After their conversation, Tandin and Tshering hadn’t spoken for a couple of months. The silence felt heavier with each passing day. Tandin often found himself staring at his phone, wishing for a message from her, but none came. The BHSEC exams had begun on November 28 and stretched until December 13. During those days, the absence of her words echoed in his mind. Yet, as winter vacation arrived, like the first sunray after a long night, their conversation rekindled.
Tandin’s heart leaped with joy when her name flashed on his screen again. The distance that had separated them for months seemed to dissolve in an instant. “Distance means so little when someone means so much, "he thought, smiling as he typed his reply.
Tshering began sharing her life at her new school—her challenges, the unfamiliar teachers, and how she slowly built bonds with new friends. Tandin listened with quiet admiration. She had adapted so gracefully, and her resilience amazed him. When he sent her a photo of the Principal’s Award he had received, she responded with genuine delight. Her happiness for him was pure, unfiltered, and it lit his heart from within. He wanted to tell her, “Your joy is my joy,” but instead, he let her words sink in like a melody only he could hear.
Their talks drifted from exams to health, and Tshering mentioned how she had fallen sick in the hostel. Concern washed over Tandin. “How did you manage?” he asked immediately.
With gentle simplicity, she replied, “My ama came and took me to the hospital.”
The thought of her vulnerability made him wish he could have been there by her side. Yet, her openness in sharing even these tender moments reminded him of why she meant so much.
One thing Tandin admired most about Tshering was her sincerity. She shared not just the grand events of her life but also the smallest fragments—her laughter, her worries, her daily reflections. With her, nothing felt trivial. Every word she spoke wrapped him in comfort, as though the miles between them were merely an illusion. Often he found himself whispering in his heart, “It’s not being in love that makes me happy, it’s being in love with you.”
Time moved quickly, and soon exam results were declared. Both of them began applying to colleges, their futures opening before them like uncharted paths. Tshering told Tandin she was headed to Samtse College. She prepared diligently for her interview, her excitement spilling through every message. When she was shortlisted, she shared the news with him instantly, her joy overflowing into his own heart.
When she asked about his plans, Tandin replied with quiet determination, “I’ve been selected for Jigme Namgyel Engineering College. I’ll be reporting on July 10.”
Instead of disappointment that they would be apart, Tshering only smiled through her words: *“That’s wonderful, Tandin. I’m so proud of you. We’ll both be starting new journeys, but I know our friendship will remain the same.”
Her encouragement touched him deeply. At that moment, Tandin realized how rare she was—someone who understood, someone who supported, someone who stayed.
July arrived with the fragrance of new beginnings. On July 10, Tandin reported to Jigme Namgyel Engineering College. The campus, surrounded by green hills and buzzing with fresh faces, filled him with both excitement and nervous anticipation. He sent Tshering a short message that evening, “First day done. It feels strange, but I’ll get used to it.” She replied warmly, reassuring him that he would find his place there, just as she had in her own new world.
Later that month, July 30, Tshering stepped into Samtse College. Barely had she settled into her room when she sent Tandin a short video. She stood before the mirror, her long, graceful hair flowing like a river of midnight, her eyes sparkling with the excitement of new beginnings. “One of my classmates is my roommate,” she said, her voice carrying both nervousness and joy.
As if fate was playing a playful game, another friend of Tandin’s messaged him at the same time, teasingly sending a photo of Tshering. “Your friend is my roommate,” the message read.
Tandin chuckled, his heart swelling with an emotion he couldn’t quite name. Distance might stretch across their lives, but it couldn’t diminish the connection they carried within. He thought to himself, “The best love is the kind that awakens the soul; that makes us reach for more, that plants the fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds.”
Every shared moment, every late-night chat, every smile exchanged across screens only strengthened the invisible thread between them. Though life was leading them down different paths, their bond was steadfast, unwavering.
As Tandin reflected on it all, he knew with quiet certainty: “Whatever our souls are made of, hers and mine are the same.”
