"Say it!"
With a shy expression adorning her face, Susan delicately extended an invitation for me to attend her bachelorette party. Her hesitant demeanor hinted at a mix of excitement and apprehension as if she were uncertain of my response.
Despite her attempts to conceal it, I could sense her eagerness bubbling beneath the surface, eager for my company on this significant occasion.
"Would you like to attend my bachelorette party?"
The softness in her voice betrayed her nervousness, yet there was also a glimmer of anticipation as she awaited my reply. In that fleeting moment, I could see the sincerity in her eyes, urging me to be a part of her celebration. It was a simple gesture, yet it carried with it a profound significance.
"I know you've never done it but at least you know what it is, right? "
"They've been trending lately and I want to enjoy ourselves before we tie the knot," Susan said excitedly.
I remained quiet and pondered for a moment. Her optimistic expression filled me with disgust as it only reminded me of my Dad's irritating remarks.
"Well, if it speeds things up," I replied, feeling so tiredly. The weariness in my voice mirrored the exhaustion that permeated every fiber of my being.
"Excellent!"
Susan's joy was palpable upon receiving the response, her eyes sparkling with happiness. Liam, who sits next to her, senses her delight.
He expressed his admiration by gently placing a kiss on her forehead. Liam's gentle kiss on her forehead felt like a tender caress, a silent acknowledgment of their bond and the affection between them. This is the most disgusting thing I've ever seen from these two couples.
On the next day, I was invited by Susan to her home, a minimalist house next to her father's bar. It was just three of us in the house. I think her father was too busy with his new stock of alcohol, I heard they have a 60-year-old new wine stock coming out from the warehouse.
'OMG, I want it so bad! 60-year-old new wine would be fine. Let me take a sip! '
I want to drink a lot! I felt very tired seeing Susan who was so excited yet knew nothing about the camp. Thirty minutes ago, he had talked at length about why he wanted to hold a bachelorette party.
She heard from her Dad, that his brother once said that his daughter was a brilliant scout girl when she was in elementary school. But I was already sick of hearing it, so I thought of something else. Like the wine that just arrived today.
"Aaand.... that's why I need your help!" Susan smiled while acting cute
"No!" I quickly refused
"What?! why?" She was disappointed and pouted
"That's your own business, why should I take care of it?"
I complained to her, why not do reasonable things for her bachelorette party? Even Liam's party was just drinking with his friends, and that was at Uncle John's bar.
'Could she not be stubborn with her abnormal desires?'
Liam then pulled my hand away from Susan, he whispered and begged me to help him look after Susan.
Fuming with rage, I couldn't understand Liam's decision. Why did he agree to organize a bachelorette party for his future spouse? Did he ever consider Susan's safety? My mind was filled with questions, wrestling with confusion over his actions.
The betrayal of trust gnawed at me, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. How could he possibly allow such a frivolous event even if it was at Susan's wish? My doubts began to creep in.
"Of course! That's why I want to fulfill her wish list before marriage"
"I know this is crazy. I don't like her going into the wilderness when the wedding is closed either. But... please understand!"
"In this situation, you're the only one I can trust! Susan is an only child... just like you're"
" I'm sure enough, you know how it feels to be alone" Liam pleaded.
A looming sense of disappointment weighed heavily on my heart, as I struggled to understand the logic of people falling in love in emotional turmoil.
I warned them how dangerous wildlife could be, this wasn't like a picnic or a tea party in the garden. I also told them that I would be stricter than ever and I wanted everything to be carefully planned. They nodded and agreed to fulfill my terms and conditions.
Susan said that her mum and dad often took her around Europe since she could crawl on the ground. She gave me some old photos of them in the forests of the green mountain range when she was five.
Susan said that she wanted to go there again and spend an unforgettable time with her best friends. I could feel the heat, my blood boiling when I heard that. That's a long way from here!
I sighed, too tired to explain "Don't involve me!"
" Liam, just find someone else. I don't want to be this twenty-four-year-old woman's nanny"
"Come on Clara, you've been camping in the woods too haven't you?" coaxed Liam.
"Yes, but it was a different!"
" What? do you need your Daa-da to accompany you on your camping trip? Twenty-seven-year-old Madame?" Susan's annoyed banter.
" Oh, isn't that an expression that suits you, you spoiled brat!" I retorted.
Susan sulked, but Liam was good at giving her a good enough understanding so that I didn't have to bother arguing with the snot-nosed kid.
After that, I immediately compiled a list of all the tools and equipment that needed to be brought for camping. Susan just nodded with her clueless face while Liam continued to question the items on the list if they were needed.
"Alright, I'll ask who's the ex-scout among the three of us?"
Susan and Liam looked at each other.
"Then just trust me, I'm sure this is all we'll need during our camping trip" I snapped.
I had prepared everything quite well, all the items and materials on the list I handed over to Liam and Susan. Everything had been carefully calculated.
I planned to bring Bong along to help us keep watch around the campsite. Susan didn't seem to mind the addition of Bong to her invitation list.
All these things are making me hungry and stressed out, I feel like every minute I'm around Susan my life is reduced by ten years.
Although a little disappointed that I couldn't taste the newly arrived wine at my uncle's bar, I decided to look for an alternative.
"Seems like I'll be stopping by to buy a bucket of fried chicken and grabbing some canned beer afterward" I mumbled to myself.
.
.
.
As one by one, his friends started to arrive, the atmosphere became more crowded. As planned, we gathered on the appointed day in front of Susan's house. I was very busy running around, checking all the equipment to get into the classic Volkswagen that Uncle John had.
An old mint green VW car that was quite worn out, with maroon interior upholstery and also a hula-hula dancer doll carrying a small ukulele.
The doll's face was very creepy with her round eyes that almost popped out. Her smirking lips with red lipstick paint on the dashboard, seem so creepy like a Chucky doll.
' I guess we can tell whose weird taste Susan has.'
Also, amidst the chaos, I spotted a few tattered shopping bills from Cents Market, a retail company similar to Walmart in the United States. Also, tucked away on the dashboard were the remains of an old cigarette pack, hinting at the owner's habit.
If you ask me what Susan and her friends were doing. They were chatting, making a short video together, and taking selfies as part of their reunion.
Who helped me? Of course none! They think that I rain or shine!
'Those bastards!'
I, who was already annoyed with the hassle of lifting some luggage, tried to call out to them from a distance.
"Hey guys, can you help me?"
Everyone was still busy talking to themselves as if I wasn't there. Their laughter is getting louder and louder. I'm already getting angry with this youngster's behavior!
I started walking towards Susan who was busy talking. I pulled the collar of her pastel purple sweater-covered shirt back forcefully.
"Ow! That hurts!" she complained.
"Hey! Stop slacking and pack your stuff, damn it!"
"What the hell? I already packed it and put it in front of the door!" Susan, who complained, pointed to the inside of her house.
"So what? Do you think I'm a porter? Put it in the baggage. Now!"
Susan walked in with a heavy step and a sour look on her face. Then, she came back carrying pink luggage and several large handbags. Her friends, who had been laughing out loud, changed into a silent and just looked at her in shock.
"And you sheeple, put your own stuff in the car. Now!" I snapped, pointing at the car.
Those girls looked speechless seeing me so fuming at Susan. They immediately left with a sour face and put their stuff into the baggage car.
Before leaving, I had the girls gather and tell them the rules and what they shouldn't do. After that, we set off to our destination. The forests of the green mountain range.
I was driving for eighteen hours with Bong next to the seat. Everyone seemed to be obeying one of my rules which prohibited them from talking loudly during the trip.