LOVE SICK : The Chaotic Lives of Blue Shorts Guys

CHAPTER 57: DON'T HOLD YOUR FEELING

As it turns out, the fax sent by the committee is an invitation to a party celebrating our 2nd-runner up title. They’re hosting the party at a 5-star hotel located about 20 steps away from my school. (Or maybe even fewer than 20 steps?)

Then why on earth did I pay for a party out of my pockets the other day…? Why didn’t the committee send this fax sooner?! (Give me back my entire month’s worth of allowance now!) I nearly turn to grab Ngoi by his hair after I had finished reading it. (Whatever the situation might be, always blame that Ngoi first and foremost.) Perhaps Per feels bad for his friend, (or he’s been bullying Ngoi a little too much) so he suggests something to me.

“You can just stuff your face while you’re there, p’Noh. You know, as a retaliation? Bring some bags with you and you can take more food home too.” Oh…such a despicable plan. How did you come up with this? I love it. Heh heh heh. While I’m trying to calculate how many bags I should bring with me in order to get enough food that’ll last me a whole month, nong Knott reads the rest of the invitation then he reminds me of something.

“It’s the same day as the Pharma-Camp though. I read the announcement they posted up in the guidance counselor’s office. Doesn’t that mean if you signed up for the camp then you can’t go to the party?” Huh?! What?! Om and I jump from where we are and grab the fax to check it out for ourselves for the second time. Oh, shit. It really is on the same day. There goes my food…

“What camp? Where the hell are you guys going?” I barely get to finish reading the invitation for the second time before Film curiously pops his head in between Om and me. I’ve forgotten that he is also the type that doesn’t pay much attention to what’s going around him. I guess he didn’t hear about it either.

I volunteer to be the nice messenger and fill him in. “The Pharma-Camp. It’s the same day as this party. We already signed up for the camp so we can’t go. Sorry, man.” Even so, I feel slightly relieved telling him this. I didn’t have much to do with their win anyway. I drafted some paperwork, carried the cooler and made drinks for the underclassmen. They were trivial jobs. I wasn’t responsible for anything. Film and Art handled all the important stuff. Therefore, I don’t think I’d be so shameless as to attend that party. It’s better for me to attend that camping trip.

Film’s eyes, however, are shining brighter than diamonds once he learns about the camping trip.

“I’ll go too!” This fool…

“Well, you can’t! You’re the marching band’s leader! Go to that party!” He must’ve lost his mind. They’re throwing a party in his name and he wants to skip out on that? I smack Film’s head twice to snap him out of it. Still, he wants to go camping. Something in the milk ain’t clean. There has to be more to this.

I get my answer without having to ask when nong Mum reveals truth.

“P’Film, you’re afraid of that auntie who’s the president of the committee, aren’t you? Hahaha.” Which auntie?! I turn to nong Mum’s direction. He’s sitting with a group of wind instrument players. They’ve been practicing not too far from where we are. I’m dying to know what he means by that. This is brand new knowledge to me.