ANIMA

17. The most fun

Mason

I can tell Tomas doesn’t really believe me when I say there will be no partying this weekend. This place has a bit of a reputation, most of the wildest celebrity packed parties in Wellington happen here. I can’t take the credit for that though, I don’t plan those parties.

It all started with my parents’ need to fit in and be well liked. It’s the reason they are part of a lot of the boards and committees in our community and why they host a lot of galas and get-togethers. So they instructed their professional party planner to boost my popularity as well. Apart from the work she does for them, her main role is to throw amazing parties in my name. She makes sure the parties are really exclusive so that everyone kisses up to me to score an invite. Little do they know I am not responsible for the invite list.

The planner only invites the really wealthy and popular, not only from our school but other schools as well. Celebrities also make appearances, some as performers others as special invitees.

At the beginning I really enjoyed these parties because all I had to do is show up, have a blast and everyone praised me for it. Once I realized none of it was really about me, the whole thing lost its appeal.

I still show my face because it’s what my parents expect but it’s just saying hi to everyone before they get too wasted. And then spending the rest of the time with Aiden and a close group of people I am friendly with, usually gaming.

So I don’t blame Tomas for being skeptical, he must have heard a lot of wild stories about this place.

What most people don’t know is this place is usually used as a refuge of sorts for when I want to get away from campus but don’t want to be under the same roof as my parents. In some ways this place is more home to me than my parents’ house.

“Have a look around while I see what everyone else is up to” I say as we enter the house.

“Okay”

I find Ava and Kenzie playing table tennis in the backyard while Aiden does laps in the pool.

“Hey guys”

“Hi Mason. Where is the patient?” Kenzie asks.

“He’s having a look around.”

When Tom joins us Aiden convinces us all to have a pool volleyball match, the losers are in charge of dinner.

So it’s Tom and me against Aiden, Ava and Kenzie. We of course lose but not by much. The winners console us by giving us the option to order out instead but I don’t mind cooking and Tomas says he is good sous chef so we decide to cook.

Tomas helps me make japchae and kimchi quesadillas as the winners debate on what we are going to watch.

Everyone seems to enjoy the food and we spent the evening having the super hero movie marathon that the winners settled on.

This morning Kenzie and Tom made pancakes for breakfast. After the huge breakfast we go to an art exhibit, the dog park and then Ava treats us all to an afternoon of spa treatments. After we get home we all pitch in to help Tom catch up on his school work.

I can’t believe it’s already Sunday. This weekend has been the most fun yet relaxing time I have had since…maybe ever.

Everyone waits expectantly as I set out my dishes. I made bulgogi, bibim mandu and tofu salad.

“This is amazing! I thought yesterday was a fluke.” Tom exclaims. This is only the second time I have seen him this animated around food. It feels me with pride.

“Thank you”

“Did you learn from your parents?” Kenzie asks.

“Everything I know about cooking I learned from my grandmother.” I reply.