

The Mansion Trip We'Ll Never Forget

 

at night

Madam Reiko paused in front of the final door.

This time, she didn’t open it immediately.

She placed one hand on the knob… breathed in… and twisted it slowly.

A soft, cold breeze escaped from inside.

Even Kat shivered. “Okay… why does this one feel like a refrigerator for dead people?”

Madam Reiko only smiled.

The door opened.

THE ANTIQUE ROOM

The girls stepped inside cautiously.

The atmosphere shifted instantly—

older, heavier, almost humming with silence.

The room was filled with antiques, but not the cute museum kind:

Faded paintings with cracked frames

Heavy wooden chairs carved with eerie symbols

Ancient jars and vases on pedestals

Bronze statues of people with no eyes

Scrolls sealed behind glass like they contained forbidden spells

Janna hugged her arms.

“Okay. This one is officially creepy.”

Bing nodded. “Yeah… definitely not TikTok-friendly.”

Hyrine clung to Mae’s sleeve.

“I don’t want to touch anything.”

“You’re not even close to anything,” Mae muttered.

Kat checked her phone—again.

“No signal. Wow. Even the ghosts don’t use WiFi here.”

Meanwhile, Wenalin walked slowly, quietly observing every artifact like she was memorizing the whole room.

Menggay stayed behind her, as usual.

But she wasn’t looking at Wenalin this time.

Her eyes drifted to a dark stone jar standing on a tall carved pedestal—

bigger, heavier, and more intimidating than everything else there.

It seemed to… pull the attention.

Menggay swallowed.

“Uhm… Madam Reiko?”

Madam Reiko turned toward her warmly.

“Yes, dear?”

Menggay pointed, her finger slightly trembling.

“That jar… what is it for?”

All the girls turned their attention to the stone jar she was pointing at.

Madam Reiko stepped toward it with slow, deliberate movements.

Her hand brushed the lid gently.

“This,” she said softly, “is called the Jar of Solvaris.”

The room seemed to hold its breath.

Mae whispered, “That doesn’t sound friendly.”

Hyrine nodded rapidly. “That sounds like a jar that ruins your sleep.”

Madam Reiko continued calmly,

“It is said that the Jar of Solvaris can sip wandering spirits… cleansing them from the mortal world… and sending them either to the Heavens… or the Underworld.”

Janna took three steps back and almost tripped on a statue.

“Nope. No. Nuh-uh. I’m leaving the room.”

Kat grabbed Bing’s arm.

“Delete the whole mansion.”

Bing sighed. “Kat, you can’t just delete a building.”

“I CAN TRY.”

Mae hugged herself.

“See? See?? THIS is why I didn’t want a creepy tour.”

Menggay stared at the jar in terror.

“Spirits? Like… actual ghosts?”

“Yes,” Madam Reiko answered simply.

Most of the girls looked like they were ready to sprint out the door.

Except Wenalin.

She tilted her head slightly, studying the jar.

“Interesting.”

Menggay grabbed her elbow.

“INTERESTING? Wenalin, a jar that eats ghosts is NOT interesting! It’s TERRIFYING!”

Madam Reiko chuckled, amused by their reactions.

“It is only dangerous,” she said, tapping the lid lightly,

“IF someone opens it.”

Everyone stared at the jar.

Then stared at each other.

Then stared at the jar again.

Kat raised her hand slowly like a student.

“So… nobody touches it, right?”

“Right,” Bing said quickly.

“Like EVER?” Mae added.

“Never,” Madam Reiko confirmed.

Silence.

Then Janna whispered,

“…What if it opens by itself?”

Everyone glared at her.

“STOP GIVING THE SPIRITS IDEAS!” Hyrine hissed.

Madam Reiko clapped her hands gently.

“Come now. The tour is finished. Dinner will be prepared soon.”

The girls hurried out—some fast, some slow, all very, very nervous.

Except Wenalin, who glanced at the jar one last time…

The girls had barely caught their breath from the eerie antique room when Madam Reiko turned with a soft smile.

“Now,” she said, “it is time for dinner.”

The mansion seemed to breathe warmth back into them. The living room was set with a long wooden table, candles flickering gently, and dishes arranged with a kind of old-world elegance that still felt cozy.

Hyrine immediately clapped her hands.

“FOOD! Finally! I was starting to forget what food looked like.”

Mae laughed, nudging her. “You were literally dreaming about snacks in the van.”

Kat rolled her eyes, trying to look unbothered but secretly inspecting the table like a treasure hunter.

“This looks decent,” she muttered. “But where’s the WiFi?”

“No WiFi, Kat,” Bing reminded her again, holding a plate of carefully arranged vegetables. “Focus on the greens instead.”

Janna groaned dramatically. “No WiFi. No TikTok. No life.”

Menggay quietly followed Wenalin to the table, glancing at the candlelight reflecting off Wenalin’s hair. She took a plate and made sure Wenalin had one too. Wenalin gave her a small, appreciative smile, and Menggay’s stomach fluttered.

Madam Reiko clapped her hands softly.

“I must tell you, I cannot stay long tonight. I need to return home before it becomes too late.”

The girls looked up, slightly disappointed.

“But if you need anything,” Madam Reiko continued, “please do not hesitate to call me. The telephone is in the hall near the kitchen. Whatever you require, I can assist you—even from afar.”

Hyrine perked up immediately. “Wait—you mean you’ll actually answer the phone?”

“Of course,” Madam Reiko said, bowing her head slightly. “I am always happy to help.”

Mae whispered to Hyrine, half-joking, half-serious, “Imagine if we actually broke something… she’ll just calmly pick up the phone and scold us.”

Hyrine gasped. “Mae… we will break something.”

Bing chuckled, sliding her plate closer. “Let’s just eat before we break the table instead.”

Janna was already fiddling with her phone, even though she had no signal, muttering, “I could make this a suspense TikTok… ‘Trapped in a mansion with no WiFi.’”

Kat snorted. “And I’ll play the role of the sarcastic bisexual who questions life choices.”

Meanwhile, Wenalin quietly poured herself a small cup of tea and looked at the dishes on the table, calmly enjoying the warmth and the faint scent of herbs in the air. Menggay sat next to her, stealing glances at her from time to time, until she finally whispered,

“I… I’m glad we’re here.”

Wenalin’s lips curved into the tiniest smile.

“Me too.”

Madam Reiko gave each of the girls a final nod.

“Enjoy your dinner. I will be just a call away if you need me. Goodnight, young ladies.”

With that, she turned gracefully and exited the living room, her footsteps echoing softly through the mansion halls.

The girls all watched her leave for a moment before erupting into their usual chaos.

“LET’S EAT!” Hyrine shouted, grabbing a plate.

“Finally,” Mae said, shaking her head with a grin.

Kat smirked, pretending to stab a piece of bread with dramatic flair.

“This is going to be a very long night of no WiFi, I can already tell.”

Bing just laughed and dug in.

Wenalin and Menggay quietly exchanged a glance and a soft, unspoken agreement: no WiFi, no distractions, just the warmth of good food—and each other.

The mansion was silent outside, except for the occasional rustle of leaves in the evening breeze. Inside, laughter, clinking plates, and whispered jokes filled the air.

And somewhere upstairs, the Jar of Solvaris waited, untouched—but never truly forgotten.

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

The hallway smelled faintly of polished wood and candle wax as Hyrine and I walked back to our room. My arms were full of leftover dishes and my stomach was still pleasantly full from dinner, while Hyrine practically bounced beside me, humming some tune I didn’t recognize.

“my wife ! Did you see that chandelier in the dining hall? I think I could swing from it!” she whispered dramatically, glancing around to make sure no one else was watching.

“I swear, if you try it, I’ll call Madam Reiko in the middle of the night just to lecture you,” I said, adjusting my hair, which had gotten slightly frizzy from the humid evening air.

Hyrine scoffed. “You’re no fun. Why did I even date you?”

“Because someone has to keep your dumb ass alive,” I replied without hesitation, holding the door open for her.

“Wow, you’re so mean, but also… adorably responsible.”

I groaned and kicked off my shoes. “Adorably responsible? Seriously? That’s your compliment?”

Hyrine shrugged, flopping dramatically onto the bed. “Hey, I call it as I see it. Now, hurry up—help me with these blankets before I get bored and start reorganizing your stuff too.”

I rolled my eyes but smiled, kneeling down to help her unfold the thick blankets and arrange the pillows. Our room wasn’t huge compared to some of the others, but it had these giant windows that let in the moonlight, and the floorboards creaked slightly in a charming way whenever we moved. It felt… peaceful.

“ you’re taking forever,” Hyrine complained, patting the bed beside her.

“I’m making sure the bed doesn’t collapse when you roll around like a tornado,” I replied, tossing the last pillow onto the bed.

Hyrine pouted and crawled closer, “You don’t trust me, huh?”

“Not when it comes to beds. I trust you with everything else, though,” I said softly.

Her eyes went wide, and then she grinned, leaning her head on my shoulder. “Aww… you’re so cheesy, . I love it.”

I laughed lightly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Cheesy? You literally jumped on the chandelier earlier in your imagination.”

She nudged me playfully. “Exactly. Life’s for big gestures, ! You should try it sometime.”

I shook my head, pretending to be exasperated. “I’ll pass. One drama queen per room is already enough.”

“Drama queen?” she repeated, faking offense. “I’m a princess! And you’re my loyal… uh…” She paused, tilting her head. “…protector?”

“You mean the one who keeps you from burning the mansion down?” I replied, smirking.

She laughed, her arms wrapping around my waist in a sudden hug. “You’re the best, you know that?”

I felt warmth spread through me and held her gently. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

Then, of course, she couldn’t let it stay calm. “ you think I could hide a ghost in this room and you wouldn’t notice?” she teased, glancing around at the shadows dancing from the candlelight.

I frowned mock-seriously. “, stop planning ghost invasions. You have one, and it’s me keeping you alive tonight.”

She giggled, pressing her forehead to mine. “You’re literally the most annoying human, and I love it.”

“Yeah, well, I’ll take that as a compliment,” I muttered, trying not to blush.

We spent the next few minutes arranging our things—her sneakers tossed haphazardly, my neatly folded clothes (of course), and her hairbrush somehow on top of my neatly stacked shirts. She winked at me mischievously.

“You’re lucky I love you, ,” she whispered as she sat down beside me, nudging my shoulder.

“I know,” I said softly, nudging back. “And I love you too,. Even if you drive me insane sometimes.”

She tilted her head and grinned. “Sometimes? … sometimes? Really? Wow, that’s generous.”

I groaned, laughing, and she leaned against me, her small body warm and soft. I could hear her soft, contented sigh. “This is nice,” she murmured. “Just us, the moon, and no WiFi. It’s… peaceful.”

I rested my head against hers. “Yeah… peaceful.”

She kissed the side of my head softly, still grinning. “Don’t make me think you’re gonna get all sentimental on me.”

“Too late,” I said with a small laugh. “But only for you”

And in that little room, filled with blankets, moonlight, and our quiet laughter, everything felt just right—even if we were going to argue about stupid things again tomorrow.

Because of someone I love

Kat’s POV

I swear on every plate in this mansion—I did NOT expect to be stuck here doing dishes on our first night. Like, hello?? This is not the Kat Domingo experience I planned. I imagined exploring the mansion, running through hallways like I'm in a K-drama, maybe even getting possessed a little. Y’know, the usual.

But no. Here I am, sleeves rolled up, hands deep in bubbly water, staring at a mountain of plates like they offended my entire family.

And beside me?

Wenalin. The silent assassin. The calm storm. The queen of resting emotionless face.

She picks up a plate and starts rinsing like the dishes owe her money.

“You know,” I said loudly because silence makes me crazy, “if these plates suddenly start moving by themselves, I’m leaving you. I’m running upstairs and locking the door.”

Wenalin blinked at me slowly. “Good. Less dishes for me.”

OH.

“Wow. Wow. You’re not even gonna deny it? No ‘OMG Kat don’t leave me’? No dramatic anime line?” I clutched my chest. “You hurt me.”

Wenalin raised an eyebrow. “Kat, you’ll run away even if someone coughs.”

Okay—fair point.

I pushed her shoulder lightly. “You’re so mean. And so calm. And I hate it. But also love it. But still hate it.”

She just kept rinsing dishes like she didn’t just break my heart.

We worked in a rhythm—me scrubbing, her rinsing. Except… my rhythm is chaos. I accidentally splashed water everywhere.

Including on her shirt.

She stared at me.

Oh no.

“My bad,” I said, smiling innocently.

“Kat,” she said slowly, “if you splash again, I’ll make you wash the entire kitchen.”

“What am I? Cinderella? Your maid? Your—”

Splash.

I swear it wasn’t on purpose this time, but the water did jump like it had a personal agenda.

Wenalin paused. Looked at the sponge. Looked at me. Looked at the water.

“I know what you’re thinking,” I said, backing away. “Don’t. Don’t you dare. Wenalin—”

Too late.

She flicked water at me.

“You little—!!”

Now we were both giggling like idiots, splashing each other but still trying not to make noise because Madam Reiko literally JUST left and said:

"If you girls need anything, call me on the telephone."

Like, ma’am, we will need everything at this rate.

After our mini water war, Wenalin set the last plate down.

“You’re drying,” she said.

“What?! I did the washing already!”

“You caused the flood.”

“THAT WAS AN ACCIDENT!”

“No,” she replied in her monotone voice, “that was you.”

I gasped. “Wenalin. You’re bullying me.”

“I’m stating facts.”

This girl. This girl will be the death of me.

I grabbed the towel dramatically. “Fine. I’ll dry. Because I’m responsible. Because I’m mature. Because I—”

“Kat.”

“What?”

“You’re wiping the same plate for three minutes.”

Oh.

I looked down.

The plate was shining like it ascended to another dimension.

“Wenalin…” I whispered. “…I think I’m losing my mind.”

“You lost it before we arrived,” she said without hesitation.

I dropped the plate. “WOW. YOU KNOW WHAT? I HOPE THE GHOSTS TAKE YOU FIRST.”

She smirked, placing the last cup on the rack. “They’ll return me.”

I STARED.

“I’m done with you.”

But I wasn’t. Because Wenalin and I stayed in that kitchen, laughing, wiping water from our clothes, trying not to slip on the floor we accidentally turned into a swimming pool.

When we finally finished cleaning

“Go to your room,” she said. “You have an adventure to prepare for.”

“Yes,” I said, proudly. “We will survive tomorrow because we washed dishes tonight. This is character development.”

She looked at me again.

“…Kat.”

“Yeah?”

“You’re weird.”

I bowed. “Thank you. I try my best.”

Wenalin shook her head and walked out, leaving me smiling stupidly at her retreating figure.

Tomorrow’s going to be chaotic.

But for now?

The kitchen is clean, the dishes are done, and my best friend still puts up with my nonsense.