Epilogue

I was having a good sleep, I was just laying down on the bed when Miles called. I thought he's out of the country so I'm not sure what's urgent of his call is. I got up from bed and answered his call. It's too early in the morning. How come he would be calling me at this early morning?

Is he nuts?

"Hello?" he started. "Heikenz? Are you awake now?"

I sighed. "Obviously, I am now... what are you calling for in early this morning, Miles? You know I'm still not gonna have a threesome with your husband if that's what you're gonna ask. I'm gonna have to reject you right away."

"Uh... what the hell, Heikenz?" he sounded so confused. "That was just a joke and shouldn't be treated seriously. Why would we be having a threesome with you? Are you kidding me, Heikenz?"

"Well... what can I say? You called me at this hour, what can I think of?"

He grunted over the phone. "Anyway, good morning and I'm sorry for bothering you early at this hour. But I've met new friends here in the airport."

"Oh! You just got back here in Thailand? I thought you're still overseas that's why you're bothering me. So, what's with your friends? How can I be a help in this situation? How are you making friends in the airport now?"

"Yes, and they're good people. They'll be here in Bangkok for a week and I thought you'll be the best person to be in this position so I thought of you."

"And what's my role here?"

"You'll be their tour guide for a week and I know it's your side job so you really suit in this position."

"Oh, okay... what if I had a client this week and how should I do this?"

"But you don't have a client for this week, right?" he asked, his tone seems hopeful.

"Why can't you do it? You're the one who proposed it to them so maybe you could do it for yourself."

"I'm busy, Heikenz. I have my day job and I don't have time touring people around. But I know you can, you needed some extra money, right? This could be it. You're saving up some money that's why you took this side job. You should get this client. I think you'll make a huge amount to this."

"For real?"

"Yes, for real."

I let out a sigh. "Okay, fine. When this would start? Are you with them now? What should I do? What do they like to do or what else?"

"I'll just give you their number. His name is Andrew. I will also give your number to him so he could reach out to you as well. So, with finality, I'm asking you... would you take this side job or not?"

"Okay, fine. Let's do this. Give me their number and give them my number. I'll talk to them and see what I can do."

Miles giggled over the phone. "Thank you so much, Heikenz! Please be in contact with them. I'll see you around. Bye."

When he dropped the call and send me their contact details which I hesitated at first whether to drop it or not. I know I needed the money basically because I've been saving up for my future. I know my future isn't here in Bangkok.

I've been living here for my whole life and when I've got the chance to be an exchange student abroad, overseas life was immaculate. I wanted to come back there. I wanted to work there and live there for my whole life and leave all the miserable things back here in Bangkok.

It's just that my life can't be found in this place, so I'm going to accept this side job and save some money.

Later on, I called this guy named Andrew and agreed to meet them at their hotel. And when I did, meeting Andrew and his African-Filipino friend, Caroline is gonna be a good company on this tour. And when I told them about the trips we could do, they were so excited and going to beaches and all. Though as they've only got a week and Bangkok is the only place on their itinerary so to what I know, we could only go in Bangkok.

Just like what I've imagined from the first time seeing them, they've become a good company. To my surprise, they were paying to any expenses I would concur. I'm slightly embarrassed because they shouldn't have done that, I can pay it on my own, but they were generous enough to shoulder it.

Day by day, I know that I'm only hanging out with them because it's my job to tour them around, tell history about Thailand, and maybe sort of making friends with them. But never be attached to any of them and as the day goes by, I feel like I'm failing when Andrew's becoming a good friend of mine and somehow I could relate to him.

Though he doesn't have an idea that I'm gay... like I would ever tell him about that. Like he would know it.

But then I couldn't help myself, I was attracted to him. His kindness, lovely personality, and the way he just makes me feel good when he's around. Thought I should give it a try at least, show him some affection. Like I would lose anything. I've been in a relationship before so I know what it feels like.

On the night when I brought them to the Muay Thai competition, I thought I should make a move on him since I feel like he likes me. I don't know why would I think of that, but that's something I should give a shot on. I brought Andrew to the restroom and I just look for the right timing and then I kissed him.

And that act did something to Andrew in which made him stay for a month in Bangkok. I offered him a place to stay since hotels are expensive. But things change after Andrew's first week in Bangkok.

I've got news about the work I applied for in the states and the fact that they wanted me got me so excited. I've been wanting to do this. I've been wanting to go back to the United States and fulfill my dreams there, but I just cannot say that straight to Andrew's face, but my friends knew my plan all along.

Andrew was about to find out about it when my acceptance letter was emailed to my apartment. I lied to him by saying that it was nothing and that he shouldn't mind about it. And then he surprised me that we'll be going to Krabi in which I really don't expect he would actually do.

I was upset when he announced the news to me. I don't know what to respond to him so I left and met with Rune that day. Rune and I maintained being friends after our relationship that was ended a few months ago. We thought we shouldn't be bitter about it since there's nothing good would come out of it if we move forward with bitterness in our hearts. So we talked and I told him about everything.

That I'm going to the United States next month. Rune was so proud and happy for me. He knows that it's my dream to work and live overseas so he's very supportive about it. Even when we're in a relationship, he was the one who was pushing me to follow what I wanted in life. He was just there for me and he understood if leaving the country would mean a long-distance relationship.

Rune always said we can work it out.

But we never got to that point because we broke up. It was mutual and it's not a third party or anything, it's like we have things to do in life that we have to prioritize, and what we have seems to be left out. But we remained friends and I'm happy about it.

So when I told him about going back to Krabi, the first thing he asked was, am I okay with it?

I wasn't able to answer his question since I haven't been back home for at least seven years since I graduated college. Life's there is complicated that's why I chose to move out and live in Bangkok because life in Bangkok is easy and fun. I can do whatever I want because back in our home, I was being watched, monitored, and judged.

They don't even know that I am gay for Pete's sake. So I never went back home.

When Rune said that I should give it a try, I don't know what to say to him. It feels like I'm going back to hell for doing that and then he asked once again, am I happy with Andrew?

I have no answer for him.

Just to say the least, he said, make him happy and show him that you are as well. Let him enjoy his stay in Thailand.

So I did. When I got back to the apartment, I told Andrew that I'm okay with it. The fact that Miles and his husband were there at my apartment, I knew what was going on, I just didn't say a word because I know and they knew where this conversation would go.

But I thought I could care less when we got into Krabi, but it's not. It never changed and I know I should felt bad to bring Andrew here who most likely just want to tour around and go to beaches, but never happened because of my stupidity. We shouldn't have gone back to my home in the first place.

The whole day I was out of the house, going elsewhere to kill my time. A week in Krabi is like hell for me. I wanted to go back to Bangkok, but I know I couldn't just leave Andrew here. And I know one day, he tried following me and then the other day, I just found him arrived at the usual park I went on and confronted him to go back to the house and leave me alone.

And he just comes at me with a lot of things to say and one of them was Rune.

He told me I'm still not over him and that I kept coming back to him. He didn't know what he was saying and I don't want to complicate things enough for us. But I believe what he was talking about was the incident back at the club we went into where he first met Rune. I just don't know what to say to him. We're not official nor have labels. Basically, we're just friends so it's hard for me to back him off because I know that would hurt him a lot.

And maybe I still did hurt him because when we left Krabi and said he was going back to Manila, I could've done something or be better and treat him the way he deserves. But I've got my priorities and that's what I kept on my head and forget how he's feeling.

I left him hurting and I don't know what to do that because when he moved out of my apartment, I never saw him again.

We never got to settle things between us and I'm sure he doesn't want to go back to Thailand because of what I did.

But a few months later when I arrived in Louisiana, make some friends and live the life I've dreamt. It's fantastic and I thought it would never happen, but it did. When my new friends bring me to a party and dared me to like one of my friend's photos on Instagram and they picked Andrew's profile and photo and made me like it even though it would be weird, but I kind of let it go.

Because during summer, June of 2022, when I'm in Los Angeles with Robert, I happened and accidentally meet Andrew at the airport and the fact that I'm seeing him happy and forgive me, my heart melted.

At least, Andrew and I finally got to settle things with each other and I hope he'll be happy same as mine. And maybe he was right, a week in Bangkok was enough for him and nothing could go wrong something beyond that.

But it all happened now, we're moving things on our own accords, and I can't wait to know what's in store for us in the future because I believe this is not the end of everything... like this is just a week and more years to come to us and I'm excited about it.

I can't wait to travel the world with the person I love... that's all that matters now.

END

end of World Trip Series 7

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