Sunday dinner at my partner J's.
And it was a crowded affair.
His dining table that's meant for four on most days, is filled with food that can feed 12 hungry people though only his closest family members were gathered at his place.
And that's the real treat for J.
His parents, retired government servants from Jakarta, shuttle between Indonesia, Singapore and Australia in their free time.
This month, the entire clan descended on our sunny island.
So joining J's second brother and his wife -- both of whom have since renounced their Indonesian citizenship and have pledged loyalty to our democratic society, based on justice and equality -- were his parents and his eldest brother who is an Australian citizen.
With all of J's family gatherings, home-cooked food is a must.
The matron, who is also Peranakan, had singlehandedly whipped up family favourites: Chap chye, babi pongteh, black-ink squid with lemongrass, and 30 sticks of pork satay, courtesy of Lily our sister in law.
It was one of J's mum's favourite things to do. Host parties, feed people, have a great time.
Arguably, that's also my sex bunny friend Stanley's favourite thing to do. Host parties (of a certain type) feed people (provided it's consensual), have a great time.
But let's not go there.
It's a heartwarming scene unfolding in front of my eyes right now, with too much cackling going on.
It's the start of their month-long celebrations. J's parents, residing in Melbourne with his oldest brother, flew in earlier this week.
The idea was for the entire clan to fly to Jakarta to attend a family wedding: The Holy Matrimony of Ignatius Soewarno and a certain daughter of a certain influential tycoon in Surabaya who apparently owns a chain of profit-making businesses.
And I'm feeling very warm and fuzzy.
You see, recently, my elder sis also announced she was proposed to.
She may be 48, but she can easily pass off as a 32-year-old bride, I kid you not.
To me, this wedding trip of J's family is a rehearsal for my own family's marriage prep work.
Ours wouldn't be so complicated though. Both the would-be wedding of Sis and Eddie, my soon-to-be brother-in-law, won't involve family flights.
J's though, oh, it's a major project.
Families like J's where everyone is all over the world takes massive coordination.
From New Zealand and Australia to Singapore and other parts of Indonesia, there'll be mass migration movement of the Soewarnos and the girl's family whose identities shall remain nameless here.
On paper, the plan is simple.
J's entire family comes to Singapore for a few days of quality time (including tonight) and then fly off to join the rest of the clan.
Flights have been confirmed. Hotel rooms, mass-booked two months ahead of time.
All I need to do, according to J, is to turn up for events when I'm needed to turn up as his Plus One.
And it would be celebrations that last for a week.
There's the family-only gathering of J's nephew. J warned me. That's gonna take two days. Everyone -- from the elders to the little ones -- would squeeze into one of their family mansions and the women will gather to cook for that grand gathering.
And then, there's the wedding mass on Friday for family and very close friends, followed by a reception which, as bewildering as it sounds, involves only drinks and nibblies with no sit-down table arrangements.
And then, on the day of the actual wedding that involves one and sundry, we were to gather at the venue and party.
J may not be the party type, but he's a family man.
And if the family event calls for him to party, then party he would.
I told sex bunny friend Stanley the plans.
"Sounds very tiring," he said.
"Right?" I sighed.
"I'm already imagining how, if I were there, I would slot in hookups amid this very packed schedule."
Adam's stories are based on real life events and inspired by real people
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