Kongpob's POV

The past three years have been challenging in everyway possible, mentally, physically, and emotionally. During the first two years, I was busy taking care of my mom. I had to learn to cook, and clean. Although my mom was still very much capable of doing those things, I didn't want her to. After the first year, I got my driver's license, and I started to drive too. That made our trips to the clinic and hospital a lot easier. At the end, it was all worth it. My mom was declared cancer free by 22 months instead of the original estimation of 28.

My mom was, and still is amazing. We still go for well checks, but she is free to go now. My dad came to visit every other month for the past three years as promised. Sometimes he was able to stay a week, others just three or four days. We could tell he was exhausted, but no matter what we said he insisted coming to see us. He says my mom is his recharging fuel. As cheesy as it sounds, he means it. Till this day, my dad still picks out all the fish bones for my mom because she choked on one twenty years ago on their second date. Their love is inspirational. (***This is my mom and dad IRL. ❤️)

Bing.

Oh, I got an email. It's from Arthit. So, I click on it right away. Way to go Arthit. I knew you can do it. He is way smarter than he gives himself credit for. I click reply.

RE:

Congratulations! I guess we will finally be classmates again. I got my acceptance letter through the mail two days ago. I wanted to wait for yours before I told you. Let's go check out the campus together when I get back next month. Oh yeah, surprise! I'm coming back next month. Don't tell Krystal and Aunt Belle yet. I want to surprise them too during our next Skype.

I click send, and click back to my research paper. I need to finish it by tonight so I can have it properly edited before submission to Professor Deacon. I already disappointed him with my decision to decline admissions to Harvard. He had spent a good hour over the phone trying to convince me to change my mind.

He says he really wants to take me under his wings, and I can be his assistant when I get there. Honestly, he has been a great mentor. The world of economics and it's power play has always been intriguing to me. Every conversation with Prof. Deacon has been more than engaging where I hang on every word he says. Of course I also challenge him whenever he falls in the trap of obvious established status quos.

As amazing as going to study in Harvard sounds, I really want to go home. I miss home. I miss my dad so much, and I know my mom does too. I just want our family to be complete again. I know that if I choose to stay, my mom would too. That is how dedicated she is to being the best mom ever. Also, I've made a pact with my friends back home. Although, I know that they wouldn't be too upset if I decided to stay, but I also really don't want to let that one person down.

While in the US, I took this as an opportunity to improve on some of my shortcomings. I have always looked for the silver lining in life. So, in hopes of trying to improve my speaking skills, I made myself join the debate team at school. At first it was hard since I didn't know anyone, but I got up and introduced myself anyway. I told my teammates my purpose was to improve my English, and overcome my shyness.

A boy named Noel decided to make me his pet project, and befriend me, and I am forever grateful. He constantly pushed me out of my comfort zone. He was an all around good guy. He was handsome, athletic and smart. Over 6 feet tall, blonde, with baby blue eyes. He is the American poster boy. So, needless to say, a lot of girls fawn over him. His longtime girlfriend Jessica isn't too happy, but she has quite a fan club going herself.

Over the years, Jessica has more than once tried to set me up with her girlfriends. There was this one American Thai girl at our school named Lisa that she kept trying to push us together. We went to a dance together, and I've got to say she has got some amazing moves. She's very cute and sweet too, but there were just no sparks. I told Jessica to stop forcing me to go on double dates with her and Noel, but she didn't relent until she saw a picture of Krystal and me when I was checking my emails.

Now, I didn't say Krystal was my girlfriend or anything, Jessica just assumed. And after that, she stopped setting me up, and said I broke everyone's heart. I honestly didn't have time for any of this and that, so if this stopped her mission to save my nonexistent love life, then let it be. I just hope Krystal and her never meet. I don't want Krystal to get the wrong idea. I still have that bracelet she gave me, and I make sure to put it on every time we Skype. Otherwise, she asks a million questions why I don't, and then gets mad at me.

And when I talk to Arthit, I make sure to take the bracelet off as he asks if I wear Krystal's gift all the time. I can tell he gets annoyed. Even before he liked me, he's always been annoyed with how clingy Krystal is to me. We always talk in the morning, well night time for them. We start as a group with our moms there, and then Krystal and I, and then Arthit and I. Arthit is always the last one to talk with me because he says that way we can talk until he is sleepy, and Krystal won't interrupt us. There have been a couple of times Arthit insisted staying online even when he was nodding off. He looked so funny and cute. I really miss all of them.