Prologue
They had gathered around his body. Like silent witnesses to a calamity. He had been one of them. Some were pale as a sheet. On other faces, there was an expression of pure disbelief. In some eyes, fear shimmered, while on others, an unspoken question seemed to linger. Silence. No one dared to speak the truth. Who did it? Who killed him? And above all, was it one of them? Was it worth it?
Ten years ago, everything had been different. Back then, they wouldn’t even have recognized the faces that now stared at him so intently. They were strangers, insignificant silhouettes in a crowd. But then something happened that forever intertwined their lives—like a twist of fate, as if the Fates themselves had woven their fingers into the threads of their lives.
Ten years ago, exactly these twenty-two men had met for the first time—at a Pride party that almost ended in disaster. The party was in full swing when suddenly gunshots echoed through the club. Within seconds, the cheerful atmosphere turned into chaos and panic. The men had fled into a small room, barricading the door. Their hearts pounded like drums. Crammed into the room, no one dared to breathe loudly. It was the beginning of something that changed them. The screams outside faded, and only the wailing of sirens echoed before silence returned.
That night, people died. But these twenty-two men survived.
This traumatic event bound them together. It was more than a promise—it was an unspoken law. “We meet every year to celebrate life.” The party had been the beginning, but it was Felix who kept the promise alive.
At first, they kept their promise. For three years in a row, they met regularly. But over time, it became more difficult. Everyday life, work, personal matters—all of it strained the bonds that had once been so strong. The meetings became less frequent, the contact more fleeting, until finally, four years passed without a single gathering.
Felix, one of them and a forty-year-old management consultant who always carried a golden fountain pen in his pocket, never gave up. The golden pen was more than just an accessory—for Felix, it was a symbol of his promise. After half a year of intensive planning, countless messages, and discussions, he managed to bring everyone together again. But this time, it was different. It was supposed to be the end. Some insisted that it would be the last meeting. The bond that had once united them through the traumatic experience had become fragile. For some, it was no longer friendship—just an acquaintance. Nevertheless, they all agreed to make the most of this last meeting—a farewell without sorrow, but with an unforgettable bang.
Their first meeting took place almost a year after the Pride party. That was when they really began to get to know each other, and the first nicknames emerged.
Felix had already started planning for the next meeting after their last one ended. His motto was: “After the meeting is before the meeting.” But this time, everything was different. Ten, nine, or even eight years ago, it had been no problem for him to organize everything and keep the group in the right mood. The first three meetings went smoothly, but from the fourth onward, the intervals became longer. Two years lay between the fourth and fifth meetings—and even then, it had been a constant back and forth. When one person confirmed, another canceled. Felix had to keep calling, motivating, and persuading. But he didn’t give up.
Felix was different. As a business consultant, he had worked his way into a position that allowed him to choose which companies he wanted to work with. Through smart decisions and his reputation as a top-notch consultant, he had quietly earned himself the status of a millionaire. But Felix never talked about money. He held back, almost as if he were ashamed of having more than probably all the others in the group combined.
What distinguished Felix was his freedom, not just his financial success. He could organize his work exactly as he pleased. There were years when he worked only one month but still consulted three major companies. In that one month, he earned more than an average worker did in five years. Felix was expensive, but every cent was worth it—or so his clients said. But despite all his success, it wasn’t his job that truly motivated him. It was these meetings that drove him. The time with the boys. He didn’t want to lose the connection.
Felix had started planning the next meeting four years ago. He was optimistic and believed they would see each other again in one or two years. But then something unexpected happened: Liam broke off contact as if he had vanished from the face of the earth. He was no longer reachable—for Felix or the others. And without Liam, half the group didn’t want to meet. It felt as if the era of their gatherings was slowly coming to an end. Felix was disappointed, felt betrayed—almost mocked. But he didn’t show it. He remained polite, distant, and never let the others feel how deeply it affected him. But in the silent hours, he wondered if they would ever understand his efforts.
Ultimately, Felix reluctantly put the planning on hold.
It was over, Felix thought. Until suddenly, a year ago, Liam got in touch again as if nothing had happened. He apologized and explained that circumstances had forced him to withdraw. But now he wanted to see the boys again.
For Felix, it was like a green light. His ambition flared up again. But not everyone was enthusiastic. Some admitted that the three years without Felix’s “pressure,” as they called it, had been pleasant. They were not ready to start planning regularly again and agreed only on one condition: this meeting would be the last. Felix reluctantly accepted it. He agreed, even though he struggled with the decision. When Kofi, the last of them, finally replied with a brief message: “If I must, I’ll come,” the pact was sealed. Felix got to work.
He wanted to make this meeting unforgettable. It was the tenth anniversary of that fateful event that had connected them all—but that wasn’t the only reason. More importantly, this meeting would be their last. Felix knew this was their last chance to celebrate the bond that had once made them so strong. Therefore, he spared neither time nor money. He offered to organize and pay for everything. The only thing he asked of the others was a date. When?
Felix was determined to offer his clique only the best for this special occasion. Money was no object—he didn’t want to leave anything to chance. After weeks of searching, he finally found a villa that met all his requirements: large, luxurious, and secluded. With its 25 rooms, a spacious pool, a bar, a fully equipped kitchen, and an elegant dining room, it seemed tailor-made for their gathering. Even staff and private chefs could be hired, albeit for an extra fee. Full of anticipation, Felix shared his plans with the group. Kofi, Elias, Adrien, Malcolm, Nikos, and a few others were thrilled. “Perfect! This will be legendary!” commented Kofi, and the others agreed. But Santiago remained skeptical, and Felix sensed there was more behind his words than just financial concerns.
“Felix, this really sounds great, but it’s surely going to cost a lot, right? I don’t know... Maybe the money would be better spent elsewhere,” Santiago wrote in the group chat. Felix wasn’t deterred. “Don’t worry. None of you have to worry about the costs—I’ll cover everything,” he replied resolutely. For Felix, it was clear: he would spare no effort to bring the boys together again. This group meant everything to him. They were the only people who truly accepted him—not for his money, but for his personality. This connection was his anchor, and he didn’t want to lose it.
Despite Felix’s generosity, the boys decided to forgo staff and chefs. They agreed it would be cozier and more personal if they took care of the food themselves. Whether they ordered something, cooked together, or ate out—it was only three days. Felix accepted their suggestion without objection, even though he had secretly hoped to impress them with his perfectly planned arrangement. What mattered most to him was that everyone would be there. He urged the group to let him know as soon as possible when he should reserve the villa. The response didn’t take long, and as the confirmations came in, Felix felt a moment of pride. It was really going to happen. The last meeting. But for him, it was more than just a meeting—he secretly hoped to show the boys how much they really needed each other. For him, it was more than just a farewell. Felix wanted to show them that they weren’t just a clique—they were a family.
In the meantime, the group familiarized themselves with the villa. On the website where the villa was advertised, they studied the floor plans and pictures of the rooms. Everyone quickly found their favorite room and decided where they would stay. The anticipation grew, and for Felix, the most wonderful feeling was knowing that he would soon see them all reunited again.
A week before the meeting, the group chat started to overflow—chaotic, loud, and a little silly, as it always was with this group. Here are some excerpts from the group chat.
First, the boys wanted to pinpoint the location of the villa:
[22:03] MARCO: Hey, isn’t this villa somewhere deep in the jungle?
[22:10] LIAM: Where exactly do you think there’s a jungle in this country?
[22:32] VICTOR: Shh... I hope Santiago is in a different mood this time than at the last meeting!
[22:37] SANTIAGO: Oh, did I read that right? Forest? Did you know that to spend a quiet weekend and ward off evil spirits, you have to hug every single tree?
[22:37] LIAM: =]
[22:49] VICTOR: Dude, you can’t be serious, right?
[22:53] LIAM: We’ll just go, and Santiago can spend the three days hugging all the trees...
[23:09] MARCO: Can we film that? For scientific purposes, of course.
[23:17] VICTOR: Yeah, let’s call it ‘The Tree Whisperer.’
Then the conversation shifted to the weather:
[10:06] JAVIER: Guys, I think we’re not going to have good weather. It’s going to rain.
[12:34] ROHAN: No, the weather report says it’ll be 35 degrees and sunny.
[13:21] VOLKAN: Yeah, that’s what my app says too.
[14:01] JAVIER: Yeah, but I have a slight cold.
[14:03] VOLKAN: So what??? O_o
[14:04] ROHAN: ???
[14:05] JAVIER: Sometimes, when I have a cold, it sometimes rains.
[14:06] ROHAN: Buahahahaha!
[14:06] VOLKAN: Oh man… rofl
[14:07] ROHAN: A cold = rain? Javier, that’s not science; that’s witchcraft.
[14:07] VOLKAN: Buahahaha, next meeting with Weather God Javier.
Then came the drama about clothes:
[18:22] KOFI: HALO BOYZEZ! HELP!
[18:23] KARIM: What’s up?
[18:23] FELIX: Hopefully, it’s nothing serious.
[18:25] DIEGO: Kofi??? Are you still there?
[18:27] EITAN: KOFIIIIIIII!!!!!!!
[18:31] JONAS: What’s going on?
[18:40] KOFI: BOYZEZ. I’M DYING!
[18:41] FELIX: What? Do you need help?
[18:42] KOFI: Yes. I feel bad. I don’t know.
[18:43] EITAN: Yeah, but what’s wrong?
[18:43] DIEGO: Are you feeling sick?
[18:44] KOFI: No. I don’t know. Should I bring my Puna sweatpants or my Aramani cargo pants? HELP!
[18:45] KARIM: And that’s why you scared us?
[18:46] KOFI: YESSS!!!!! IT’S A CRISIS!!!!!
[18:46] JONAS: Glad I don’t have this problem. I’m just bringing sweaters.
[18:47] KARIM: Kofi, bring both. In case you need to change your style every five minutes.
At some point, things took an even stranger turn:
[3:19] RORY: How many rooms does the villa have again?
[5:11] NIKOS: Kitchen, bar, dining room, pool, rooms, floors… bathrooms? 😉
[6:07] IVAN: So, like every other house? :P
[7:01] THIAGO: Yeah, but Rory was asking something else. How many rooms are there? We’re 22 people.
[07:04] RORY: Exactly!
[07:07] HIROSHI: We’re 22, and according to Felix—and the website—there are 25 rooms.
[07:10] RORY: Thanks. I just can’t remember which room I wanted. shocked
[07:11] NIKOS: Maybe there’s a map?!? :D
[07:11] IVAN: O_o
[07:13] THIAGO: Or an app… “Villa Map App” that shows you the way to your room. Hm? 😉
[07:13] HIROSHI: Should I draw you a map if you want?
[07:14] RORY: Would you really do that? :’(
[07:15] NIKOS: What? For three days? That’s way too much effort! We’re leaving the day after tomorrow. ;P
[07:17] RORY: Great.
[07:20] HIROSHI: So… does anyone need the map or not?
[07:22] IVAN: Sorry, Hiroshi. I’ll speak for everyone: Thanks, but nope. 😉
[07:29] NIKOS: Rory, I’ll order you a butler who’ll take us all straight to bed. With integrated GPS. Satisfied? ;P :D
[07:38] THIAGO: Can the butler also carry my suitcase? :] And Nikos… if the butler doesn’t come, you know what to do. :P A promise is a promise! :D :* <3
The last two days were filled with every possible topic, discussed almost minute by minute.
[18:02] ADRIEN: Excuse me, but I just want to ask—how many suitcases are you bringing?
[18:03] ELIAS: Why are you asking? Did you overdo it again?
[18:03] MALCOLM: Haha, emptied out the closets again, and now you’re coming with a mini-bus? :D
[18:05] SAMIR: Yeah, the suitcases stay in your room—but where are you going to sleep?
[18:06] THIAGO: I think Adrien wants to sleep on a waterbed… in the pool! :D :D :D
[18:10] IVAN: I’m bringing one suitcase. Three days is enough for that.
[18:19] ADRIEN: Yeah, but we don’t know what conditions we’ll face. What if it rains? Or if it’s hot? And I need something elegant for dinner. Then something appropriate for the bar—I mean, I have to change!
[18:22] KOFI: Ey Adrien, I lend you super coat from LANGERFELD… You want? I bring. For you!
[18:23] ADRIEN: Okay, okay. I’ll repack everything. So I’m not bringing the seven suitcases after all.
[18:25] SAMIR: One suit and something comfortable. That’s all you need.
[18:26] MALCOLM: And in the end, you’ll still end up running around naked.
[18:28] ADRIEN: Naked?! That would be too easy, Malcolm. I need style!
[18:31] KOFI: Actually, I shouldn’t say this… But I know a good outlet near the villa. Designer clothes: DIUOR, PUNA, ARAMANI, LANGERFELD, GUCHI, VERSAKE… Everything you want and need!
[18:32] ELIAS: Yes, Kofi. Yes.
[18:33] KOFI: Cheap, almost free!
Then it was just two days left—time to cross off or finalize the last points on their to-do lists and discuss them with the others:
[19:44] ELIAS: Hey, when are you guys planning to leave?
[19:52] JONAS: I still have to check how long it’ll take me to get there.
[19:52] ADRIEN: I don’t know yet… I’m still not done packing. I can’t decide.
[19:54] DIEGO: What? You don’t even know when you’re leaving?
[19:55] NIKOS: Hey, I can’t find the address anymore.
[19:56] KARIM: I’ll send it to you privately, Nikos. :*
[20:00] HIROSHI: I don’t want to brag, but I already drove there last weekend to see how long it’d take me, so I’ll be on time Friday.
[20:03] RORY: Hiro, no offense, but you’re a freak. 😉 :P
[20:05] SANTIAGO: I’ll probably leave tonight... you know…
[20:06] VIKTOR: What’s up, Sani?
[20:07] SANTIAGO: Well, I think I might hitchhike to get there.
[20:08] DIEGO: Should I pick you up?
[20:10] ADRIEN: Yhmmm… To answer the earlier question: I’m still packing. Every time I finish, I have to unpack again because I’m not sure if it’s the right clothes to take and wear.
[20:11] VIKTOR: OMG. Guys, I’m going offline before I go crazy.
[20:12] ELIAS: Adrien, I could send you a style consultant. Then you wouldn’t need seven suitcases.
[20:12] DIEGO: And Sani? How are things going?
[20:13] SANTIAGO: Okay. Thanks.
[20:15] RORY: I could’ve picked you up too, Sani. But every time you’d approach my car and try to open the door, I’d just drive a few meters away.
[20:16] SANTIAGO: Yeah, I know. You’re an evil little goblin...
[20:17] RORY: No, I’m sweet!
[20:18] DIEGO: Sani, I’ll not only pick you up, but I’ll also bring you coffee.
[20:18] ELIAS: Yeah, sure. I’ll believe it when I see it.
[20:18] JONAS: Exactly, Rory. When you’re sleeping and not crying because you’re hungry. :P
[20:19] ELIAS: Just to clarify: We were talking about you, Rory, not the coffee Diego’s bringing for Santiago. :P
One day before the meeting, there were more discussions—this time about a very important topic: food.
[10:06] ROHAN: So… what’s the plan?
[11:18] VOLKAN: Could you be any more cryptic?
[11:29] SAMIR: No idea what Rohan wants.
[11:45] LIAM: Same.
[12:17] ROHAN: About the food.
[12:31] EITAN: Yeah. We said no extra costs and no extra chefs.
[13:58] JAVIER: I’m fine with cooking ourselves, but I’m not doing it alone.
[14:11] KOFI: Yeah, cooking alone is like with Mama.
[14:13] MALCOLM: Don’t we have two chefs already?
[14:18] MARCO: As long as there’s spaghetti and not just tacos and burritos, I’m fine with us cooking together.
[14:19] LIAM: One of the “chefs” is very quiet.
[14:27] VOLKAN: Well, it’s obvious. The boys want to celebrate like the rest of us, not cook for us.
[14:46] JAVIER: So, I talked to Diego, and if everyone helps, we can cook together.
[15:00] FELIX: Yeah, that sounds like a plan. You should relax and not work.
[15:02] LIAM: Yeah, we’ll help.
[15:04] FELIX: And if not, we’ll just order something. I promised to organize everything, so I’ll pay if it comes to that.
[15:05] MALCOLM: Cool.
[15:05] KOFI: But I want to help. We’re staying in the woods, almost like camping. I want to go mushroom picking.
[15:07] SAMIR: What???
[15:08] KOFI: Yeah, mushrooms. I haven’t eaten yet, but the red ones look so pretty; they must taste good.
[15:09] JAVIER: Okay. Kofi is excused from cooking duties or will be closely monitored if he touches the food.
[15:09] SAMIR: If I see Kofi anywhere near the pot, I’d rather starve.
[15:10] MALCOLM: Maybe we should just order food after all?
[15:11] KOFI: You don’t respect me. I want to pick mushrooms… beautiful mushrooms, red with white spots, they must be delicious. Look, Guchi, Aramani, DIUOR, VERSAKE—everything I wear is beautiful, expensive, and good. You want to insult me. I need to think.
[15:12] EITAN: Kofi, if you’re bringing those mushrooms, better get an ambulance subscription, too.
[15:14] ROHAN: Or we let Kofi cook and see who survives. :D 😉 :P
[15:15] FELIX: I think we better order food. Otherwise, all we’ll have left is prayer.
And then came Thursday, the day before the meeting—there was only one last thing to clarify:
[18:00] FELIX: So, boys, tomorrow’s the day. You have no idea how excited I am. I hope you are too. It’s been such a long time. But there’s one last thing to figure out: Each of you should think about what you’re bringing to the anniversary—and final—meeting.
[18:02] KOFI: I wanted to do something nice and bring mushrooms, but you insulted me. So, no mushrooms for you. :/
[18:03] JONAS: I don’t know yet… I can’t decide.
[18:03] ADRIEN: I’m bringing class. But seriously—I’m bringing five bottles of Moet & Chandor ‘Imperiale’ Brut Salmanassar Champagne.
[18:04] KOFI: WHAAAAAAATTTT??? I wanted to bring Domer Pignon champagne… bought 50 bottles. Very cheap at the outlet—2 euros per bottle. Very good brand, the most expensive, the best. But I’ll leave them at home. More good stuff for me.
[18:06] EITAN: Kofi, I think you just made that up.
[18:06] KARIM: I have no idea what I’m bringing. My apartment keeps filling up with random junk. Maybe scented candles—for the mood?
[18:06] THIAGO: I’ll bring tons of playlists. So we can dance.
[18:07] EITAN: I’ll take care of drinks. Water? Still? Or sparkling?
[18:08] KOFI: I DON’T WANT WATER. I’d rather drink Domer Pignon—expensive champagne, good champagne, but cheap to buy. 15 euros per bottle. But it stays at home. I need to think.
[18:09] JAVIER: Kofi, I’m confused. Were those “Domer Pignons” 2 euros or 15 euros per bottle? O_o
[18:10] FELIX: Leave him be. Kofi always calculates his styling into the price.
[18:11] ELIAS: I’ll bring chocolate bars, so no one becomes a bigger diva than me. ;)
[18:11] JAVIER: I don’t know... Diego and I were planning to cook something nice for you guys. Maybe Saturday for lunch.
[18:13] DIEGO: Yeah, sounds like a plan. And I’ll bring Santiago with me.
[18:14] KOFI: So mushrooms are okay after all?!?!?! :) I’m happy. [18:15] JAVIER: No, Kofi, sorry. No mushrooms. :/
[18:16] VICTOR: I’ll bring snacks. Pretzels, chips, party mix, and some crackers.
[18:17] SAMIR: And I’ll bring sunflower seeds. White, black... whatever you want.
[18:18] RORY: Sure, and maybe red, blue, and green too. I’ll bring a prize—a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. So, keep an eye out for rainbows this weekend. And then find the gold.
[18:20] KOFI: I DON’T NEED GOLD!!! I AM RICH!!! I AM GOLD!!! I work in bank. I have enough money and gold for Versake and Guchi. You can go look for it. I’ll look for designer mushrooms. I’ll look for “bling-bling”—beautiful designs, red with spots. <3
[18:20] VOLKAN: Pistachios… obviously.
[18:20] NIKOS: I’ll bring lots of stories.
[18:21] KOFI: NO. I’m NOT a student; you can leave the stories at home. ALL OF THEM!!!
[18:21] IVAN: I’ll just bring good vibes. No time to organize anything else.
[18:22] ROHAN: Wait, what? You could bring something like that? I’ll bring something sweet.
[18:23] KOFI: I’ll bring... I’ll bring... I’ll bring... I ALWAYS bring good vibes. I ALWAYS bring style. I ALWAYS bring Puna. No—ALMOST always Puna, sometimes NAIKE or ADADIS. But apparently, that’s not enough for you anymore! Now good vibes aren’t original enough.
[18:23] LIAM: I’ll set up a photo booth. I’ll bring Polaroids—lots of them, so we can take spontaneous shots.
[18:25] SANTIAGO: I’ll bring my guitar—but only in spirit, because it’s broken. But I can bring Diego instead.
[18:27] KOFI: Pffffff…. DIEGO. Diego is nothing new. :/ Diego bring you in trunk. Maybe with Domer Pignon champagne—50 bottles, cheap to buy. I need to think about what I’ll bring. I want to give you all a gift. Something ‘bling-bling.’ :D
[18:28] HIROSHI: I’ve made an animated portrait for each of you. Everyone will get one as a keepsake.
[18:28] MALCOLM: I’ll bring protein powder.
[18:30] KOFI: Protein powder?!?!?! MUSCLES!!! Not brains!!! MUSCLES!!! Look better!!! Always look good! :D I don’t need muscles; I’m already perfect! Perfect like Versake and Guchi! :* :)
[18:31] MALCOLM: What’s wrong with you? Chill out!
[18:32] KOFI: ME???? I’M ALWAYS CALM!!! I’m always chill. I went through my closet and found a super gift. Expensive brands (very good brand, exclusive, and luxurious). A gift for everyone. <3
[18:33] FELIX: And here we go again—another fairytale from KOFI’s magical kingdom.
[18:34] MARCO: I’ll bring a cake. A really nice one I had custom-made.
[18:34] KOFI: My gift is amazing. Everyone gets a bottle of perfume. So beautiful, so expensive, so luxurious. Kofi, you did great. I love you, Kofi. Kofi, you’re the best! Everyone should love you, Kofi! :*
[18:34] FELIX: Okay, since I’m organizing everything, I won’t bring anything else—I’m already paying for everything. So, boys, see you tomorrow :).
[18:35] KOFI: Yeah. My gift. My perfume for you. From the outlet. Very expensive, luxurious, extravagant, but bought very cheap. The best brand. I always see it in the stores. Brand “Tester.” For everyone. :)
[18:36] MARCO: OMG, I’ll pass... sorry, boys. :)
[18:36] MALCOLM: Guys, my sides are hurting from laughing... =] =D
[18:38] KOFI: I’m done talking... Pfff... I’m bringing nothing!!!! Not even super brand “Tester”!!! NOTHING FOR YOU!!! NOTHING!!!
[18:38] VOLKAN: I can’t stop laughing... :D :D :D
[18:40] KOFI: NOTHING FOR YOU!!! NOTHING!!! Not even ‘Tester,’ the best brand of all!!! I’m offended! Period.
[18:40] FELIX: Guys, calm down. Kofi, you know they don’t mean it.
[18:41] KOFI: Okay. I accept the apology.
[18:43] FELIX: Alright, then. See you tomorrow. :) Tomorrow begins a weekend none of us will ever forget.
Felix knew that this weekend wouldn’t just create memories—it also had to bring answers. Answers that would change more than he could ever have imagined.
