2013
(K19, A18)

I can't believe it's already been almost a month since I've arrived in New York City, the Big Apple. It's really nothing like I had imagined. The brochures and videos did not even show a fraction of what it's really like to be here. The brochures showed successful students all happy and cheerful. Everything looked so vibrant and full of energy. The videos showed the world-renowned NYC with all the glitz and glamour. All the rich culture, diversity, and entertainment you can ever ask for. Live street performances, Broadway musicals, and exactly 100 museums in this one city alone. The concrete jungle of Wall Street, lively Time Square, the bustling neighborhood of Chinatown, the high fashion Fifth Avenue, the rich and famous in the Upper East Side, the multicultural rich Brooklyn, the beautiful Central Park, trendy Chelsea, and so much more. Isn't it amazing?

It is, except they didn't tell me about the rude people who shove you aside without apologizing and then have the audacity to curse your mother out in those brochures. In a matter of fact, it's almost a crime just to look at some people cause they ask you straight up, 'wha da fuc ya looking at?' and scare the crap out of you. I hope these classmates of mine will lighten up and start looking more like those in the brochures sometime soon. Because if this continues, I don't think my English will get any better. In my dorm building, I've had so many doors slammed in my face just because I wanted to ask a few simple questions like which building is the library located in. I swear I was really polite, and I even waied but they just don't care.

And about those amazing neighborhoods, beautiful architecture, and wonderful museums, well, they truly are. Only thing is, they don't tell you getting around in NYC costs an arm and a leg. Thank goodness for my student discount pass for public transportation. Otherwise, I don't know how long I can stretch my pocket money. Also, most of the lovely museums here are free admission for students. Phew! The subway and buses here are so slow yet so expensive compared back home. On top of that, they stink! Like stomach-turning funk! The whole place just smelled like a public toilet and it probably served as one since some people standing near the corners looked questionable. Seriously stay away from those corners. Did I mention there's like always some random person hollering somewhere?

Now, don't get me wrong. New York City is still amazing in its own rights. There's still so much for me to learn and discover here. And despite all the cold shoulders and hard glares that people give here, they're actually quite friendly if you make a real effort to befriend them. Jamie says it's just how people protect themselves here. They put out a cold front so people don't try to take advantage of them, and also some are just extremely stressed. NYC is where people hustle and bustle, and no rest for the weary. So people don't have time for small chitchats. But of course, there are some genuine jerks here. I guess I'm just too used to the slower pace and friendly people back home. But then again, they were also extremely nosy and gossipy. Here, nobody cares what you're doing or who you are. Everyone is just trying to survive. At least that's what Jamie says.

Oh yeah, in case you're wondering, Jamie is my dorm neighbor. We share a wall. My dorm is coed or mixed-ed if you will. So there's males and females in the same building. Of all the people I've met so far, Jamie is the nicest. As part of my summer orientation assignment, I'm required to visit at least ten museums of my choice. Hence I have to use the subway so much. The purpose of the assignment is to force us to get to know the city and explore all its resources while we learn a bit about the culture here. While the idea behind the assignment is well intended, it's daunting for someone like me. But seriously, thank goodness for Jamie and her girlfriend Payel. They've shown me at least how to get around and how to use the subway system. Jamie has even accompanied me to three of the museums.

And the most important thing is, Jamie helped me figure out the damn wifi situation on the first day of my arrival. You see, I was only given a thirty minutes international calling card to call home using the public phones at school. I didn't have a working cell phone yet, and even if I did, I can't afford international calls. It's like $4 USD per minute. PER MINUTE! Anyway, I had called my parents to let them know that I had arrived safely and of course my mom kept talking and talking until I heard the two minutes left warning.

I really tried to hang-up so I can call Arthit with my last two minutes, but alas I failed. I had called Arthit and he had picked up but the call got disconnected right away. I didn't even know if he knew it was me or not. So I desperately needed an internet connection to Skype Arthit. You would think something that's absolutely necessary for school such as wifi at an institution such as NYU to be as simple as plug and play, but nope. For some strange reason, my sign-in didn't work. So I needed to speak with student services, and with my unrefined English skills, I had a hard time explaining what was exactly wrong. Jamie at the time had only seen me in the passing in the hallway earlier. She didn't even know me, but she was kind enough to help me. So, if it weren't for Jamie, Arthit probably would have cried his eyeballs out. Okay, maybe I would have cried my eyeballs out.

Flashback

"Kongpob! Can you hear me?" Arthit comes closer to the screen. His hair is sticking up in a funny way.

"Yeah, can you hear me?" I quickly got up to switch on the lights to brighten my background. The small window in my room didn't give off much light.

"Yeah, where are you now? Is it night time over there?" Arthit tries to look behind me as if he would see how dark outside is. He's so adorable.

"I just came back to my dorm room. It's actually three in the afternoon here. I didn't have any internet connection earlier. I tried to call you, but my phone card was out of money. I'm sorry. I'll try to go buy another one soon. I found out where I can get more."

I watched Arthit rub his puffy eyes. I hope he didn't cry or anything.

"I knew that the unknown number must've been you. I thought we just got disconnected. So I waited and waited. Then I thought you weren't going to call me again, and I kind of fell asleep sitting here."

Shoot! I totally forgot the time difference. It's already two in the morning back home. It took a while to sort out my wifi sign-in. I didn't even realize it was so late back home.

"I'm sorry I woke you. You should go back to sleep. Why don't we try again later? How about nine o'clock? I can Skype you again after you get some sleep."

"Are you sure? I really want to talk to you though. I want you to tell me about everything." Arthit yawns while he rubs both his eyes.

"Yeah. Go to sleep. I'll tell you everything when you wake up. I'll do some unpacking for now." I step aside to let Arthit see my untouched suitcases.

"Fine. I guess we can talk later. I miss you." Arthit pouts with his bottom lip jutted out while looking back at me. I really want to hug him right now.

Unfortunately, I can only smile at him. "I miss you too. Bye."

"Bye." Arthit disconnects with a little huff. He's so cute.

End of flashback

After we disconnected, I quickly started unpacking. After that, I started to review my welcome packet and fill out all the necessary forms. And somewhere along the way, my jet lag caught up with me and I fell asleep. By the time I woke up, it was already past one at night in New York. Bangkok is eleven hours ahead so it was just past noon. I immediately tried to Skype Arthit, but he didn't answer. I tried over and over again but he didn't pick up. I finally gave up after trying five times. I could only hope Arthit wouldn't get mad.

Then my stomach growled. I didn't know what to do. The cafeteria closest to my dorm is already closed. I had half a bag of chips left from earlier today but that's not enough. Then I remembered there's a vending machine downstairs. So I decided to go get something there. I wanted to get something quick so I could try to Skype Arthit again. I stepped outside of my room, and apparently, people don't sleep that early here. There were plenty of people still up at that hour with their doors open. I passed by Jamie's room, and she suddenly called out to me.

"Hey Thai boi, where are you going?" She was sitting at her desk with a slice of greasy pizza in her hand.

"Hey, Jamie. It's Kongpob by the way. And I'm hungry, so I'm going to the vending machine." I can't help it but I might be drooling a little staring at her pizza.

And it's either Jamie can see me drooling or she can read my mind, she pushes the rest of her box of pizza over. "Here, you can have the rest. Payel and I are done."

I looked behind her and her girlfriend Payel was sleeping already. I know I really shouldn't since I don't know Jamie that well but that pizza looks so good. "Are you sure? I can pay you for the two slices."

"That's okay. You can treat me another time. Were you able to Skype? You looked pretty desperate earlier." Jamie chuckles.

"Yes and no. I got through the first time but it was already really late at home, so I said I would Skype again later. But then I fell asleep. Now I can't reach my friend."

"Aww...is it your girlfriend? You sound too sad for just a friend."Jamie says with a teasing frown.

I don't know if it's really written all over my face or Jamie can read my mind. "It's actually my boyfriend. I was supposed to Skype him at ten but I slept until now. I tried to Skype him again but he didn't answer. I don't know if he's mad at me or he's having lunch at this time." I sighed. I don't know why I'm telling Jamie all this. I barely know her but I've got to make friends somehow.

"Aww... I'm sure he will understand. It's your first day and all. Send him an email and set another reasonable time for both of you. Long-distance relationships take a little more planning. School hasn't even really started yet so you guys need to get used to this. It'll only get harder."

Huh, I really didn't expect that. Jamie was not surprised and didn't even skip a beat at the fact that I have a boyfriend. I mean she has a girlfriend herself, but still. I'm so glad for that. And again, she can read my mind.

"Don't give people a chance to judge you. Just be as you are and they'll just shut up. Their opinion about your life doesn't matter. Just own it and be yourself. Only you can decide what makes you happy. Here, take the pizza and go try to Skype him again."

"Thanks." Jamie turns her attention back to her laptop.

I grabbed the pizza box and headed back to my room only to find out I've locked myself out. Ugh! I ended up spending the night on Jamie's floor while she and her girlfriend Payel mocked me as their rescued puppy.

So that's how my first day in the Big Apple went.

~~~~~~
AN: Sweets, so this is the beginning of their ldr. I know there are some readers here that have gone through ldr challenges. Please let me know about them so I can make it realistic. Also, I would like to mention that there were no LINE, Facebook Messenger, WeChat, or any of those apps back in 2013. So international calls were really expensive unless you used a calling card. I remember. 😥

Fun facts: Singto says he doesn't want anything for his birthday from his fans. They have given him more than enough. What makes him happy is seeing familiar fans grow up with him throughout the years. Some graduated from college, got promotions, got married and have kids now. Those familiar faces bring a lot of warm happiness to him and he loves seeing their growth too. - L'Officiel
(I'm melting 😍).

Curtsy,
Lana ❤️