Part One: Chapter Three.1
A Spark of Spontaneity
“Kao Saan Road? Yea, there are plenty of guesthouses in that area. You should still be able to get something. I would never recommend it to any of my friends or family though.” Jenny sounded like an expert travel agent.
“Why is that? It’s budget isn’t it?”
“Yea, but maybe too budget. It’s a pretty happening place at all hours so unless you’re a sound sleeper, it’s probably not the best place to get over your jet lag,”
A midi version of Lincoln Park’s ‘In the End’ blared from inside Jenny’s brown leather handbag. Jenny pulled out a flashing mobile phone and placed it to her ear. “Sah-wut-dee ja puen ruck. Eee Jun! I’m here already. Where are you? … What’s that? Five minutes. Ok, I’m here right outside arrivals. I’m wearing a yellow shirt, standing next to a really handsome guy. You can’t miss us. See you soon, ka,”
As Jenny put the phone back in her bag, Chris suppressed his blush and took the queue, “So, what do you suggest then?”
“Well there are a lot of places to stay. It’s just a bad hour to be sure of anything.” Her eyes lit up as if an idea had just developed. “Why don’t you come with me? You can get some rest at my place. I stay with my Thai friend, Jun, who also studies at Bangkok University. We share the rent but she’s rarely there. Most likely, she’ll be staying at her boyfriend’s house so you can get a shower and sleep on her bed, or whatever. It’s up to you.” Jenny was clearly not threatened by Chris.
“Sure, why not.” Chris was easily sold—if not by his host’s luring smile and gentle persuasiveness, but by the overall excitement and spontaneity created this first hour in Bangkok.
His initial plan was to find a cheap hotel or guesthouse for at least the first night, until he was rested enough to catch a bus or train to the beach resort town of Hua Hin several hours south of Bangkok, where his first order of business was.
And now, opportunity had conveniently crossed his path; the impulse of going with this cute girl from southern California presented more appeal and adventure than dragging his heavy luggage blindly around the city at this late hour.
Jenny pulled out a green pack and blue lighter from her handbag. Lighting up a cigarette as if it were practiced on the catwalk, she offered the pack to Chris. “Do you smoke?”
“Not really, but what the heck, I’ll have one.” Chris put the cigarette in his mouth, but couldn’t get the lighter to do more than spark. Jenny grabbed the lighter from his hands, shook it a few times and in one try, it lit. Chris felt slightly embarrassed. “Isn’t the guy supposed to light the girl’s smoke?” There was a hint of sarcasm in his tone.
She chuckled before replying, “All those social rules and etiquette take on a whole new meaning here, hon” taking a big drag from her cigarette “Though I must say, the Thai guys are always trying to light my fire.” With her last word, she gracefully blew a ring of smoke in his direction.
Though her conceited comment was playfully sarcastic, it did ring some truth–no doubt in Chris’s mind.
As the expanding smoke ring reached his face, he grabbed his throat and exaggerated a playful cough. “Did anyone ever tell you how damn smoking you are!” His pun and expression tickled her, further arousing her curiosity into a developing attraction.
