Chapter XXVIII – The Party

Surrounded by cheerful laughs, friendly conversations, and absurdly loud music that Irene and Max kept trying to turn down despite Tjay’s protests, Arthur sat on the couch absentmindedly with a coy smile.

“You seem awfully quiet,” Nabi told Arthur as she sat down next to him. “Whatcha thinking about? Don’t tell me you’re bored.”

Arthur became present. His eyes observed the room.

In front of the TV, Don, Ari, and Sophie talked about acting. It was funny to watch Don try and keep up with the two who were capable of blabbing for hours nonstop. Considering that they were misled into helping out, Ari found Don’s improvisation skill quite impressive even if he stumbled on words during scenes. She even went as far as to suggest that he should consider writing plays. Meanwhile, Sophie bragged about her performance, but Ari kept on teasing her claiming she mustn’t have heard herself.

“Sophie. . . You’re awful at acting,” Ari said.

“Am not!” she yelled out defensively changing her posture to appear more dramatic. “You just lack understanding of fine arts.”

“Whatever you say. . .”

“Don, you liked my performance, right?” Sophie glanced at him.

Don froze in place, mumbling words without saying anything intelligible. Sophie sighed defeated.

“Fine, fine. . . Guess I suck,” she mumbled disappointedly.

“We are all bad at something,” Ari reassured her while placing a hand on her shoulder. “Honestly I feared you’re some sort of alien. Guess now it balanced out with how tragic your acting is. . .”

Ari burst into laughter. Sophie simply crossed her arms and pouted, but in reality, they were all having a laugh.

With the music finally settling down a bit, Arthur’s glance stopped on Max who was wrestling Tjay while Irene snuck past and turned down the volume. Though her carefree attitude quickly shifted to anger as the two bumped into a shelf nearly knocking down a small porcelain vase, saved only by her quick reflexes.

“Stop!” she yelled out pacifying the two.

Max and Tjay went silent and submitted like pets. Irene crossed her arms and tapped her foot on the ground. Her glare was menacing, revealing a side of her that they didn’t know of. She sighed and shook her head in disbelief.

“If you’re gonna do that, then do it outside. . .” she scolded them.

“Yes ma’am. . .” both mumbled.

Arthur chuckled.

“Nah,” he finally answered Nabi’s question whose attention was also stolen away. “I’m just having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that I’m having a birthday party.”

Nabi chuckled.

“That’s kinda cute,’ she said with a smile on her face as Irene flopped next to the two.

“What is?” Irene asked.

“Arthur’s surprised reaction to us throwing him a party."

“Wait. . . You don’t remember your previous birthdays, right?”

Arthur shook his head.

“Then that makes this one extra special. It’s like you’ve been reborn, making this your first every birthday party,” Irene said unaware of how right she was.

“Ha, I haven’t thought of it that way,” Nabi commented.

“You know what that means right?” Tjay cut in having listened in. “Max, come with me. . .”

“Sure. . .” Max said confused.

“What’s he up to now. . .” Nabi mumbled annoyed.

Tjay and Max proceeded to the kitchen.

“Ah, just let them do whatever,” Arthur said genuinely happy. “Sorry about being so quiet, I’ve just been enjoying everyone’s presence.”

Arthur kept on thinking how he never celebrated his birthday. Due to certain events, Arthur was always left an orphan and a tool to be used by others.

“It’s your party Oppa,” Sophie said approaching the table to grab a drink having finished her conversation with Ari and Don, both of which sat down next to them. “You can do whatever you want.”

“She’s right you know,” Irene commented elbowing gently Arthur’s side.

“Am I the only one worried what those two might be doing?” Nabi mumbled again.

Don looked nervous which drew Nabi’s attention.

“You know what they’re up to, don’t ya?” Nabi gazed at Don who panicked.

“N- No!”

“Spill it. . .” Irene joined in.

“Yeah Don. . . Just tell us,” Sophie added intending to see Don flustered.

Ari sighed in disbelief chuckling to Don’s helplessness as he attempted to remain quiet while being pried for information.

Moments later, Max and Tjay reentered the living room with two bags full of soju bottles.

“Now it’s a party!” Tjay yelled out.

“Alcohol?” Nabi asked.

It was illegal for them to purchase alcohol due to age.

“Of course it is! What kind of a party would it be if it didn’t have any?” he added.

"How'd ya even get your hands on it?" Nabi asked.

"You have your secrets, I have mine."

“This is such a bad idea. . .” Max mumbled.

“Give me one,” Irene said confidently.

“Cool!” Tjay said slightly surprised while handing over a bottle. “Phew, I thought you’d kill me. Women are scary, right Max?”

“Dude. . . Don’t put your BS on me. . .”

“Why would I kill you, it’s not as if I’ve never drunk alcohol before?” Irene asked confused glancing at everyone in the room. “You guys did too. . . Right?”

Everyone stayed quiet. Arthur refrained from saying anything as he has no recollection of what he did in the past, but during his previous lives, he indulged on more than a few occasions.

“We’re not old enough to buy alcohol,” Sophie mentioned to Irene.

“Yeah, but like everyone tries it by now. . .” she said as others averted their gaze. “Well. . . Guess better late than never.”

“Give me one as well,” Arthur said.

“Oppa. . .” Sophie mumbled worriedly.

“It’s fine Soph,” Arthur commented while grabbing a bottle from Max. “Better to do it in this environment than outside among others.”

“Guess that’s true. . .” Sophie sighed. “Then I’ll be having one as well!”

“You sure?” Max asked.

“Just let her,” Tjay interrupted.

“Shut it dude. I wasn’t asking you.”

“Whatever. . .” Tjay sighed.

“Yeah, I’m sure. Like Oppa said, it’s better to do it now when I’m among you guys.”

“Alright then,” Max said giving her a bottle as well while taking one for himself.

They unloaded the bags and placed all the bottles in the center of the table. To everyone’s surprise, Don took one as well. Feeling left out, Nabi and Ari glanced at each other and grabbed one too.

“Seems everyone is drinking!” Tjay said excitedly. “We should totally play a drinking game then.”

“What type of game?” Nabi asked.

Arthur took a few sips finding the alcohol quite tasty compared to what he tasted before. It was a bit weaker too. Irene looked at him curiously.

“Hmm, you really never tried alcohol before?” she whispered while everyone was focused on Tjays suggestion.

“Not that I remember,” Arthur whispered back.

Irene found his reaction to alcohol unusual, but could only shrug her shoulders.

“How about never have I ever?” Irene suggested.

“What’s that?” Sophie asked.

“Good one,” Tjay said.

“Simple. We go in a circle and say never have I ever and then make a statement about ourselves. If you’ve done it, you drink. If only one person drinks, then they must explain. If no one drinks, then the one who made the statement drinks.”

“Sounds fun,” Nabi said.

“Uh, I don’t know. . .” Ari mumbled.

“It’ll be fine Ari,” Sophie comforted her while nodding to the idea.

“Well, it does sound like a good way to get to know each other better. I’m game,” Max said.

“Don?” Irene asked.

“I umm. . .” he mumbled averting his gaze, but soon remembered Irene’s words not too long ago in the classroom about being more confident. “Fine!” he yelled out with his eyes closed. “I won’t back down.”

Max and Nabi hardly kept their chuckles in, while Ari was shocked by his determination, giving her extra motivation to join in. Irene proudly smiled and gave him a nod.

“Arthur?” Irene turned to him.

“If everyone’s down for it, then so am I.”

“Great!” Irene said cheerfully. “Alright, I’ll start. . .” she took a moment to ponder. “Never have I ever skipped school.”

Sophie sighed as everyone but Don and Nabi drank, including Irene. Their reactions to alcohol were similar. Sophie's expression had disgust written all over it as she stuck her tongue out. Max and Tjay were trying to hold in their true reaction but in doing so made it look even funnier. Ari almost spilled her drink but held it in, and Irene drank it casually.

“Wait,” Ari noticed Irene drinking. “I thought you said that we’re supposed to make statements about ourselves. Why did you say something you’ve done?”

“I never said it had to be a true statement, as long as I drink to it to reveal the truth,” Irene chuckled, clearly enjoying drinking. “Anyway, next!”

Because Arthur was to her left, he was up next. The order was Irene, Arthur, Nabi, Max, Tjay, Don, Ari, and finally Sophie.

“Hmm,” Arthur pondered. “Never have I ever gotten into trouble with teachers.”

Arthur expected only Tjay to drink, but Irene and Max joined him as well. He glanced at them surprised, but Irene averted her gaze with a sigh.

“All I’m gonna say is Miss Kim can be quite difficult sometimes. . .” Max mumbled.

“She does love comparing you to your sister. . .” Nabi chuckled.

“Your sister goes to our school?” Sophie asked.

“Why doesn’t she join us sometimes?” Ari asked.

“Isn’t it obvious,” Tjay cut in. “Cuz she’s too cool for Max.”

“Hey! That’s not it!” Max yelled. “I’ve just told her not to stick to me cuz it’s embarrassing. . .”

“You find her embarrassing?” Sophie asked then turned to Arthur. “Is it the same for you?”

“No, no. . .” Arthur sighed shaking his head. “Not at all. I love your company.”

“Can we just not talk about it?” Max asked annoyed.

Everyone dropped the subject.

“Alright. . . Me next,” Nabi spoke up. “Never have I ever kissed someone.”

Irene sighed taking a sip along with Max.

“Guess you never got any action,” Tjay said to Nabi taking a sip as well.

“Who said that?” Nabi chuckled taking a sip smugly.

Tjay looked at her shocked. He never expected that.

"Who'd ya kiss?" Tjay pried but Nabi simply shook her head.

"I wasn't the only one who drank, so I ain't telling you nothing. . ." she chuckled.

Hoping nobody was paying attention, Sophie took a sip as well.

“Sophie?” Ari looked at her in disbelief. “You kissed someone?!”

“Don’t yell!” She said flustered. “It was short-lived. . .”

“You’ve never told me about it!” Ari kept yelling.

“Woah, even our Sophie got in on the action,” Tjay commented, but quickly yelped in pain as Max stomped his foot. “What was that for?”

“Don’t say it weird like that. . .” Max said defensively.

“Dude. . . I didn’t mean it like that,” he sighed.

“So who’d ya kiss?” Irene leaned in with a smirk.

“I uh. . . Umm. . .” she was too flustered to speak.

“Can’t believe you didn’t tell me,” Ari said with a coy smile.

“A boy from our class confessed to me during our first week of high school, so we went on a few dates. We kissed a few times, but decided that it wasn’t gonna work out so never actually made it official.”

“Why not?” Irene pried.

“Honestly?” she sighed. “He was cute, but we just had nothing to talk about.”

“Ah, I see. . .” Irene sighed leaning back.

“But why didn’t you tell me? You went on more than one date with him. . .” Ari kept asking.

“Cuz I was embarrassed, and he told me not to mention it to anyone so that people don’t make a huge fuss over it. Sorry. . .” she mumbled apologetically.

Ari sighed shaking her head.

“Don’t worry about it. I’m not mad you didn’t tell me, just surprised!” Ari explained. “You have a right to keeping secrets, but like. . .”

“Nah, you’re right. I should’ve told you. I’ll refrain from keeping such secrets in the future.”

“Good. . .” she approved before leaning in. "So who was it?"

"Not gonna tell you!" Sophie chuckled.

"So much about not keeping any secrets!" Ari teased but Sophie simply pointed her tongue at her.

“Alright then. . .” Irene cut in, then turned to Arthur. “You’ve never kissed anyone?”

“Nope,” he answered instantly. “Not that I remember at least. . . But somehow I don’t imagine I did even in the past based on what I know about myself.”

Even in his previous lives, he never kissed anyone. There were a few moments where he got close to doing it.

“Yeah, no. . . Oppa you were pretty much stuck in your room all the time.”

“Gee, thanks. . .” Arthur chuckled. “Alright, next. . .”

Arthur glanced towards Max.

“Never have I ever. . . Umm. . .” Max sighed glancing to the side thinking. “Ah, I know! Never have I ever stolen something.”

“Pff. . . Easy,” Tjay said chucking his drink.

It seemed as if he was going to be the only one but Irene took a sip as well.

“You stole something?” Sophie asked her.

“Yeah. . . I stole my older sister’s stuff all the time when I was younger,” she chuckled. “I often got busted for it, but I still did it.”

“You have an older sister?” Arthur found himself curious.

“Yeah,” she turned to Arthur. “Her name’s Amelia. Tho she’s staying in London so I doubt you’ll guys meet her anytime soon.”

“Cool,” Max added.

“Alright, my turn now,” Tjay said. “Never have I ever watched porn. . .”

Everyone stayed quiet, but Irene broke the silence when she took a sip. They all looked at her.

“What?” she asked shrugging her shoulders. “I can’t be the only one. . .”

Glancing at each other, everyone took a sip except for Tjay. Sophie was surprised to see Arthur drink, but the opposite was just as true.

“I only looked at it once. . .” Ari said with a low voice.

“Me too. I wondered what everyone always kept watching,” Sophie added with a bit more confidence.

“Sure. . . Everyone is suddenly innocent,” Tjay said taking a sip as well.

“I was beginning to wonder when you’d drink,” Nabi commented.

The rest kept quiet.

“Don, your turn,” Nabi said.

“Never have I ever gone to a concert.”

Tjay sighed at the question. Though to everyone’s surprise only Irene and Nabi drank.

“Seriously?” Nabi asked looking at everyone.

“I’d like to go though,” Arthur commented.

“We should see what concerts are gonna be around here once summer comes,” Irene mentioned. “We could all go together. It’d be a blast!”

Everyone agreed.

“My turn,” Ari said. “Hmm. . . Umm. . . Never have I ever. . . Gotten into a fight.”

“Well that’s just unfair,” Arthur sighed with a chuckle as he took a sip.

“Yeah. . .” Max and Tjay mumbled taking one as well.

Even Nabi took a sip which surprised most.

“Oh, right! You had that catfight with the girl that insulted Mia,” Tjay commented chuckling.

“Who’s Mia?” Ari asked.

“My Ex-BFF,” Nabi explained. “Last year when we were hanging around in a park, some bitch dared insult us and even threatened Mia so I ended up tackling her.”

“I’m having a hard time imagining you fight,” Max said surprised. “How’d you find out anyway?” he asked Tjay.

“Well, I was there when it happened. It was hilarious!”

Irene also took a sip.

“You’ve gotten into a fight as well?” Arthur asked.

“Yeah. . . Guess I'll tell you one day," she winked looking back towards the rest.

Tjay took over the conversation moments later bragging about his fights, but at the same time claimed that he disliked doing so. Nobody believed him.

“So yeah! Arthur, we should totally do that spar,” he challenged him once more.

“I already told you we will, but not now. . .”

“You two are gonna fight?” Irene asked bored out of her mind listening to Tjay for so long.

“He keeps challenging me,” Arthur sighed.

“Well, you better not lose.”

“Don't get your hopes up. No way he can beat me. . .” Tjay remained cocky.

“Wanna bet?” Irene asked with a smirk.

“You’re on!”

“Wait. . . How did it end up like this?” Arthur glanced at them back and forth.

“Don’t worry,’ Irene turned to Arthur with a smile. “I believe in you.”

“I believe in him too,” Max cut in. “Can I bet as well?”

“Guys. . .” Sophie sighed shaking her head.

“How about loser has to listen to everything the winner says for a week!” Tjay offered smugly.

Irene was stunned by the bet. It wasn’t something she could easily wager.

“That’s a bit much. . .” Nabi said.

“Yeah. . .” Ari and Sophie agreed.

Irene glanced at Arthur only to see a disapproving look towards Tjay. He wasn’t amused by the bet.

“I can’t bet on-” Irene began talking but was interrupted.

“Tjay,” Arthur spoke with a honeyed voice. “We’ll accept that bet, but only if you raise the stakes.”

“Art-” Irene said but was once again interrupted.

“What is it?” Tjay asked with his interest piqued.

“As an additional reward, you’ll get your seat back and Irene will apologize for taking it in the first place, but. . . If you lose, you’ll have to not be late for class until the end of semester and refrain from making trouble in class again. That includes speaking to others and making any sort of distractions. Deal?”

“Deal!” Tjay instantly accepted. “Name a time and place.”

“Irene, you fine with this bet?” Arthur looked at her with a smile, though she could tell it was fake.

She couldn’t figure out what exactly annoyed him to go that far, but she wasn’t able to refuse his resolve. In truth, she found it attractive.

“You better not lose. . .” Irene whispered.

“I’ll never lose a fight,” Arthur carried his words with confidence.

“Alright then,” Irene sighed turning to Tjay. “I accept.”

“We can fight next weekend,” Arthur said. “As for the place. . . How about the park not far from here?”

“You’re on.”

Everyone sighed, but Max felt left out. He wanted to gamble as well but was ignored completely.

“OK then. . . My turn,” Sophie shook her head. “Never have I ever cried to a movie.”

She tried giving a more relaxing question to make the tension disperse. Everyone drank apart from Arthur who simply hadn’t seen sad movies yet.

The party continued as they made a few more circles of never have I ever, but the questions were a lot tamer. They danced to music, sang karaoke, and even ended up watching an action/comedy movie. Arthur was also taught a few card games, but Don kept on winning at everything. People began wondering if he was the luckiest person there or was it simply a skill that they weren’t aware of. Everyone was a bit tipsy but overall it was a fun day.

“Gift time!” Irene yelled out.

“Gift?” Arthur looked at her confused.

“You didn’t- Hic!- Think we’d forget. . .” Max said.

“Ye dude. . . Totally. . . Gift. . .” Tjay’s speech slowed down significantly and his movement was wobbly.

Nabi, Sophie, and Ari stopped drinking after a while and turned back to sodas, while Don simply didn’t drink almost at all during never have I ever. Irene was a bit tipsy, but she could control herself.

Sophie ran out of the living room only to return later with two gifts. They were both wrapped up nicely, one being inside a box while the other wrapped up only in paper.

“What’s this?” Arthur asked.

“Well, open it Oppa,” Sophie said with a smile. “The one in the box is from Ari and me, while the other one is from the rest.”

“I see. . .” Arthur picked up the box first with a smile.

Unwrapping it, he found inside a pair of running shoes. Expensive looking blue shoes of a brand he didn’t know. Everyone could tell he was taken away by it as he held them with great care and a bright smile on his face. He was touched.

“Thanks you two. . . You didn’t have to, but I’ll cherish them.”

“Of course, we had to. . . It’s your birthday!” Ari said.

“Now you have proper shoes when we go running!” Sophie chuckled kissing Arthur on the cheek. “Open the other one now!”

“Alright, alright. . .” Arthur said excitedly.

Opening it up, he found a grey backpack. With two side pockets and one large, it had just enough room for anything Arthur needed. His old backpack wasn’t in the best shape with a few torn places. The others must’ve noticed. Opening it up, he found it spacious, but what surprised him the most was the added detail at the top from within. Sewed together with the bag was a leather strap with everyone’s initials. Sophie’s and Ari’s names were included.

“We added that so you’d have something to remember us by always,” Irene commented. “We considered putting it on the outside, but figured you’d appreciate it more as a hidden detail.”

“I umm. . .” Arthur was left speechless. “I would’ve liked it just as much if your names were on the front for everyone to see. Thank you all.”

The group was proud for managing to pull the entire party off as well as get gifts that Arthur seemed to genuinely like. Though the party was far from over.

“Gonna take the cake now!” Max said while rushing to the kitchen having been the one to arrange it being made.

His movement was wobbly so Tjay went to help him who was just as drunk. Nabi sighed and followed along before they dropped it.

Enjoying their slices, the chocolate flavored cake seemed to have been made by a skilled pastry chef.

Chapter End.

Thank you for reading.