Party-1

TUESDAY, JUNE, 1997

A week later, after the final exam, the school year quietly concluded. Students exchanged high-fives, laughter filled the air as friends excitedly shared their summer plans, and the campus, once bustling with stress, settled into a tranquil atmosphere.

Normally, after the school year ended, Ben would unwind by indulging in video games in his snug room, binge-watching TV shows, or joining Keny Doyle to play basketball together with the kids in their neighborhood.

However, this time was different. They were invited to an end-of-school party by a friend. Well, it's not really a party; it was more like a celebration, so no liquor or any substance for adults is available.

The host of the party was Elaine Fukahara, a new transfer student at their school who used to be one of his classmates in history. It turns out that she was a rich kid but liked to act low-key. However, her parents decided to host a party for her, and they invited the kids from their neighborhood.

Among them was Daniel Chen, one of the few close friends Ben and Keny had at their school. Apparently, he was Elaine's childhood friend, and according to him, only a few students would attend the celebration. It was boring as hell, so he decided to invite both of them.

***

"F*ck! Are you sure this is the place Daniel was talking about?" Keny mumbles as the two stand before a huge metal gate.

"Not sure... it said that it is on Oak Street, Orange County, California, 92867. So yeah, it should be here," Ben answered before taking out the invitation card from his pocket to double-check the it's content.. it was unlikely that he got it wrong, courtesy of his all-remembered memory, however, the villa—no, it was a freaking Mansion!

The place in front of them was really huge. Even from outside the gate, they could see a big garden that looked like a maze, and behind it, there was a massive architectural marvel.

"Er.. it's correct, so it should be here!" Ben nodded to Keny. "Ya know what? Standing here wont do anything how about asking guard overthere?"

"Sure, Lets go." Keny shrugged, nodding his head in agreement.

Without wasting any more time, the two approached the gate. After ringing the doorbell several times, it didn't take long before several muscular security guards, with a shotgun slung over his shoulders, strode forward to them.

"Hello? How may I help you?" the guy at the front asked, sounding relaxed. However, the way he had his hands on the gun made it clear that he would use it if the two of them did something funny.

"I, Hi, we were invited to a celebration party, and the venue of the party was addressed here." Ben tried his best to sound as chill as possible as he explained. He also took out the invitation and showed it to the security guy as proof.

"Oh, I see. It turns out that you're Ma'am Elaine's friends." The man's eyes rose a bit in surprise as he, along with the other security guards, looked at the two of them from head to toe before sighing. "I'm sorry for being rude. Please, come in. I'll make a call so that you can be guided to the Mansion."

"No problem."

***

As soon as the two entered the gate, they were redirected to the guard house to wait until a middle-aged woman in a maid uniform arrived at the guardhouse to fetch them. 

"Good afternoon, honored guests. I am Annabelle. Please, allow me to guide you inside the mansion's loungue's where others are already waiting." The middle aged woman smiled as she introduced herself before asking them to follow her.

The journey towards the destination was short but neverthless it was an jaw-dropping experience. It's not that both of them are poor, honestly, most families in the Orange County is pretty well off, but Elaine's parents are just LOADED.

The labyrinth garden, the marble floors, the shining chandelier above the ceiling, the paintings on the walls, along with vases that look like some kind of ancient Chinese or Japanese antiques... No matter where you look at, everything seems to just scream 'Extravagance'!

***

"Oh! Ben? Keny? You're finally here! I almost thought you wouldn't come!" A voiced called out as soon as they arrived at the Mansion's loungue.

The place was spacious, there are several pairs of chairs and tables around, it could possibly fit more than fourty people, there was also a smooth classical instrumental music that was played making the place very solemn. 

However, contrary to the extravagance of the venue, the people around are too few.. only around eight and to make the matter worse, only two of them are male and the rest are females.

***

"Dammit! Daniel! why didnt you told us that were going into this place? I mean, look around! It's a freaking Mansion!" Keny pulled Daniel to the corner with Ben as he began interogating him with annoyed look.

"Eh, what are you getting so worked up? didnt I told you that Elain's family is rich?" Daniel said with a confused expression, seemingly oblivious about the matter.

"He did?" Keny look at him doubtly before turning to Ben as if asking for confirmation.

"Well.. technically, he did..." Ben nodded with a wry smile, before adding: "However you never told us that the scale was like this... Also Daniel, how the f*ck did you become a rich girl's childhood friend?"

"Yes! The big question is how!? I mean, no offense, you don't look that... You know?" Keny nodded without a caring about the psychological damaged he brought to the other party.

"... Seriously?" Daniel was speechless as he look at them:"Didnt I told you already that my family is rich?"

"You did, but we never believed because you're house isn't this big!" Keny snorted, as pointing out the reason why he didn't believed him.

"That... because most of my family's assets and businesses are in China. And you could say that were kind of a local snake there." Daniel Chen hesitated for a bit before finally explaining.

***

(IDITED-2X)