Sun beat down, another day melting into the humidity.
Met Pin in the lobby, her laughter bright as a temple bell.
“Fruit market adventure?” she chirped, a whirlwind of loose braids and optimism.
Sure, why not escape this stale room for a dose of rambutan roulette?

The market pulsed with life, vendors hawking mangoes in singsong voices,
the air thick with the sweet-sour tang of exotic fruits.

She nudged me, a playful jab that couldn’t mask the heat shimmering off the tin roofs.
We bartered with a wrinkled vendor, her words a melodic riddle.

Weaving through the crowd, dodging motorbikes with practiced ease.
Pin’s eyes darted to a cart, a triumphant grin spreading across her face.
“Durian candy!” she exclaimed, brandishing a package like a flag.
My heart did a little durian dance – finally, a worthy market find!

“Deep-fried heaven in candy form, finally!” I declared, reaching for a piece.
She chuckled, pulling one out. “Here, share the love!”

We unwrapped them together, the pungent aroma a badge of durian honor.
Popped them in our mouths, savoring the familiar, funky sweetness.

Pin watched with delight, her laughter echoing off the colorful stalls.
“See? Durian magic, right?” she teased. I beamed, a full-fledged durian grin.

Maybe durian candy wasn’t just for the brave, but for sharing the love
with a friend who spoke the same spiky, sweet fruit language.

Back at the lobby, the sun dipped lower, casting long shadows.
We shared the lychee, sticky juice staining our fingers a vibrant red.

Not bad for a Tuesday.

Maybe this city, this life, wasn’t so bad after all, with a friend by your side,
sharing some stolen sweetness under the Chiang Mai sky.