Surprise mixed to shock turn my face to a mask of blushing embarrassment. Why are all my friends here? I didn't expect them to apply for 20 Days of Freedom. Oh, well, I should've remembered that the project is top secret. I just couldn't tell them straight away; therefore, neither could they.

Anton, Lindsey, Kat and Brianna. They're all here. None is missing. This is going to be pure chaos. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy being around them. It's that, as I mentioned before, their presence is unexpected. I thought I'd be stuck with strangers.

"This is gonna be epic!" says Lindsey in such a loud voice that I fear some grumpy Karen may call the police. I'd tell her to shut up under other circumstances, but I prefer not interjecting.

"I mean, twenty days away from family and obnoxious bitches are all I needed," adds Anton. From his intonation, he could sound sarcastic, but I want to believe he's serious. How can his brother still be around treating him like he's a lowlife, all to appease their toxic, ultra competitive father?

Kat retorts. "Days? If it were twenty years, it'd be perfect." Again, she's on the thin line between being sarcastic and being serious. Wow. We're all in the shit, and this project can save us from sinking in it.

"If we do well here, we might get true freedom for our entire lives," I point out. "Imagine not having to see any of those dysfunctional freaks for many, many years. Trust me when I say I'd do anything to keep my parents out of my life."

"Even a human sacrifice?" Well, Anton's suggestion sounds extremely dangerous, so I have to turn it down. He can't really mean what he's just said, can he?

"Shall we get in?" asks Brianna, pointing at the mansion behind us. Its brick red façade sticks out like a sore thumb in the green, with those white houses with picket fences fading in contrast to it.

I think our new home will either be lavishly decorated, with furniture as precious as the Crown's jewels, or bare and abandoned, with us having to take care personally of renovation. The only way to find out is to go in.

Brianna leads the way to the entrance, while the rest of us follows, bags in tow. Lindsey pants every once in a while, aggravating Kat. "I thought you only brought the essentials with you," comments the latter.

Lindsey retorts. "We're staying for twenty days, not two!"

I intervene, "Let's not argue, okay?"

Kat gives me a disgruntled look as I help Lindsey with her bags.

In the meantime, we're all in the main hall, where a massive line of stairs stands in front of us. I close the door behind us. I wonder what awaits upstairs. I'm certain we'll have our well-deserved personal space, which means no family members or other undesired presences nosing around.

I get it, I shouldn't be too excited as I'm sure there's a catch. But, hey, this is the place where I can be myself, away from Mom and Dad's toxic behavior.

I suggest we go up on the first floor. Everyone follows, even Lindsey with her line of bags. The rest of us has to take turns to help her with her suitcases. "I hope there's a lot of disposable stuff," says Brianna, "and that you'll go back home lighter."

"Let's not talk about home, okay?" is my reply. "We're here to have fun."

"You're right, Silla. This is the spirit."

Before I search for the bedrooms, I notice a sign. It says, 'There are five rooms, one for each of you, along with three bathrooms and a common room where you can relax and have some fun activities. This house has a lot to offer, but you'll find out as you explore it. Enjoy!'

I wonder what's there in the common room. Maybe, there's a sort of cinema too. Moreover, there has to be a whole new world in the rooms downstairs. I guess we'll find out as we live together these twenty days.

My stream of thoughts is interrupted by Anton pondering about the room distribution. "Since each of us is supposed to have their own room, and they weren't assigned beforehand, I guess we have to decide how to choose," he says.

No-one answers, including me. He shrugs. "Okay, I guess each of us will choose randomly. That is, unless someone wants to inspect each of them."

"I think going with our gut is a good strategy," replies Kat, cutting him off. "Let's go, I need some rest—and a shower." She wanders off the corridors, leaving the rest of us behind.

Lindsey looks at me with pleading eyes. "You were so nice helping me out with your bags, so-" Fortunately for me, Brianna steps up to sort part of her luggage, which means I'm free from that heavy duty. This only leaves me and Anton alone in front of the sign.

"Do you think the others have already an idea of what room they'll choose?" he asks.

"I suppose they'll follow their instinct, as Kat put it," I answer. "And I think we should do the same. Who knows, they could all be designed the same way and have the exact same furniture in the same spot."

He rebuts. "But this isn't a hotel-"

"Have you ever heard of cohesion in style?" Anton facepalms as I realize I'm sarcastic. He knows about interior design way better than me. But he also knows how mine was only a hypothesis. So, why is he so hellbent on playing mind games with me? It's not like he has anything to lose, like me or the rest of our friends.

I decide to put an end to this sort of argument. "Let's just get to a room and unpack, okay. We're here to have fun, not discuss how our rooms are supposed to look like."

"You're right, baby. I'll go to the right." Anton calling me 'baby' is totally unexpected. Why would he do so? It's not like I perceive it as a pet peeve of mine. I'm simply not used to it. I guess I'll just let it go. It's not that big of a deal.

Since everyone else is likely to have settled in, it's time for me to do so as well. I notice a door not far from the sign I read before. Hands on the doorknob, I pull the door. Okay. This is not a bedroom. Instead, I notice a pool table, a 65-inch TV and three footstools.

I decide to call the others to share my discovery with them. I shout from the top of my lungs. "Guys, guess what I've just found? You'll love it, trust me!"

I don't expect anyone to answer, so I take a seat on a pouffe while leaving my belongings out of the door. It's an irresponsible act, but I don't care. I'm here to be free to do as I want. My bags can wait for now.

Contrary to my expectations, the rest of the gang shows up, much to my surprise. Anton and Kat eye the pool table and are already in for a challenge. "Who else wants to join?" asks the former.

"I mean, I wanted to take a nap, but I changed your mind as you called, Silla," adds Kat. "How did you find this room?"

I don't answer directly. Instead, I join the pool game, followed by Brianna, while Lindsey stays behind, just watching us as she isn't into billiards.

The party has just started.