A Change of Plans

It was almost midnight, and the three of us were in our rooms packing for the trip to Prague. We had planned this trip for weeks, and now that it was finally here, I felt a mix of excitement and nostalgia.

Sack was the first to finish packing. As always, his minimalist style was reflected in his suitcase: just a couple of changes of clothes, his new camera, and a few books. He didn't need much to be comfortable.

—Are you done already? —I asked as I walked into his room to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything important.

—Yes —he replied with a small smile, closing his suitcase with a click—. I don't see the point of bringing more than I'll actually use. Plus, this way I have space for souvenirs… or for Olivia to force me to carry her extra shopping.

I laughed at his comment, knowing he wasn't far off.

When I went to check on Olivia, I found total chaos. There were three open suitcases on her bed, all stuffed to the brim. Clothes, shoes, and accessories were scattered all over the room as if she had raided a fashion store.

—Olivia, do you really need all this? —I asked, incredulous.

—Of course! —she exclaimed, holding up a sparkly dress in front of the mirror—. You never know what opportunities might come up in Prague. Maybe I'll meet some European prince or something. I need to be prepared for anything.

—Or maybe you'll just walk across Charles Bridge and take photos —Sack interjected from the doorway, raising an eyebrow as he looked at the suitcases—. Do you really think you're going to wear all that?

—It's better to be prepared than sorry —Olivia responded dramatically, tossing another pair of shoes into one of the suitcases—. Besides, you two can be my official luggage carriers if something doesn't fit.

Sack shook his head, but I could see a small smile forming on his face. It was impossible not to give in to Olivia's enthusiasm.

The next morning, we got up early to get to the airport with plenty of time. However, as usual, Olivia had other plans.

—Hurry, hurry! —she shouted from the entrance while trying to drag her three suitcases toward the car—. If we don't leave now, we'll miss the flight.

—And whose fault is it that we have so much luggage? —Sack muttered as he helped load the suitcases into the trunk.

Everything seemed fine until halfway through the drive when we realized we had forgotten our passports at home.

—This can't be real! —Olivia exclaimed, slapping her forehead with her palm—. How could we forget them?

—This is your fault —Sack said, pointing accusingly at her—. You distracted everyone with your suitcases and your rushing.

—Now's not the time to assign blame! —I quickly intervened—. Let's go back, grab them, and keep heading to the airport. We can still make it.

After a frantic round trip, we arrived at the airport just as they announced the final boarding call for our flight. We ran like crazy toward the gate, but by the time we got there, it was already closed.

—I'm sorry, guys —the airline agent said with a sympathetic smile—. The plane has already taken off.

We stood there, panting and feeling completely defeated.

—Well… this is a disaster —Olivia said, collapsing into a nearby chair—. Our trip to Prague is officially ruined.

—Not entirely —I responded, trying to stay positive—. We can look for another flight. There's one tomorrow, right?

—Yeah, but that means we'll have to wait an entire extra day —Sack said, crossing his arms—. And I don't know about you two, but I don't want to waste a whole day stuck at the airport.

Olivia suddenly stood up, a spark in her eyes.

—Then let's go somewhere else. There are other destinations in Europe, aren't there? Let me decide. It's my punishment for forgetting the passports.

—What do you have in mind? —I asked, intrigued.

—Zurich —Olivia announced after a few seconds of fake deliberation—. Sounds fancy, doesn't it? Plus, it's the next available flight.

Sack and I exchanged a glance. Zurich hadn't been part of our plans, but at that moment, anything was better than being stranded at the airport.

We bought the tickets with some uncertainty about what awaited us in Zurich. While waiting in the VIP lounge, the atmosphere was a mix of resignation and curiosity.

Sack was absorbed studying his new camera, exploring every feature with fascination. I sat next to him, watching as he adjusted lenses and reviewed shooting modes.

—Looks like you've become a professional photographer overnight —I commented with a smile.

—I'm just learning —he replied, without taking his eyes off the screen—. But I think I'll be able to capture something interesting in Zurich.

I leaned slightly against his shoulder as I watched him work. There was something comforting about his focus, as if all the chaos of the day faded away whenever I was near him.

—Do you think Zurich will be fun? —Olivia asked from the other side of the lounge, where she was devouring a sandwich she had just ordered—. Hopefully, there are good restaurants. I'm starving.

—Always thinking about food —Sack said, rolling his eyes, though he couldn't help but smile.

—Food is important —Olivia responded with her mouth full—. Besides, we'll need energy to explore. Who knows what adventures await us?

I looked at Olivia and then at Sack, feeling how the initial sadness was beginning to fade.

Finally, we boarded the plane bound for Zurich. The cabin was quiet, and the first-class crew attended to us courteously.

Sack continued experimenting with his camera, taking pictures of the landscape through the window. I leaned toward him, observing the images on the screen.

—That one's beautiful —I said, pointing to a photo of clouds illuminated by the sun.

—Thanks —he replied, glancing briefly at me before focusing the camera again—. I think I'm really going to enjoy this.

Olivia, on the other hand, had already ordered another round of snacks and was flipping through a fashion magazine.

—Did you know Zurich has one of the most expensive shopping streets in Europe? —she informed us enthusiastically—. Maybe we should make a quick stop before exploring the rest.

—Sure, Olivia —Sack said sarcastically—. Because what we really need is more clothes.

—Exactly —she responded, ignoring his tone—. Besides, you can never be too prepared for a fashion emergency.

We laughed, feeling how the stress of the day was starting to disappear. Although we hadn't made it to Prague as planned, I knew this impromptu trip to Zurich promised to be just as memorable. After all, with Olivia, Sack, and me together, any place could turn into an unforgettable adventure.