Birmingham day 1

The sky is bright orange when we all have gathered at the airport. The smooth breeze touches my hair as we drag our suitcases along to the check-in gate. The last time I’ve been here was like 3 or 4 years ago when I went to Thailand for the holiday and everybody was really jealous of me. And this time, way better! Birmingham!

Vi’s parents is like 10 feet away from us, they are wearing thousand-dollars suits and they both look immaculate and “important”.


It has been a pleasant day for us and we all really have prepared lots of energies for Birmingham and now, Ian and Jeremy have become closer than ever. They talked about music and Jeremy is all kind about it. He doesn’t act like he’s richer nor has more power, instead he embraces Ian with everything they have in common, such as music, automotives, and of course soccer game.

“MU is better than Arsenal of, course.” Jeremy says.

“Yes they are. Hey, did you watch the last Saturday’s game?” Ian asks.

“Calm down, boys. You can get better time when we’re all in Birmingham.” Vi puts in.

“Yea. You’ll easily get bored of each other if you two don’t shut your mouth on everything.” I add.

“No way!” Jeremy laughs. “We will have loads to talk about, aren’t we?”

“Yeah!” says Ian, taking out his cell phone from his pocket and put it inside a metal box to be scanned by the security guard.



After some processing and put the suitcases in the baggage, we all get into the airplane. A nice-suited lady greets us and kindly shows us where our seats are. After putting our backpack in the cabin, we adjust ourselves to the seat nicely. I got the seat that is next to the window so I can see the beautiful view from here which is why I want this seat. The flight will go about an hour and I can easily make myself comfortable during the flight with Ian beside me and our shoulders brushed each other’s.

Ok, relax…

I know these seats are designed to be as close as possible to make the airplane smaller and lighter or whatever it is. But somehow, this is nice 

After the take-off that always gives me a fright and crazy thoughts that we might not make it into the sky, we all take off the safety belt and settle ourselves back into the seat and well…..we’re off to BIRMINGHAM!










I’M HERE!
Can’t believe it! I’m standing in BIRMINGHAM. Birmingham International Airport to be exact. And I’m breathing Birmingham’s air and everybody just talk in British accent! It’s really cool! Maybe I should talk in their accent too so that I really look “British” and “cool”.

“Excuse me. Can you please show me where the toilet at?” I ask a man in my best British accent. But he doesn’t even turn to see me! “Excuse me.” I say again. He still stands there like a statue, and I think my voice is too low, so I make it louder. “EXCUSE ME!”

“Sugar! God! What’s wrong? What had he done to you? Are you harmed?” Vi suddenly paces up with my step. The guy next to the man has turned to me and says, “He’s deaf.”

Damn great! Now everybody is looking at me in a bewildered look.

“And why the hell are you talking with such accent? You look confuse..” Vi says again.

Ian and Jeremy have now joined us too and ask me what went wrong. God, it’s just me trying my new British accent! And no one harmed me!





A driver named Jake takes us all to Vi’s mansion with a Lexus so that we can put all of our things in it. As we drive along the road, I just can’t take my eyes from Birmingham roads and cars and peoples, I just need to take in as many informations as possible while I’m here.

I was halfway through my bag to take my diary so that I can list everything when Mrs. Freyson ask us all, “So, you are all Vi’s chosen friends then? Really nice to meet you all!” she gives us all a handshake. “Welcome to Birmingham. And ah, I never saw this man before. What’s your name, young man?” she asks, referring to Ian.

“Ian. Ian Somer.” Ian nods.

“Oh. Ian. So, you are in the same school as the three of them, I suppose?” she asks again, wiping her hand with a tissue elegantly. Why do rich people seem so elegant, even when they just taking a tissue?

“No actually. I’m in Colin High.” He replies.

“Oh.” Mrs. Freyson says, without a pause.

“Dear, you just go with the children to the mansion, I have to go to the branch.” Mr. Freyson suddenly says after consulting his PDA and blackberry.

“Oh. I’ll go with you then..” Mrs. Freyson says, putting a supporting hand on her husband shoulder. Ideal couple, aren’t they?

“Are you sure? Don’t you want to take some rest after the flight?” He turns his face to his wife in an understanding face.

“No. It’s okay.” She says.





After 10 minutes or so the car slow down as we enter the huge gate that reveals us a small park with a beautiful water fountain. Then as we go along, we can see a double door on the other side of the fountain When it finally stops, I just realized how rich my friend is. I mean, this mansion of her is really, really, gigantic!

And as we enter the mansion with the maids taking care of our suitcases, I just can’t stop gawking at the interior. It’s an airy space with all simple and white furniture. The drapes are long and thick with big gray flowers and the paintings all over the room are unbelievable. This is a dream house!

The sofas are semi-circle all white and one big flat TV sitting proudly as the centre of the beauty. As we moves slowly and enter another room, my heart skips as I caught a sight of a beautiful grand piano, all black and glossy with tall book shelves that touch the ceiling.

“Well then, make yourselves home. We have to go and be back at about 6.” Mr. Freyson says.

“Sure, we will!” Vi says delightedly. And with that, the Freyson couple leaves the house with a limo and we’re left here. Only us four with this huge house and all the things we need.


“Well, where do we start?” I ask and she laughs modestly.

“it’s not that big, Sugar.”

Yeah well, it’s only freakin enormous!

“Let me show you all your rooms okay? Err, Ian, you don’t mind sleep in the same room with Jeremy, right? Cos all other rooms will be used by my relatives.” Vi asks.

“No I don’t mind at all.” Ian says, smiling.

Vi leads the way through the spiral stairs that covered in marble and then we turn to a corridor with paintings and photos displayed on the wall. After passing some doors, she turns and opens a door that looks just like the others.

In front of us is a spacious room with 2 single beds like the ones you see in a hotel room. In fact, the whole room resembles a hotel room expect for the wardrobe cos It’s much bigger and the bath room doesn’t provide toothpaste and hair dryer. But it looks perfect and comfortable. Beside each bed are Ian and Jeremy’s suitcases and above the bed, instead of plain ceiling, a clear glass framed the sky perfectly, which is my favorite part of the room.

“Here is the boys’ room. And there is our room.” Vi points to the last door in the row. The boys are left in their room and we head to our room. It’s much much much much better than then. Honestly, this is a dream room for girls. It’s big and colorful and the bed is huge and….gosh, I can live here for the rest of my life!

“Here where we gonna sleep and spend lots of time.” Vi introduces the room.

“Oh my god, Vi! this is gorgeous!” I gasp. Vi laughs then we start to unpack our suitcases and relax for some time before we gather in the living room for a tea time.

Actually, it’s not the same living room, it’s in another part of the house which face the beautiful garden. It all made of wood and the cakes are yummy. Ruby is chasing the butterflies and he plays with Vi’s other big german shepherd dog named Billy.

“So, I think we need a set of plan for the next 7 days.” I grin.

“Yea! Totally! I mean, there are just too much things to do and we need to get it in order.” Jeremy says. Vi gets inside to take a paper and a pen and start to write the days and time.

“Err guys, actually I should go to London on Wednesday.” Jeremy suddenly says. “to meet Hayley.”

“What? When? I mean, how? You don’t know England, aren’t you?” Vi stares at him. Actually, I stare at him too.

“Well, I can always ask someone, right? I really can handle that myself.” Jeremy says.

“Who’s Hayley?” Ian interrupts.

Dang! He doesn’t have any idea about Hayley, aren’t he?

“our boss’s daughter. Hayley Manson” I simply reply.

“What?” Ian now goggles at us all, then turn to me again, “Hayley Manson?” he echoes.

“Yeah. She’s Jeremy’s ex.” I admit.

No one talks or some seconds, still try to figure things out in our own mind, get the strings straight.

“So…?” Vi says, breaking the ice.

“So, I won’t be with you guys on Wednesday.” Jeremy says, helping us figuring things out.

“And won’t she be with us here?” I ask.

“No. she doesn’t know Vi at all. Maybe we’ll meet and spend time together but not staying overnights.” Jeremy explains. “But she also will go to US 3 days after we arrived there.”

“Okay…” Vi says slowly.


This isn’t like how we expected. Hayley also gonna stayed in US and we will all meet her in UK too. Will she be a nice person? Will her presence complete us? a whole rack of thought swirling around in my head.

Let’s hope for the best…