By Friday evening, I was drained. My head throbbed from endless readings, and my laptop felt permanently glued to my fingers.
Amara peeked over her textbook. "If you don't leave this room, you'll go insane."
I groaned. "But the deadlines—"
"No," she interrupted, pulling me by the arm. "We're going out. Bangkok is not just a campus."
---
The adventure begins
By Saturday morning, our little group — me, Amara, Kanya, Jin, and Maria — hopped on the BTS Skytrain. The city sprawled beneath us, glittering with temples, neon signs, and the hum of scooters.
"First stop," Kanya announced, "Chatuchak Market!"
I gasped as we stepped into a maze of stalls bursting with colors — silk scarves, spicy street food, handmade jewelry, and the smell of grilled skewers.
"This is heaven," I whispered, clutching a mango smoothie.
Jin laughed. "Careful, or you'll blow your entire scholarship allowance."
---
Temple visit
Later, we made our way to Wat Arun, its golden spires gleaming under the sun. I found myself quiet, overwhelmed by the sheer beauty.
"Feels like something out of a dream," I said softly.
Amara nudged me. "Take it in. You'll never forget moments like these."
We posed for photos, the temple reflecting behind us, and my phone buzzed non-stop after I posted them.
Comments poured in:
"Shelly living her best life in Thailand!"
"Gorgeous, queen!"
"When will you meet Ohm though? 👀"
I rolled my eyes, laughing. Even across the ocean, my family teased me in the comments.
---
The concert surprise
That evening, Kanya revealed the real plan. "We're not done yet. I got us tickets."
"For what?" I asked, confused.
She grinned. "A GMMTV fan event. You'll see."
My heart stuttered. No. It can't be.
We arrived at a buzzing arena, filled with screaming fans and glowing light sticks. The stage lights flared, and suddenly — there they were.
Ohm Pawat. Pond Naravit. Phuwin Tang.
I froze in my seat, clutching Amara's hand so tightly she yelped.
"Oh. My. God."
They were right there — not on a screen, but in real life, laughing, waving, their voices echoing through the hall.
"Breathe, Shelly," Maria teased. "You look like you just saw an angel."
I laughed nervously, but my heart was racing out of control.
---
The after-effect
After the show, as we walked back through the crowded streets, I felt like I was floating.
"I can't believe it," I kept whispering. "I saw them. In person."
Amara smirked. "Better start practicing how to act normal if you ever meet them. You don't want to faint on stage."
The group laughed, and I buried my face in my scarf, cheeks burning.
---
Night reflections
Back at the dorm, I uploaded snippets of the day — markets, temples, and yes, a blurry clip of the concert. My followers exploded with excitement.
"Girl, you're glowing," Clifton texted. "But don't forget, you're there to study, not to chase Ohm."
"Even in Thailand, they won't let me live," I muttered, laughing.
Still, as I lay in bed, I couldn't shake the image of the stage lights, the cheers, the stars smiling down on the crowd.
Bangkok was no longer just a city. It was a world of possibilities. And maybe, just maybe, fate was already setting something in motion for me.