Dark coffee

Chapter six

While going towards the car, we saw a crowd of people. To find out what it's about Lens, Estephania and I got closer to them. We heard a guy from our team inviting everyone to go to a loft to celebrate their victory. Everyone accepted even Lens which surprised me. Usually, he's not a party guy but more an intellectual one.  I was focused on listening to what they were saying when Soukvilay came to see me. She asked me if I intended to go. With everything that just happened, I didn't feel like going. So, I told her that I was going home with my parents. She asked me if we could drop her home; I accepted. The tension with her parents worsened since Malik's party. After our talk, we went to congratulate Jamal, say goodbye to the girls and headed to my parents' car. After dropping Soukvilay, we went home. As soon as we got home, I went up to my room, cleaned my face, put on my nightwear and fell asleep.

The next day I was the first to be awake. My parents woke a few minutes after me. I had no idea at what time my brothers came home but I guess it was very late because normally at 11 o'clock they're already awake.

I went to make breakfast exceptionally for everyone. While I was waiting for the tea water to boil; I decided to look at my Snapchat. That's when I saw the message sent to all the students from the director of our University. He invited us and our families to a barbecue event at 2pm on our football field to celebrate our team's victory. On this sunny day, it was the perfect event to do. Knowing my brothers, they were probably going to wake up around 2 o'clock. Since it was already 11: 58 am, I went to wake them up. I started with the most difficult; Malik. When I arrived in front of his door, I knocked several times. He didn't answer. I decided to enter. I opened the door and approached him. He was lying on his bed when I said slowly his name twice. The only answer I got was a moan. I then screamed "Wake up Malik! We're invited to a barbecue!"

He finally replied, "Get the fuck out of my room!" I didn't try more. I left his room and went to wake Jamal and Lens. It was much easier with them. When they finished getting ready, around 12:40, they went to wake Malik. My parents and I were already ready. There remained only him. After a few minutes, my brothers manage to wake him up. We waited for him. As soon as he was ready, around 13:30, we left the house.

We arrived at 2:20 pm. Several people were already there. I saw Soukvilay with her family. I decided to join her. When I came closer to them, her mom said to me with her soft voice "Hi Dahila."

"Hi, Mrs. and Mr. Pham," I replied.

"Maeh, we leave you," said immediately Soukvilay right after my answer as if my presence was her way out.
Lao translation: Maeh: Mom

"You have to watch your little sister," her mom said.

Soukvilay was going to say something when Mei, her little sister, said, "I don't need a babysitter. The last thing I want is to hang with Soukvilay and her friends who are way too old for me. Don't you think I'm right? Poh? Maeh? "
Lao translation: Poh: Dad

Her parents agreed that Mei stays with them. Soukvilay whispered to her  "Khop Jai lai lai" and said to her parents "La gon (la kon)". She pulled me towards her and we went away.
Lao translation: Khop Jai: Thank you very much/ La gon (la kon): Goodbye

We went to join the girls who were in the middle of a discussion. At our arrival, we joined the discussion until we saw Quincy from a distance with his girlfriend who was serving him some hamburger meat. We heard Soukvilay says, "Look at her! How she serves him, it looks like they're married!" by looking at them with a bad look.

Dorcas  cleared her throat, "Jealousy!"

"I'm not jealous!" She said.

We all looked at her with a face that meant "Seriously Lingling?".