Semester Abroad (closed for justabrick)

[brandijade]

Brandi

The heat is the first thing I notice when I get off the plane. It's like stepping into a sauna. I am exhausted from the flight, and I by the time I get through customs, I'm ready to go home. Forget new experiences. Forget ancient cultures and natural beauty. Give me AC and wifi and leave me alone. But that would mean getting back on the place for another eternity. There are half a dozen guys, all telling me they are number one taxi Bangkok, but I read about this. They are scammers or worse. I wish Jack was here.

Just thinking about it is like twisting the knife. Jack was my boyfriend. He was supposed to be with me. We were going to take this semester in Thailand together and it was going to be magical. And then I went to my best friend Jill's house to say goodbye and found her bouncing on Jack's cock. That was three days ago. We had all the conversations. It was nothing. Just an accident. Never happen again. I cried a lot, but I forgave them. Until yesterday, when Jack never showed up at the airport. When I asked the flight attendant, she smiled and nodded: "Last minute cancellation."

It takes almost two hours to get a taxi at the legit cab stand. I see plenty of locals going with the number one taxi Bangkoks, and I wonder if they know something I don't. When I finally do get in a cab, I wonder if I should have just walked. The traffic crawls. I close my eyes. I'm exhausted from the flight, depressed, and all alone in a strange country. It's as if my brain just shuts down. The cab has barely left the airport when I start softly snoring.

 

[justabrick]

Andrew, AKA Kumara

There's a little game I play, silently in my head, with every passenger I take from the airport in my little orange taxi- Who are they, and why are they here? Most of the time it's obvious- a family on summer vacation, a couple on their honeymoon... and in those cases, I try to make up little details about their lives... but this girl is different. A pretty, shapely blonde girl, all on her own, here in Bankok? In almost 20 years on this job, I've never seen it. She doesn't look happy to be here, either. I start running through scenarios in my head- Business meeting? No, she's certainly not dressed for that, and doesn't look old enough for such corporate job. Maybe she's a model, here for a photo shoot? Surely they'd have someone meet her, or travel with her... I turn to ask, "So are you..." but find her dozing in the back seat.

As I drive, I reflect on my own "Why is he here?" A dozen years ago, I was like her- alone in a foreign land. I was a lonely, lanky college student, studying to be an engineer- a young man with great prospects and ambitions, or so I thought. One night, I met a man- many say a prophet- who called himself The Light. Over the next days, months and years, he taught me that I was chasing what others told me to, and that I needed to be closer to my primal desires. Of course, driving a taxi isn't a primal desire, but one does what one has to, and the more opportunities I have to meet people, and connect them with The Light, the better.

I can't help staring through the rear view mirror, at her gently closed eyes, soft hair, long legs, and the rise and fall of her ample chest... The Light would be pleased with her, that's for sure. Perhaps there's some way we can help her. I smile, glad she's comfortable enough with me to sleep.

 

[brandijade]

I wake up with that horrible feeling of falling, and realize it was just the driver braking hard. The traffic is terrible. Worse than that, though, is waking up to remember where I am. Not that Thailand is so bad. A week ago, it was my dream, but I'm here alone, without Jack. Without anyone, and he's probably fucking Jill right now. I think. I have already changed my phone to local time and I'm not sure what time it is back home.

I see the driver looking at me in the rearview mirror. I give him a half smile. It's really the best I can manage right now. I am surprised to realize he's a white man. I was so wrapped up in my self-pity and exhaustion I hadn't even noticed at the airport. He was older, not bad looking. He wasn't Jack, though. He was some cab driver in Bangkok. I wondered how that happened. Not that it mattered, he obviously wasn't boyfriend material. Just the thought made me want to start crying. I had never been betrayed like that before. I'd thought Jack was my soul mate and Jill was my ride or die, but.... I didn't want to think about it. I couldn't.

And, it would be good to know someone, even if it was just this older cab driver.

"Was I asleep long?" I say, sounding groggy.

 

[justabrick]

“No,” I smile, trying to keep my eyes on the girl’s face, thankful she doesn’t seem to have noticed me staring, or at least doesn’t seem to mind. “I don’t blame you, falling asleep- it’s hot and boring on a cab ride from the airport! … Would you like some water?”

I reach under my seat and grab a bottle I got from the Temple which, in addition to water, contains a few herbal extracts that will help her truly relax…

“So,” I smile again, “What brings you to paradise?”

 

[brandijade]

I give him a smile in the mirror, and reach up to take the water from him. It's cold, and I take a healthy gulp. I notice the taste, something vaguely herbal. It's nice.

"Thank you," I say. I yawn, and stretch, not thinking how it pushes my breasts up and forward. I'm usually very conscious of them. They're big enough to be kind of a pain, but boys like them.

"Paradise?" I say. I sigh. I remember thinking this was going to be paradise. Now it just feels hot and shitty and smoggy. Then again, all I've seen is the airport and a freeway. I know I'd be excited if Jack were here. "I, um, I'm studying at the University. International marketing."

I take another swallow of water. "So what makes this paradise?"

 

[justabrick]

“You don’t sound so excited to be here…” I say, trying not to stare too long as the young woman’s breasts come into view in my rear mirror when she stretches, sending a shiver of excitement through me. “Beaches, beauty, mystery … y’know, some say it’s God’s chosen country… do you believe in God?”

 

[brandijade]

"Yeah, I guess I don't," I say. "I was supposed to be here with my boyfriend, but... well, I'm not. I guess that sort of took the wind out of my sails."

I give a wry smile when you talk about it. It's exactly what I thought I'd be getting when I decided to come here. Mystery, beauty, beaches....

"God? I mean...." I think about church, and Jesus, and all that. I hadn't really been in a while. "Yeah. I guess I do."

 

[justabrick]

I smile. “I don’t know about God, but I do believe everybody has a purpose, and everything has a reason… including your boyfriend not being here… Hey, here’s my card. If you’re interested, we’re having a little get-together this evening. Maybe we can help you find some purpose here, huh? And anyway, it’s good food, I promise!”

“Hey, by the way, I’m Kumara,” I smile again, extending my hand back.

 

[brandijade]

"There is reason that he's not here, though." I say. "And God has nothing to do with it. Unless God made him a lying, cheating, shitlicker." I'm a little startled by my anger. I slump back in the seat, but then I take the card, shake your hand.

"Who's we?" I ask.

 

[justabrick]

“Oh,” I say, unsure how to respond to your sudden anger, “We’re a small but growing group, dedicated to finding out the answers to those questions we all have… and unlike a lot of folks, we have fun doing it!” I grin. “If you come by this evening, you’ll see.”

 

[brandijade]

"I don't know," I say. But I feel bad for snapping at you. And I really do need to meet people here. I give a nod. "If I can find someone to take me, I'd love to go. I'm Brandi, by the way."

 

[justabrick]

“Someone to take you?” I laugh, “You’ve got a professional driver inviting you! If you behave, I’ll even let you sit in the front seat,” I tease with a wink.

 

[brandijade]

"How can I refuse?" I say, smiling for the first time in what feels like years, but has only been a couple of days. 'What time are you going to pick me up?"

 

[justabrick]

“Say, 7?” I suggest, pulling up to the address you’d given me. I go to the trunk to help with your luggage, then u
Open the door for you. “Can I help being these up to your place?” I offer, “They’re pretty heavy…”

 

[brandijade]

I hesitate a moment, but just a moment. I barely managed to get the bags from customs to the cab stand, and I'm on the fourth floor, here. No elevator.

"Thank you," I say, and pick up my backpack and one heavy case, leaving two for you. I head up the stairs ahead of you, and find myself wondering if my ass looks ok.

 

[justabrick]

“No problem!” I smile, taking the bags in my muscular arms, and letting you lead the way. I hadn’t planned on it, but for four flights of stairs, I enjoy the view of your toned ass and long legs. By the time we reach the last step and make the way to your door, my heart is beating strong for a few reasons.

 

[brandijade]

When you set the bags down just inside the door, I turn to you and realize I haven't changed my money yet.

"Um, is it ok if I pay you in dollars?" I say, blushing a little at how unprepared I am.

 

[justabrick]

“Oh, uh…” I start as I approach you, having expected to be paid when I saw you reach for your purse, “Dollars don’t really work here… uh… I’m sure we can work something out…” I glance up from your cleavage, locking eyes. “If not now, maybe at the get-together tonight…?”

 

[brandijade]

"Thank you!" I say, missing the suggestion in your tone. "God, you're so nice! Is there a place nearby to change money?"

 

[justabrick]

“Oh, yeah,” I reply with a smile, my mind shaken from the direction it was going in. “There’s a bank up the street. I can take you there now… How much do you have?”

 

[brandijade]

I bite my lip. I have several thousand in cash, because I'd read the ATMs were sketchy here. I also read that the cab drivers were sketchy, but you've been nothing but helpful.

"Three hundred?" I say. It's what I have in my purse right now. My eyes cut to the big suitcase where the rest is.

 

[justabrick]

“Oh, ok,” I smile, trying to remain calm while my eyes see dollar signs. “I don’t have a lot of time before I’ve gotta be back on the road… Let’s go…”

 

[brandijade]

I smile at him, and head out behind him, locking the door as we go.

"I really appreciate this," I say.

 

[justabrick]

“No problem!” I smile, “I’m here to help…” and join you on the way to the bank. “I can take care of the transaction, if you’d like… even the banks here can take advantage of foreigners…”

 

[brandijade]

"Would you?" I say, a bit relieved. My Thai is not great, and I don't want to make a stupid mistake that could be avoided with your help.