CHAPTER 71: APPOINTED AS WEDDING PLANNER

"Hi!" I greet my friends as I hop towards them in a very cheerfully pretentious smile.

This probably looks suspicious even without knowing what Joy knows. I'm still in my clothes from last night and they still reek of alcohol. Not to mention my actual pants that I'm wearing is way shorter than I normally wear and I believe I have some traces of love-making on my exposed skin.

I may not remember much of last night but traces of both Malik and Keaton are lingering very obviously and I can somehow imagine how last night went. Definitely not for my friends to know. That I'm sure of.

"Is that Keaton?" Joy asks, pointing at the way Keaton's car went. I nod and grin at her.

"Keaton du Bois?" Allen asks Joy with a frown. Joy nods and I just found out Keaton's last name so I stand there just thinking that the last name sounds oddly familiar. "How'd you know Keaton du Bois?" Allen directs the question to me and I snap out of it and turn to Joy who stares at me wide-eyed.

"Uhm.. We ran into each other some time ago," I point my finger between me and Joy, "and she introduced us, and yeah…" I shrug.

"Yeah," Joy also nods although her poker-face is probably way worse than mine.

"Where ya headin'?" I ask, trying to change the subject.

"We're going back home," Joy tells me.

"Okay," I nod and wave to them, "see you Monday?"

"Sure," Joy nods and Allen, my perfectly gorgeous first love, stares at me not saying anything.

"Bye, then," I really can't get out of there fast enough.

I wave and practically run inside the building, avoiding any more awkward smiles and clammy hands and sweat dripping down my back and tingling all over my body just from being stared at by Allen. Man does he look god, though? I really missed him.

I sigh a little too sorrowfully and dramatically as I enter my room. I go straight to the bathroom to wash up and change my clothes. I get out and about to plop myself onto the bed and have an early rest when my phone starts ringing again.

I stare at the screen. It's Marsha.

"'Sup Sha?" I answer after a while.

"Hey, what were you doing?" she asks cheerfully though I know she's meant to say something else.

"Sorry, I was in the shower. Wassup?"

"Wanna do dinner together?"

"Where?"

"Patio's?"

"Cool."

"We'll pick you up?"

"What time?"

"Seven-ish?"

"Seven sounds good."

"Okay."

And then the silence comes. This is excruciatingly awkward. And even more so because we've never been awkward. Not me and Marsha and Chuck.

"Well," I try breaking it, "how's your assignment? Joy told me you have lotsa work for the internship advancement," I tell her what Joy told me.

"Yes, I do," the relief in Marsha's voice breaks my heart a little, "I've been trying to get into St. Nicholas for my internship and I want to go earlier so I need to take care of a lot of papers," she sighs, clearly stressing.

"Anything I can do to help?" I ask and I mean it sincerely too.

"Well, not the assignment part, but probably the wedding part," I can hear her grinning now and I kinda regret asking a little bit.

I have a bad premonition.

"I'm not sure I'm gonna be able to arrange the whole thing by myself. Well, not by myself because my family have been making sure that they have a hand in it," she starts to tell me, "but I would really, really, really love it and very, very much appreciate it if you take over from them lest they ruin it completely," she begs me.

"Well… They're your family… Maybe they should be the one to do that? I mean, it's personal and everything," I hesitate.

"You're family, Levi," Marsha's stern voice feels like they're pinching my ears and smacking my head upside down.

"I know," I smile at the phone.

"Do it for me? You have the best taste and you've done a lot of event organizing and I trust you know me perfectly well to know what I want and don't want instead of pushing what you want and making it like a circus," Marsha chuckles at the last bit and so am I.

"Your family is better than Chuck in that regard, though," I comfort her and she scoffs.

"True," she laughs at that.

It is true. Chuck's family have a rather peculiar taste when it comes to design and art and the likes. Thank God Chuck grew up to be quite normal and less… merry.

"So, you'll do it?" Marsha asks again.

"Do you really want me to plan your wedding?" I ask again, making sure.

"Yes, please," she pleads and I laugh because of irony. Also because she sounds so cute.

"Okay," I nod finally although she can't see me, "I'll plan your wedding but," I raise my voice when she's about to thank me, "we go by my schedule and Kenneth, bless his little heart, if even one fight occur between me and him while I'm trying to give him the best day of his life, I want him chained and locked," I threaten her. She laughs and I can ever hear her banging on something.

"Oh My God this is gonna be gold! Kenneth would have to listen to you ordering him around and making him do things and I'm so gonna love it!" she laughs so loudly I can't help but laugh too by the implication my power will have over Kenneth.

I'm starting to like it. Even if I haven't even exercised yet. Is this what being an elected president feels like?

"Don't get my hopes up, Sha," I warn her through my tears of laughter.

"Okay, okay…" Marsha tries to calm herself down and so am I. "Thank you in advance, though. I really have no idea how to plan a wedding and at this point, I'm really more concerned about my internship," she says guiltily.

"It's okay. Everyone will understand. Kenneth for sure understands that. Weddings are just that; weddings. You can have a wedding practically anytime or anywhere you want. What matters is your future together and the internship is a step towards that," I tell her, sounding like a wise ass.

"That's a nice way to put it," Marsha says softly.

I say nothing and just smile. Which is kinda stupid since she can't see it. But I really have nothing to add to that. I really don't want to be sappy and I'll be happy if we keep talking about this.

"Well, see you at seven?" I try ending the call.

"Okay," Marsha says softly.

"Bye," I tell her softly before hanging up.

I can do it. Planning the wedding, I mean. Though I won't be able to attend it, at least I get to plan it. If I plan my schedule wisely, I can plan the whole thing before I have to leave for France.

I take out my planner and start adjusting schedules and making a list of things to do and also researching on the internet on how to plan a wedding. Especially a Marsha and Kenneth wedding. Mediocre is not for them. They don't deserve mediocre. I'm going to give them the most epically beautiful wedding only so that I won't feel guilty about not attending. Also because they deserve it. Marsha deserves it. More than anyone, to have a perfect wedding.

I work on my schedules and the wedding plan until Chuck calls me to tell me that he's already downstairs. I curse internally before hurrying to change my clothes, grab my things and head downstairs where Chuck's waiting in his car in the lobby with Marsha in the passenger's seat.

"Hey!" I greet them and kiss them once I get in the car.

"Nice hair," Chuck says in passing as we drive towards the city. Patio's, one of our favorite dining places, is located in the business district of the city and it'll take us about 25 minutes by car.

"Thanks," I grin at him.

So, he's talking to me now, at least.

"Sorry for taking too long," I tell them, "Marsha has given me a quest and I can't help to get too immersed in it," I chuckle.

"Oh, you told him already?" Chuck asks Marsha who nods.

"I love my family, don't get me wrong, but they're a mess when it comes to planning. And this is my wedding we're talking about," she huffs.

"Well, I'll do my best," I reassure her.

"I know you will," Marsha turns to look at me with a proud smile. "Just don't make me taste too much cake, okay? Wedding dresses are okay. Alcohols are okay too, but not too many cakes or I'll hate it for the rest of my life and I love cakes," she tells me and Chuck and I laugh.

"Chuck's mom is the literal wine and spirits goddess, I don't think I have the right to meddle with the alcoholic business," I grin at her.

"Ask her anything, she'll be thrilled," Chuck tells me.

"I have to know what the food will be before i can choose the drinks, though. Any input?" I ask Chuck and Marsha who sits there thoughtfully.

"Do I really need to participate?" Chuck asks weakly, afraid to anger Marsha and also afraid of disappointing me, most likely.

"It's gonna be a summer wedding, so we don't want something too hearty and too greasy," Marsha says.

"Something invigorating will be best, to raise appetite," Marsha says again.

"Ice cream is best for summer." Chuck shrugs.

"That's a matter of course," I roll my eyes at him. "Should we go Japanese? Or local?" I ask, since Marsha is actually still a third Japanese.

"Fusion?" Chuck asks.

"Maybe eel?" I inquire. "Eel is perfect for summer. We can have it grilled and served with rice for the main dish with some side veggies."

"Cold tofu for appetizer?" Chuck asks. "I like cold tofu," he reminds us.

"Not Japanese but kimchi for sides will also be perfect because it's as healthy as the eel," Marsha adds, getting even more excited.

"Cold watermelon, shaved ice with dozens of toppings especially for the kids," I add again.

"Cold red bean jelly for the desert," Marsha again.

"Cold beer? Please?" is Chuck.

"For vegetarians we can do cold noodles in creamy broth or clear broth, your choice," I tell Marsha.

"I think clear will be better, though, right?" Marsha asks me back.

"I think so too." I nod at her. "We can also add some side dishes like spicy cucumber in vinegar and other veggie sides," I tell her and she nods eagerly.

"Don't forget the finger foods for before and after the ceremony," Marsha reminds me.

"How could I?" I grin at her.

"I have a list, a short one, of vendors I want you to check out," Marsha tells me, "if they're not up to par, drop them and search for another," she says.

"Yes, boss." I grin at her with a salute.

"We're here," Chuck announces as he parks the car in the basement of a building. We get off and walk to the elevator and head to the top floor where Patio's is located.

Patio's is a French restaurant. Marsha's favorite. It has an outdoor dining area overlooking the city so at night it's very beautiful. The food is amazing and the wine is from Chuck's mother winery so they're as good as it can be. We sit down outside on our usual table on the corner and order our usual.

For once, everything seems normal. Everything seems like it was before things went to shit courtesy of yours truly. I look at my two best friends smiling and chatting and laughing and have a good time. I feel loved and that's what makes it even more painful.