The arrival

(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.