My Dear Mistress

Must Keep Distance

What pushed Anchaya not to insist on continuing her studies at a university within the province was that her father tried to contact her again by going to see Tangkwa, asking her to meet him. However, Anchaya knew her father's intention was to sell her to the wealthy businessman, so she refused to go. She could only leave money with Tangkwa to give to her father.

Once her high school graduation documents were complete, Anchaya traveled to Bangkok with Noom and Chinaphop's secretary, a middle-aged woman named Khun Jamjan. Initially, Phon said Chinaphop would accompany them, but he later said he was unavailable.

Anchaya felt a mix of regret and disappointment because this would have been an opportunity to see Chinaphop again after not seeing him for several months. Studying in Bangkok would likely make it even harder to see him, or perhaps she wouldn't see him at all, as Chinaphop didn't want to see her anyway.

She couldn't fathom why he harbored such intense hatred towards her. There were only minor things she did that displeased him, nothing serious enough to warrant such hatred. Just the thought of it brought tears to her eyes unexpectedly.

"What's wrong?" Noom asked as they left the airport and a car came to take them to their accommodation. She was sitting in the back seat with Noom, while Jamjan sat in the front with the driver, who was named Uncle Pan, who was the driver for Chinaphop's family in Bangkok.

"Nothing."

"Nothing? I can see you're crying."

"I just regret that the boss didn't come to see us off."

"Oh, he's busy, you know. If he wasn't, he might have come to see us off as Phon said."

"Uncle Phon lied, or maybe it was the boss who lied," Anchaya admitted that she followed the boss's orders partly because of Phon's words that Chinaphop would come to see them off.

"Why would you think that? Come on, don't cry. We're going to live here for many years, so keep your spirits up. Everything will be good and smooth," Noom comforted her, looking at the surroundings filled with cars and buildings with excitement but also feeling apprehensive about navigating the city, with buses and trains that would take time to get used to.

They navigated through the traffic to reach their accommodation, which was near the university area where Anchaya would continue her studies, taking almost two hours.

"Wow, these buildings are so tall," Noom exclaimed as the car turned into the grounds of a luxurious condominium. Anchaya was so excited that she momentarily forgot her sadness.

When the car stopped and they took the elevator to their room, Uncle Pan helped carry their luggage.

As soon as the elevator doors opened, they were in the hallway of the apartment, which left the provincial girls, Anchaya and Noom, in awe. Especially Anchaya, who momentarily set aside her sadness about Chinaphop and admired the luxurious yet simple interior with white and natural wood furniture.

"There are two rooms here. Anchaya, you stay in the big room, and Noom, you stay in the small room. The rooms are separate so that if Anchaya studies or works late, you won't disturb each other."

Ms. Jamjan explained, and then the two girls went their separate ways, each carrying their bags into their private rooms, located on opposite sides of the apartment, separated by the wardrobe of the master bedroom.

"Anchaya's room will have a personal wardrobe with doors connecting both the bedroom and the bathroom," Jamjan explained.

"That's great! The bedroom even has a balcony," Anchaya said as she walked over to slide the glass door to peek at the balcony, which had a set of lounge chairs and potted plants.

"Do you like it, Anchaya?" Jamjan asked, smiling fondly at the girl's reaction.

"I love it!"

"That's good. It's convenient here and close to the university."

"Is this the master's apartment?"

"Yes, he used to live here when he was younger, I think."

"Thank you so much, Ms. Jamjan, for taking care of me and Noom."

"It's no problem. I'm just following the master's orders, but I'm happy to do it."

Later, Anchaya learned that Jamjan, in addition to bringing her and Noom, was also acting as her guardian for signing enrollment documents and managing their tuition and living expenses. Jamjan also took Noom to enroll in a famous beauty school not far from the apartment.

Uncle Pan was assigned as the driver while Anchaya and Noom were still unfamiliar with public transportation and the roads in Bangkok. Getting to the university wasn't difficult for Anchaya; besides the bus, there was the sky train, which was just one station away, or they could use a taxi or motorcycle taxi if in a hurry.

"If you need anything, just call me anytime."

"Aren't you going back to work at the farm, Ms. Jamjan?"

"I'm on a two-month vacation."

"Oh, that's great! Noom and I won't feel lonely since we don't know anyone in Bangkok."

"Once classes begin, you'll make new friends, so you won't feel lonely. But even before the term starts, there are activities within the faculty."

"Yes, I have to practice cheering and join the freshman welcome activities," Anchaya said.

"That's good. It'll help you adjust to your friends quickly and get familiar with the campus."

Jamjan also gave advice and talked about studying and university life, including making friends, to Anchaya, and also advised Noom about making friends at the beauty school.

"Mr. Chinaphop emphasized that you shouldn't go out at night, especially Anchaya, since you're not yet twenty."

"If I turn twenty, will he allow it?"

"I'm not sure about that. We'll have to ask Mr. Chinaphop when you turn twenty."

"Oh, okay." Anchaya hadn't realized that being his mistress meant she couldn't go out at night.

After Jamjan and Uncle Pan left, Anchaya asked Noom,

"Does he forbid the women in the Orange Building from going out at night?"

"No, he doesn't. Anyone can go wherever they want, just don't have another man, or if you want to, you have to resign from being a woman in the Orange Building."

"But he forbids me from going out at night."

"You're still young, not even twenty yet. Why do you want to go out?"

"No, I was just asking."

"I think going out at night is too dangerous for a naive girl like you. Look at the news; women get drugged, intoxicated, and abducted. It's really frightening. But if you really want to go out, wait until you're twenty, and I'll take you myself."

"I won't go out." Anchaya doesn't want to visit any pubs or bars; just walking around a night market should be fine, as those markets have food, clothes, various items, and are reasonably priced.

Even though she earns a decent salary, she wants to save money because she doesn't know when she might be dismissed from her position as Chinaphop's mistress. A mistress who doesn't serve her master could easily be dismissed.

"That's good. Good kids don't hang out in shady places. That's what Aunt Mai always says."

"May it be so."

Then they both giggled, but afterward, they started missing Aunt Mai a lot. In the end, they had to grab the phone to call and report to Aunt Mai, who advised them on living mindfully, ending with

[Before bed, chant prayers, pay respects to the Buddha, and do some meditation.]

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