They lived together. They separated. They met again.
23:59 is filled with sweet and painful memories.
When they encounter each other again, will 23:59 erase the painful ones, or add to heightened feelings of developing admiration?
I should really s...
Mew opened the car window and stretched his arm out, feeling the warm summer Thai wind. His fingers clasped the air as if he was attempting to bring that warmth with him. Although it was already dark, the scenery was a mix of green and blue – his favorite tones combined with his favorite season.
His wristwatch read 23:00.
"Put it back up, Thai pollution is terrible."
"Just let him be. He's been away for thirteen years."
His driver/friend shook his head as he drove in Pattaya. Beside him, his younger cousin laughed at Mew's antics. All of them came from the airport after a long plane ride from the US. They all needed a break and Mew hoped that having a vacation might lessen or cure his insomnia. He had tried pills, tea, counseling, and none of them made him get the right amount of sleep that he needs.
"Plenty has changed." Mew wandered his eyes on the number of lighted signages along the busy street. Foreigners were doing some late night market shopping. Locals were persuading tourists to ride tuktuks. It was livelier at night than before.
"Wait, stop the car." Mew said. "Look at that, Third, that's where me and my friends used to bike." He pointed to a parking space surrounded by food stalls.
"Looks fun. We're used to food trucks in the States and there are just a few night market places." Third, his cousin said.
"Can we stop by? I'd like to check it out." Mew said.
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So they parked the car and all got out, conversing in English. Mew looking nostalgic.
"I miss Thai food." He said.
"Are you kidding me? There's plenty of Asian restaurants where we live!" Singto, his friend said.
"And we eat Thai food at least once a week." Third pointed out.
"You guys didn't live in Thailand. You don't understand." Mew said, looking fondly at a mango sticky rice that was being sold on one table.
"Crickets anyone?" Singto sniggered as he held a stick with skewered insects.
"Yuck." Third shook his head.
Singto is a friend who is also Thai but grew up in the States. He and Mew were classmates in the university and they have entered the same company for work.
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