Author’s POV

The afternoon sun spilled through the sliding windows of Hyrine’s living room, glowing warm against the white floor tiles. Shoes were scattered everywhere—thanks to Kat, who claimed she “had to remove them dramatically for the vibe.” Mae groaned about it. Janna filmed it. Bing laughed. And Menggay? She quietly folded her jacket and placed it neatly on the couch like the responsible lesbian she was.

Wenalin, the eldest and naturally stood near the window sipping cold coke .

Today was the start of their summer vacation month, and they all gathered here to plan where they were going.

And right now?

Chaos.

Absolute chaos.

---

“Okay, listen!” Hyrine shouted dramatically, opening her laptop like she was about to hack NASA. “We need a place where we can camp, do bonfire, roast marshmallows, and lay on grass while existential crisis.”

Mae rolled her eyes, arms crossed. “Hyrine, we are not doing existential crisis! We are doing RELAXATION. I swear to God—”

“You relax your attitude first,” Hyrine shot back.

“EXCUSE ME?”

“Excused you!”

Kat clapped loudly. “Yeheeeey round one! Ding ding ding!”

Menggay quietly pressed her lips together to stop herself from smiling too much. She glanced at Wenalin—who met her eyes for a second before looking away calmly. Just that tiny eye contact made Menggay’s heart do a full-on gymnastics routine.

Meanwhile, Bing sat beside Janna, trying to peek at her phone.

“Janna, stop scrolling TikTok. We’re choosing a place.”

“Wait, wait, I’m watching a cat fall from a table. Hahahaha—hold on—HAHAHAHAHA—okay wait—hehe—okay, done.”

“Are you done?” Bing asked.

“No.”

Of course.

---

Mae snatched the laptop from hyrine and sit beside hyrine. Mae’s Turn on the Laptop

“Let me search properly,” Mae said, grabbing the laptop from Hyrine like she was retrieving a baby from danger.

Hyrine gasped. “MY LAPTOP!”

“It’s OUR VACATION, So you behave.”

Kat leaned toward Wenalin dramatically. “Do they argue for fun or…?”

“They always do,” Wenalin answered calmly, taking another sip of her coke.

“That’s their love language,” Bing whispered.

Menggay quietly smiled at them all, her eyes drifting to Wenalin again. Wenalin’s simple posture, her soft but mature aura—it was enough to make Menggay’s heart flip. She didn’t show it; she never did. But her eyes always gave her away.

“Okay,” Mae said, typing loudly. “We need a place with nature, mountains or rivers, maybe a field where we can set a bonfire.”

“And a nice view!” Hyrine added.

“And a cool breeze,” kat said.

“And a cute girl,” bing joked.

Wenalin gave Kat a blank stare. “bing. I don't know if thiers a cute girl.”

“Sorry, sorry, just joking,” bing said while dramatically wiping fake tears. “This is why I’m always third wheel. No one loves me.”

“You can love yourself,” Wenalin said.

“OUCH!” bing clutched her heart. “

Even Wenalin cracked a tiny chuckle.

Menggay melted inside. That smile is illegal.

---

The Discovery of the Mansion

“GUYS!” Mae suddenly shouted.

Everyone froze—except Janna, who was watching another TikTok about a dancing from her favourite kpop boygroup.

Mae turned the laptop around like she was presenting treasure.

“I found a place. It’s an OLD MANSION.”

Hyrine gasped. “A WHAT?!”

“A mansion? Like… sosyal?” Bing asked.

“Yes! And guess what—IT’S SO CHEAP!”

Kat’s eyes widened. “Cheap? Why? Is it haunted? is thier a ghost? ? tax evasion?”

“It’s NOT scary!” Mae strictly said. “It’s just old. Like vintage. Old wood. Old design. Old everything.”

“Like bing love life,” wenalin added.

“HEY!”

Mae scrolled through the pictures.

The girls gathered around.

And the mansion?

It was… beautiful. Wide front yard, tall trees, a huge field behind, and a small forest nearby. Perfect for camping and bonfire.

“It looks peaceful,” Wenalin commented.

Menggay stared at Wenalin instead of the screen. If you’re here, anywhere is peaceful, she thought but would rather die than say it out loud.

“It’s pretty,” Bing said.

“It’s aesthetic,” Hyrine nodded.

“It’s TikTok-able,” Kat added.

“TIKTOK?!” Janna suddenly stood up. “Where? Show me the picture!”

Everyone laughed.

---

“Should we go?” Maeasked.

“Yes!” Hyrine said instantly.

“No,” Kat said. “I’ll be third wheel again.”

“You ALWAYS are,” Bing replied.

Kat dramatically collapsed on the floor. “I’m tired of suffering!”

Wenalin shook her head slowly. “Kat, you’re dramatic.”

“I LEARNED FROM THE BEST,” Kat pointed at Hyrine and Mae.

Menggay spoke softly, “I think it’s perfect… the nature looks nice.”

Everyone turned to her.

Hyrine gasped. “MENGGAY SPOKE MORE THAN FIVE WORDS??!”

Menggay’s cheeks burned. “I speak.”

“We know,” Wenalin said gently, giving her a small smile.

Menggay almost melted onto the couch.

Janna zoomed into the mansion picture. “Guys, we can do transitions here. And dance videos. And POVs—”

“Janna,” Hyrine said. “We’re going on vacation, not TikTok career launching.”

“It’s the same thing.” janna

---

Mae stood up suddenly. “Okay! I’m booking it!”

“WITHOUT DEMOCRACY?!” Kat shouted.

“This is dictatorship,” Bing whispered.

“This is LOVE,” Hyrine corrected, pulling Mae into a side hug.

“Ew,” Kat mumbled.

Wenalin sighed, “Book it . Before someone else rents it.”

Menggay nodded quietly in agreement.

And that was it.

The room erupted in screams, giggles, and Janna shouting, “GUYS LET’S DO A COUNTDOWN VIDEO FOR THIS!”

Kat:okay okay

Bing :let me join

Hyrine and Mae argued over who should hold the laptop.

Janna recorded everything for TikTok.

And Wenalin just smiled at the chaos—soft, calm, the smile that Menggay secretly adored.

Their vacation hadn’t even started.

But already…

It felt like the trip they would truly never forget.

Author’s POV

The morning was noisy even before the sun fully rose.

Hyrine’s neighborhood was usually quiet—birds chirping, wind blowing, distant car engines—but today?

Today it sounded like a mini disaster site.

Because the girls were loading their bags into a rented van.

Lots of bags.

WAY too many bags.

Packing Drama at 7 AM

“WHY DO YOU HAVE THREE SUITCASES?!” Mae yelled at Kat, trying to zip a giant bag.

Kat lifted her chin. “Because beauty requires OPTIONS.”

“Kat,” Wenalin said calmly while loading her one medium-sized luggage, “we’re going for a few days. Not migrating.”

“I need clothes for morning, afternoon, evening, late evening, early morning—”

Bing groaned. “Just say you don’t know how to pack.”

Janna didn’t help at all. She sat on the curb recording everyone. “Guys, shoutout ‘Subscribe—’”

“No!” the rest shouted in unison.

Menggay was quietly helping Wenalin lift a cooler box into the van. She didn’t struggle—she was strong—but Menggay still placed her hand under the box just in case.

“careful” menggay said softly.

“thanks,” she replied, with a smile

Hyrine clapped her hands loudly. “OKAY GUYS ! GET IN! We’re leaving in five minutes!”

“We were supposed to leave thirty minutes ago,” Mae muttered.

“Time isn’t real,” Hyrine argued.

“This relationship isn’t real,” Mae shot back.

“EXCUSE ME?!”

KAT shook her head. “Here we go again.”

Hyrine grabbed Mae by the hand and guided her toward the van.

“my wife , please. Inside. Before I lose my remaining brain cells.”

Mae rolled her eyes but stepped in—still holding Hyrine’s hand.

Bing jumped inside next, almost tripping on her own feet.

“I CALL WINDOW SEAT!”

“No you don’t!” Janna yelled, pushing past her while still recording.

Kat followed

Finally, the last two outside were Menggay and Wenalin.

Wenalin placed her foot on the van step, but Menggay instinctively reached out and held her arm gently.

“Careful,” she whispered again.

Wenalin looked at her—really looked—and her lips curved into a soft, meaningful smile.

“Thank you.”

And with that simple moment, Wenalin stepped into the van… with Menggay quietly following right behind her.

Inside the Van

The van smelled like snacks, perfume, and pure chaos.

The seating arrangement was decided in the most dramatic way possible—drawing lots written on sticky notes because “democratic chaos is better than dictatorship chaos,” according to Kat.

Wenalin sat in the middle row by the window.

Menggay sat next to her.

Bing sat beside Menggay.

Menggay tried not to combust internally.

In the back row sat Hyrine, Mae, kat, and janna was in the in front .

As soon as the driver started the engine, Hyrine shouted:

“TURN ON THE MUSIC!!!”

Before anyone reacted, Janna already connected her phone to the Bluetooth.

And then—

TIKTOK REMIX INSTANTLY PLAYING.

Mae grabbed the phone. “JANNA, NO! It’s 7 AM!”

“But this is vibes!”

“This is NOISE!”

“It’s VIBRANT noise!”

Kat started singing along. Loudly. Off-key.

Bing covered her ears. “Turn it off!”

Wenalin quietly stared out the window, probably questioning her life choices.

Menggay leaned back

...----------------...

They had been on the road for exactly ten minutes.

Not twelve.

Not fifteen.

Ten.

And already—

“I’m hungry,” Bing announced dramatically.

Mae turned around. “You JUST ate chips.”

“That was a warm-up snack,” Bing replied, hand on her chest like she was defending her honor.

Kat, meanwhile, opened a giant container of kimchi like she was summoning a demon.

“Anyone?” she asked innocently.

The smell EXPLODED across the van.

Hyrine screamed instantly. “OH MY GOD, KAT, CLOSE THAT! It smells like my parents arguing!”

Janna zoomed her camera on Hyrine's horrified face.

“Guys look—Hyrine hates kimchi!”

“STOP RECORDING ME!”

“I’m an influencer,” Janna said proudly. “Content never sleeps.”

Kat lifted the container closer to Janna’s face. “Smell it.”

“NOOO—”

Too late. Janna gagged dramatically.

Wenalin quietly pulled out her food—simple but neat sandwiches wrapped perfectly.

Menggay blinked at them like she was staring at treasure.

Wenalin noticed.

“You want?” she asked softly.

Menggay froze like a glitching robot. “Y–Yes. If… if it’s okay.”

Wenalin handed her one gently. “Here.”

Menggay held it with both hands like it was a sacred artifact blessed by the heavens themselves.

From the back, Kat whispered to Bing,

“Menggay is DOWN BAD.”

Bing nodded seriously.

“Down horrifically. Down historically. Down academically.”

Menggay pretended not to hear them…

But her ears were glowing red like traffic lights.

Meanwhile

Up front, Hyrine tore a sandwich in half and fed Mae a bite.

“Open,” she said.

Mae rolled her eyes but still leaned in, biting the sandwich.

“Good?” Hyrine asked like a proud mom.

“It’s literally bread,” Mae replied, chewing.

“GOOD??” Hyrine repeated louder.

“YES, BABE, IT’S GOOD!”

The rest of the van turned to stare at them.

Kat held her forehead dramatically.

“Someone save me. I’m third-wheeling so hard I might combust.”

Bing raised her hand. “Same. I feel single in HD.”

Janna zoomed her camera on Kat. “Day 1: Kat realizes love is not for her.”

“STOP RECORDING ME TOO!”

Wenalin shook her head and whispered to Menggay,

“We’re surrounded by idiots.”

Menggay smiled softly. “Yeah… but they’re our idiots.”

And the van continued down the road—loud, chaotic, hungry, and absolutely full of love.

After an hour on the highway:

“Can we stop for a minute” Kat suddenly said

The driver almost swerved. “why ?!”

“ because I NEED TO PEE!”

“You peed before we left!” Mae yelled.

“That was emotional pee! This is physical pee.”

Hyrine facepalmed. “what is emotional pee…”

The moment the van stopped in front of the convenience store, everyone practically jumped out—

except Kat, who sprinted to the CR like she was running from the police.

“WAIT FOR ME!” she shouted before disappearing inside.

No one waited.

They all entered the convenience store as if it were Disneyland.

The automatic glass door opened with a soft ding, and instantly the cold air-conditioning hugged them… which was good, because the van smelled like kimchi and suffering.

Inside, the group split in the most predictable way.

Wenalin & Menggay

Wenalin walked toward the drinks section, quiet and composed as always, scanning the rows of bottles like she was evaluating the stock market.

Menggay followed two steps behind her—

Not too close,

Not too far,

Just enough to pretend she wasn’t following her at all.

“Do you want anything?” Wenalin asked, looking over her shoulder.

Menggay’s brain short-circuited for half a second.

“Uhm… water. And maybe… chocolate?” she managed to say.

Wenalin grabbed a cold water bottle and a chocolate bar. “This one?”

Menggay nodded, cheeks warming. “Yeah… thank you.”

Wenalin placed them carefully in the basket. “We’ll buy snacks for the road too.”

Menggay smiled quietly, watching Wenalin pick things like a responsible mother. Juice boxes, sandwiches, mints, tissues—everything the others would forget.

“You’re prepared,” Menggay said softly.

Wenalin shrugged. “They’ll forget everything except chaos.”

Menggay almost laughed.

Almost.

  Menggay get the basket from wenalin

Menggay:"let me hold it"

wenalin was shock but she smile and nodded

Meanwhile, on the other side of the store…

Hyrine was dramatically smelling every drink she picked up.

“It NEEDS to smell refreshing,” she declared.

Mae swatted her hand. “Stop opening them! You’re not supposed to smell it!”

“How will I know if it’s good?!”

“Hyrine, it’s a DRINK not a perfume!”

They bickered endlessly, pushing their mini cart like a chaotic married couple.

At one point Hyrine grabbed a massive pack of chips.

Mae stared at her. “Who’s going to eat all that?”

“You.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Yes, because you stress-eat when you’re annoyed. And since you’re dating ME, you’re annoyed everyday.”

Mae paused. “Okay… fair point.”

Hyrine smirked victoriously and placed three more chip packs in the cart.

Janna walked around the store recording everything like she was filming a documentary.

“GUYS,” she said to her phone, “we’re in a konbini and look, aesthetic noodles!”

She zoomed aggressively into a shelf of cup noodles.

People stared.

She didn’t care.

A staff member walked by awkwardly. She followed him and whispered,

“Sir, do you want to be in my vlog?”

The staff shook his head so fast he nearly spun.

Janna didn’t mind. She kept recording.

“POV: You’re buying snacks but overwhelm”

She filmed Wenalin choosing drinks.

She filmed Hyrine and Mae fighting over chips.

She filmed Menggay helping Wenalin.

She filmed Bing… wherever she was.

Bing wandered alone with a basket on her arm, inspecting every weird Japanese snack like she was discovering ancient treasure.

She grabbed something shaped like a fish.

“Ooh… what are you? Mystery food? I love it.”

She tossed it into her basket.

Then she found a soft matcha bread.

Into the basket.

Then she found a random gummy shaped like a dinosaur.

Basket.

She had zero plan.

Zero control.

Zero thought.

Just ✨vibes✨.

Bing then spotted a tiny toy machine and gasped dramatically.

She twisted the knob…

A capsule fell.

She opened it.

It was a tiny plastic carrot.

She stared at it lovingly.

“You’re coming with me.”

After few minutes of chaotic shopping, they all ended up by the cashier.

Menggay placed thier neatly chosen items

Mae and Hyrine kept arguing whether they needed six packs of chips or seven.

“Six is enough!” Mae insisted.

“Seven is lucky! Lucky for our relationship!” Hyrine argued.

“You don’t even believe in luck!”

“I do now!”

Janna filmed them. “Guys say hi to the vlog—”

“NO!” everyone yelled.

Bing arrived, basket overflowing with things no one understood.

Wenalin blinked. “Bing… what is all that?”

“I don’t know,” Bing said proudly. “But I want all of it.”

Finally, the cashier started ringing everything.

But then—

Kat BURST through the bathroom door and sprinted toward them like she escaped prison.

“WAIT!!! DON’T PAY WITHOUT ME!!!” she screamed dramatically.

Everyone turned.

Menggay whispered, “ more Ten minutes …”

Mae muttered, “She probably took a shower.”

Kat arrived panting, and placed a single item on the counter:

A nuts .

Everyone stared at her.

“That’s all?” Bing asked.

Hyrine facepalmed.

Wenalin sighed but smiled.

Menggay laugh

Their bags were paid, their snacks secured, and Kat washed her hands… hopefully.

They walked out of the store as a group, bags full of random things they probably didn’t need.

Ready to continue the road trip.

Ready to cause more chaos.

And definitely ready for the mansion trip they’d never forget.

Back on the Road

Hyrine plugged in her playlist.

“EVERYONE SING!” she commanded.

“No,” Wenalin said instantly.

“Yes,” Menggay agreed softly beside her. “Sing.”

Wenalin looked at her. “You want me to?”

Menggay froze. “Uh—I mean—no—if you don’t—uh—”

Kat screamed from the back, “THAT WAS FLIRTING!!!”

Menggay nearly choked on her breath.

Wenalin looked away, hiding a smile. “Stop teasing her.”

Then Mae shouted, “SING OR I’LL BLAST BABY SHARK.”

Everyone panicked.

“NO!”

“TURN THAT OFF!”

“I’LL SING PLEASE!”

“SPARE US!”

And then… it happened.

For the first time.

Wenalin actually sang. Softly. Calmly. Not loud—but her voice was clean and soothing.

Menggay froze.

Bing slowly turned.

Hyrine gasped.

Mae stopped breathing.

Janna dropped her phone.

Kat whispered, “I think I saw Jesus.”

Wenalin looked at them. “Why are you all staring?”

Hyrine screamed, “YOU NEVER SING!”

Menggay’s heart was doing cartwheels. “You sound… really good,” she whispered.

Wenalin just gave her a soft smile.

Little by little, the chaos inside the van began to settle.

The city highway lights rolled past them like warm, sleepy fireflies.

One by one, the girls started dozing off.

Mae yawned loudly, stretched, then leaned her head onto Hyrine’s shoulder.

Hyrine froze for a moment—like someone pressed pause on her entire soul—then quietly adjusted her position so Mae could rest more comfortably.

Kat, who claimed she “never sleeps during road trips,” was already out cold with her mouth slightly open.

Bing, surrounded by her bizarre snacks, curled up on her seat and hugged her tiny carrot toy like it was a plushie.

Janna’s phone slipped from her hand as she slumped against the window, still recording the ceiling accidentally.

Slowly, even Wenalin’s eyes began to close.

She tried to stay awake—

but the soft music…

the chill air from the van…

the gentle motion of the road…

It all pulled her into sleep.

Her head tilted toward the window.

She bumped it lightly.

Menggay noticed instantly.

She turned, eyes softening in concern.

For a second, she just watched her—admiring the relaxed face, the calm breathing, the way Wenalin still looked effortlessly composed even while half-slumped on a window.

Then, quietly—carefully—Menggay reached out.

With the gentlest motion, she guided Wenalin’s head away from the cold glass…

and onto her shoulder.

Wenalin didn’t wake.

She just settled naturally, breathing softly against Menggay’s arm.

Menggay’s heart practically melted into a puddle.

She stared at Wenalin for a moment longer, smiling in the smallest, shyest way.

Then she leaned her own head lightly against Wenalin’s.

The van hummed softly.

Everyone was asleep.

Except Menggay—

She closed her eyes too.

And the van continued down the road,

full of sleeping idiots,

full of warmth,

(Author POV)

The van rolled deeper into the forest road, tires crunching softly against gravel. The towering trees on both sides arched like a tunnel, their branches letting sunlight flicker in soft, golden stripes across the windows. The afternoon breeze slipped through the slightly opened windows, carrying the scent of pine, leaves, and something fresh—like nature had just taken a shower.

Inside the van, the noise slowly faded.

One by one, the girls straightened up from their sleepy positions… because outside, something massive began to appear.

At first, it was just rooftops through the trees.

Then tall stone pillars.

Then—

when the road curved…

The Mansion appeared.

All at once, all six girls sat up straight.

Hyrine’s hands slapped against the window. “OH. MY. GOD—LOOK AT THAT!”

Mae leaned forward so fast her seatbelt almost locked. “Wow !”

Bing pressed her forehead to the glass. "wow it's look like being in GL series"

Kat blinked several times. “It’s—bro, it's big . I thought it would be, like, big… but not BIG-big.”

Menggay swallowed softly, staring with wide eyes. “It’s… beautiful.”

Wenalin didn’t say anything at first—even her calm expression shifted, eyes widening just a little.

“It’s peaceful,” she finally murmured, watching the long driveway lined with trimmed hedges and flowers.

Meanwhile…

Janna lifted her phone dramatically.

“OKAY GUYS—WELCOME TO OUR VAC—”

She froze.

Her screen said:

NO SERVICE

NO SIGNAL

SOS

Janna stared at it like it betrayed her entire bloodline.

“NO. NO, NO, NO—NOT HERE. NOT NOW. WHY?!” she shrieked.

Kat burst into laughter. “HAHAHAHA! She looks like a widow who just lost her wife.”

Bing:"Is there really none? Try to lift it"

Janna raised her phone to the ceiling.

Still no signal.

She pushed it against the window.

Still nothing.

She lifted it higher, stretching her whole arm like she was summoning the heavens.

Zero bars.

“GUYSSS!” Janna cried. “I CAN’T LIVE LIKE THIS! I HAVE A TIKTOK DRAFT TO POST!”

Mae rolled her eyes.

Wenalin looked at her dryly. “You’ll live.”

“No I won’t,” Janna whispered dramatically, clutching her phone to her chest.

But even in her suffering, she looked outside again—

and her jaw dropped.

The mansion stood proudly at the end of the long driveway.

Tall windows.

Wide balconies.

Antique stone walls covered in vines.

Black iron gates slowly opening for them.

Even Janna forgot her no-signal tragedy for a moment.

“Guys…” she whispered, voice turning soft, “it’s… legit it's beautiful”

Hyrine couldn’t stop smiling. “Imagine all the pictures we can take here!”

Mae nudged her. “Your right, I'm so excited”

Kat gasped. “OMG. I hope there are ghosts. So Janna will have content.”

janna shrunk back. “Don’t joke like that…”

Wenalin tilted her head. “Ghosts or not… this place feels interesting.”

As the van drove through the open gates, everyone pressed closer to the windows—faces almost glued to the glass. The van slowed as the mansion came fully into view, its towering presence making them all feel small.

The gardens were wide.

The fountain in front sparkled.

Tall trees framed the sides like an entrance to a fairy tale.

The van rolled to a stop.

No one moved.

No one spoke.

They were all too busy staring—

their earlier chaos replaced by awe.

Even Janna lowered her phone gently…

forgetting, for once, to record.

When the van stopped, the engine fell silent, replaced by the soft rustle of trees and distant chirping. For a few seconds, the girls didn’t move—they simply stared outside the window at the enormous mansion waiting for them.

The door slid open with a soft click, and cool, fresh air immediately drifted in.

It smelled like pine, wildflowers, and clean mountain wind—nothing like the city, nothing like their usual routines.

Just nature at its best.

One by one, they stepped out.

Kat moved first, lifting her bag with a dramatic stretch. Bing noticed her wobbling slightly from stiffness after hours of sitting.

“You good?” Bing asked, placing a steadying hand on her elbow.

Kat nodded quickly. “Just… stretching my soul.”

“Uh-huh. Sure.”

Bing kept a hand on her until Kat fully stepped onto the ground.

Mae climbed out next, and Hyrine was instantly behind her, hands firm on Mae’s waist—not because Mae was falling, but simply because Hyrine wanted to be helpful… and clingy.

“I’m here. I got you,” Hyrine said proudly.

Mae smiled despite herself. “You act like I’m stepping out of a helicopter.”

“Still dangerous,” Hyrine replied without hesitation.

Then Wenalin moved toward the door with calm, measured steps.

Menggay quietly followed, her arms ready in case Wenalin needed anything.

Wenalin stepped down carefully.

Menggay placed a gentle hand on her back—just enough to guide, not enough to startle.

“You okay?” Menggay asked softly.

“Yes,” Wenalin replied, giving her a tiny smile. “Thank you.”

Menggay nodded, eyes warm but shy.

Kat whispered to Bing, “Look at Menggay being a husband.”

Bing whispered back, “She’s thriving.”

Now all six girls stood outside, the doors of the van closed behind them,

And then—it hit them.

The fresh air.

They all inhaled slowly, deeply, like their lungs had been waiting for this moment.

Mae closed her eyes. “Wow… this feels different.”

“It smells like a nature commercial,” Kat added.

Hyrine stretched her arms. “Like the world is telling me: ‘Fix your life, girl.’”

Wenalin simply breathed in quietly, her expression soft. “It’s peaceful.”

Janna lifted her phone out of habit—only to find no signal again.

She groaned dramatically but still took a moment to appreciate the atmosphere.

The mansion stood in front of them like a piece of art—giant windows, thick stone walls covered in vines, an elegant design that felt both ancient and timeless. Its wooden doors were tall and grand, carved with patterns that looked older than all of them combined.

The sunlight hit the mansion just right, making it glow.

Menggay’s eyes widened. “It’s… beautiful.”

Kat nodded with her mouth open. “Super. Like a filming location.”

The girls drifted closer to the entrance, their footsteps soft on the gravel pathway. Together, they stopped at the large wooden doors, admiring every detail.

While they were still absorbing everything, the door made a soft sound—

click… creak…

The girls straightened instinctively.

The massive door gently opened outward.

An elderly woman stepped out, dressed in a simple light kimono with her hair neatly tied. Her smile was warm, calm, and welcoming—radiating the type of comfort that made the girls relax instantly.

“Welcome, girls,” she said in accented but clear Japanese. “I’m Madam Reiko, the caretaker of the mansion. We have been expecting your arrival.”

Wenalin bowed politely.

Hyrine bowed too—but way too low and way too fast, almost hitting her forehead on her knee.

Madam Reiko chuckled kindly at the enthusiasm.

“You must be tired from your long trip,” she continued. “Your rooms are ready. Please, come inside.”

The girls exchanged excited smiles.

Mae:"Yeah we are tired and thank you for having us"

Their vacation was officially beginning.

...----------------...

“AHHHH FRESH AIR!” she yelled dramatically, head tilted back, eyes closed, as if the universe personally invited her.

Bing stared at her flatly.

“You were literally breathing perfectly fine inside the van.”

Kat snapped her fingers.

“No, Bing. I was surviving. In here, I am living.”

Bing rolled her eyes. “Whatever helps you sleep at night.”

A few steps away, Hyrine and Mae were busy grabbing their bags—and somehow arguing before even touching half of them.

Mae lifted one of Hyrine’s tote bags and squinted.

“Why do you have three extra jackets? We’re staying for a few days. Not a fashion show.”

Hyrine placed both hands on her waist.

“Excuse you, I get cold easily.”

“You get cold easily? Hyrine, last week you turned on the electric fan in December.”

“It was warm!”

“It was twelve degrees!”

“It was a NICE twelve degrees!”

Mae groaned loudly. “You brought too many clothes.”

“And you brought too much stress,” Hyrine shot back instantly.

“My stress is YOU!”

“Exactly. So it cancels out.”

Kat, still taking in the fresh air, whispered to Bing,

“They haven’t even entered the mansion and they’re already fighting.”

Bing shrugged. “It’s their love language. Leave them.”

Meanwhile, Menggay and Wenalin were on the other side of the van, unloading the luggage calmly—like they were in an entirely different world compared to the chaos nearby.

Menggay lifted two heavy suitcases at once, one in each hand, her expression completely neutral, as if she were carrying pillows instead of actual luggage.

Wenalin paused, watching her for a moment.

“You’re strong,” Wenalin said in her usual quiet tone.

Menggay froze.

For half a second, it looked like her brain stopped working.

Then she cleared her throat softly.

“I-I mean… they’re not that heavy.”

Wenalin smiled gently—small, soft, the kind she rarely showed.

“You don’t have to carry everything, you know.”

“I want to help,” Menggay replied almost immediately. “I mean—uh—I don’t mind helping. At all.”

Kat, who was pretending to look at the flowers but was obviously eavesdropping, whispered to herself,

“Someone is in love.”

Janna keep holding her phone up.

She tapped the screen. Nothing. She walked in a circle. Nothing.

She held it up to the sky like Simba. Nothing.

“GUYS,” she groaned. “I STILL DON’T HAVE SIGNAL.”

Bing patted her shoulder. “Maybe the universe wants you to take a break.”

“No. The universe wants me to SUFFER.”

“You’ll survive,” Wenalin said calmly.

“No, I won’t,” Janna insisted. “If I don’t post for an hour my followers will think I died.”

Mae muttered, “Your followers need therapy.”

Janna ignored her and tried climbing a small rock to get a better angle. Still nothing.

“HELLOOOO? SIGNAL? ARE YOU THERE?” she called out to the sky.

Hyrine laughed. “Girl, it’s not a dog you can call.”

Janna let out a dramatic sigh. “I’m going to go insane.”

But even she paused when she finally looked at the mansion in front of them.

They all did.

The six girls stood side by side, their bags surrounding them, the wind brushing past their faces.

The mansion towered above them—grand, vintage, with tall windows and stone walls wrapped in vines. Sunlight washed over the entire place, making the glass sparkle.

It looked like a mix of a movie set, an old European estate, and a nature retreat.

Mae breathed in deeply.

“This place… is actually beautiful.”

Kat nodded. “Like rich-people beautiful.”

Menggay whispered, “Like a dream.”

Wenalin stared silently, her expression softening.

“It’s peaceful,” she said again—this time quieter, almost to herself.

Their little moment of awe lasted only a few seconds before they noticed something.

The huge wooden doors of the mansion slowly creaked open.

All six girls froze.

Menggay instinctively stepped a little in front of Wenalin.

Hyrine grabbed Mae’s hand.

Kat hid behind Bing.

Janna opened her camera even though there was still no signal.

The door fully opened.

Out stepped an elderly woman with silver hair tied neatly into a bun.

She wore a light kimono, an apron, and a gentle smile.

She looked like the sweetest grandmother in every peaceful countryside story.

“Welcome, girls,” she said warmly.

The girls straightened up immediately.

Wenalin bowed politely.

Hyrine attempted to bow too—but she bowed so fast and so low she nearly smacked her forehead on her knees.

Mae facepalmed. “Stand up before you break something.”

Madam Reiko just laughed softly.

“You must be tired from your long trip. Please come inside. Your rooms are ready.”

The girls exchanged looks filled with excitement.