the same emptiness he felt before he went back to Bangkok. It feels more empty now. He doesn't know why. He thought, maybe he enjoyed his stay there, that he misses everything, his family, his old friends, and his new one. Of course, he misses the Phi. The Phi who did not see him go. He had a full day that day, he has to assist 3 operations in a row. He understands, of couse. But how he wished he's there to see him off.

His condo looks so empty. To be honest, it doesn't look like the house of an interior designer. But what can he do, he has a lot of work to do. He doesn't have the time anymore to go shopping.

The Nong collected the letters in the floor. He browsed through them. Most of them are bills he already paid. Some are invitations related to work. One letter stoodout. It's actually a parcel from Thailand.

"Who would send me letter at this time?" He asked himself. Though he isn't sure, he opened the parcel excitedly. "Aw." He said when he saw what's inside. It's just an invitation card. Nonetheless, he opened it.

It isn't a simple invitation card, afterall. It's from the Phi. The Nong read it.

"See you next week"

"That's all?" The Nong asked as he checks the  other sides of the letter. There's no more information.

So,the Nong asked around to the specifics. The Nong learned that the Phi will graduate at the end of the month. There will be a dinner to celebrate his graduation. It will be at the Old Man's house, at 7 in the evening.

When the Nong arrived at the house, it's already 9 in the evening. He's always late whenever it's the Phi who invites him because he's always having a hard time trying to make himself presentable. This time, he's late because his flight got delayed.

The house is so dark. Not a single light is on. There are tables and chairs. But the tables are empty. The Nong tried to call everyone but no one answered.

The Nong decided to go in, after all, he still have his key of the house. While on his way to the entrance door at the dining area, a paper plane landed in front of him. The Nong picked it up.

Nong,

If you are reading this, you must be late again. But this also means that you left your work to come and celebrate my graduation. Thank you for your efforts.

You know me, I'm not good at expressing how I feel. I can only do it once in a blue moon. And I usually do it in a very cringey way. And this is one of those blue moon moments.

Read carefully. Don't just read the last paragraph. I know you. Read every word, and internalize them well. I will also write everything just once, so you better keep this letter, okay?

Thank you. Thank you for coming into my life. In the beginning, I was afraid of you, I always thought how can such a person be so happy and energetic. I thoughy we cannot be friends because we are so different. But you filled my life with happiness and laughter. You also gave me tears and pain, but all of those made me feel alive, and made me want to live more each day.

Thank tou for being patient, for staying by my side when everyone seemed to have given up on me. Thank you for inspiring me to become a better person each day. Thank you for making me dream, a dream that is solely my own.

You once asked me why I took up medicine, it was all because of you. It began when you fell down and I couldn't do anything. But as I get to know this profession more, the more I wanted to master it not only for you but tha many lives that I could save. For that, I thank you.