CHAPTER 43: PLANNING A TRIP

"We can finally relax!" I stretch my body and scream in genuine relief.

The Summer Festival is over and I have no more jobs!

"What are your plans?" Chuck asks.

We're in the C cafeteria, having our lunch. Everybody's here. Including Allen and Joy of course. I try not to look at them.

I was drunk. That was true. But when morning came, I can recall everything we did as clear as today's sky. And just like last time, with agonizing pain on my head and basically my entire body, I snuck out of Allen's room and into my own.

"No idea, actually." I admit to them. "Maybe take in a few misc. jobs here and there." I shrug, really not giving it any thought.

"Not going home?" Joy asks.

"Nah…" I shrug again as Chuck and Marsha exchange glances to my annoyance. "Oh, right. I have the voucher I won from the photography competition. Maybe I'll use it sooner," I tell them.

"Oh, right. You won that thing," Chuck says completely proud. Sounds more of himself, though, which I roll my eyes at. "Never knew a pretty boy could make a good subject," He teases Allen who smiles back at Chuck.

"I'm just that good," I say, hiding my embarrassment and fear. Chuck didn't say anything when he saw the picture other than 'That's a good one' so I guess he didn't realize anything wrong with it.

"What's the voucher for?" Kenneth asks.

"Dunno," I admit, "some hotel or something," I tell him, rummaging through my bag for the envelope and handing it to him.

"Dude! This is awesome!" he exclaims when he opens the envelope and takes out the content. "It's a three days two nights stay at the Crystal Maiden Lodge. That place is crazy expensive. It includes free meals and full package spa!"

"Really?" I frown. I mean, who would be that generous to give out such expensive gifts?

Kenneth smacks my head and hands me the papers, including the information of the lodge. My eyes widen as I scan through them. It's true. Gasping is all I can do at that point. "It's valid until March next year." I mumble.

"We should totally go!" Chuck exclaims excitedly. "We haven't gone on a trip in a long time and Kenneth is about to go back to London. I say we go. And soon!" he turns to Marsha hopeful.

"Can we? Can we?" I join him, excitedly turning to Marsha for her approval. As per usual.

She rolls her eyes at me and Chuck while Joy and Allen chuckle at us.

"Fine," Marsha says finally and I high-five Chuck victoriously, "But!" Marsha cuts our joy short as she shouts louder, "Only if you behave before, during and after the trip," She says firmly, looking particularly at Chuck and me.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Chuck asks, frowning and pouting.

"No drinking excessively. No pranks. No taking jobs. No fighting," Marsha elaborates as Chuck's face and mine grew darker and we pout even more. "I'm not hearing any answer," Marsha frowns.

"Yes!!!" Chuck and I hurriedly agree to her terms before she gets bat-shit and makes some more rules.

Who would fight anyway? It's not like we're kids. And pranks? Only Chuck does that. I never. The audacity to even include me in that. Heheheh.

"Good," Marsha gives us her warmest smile before continuing, "Now. I'll make proper arrangements for the rest of us," Marsha said and took the voucher from me, "We can take Kenneth's car, though it will be considerably stuffy." Marsha said as she thought further about their plans before she turned towards Allen. "Didn't you say you have a minivan?" she asked.

"Eh?" Allen eyebrows rose up.

"Kenneth's car is big enough but I think it'll be more comfortable for the six of us with an even bigger car," Marsha said.

"Oh," Allen looked slightly embarrassed as he turned to Joy.

"What? You're not coming with us?" Marsha's face darkened and a frown appeared.

"Of course we are," Joy said gleefully.

"Good," Marsha smiled satisfied and turned to me, "We'll set out early Friday morning, before dawn so we can check in as early as eleven and settle ourselves before doing anything else," the tone she uses can only make us nod in complete agreement although she was smiling as bright as the spring sun, but her eyes flashes dangerously, telling us to be on time or else.

What a force…

"Do you know how scary you are when you do that?" Chuck mutters silently, rolling his eyes secretly although we can still hear and see him clearly.

Completely ignoring Chuck, Marsha asks, "What are your plans today?"

"I Have a family gathering tonight and I don't think I'll be back before tomorrow…" Allen tells us.

"I'm with him," Joy says, leaning closer to Allen.

Pain, come! Yeah, come! Ouch… stupid pain…

"I…" I am about to inform them of my plans for the day when Marsha cuts me off.

"You," she starts sternly and I gulp nervously, "you go back to your room and rest. You don't look fine," she says and I gulp even more.

I open my mouth and close it again, choosing not to put my own head on a chopping block.

"Fine,'' I said, definitely avoiding looking at Allen. I huff and cross my arms in front of my chest like the five year old I am.

"Kenneth and I have to go to his aunt's place but we'll be back by dinner," Marsha informs us as she gets up.

"Okay," I get up too, albeit slower than the rest of the table, but not too slow to arouse suspicions. I also hold back the urge to wince and groan. almost slipped out of me though, those two. "See you tonight, then," I kiss Marsha and Kenneth goodbye and do the same to Joy and Allen (albeit with an abundance of guilt) before walking hand in hand with Chuck back to my dorm room before he left me to go to practice.