"This thing, not only it's so comfortable but... Fast! Far more better than any wagon I ever ride!" Sophia's excited remarks.
"To be honest, this is far from maximum comfort." Beatrice's opinion.
"If you refering to Limousines or RVs. There's no way we going to get such vehicles." Mateo's counter to Beatrice.
"Hmpf! Do you think I don't know that? Thanks for providing examples anyway and now also explain what are those things to your friends." Beatrice gives a sly smile.
Mateo looks on her sides and see Sophia and Beltrand on his left and and Claustrine in his right, looking at him with curiousity. Mateo just sigh.
As Mateo explains what Limos and RVs. Shirna is just looking on the outside, admiring the concrete infrastructure they surrounded themselves as as they ride the new 15-seater van bought by Shiva with Mateo's funds.
The moment Grand Ecstasy see the white Van. They're amazed as they only see such vehicle on the road with their first visit on Earth.
"It looks bigger when viewed closer." Claustrine commented as she inspected the vehicle.
"What do you think?" Shiva asked Mateo.
Mateo opens the Van and alongside his friends, they inspects the spacious inside and they greeted by smell of a brand new happiness.
Mateo than inspects the car outside and notices something.
"Is the roof rack an add-on?"
"Yes brother. That model of Van is not really equipped by that but I asked the seller and said that its safe to add such things, so I decide to just put that rack anyway." Shiva explains.
"It's now looks like suited for really long distance travel, a road trip."
"You don't like it?"
"Of course I like it! In fact, its perfect."
Shiva proudly smiles.
Claustrine spent two days to regain her healthy body by eating and sleeping a lot. It turns out that she's so focused on her magic studies that she rarely eat or sleep at all, because of this. Claustrine recieves a heavy stressing down from both her friends, Ligaya and Beatrice about maitaining own's health.
Their short vacation would only last for 10 days. And to truely enjoy it, they decide to spend the remaining days by having a field trip on Metro Manila, especially Bonifacio Global City.
Thus the on-going travel. Reymundo is the Driver with Ligaya on his side. Everyone is in the back. Mateo and his friends on the middle seats while Shiva, Beatrice and Jade in the back seats.
Reymundo just following the GPS as he traverse the road while talking to Ligaya.
Jade is so focused on his phone while Shiva is sleeping. Beatrice spends his time talking with the others gleefully as it's been a while since she sees Mateo's otherwordly friends.
The trip went smoothly for a while until they got interrupted by a sudden traffic jam.
"Why a sudden traffic?" Beatrice asked.
"Hmm... Let me check."
Reymundo went outside and asked some people who viewing something from afar. After some time, he returns. His face is filled with mild annoyance.
"Just a minor car accident but..."
"But?" Mateo asked. Reymundo sigh.
"The two drivers involve are currently arguing. No one wants to accept blame."
"Should we intervene?" Beltrand asked.
"Nah. That's not our problem. I just hope the Police or Tanods deal with it quickly." Mateo just sigh.
They just wait for the incident to settle, thankfully they can occupy themselves for a while with various things.
.
.
.
BANG
!!!
"Gunshots?!" Shirna clearly recognize the familiar sound.
They faintly hear the scream of people outside.
"He has a gun!"
"Run!"
"Find cover!"
They see the people outside their Van panics and runs away on whatever direction they deem safe.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
"What the hell js happening?!" Shiva asked as he abruptly wakes-up on the sound of gunshot and people screaming.
A man is running towards their Van. Fear and panic is visible on his face as he tries to ran away from another man full of rage, pointing a handgun on him.
The events happen quickly that they don't even have time to assess what's happening. The target slams in front of their Van as he fails to stop his momentum.
.
.
.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Ligaya just notice a clenched fist in front of him. It is from Beltrand who quickly moves in order to catch the one stray bullet that almost hit Ligaya's head.
The running man continues to escape somewhere followed by the gunman. Thats when everything registers to everyone.
"Ma! Pa!" Beatrice screams with worry.
Shiva, Jade and Beatrice quickly rushes towards Ligaya and Reymundo despite them having difficulty. They check their parents with panic.
"I'm fine! Don't worry!" Reymundo shouts then he checks his wife.
Beltrand opens his fist and a bullet falls down on the car's floor.
"I-I'm fine. Thanks to Beltrand." Ligaya's reassuring smile as she was pained to see her children gets worried.
But her eyes gets wide open when she realized she forgot someone.
"Mateo?!" Ligaya asked as she abruptly stand up to see Mateo.
Beltrand, Clautrine, Shirna and Beatrice feel a potent Mana getting released near them and they look to its source, only to see Mateo as he prepares to open the door. There's an uncanny calmness on his face but his fists clenched so hard that veins are popping on his arm as the Mana becomes even more sinister.
"I'll be back." Mateo's soft words as he opens the door.
"Mateo stop! I'm fine so don't worry about it!" Ligaya screams as she's scared on what might happen.
"Hold him!" Reymundo screams.
Mateo's friends, already understand the implications starts to stop him. Beltrand grabs Mateo on his shoulder while Claustrine and Sophia holds his arms. Shirna close the door shut and block it using his body.
"Mateo please calm down!" Sophia screams as she struggled to hold Mateo.
"Sophia. How I am supposed to calm down?" Mateo said with a deadpan serious tone.
"But I manage to prevent it so there's no need for this bro. Ok?" Beltrand pleads.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
"Besides! If you kill that man! You just going to put everyone to jeopardy because it might reveal your secret! Think Mateo for Gods' sake!" Claustrine shouts, a bit of anger is audible on her voice.
Claustrine words finally make Mateo snaps and realized that what he almost going to do is a terrible idea. He takes a deep, breath several times then he finally calm himself. The Mana also slowly dissipates.
"Thanks everyone. I don't know what I might do if you didn't stop me." Mateo says calmly.
Mateo sits on his chair again. Followed by others. All of them give a deep relieved sigh.
"HE EMPTIED HIS GUN!"
A scream of a man faintly enters their Van, all the people that recently runs away returns running. Now some of them holding anything they can carry. From small stick to large branch of trees and trashcan lids.
Curious on what's happening. They go outside and see a mob of people attacking the gunman who's in the ground and protecting himself from barrage of kick and strikes of sticks and other objects.
"Enough enough! Don't kill him!" One of the man screams.
The mob follows the man and stops beating the gunman who is now beaten to pulp.
They secure the gunman until the police come and assess everything. They move the cars that obstruct the road so the traffic continues to flow again. Thankfully no one got hurt except for the gunman who recieve a brutal beatdown from everyone.
Grand Ecstasy and Agbayani family are just astounded on the sudden change of mood. Everyone just stay silent for a while before it manages to returns to its usual happy vibes again.
~~~~~~°~~~~~~
"Whoaaaa... What is this place?" Grand Ecstasy's amazed reaction as they watch from the window the tall skyscrapers that dwarfs them.
"These weird shaped buildings are so intimidating." Sophia says as she looked upwards, trying to view the top of the skyscrapers.
"But why they build so many watchtowers and in close proximity with each other?" Beltrand asked with innocence. Mateo chuckle.
"Those are not watchtowers Beltrand."
"They're not?" Claustrine asked, curious on why Earthling built such archetecture.
"Yeah. Each of them have their own purpose. In fact you going to experience one."
They finally reached their destination - Prescott Hotel.
Grand Ecstasy feels so dwarfed as they look up on the tall rectangular building made with stone and glass.
"This is a... Hotel?" Claustrine asked.
"Yeah. This is where we going to stay.
Reymundo parked the Van on the side then everyone exits to go to the lobby. Everyone just sitting on the waiting area as Beatrice talks to the lobby personel for their reservations. After some time, Beatrice walks to everyone and she dangles two set of keys.
"Let's go to our rooms!"
Grand Ecstasy feels awestruck when they ride the elevator. Two bellhops carried their luggage as they go to their 2 large rooms they going to stay for 8 days. Beatrice gives tips to the bellhops.
They reserved 2 Three-Bedroom executive apartment. One for Grand Ecstasy and another one for Agbayani family.
The moment Sophia sees the huge bed, she quickly jumps and plants herself on the soft mattress...
"This is bliss...." Sophia's satisfied words.
Claustrine also dives on the bed followed by Shirna as they join Sophia on her indulgence.
Meanwhile, Beltrand feels unease as he observes the spacious and luxurious room they going to stay with.
"Beltrand, is the room not on your liking?" Mateo asked as he was curious on Beltrand's reaction.
"Of course I love it, in fact this room is magnificent. But I just can't stop myself for being nervous."
"Nervous for what?" Mateo asked, Beltrand gives a deep sigh.
"Because it feels like we're nobles here! In fact, this room is worthy for a king! Is this really a hotel?!"
Mateo laughs joyfully.
"Of course this is a hotel. You know what, just calm down and enjoy the moment. It's not like we always experience such luxury right?"
"Mateo is correct so don't kill the mood." Sophia agrees a she snuggles a pillow.
Beltrand just scratches his head.
"Fine fine." Beltrand smiles.
Beatrice enters their room.
"Guys let's go down and have a dinner."
"Okayyy." Everyone agrees.
After they eat high class meal on the restaurants below. Grand Ecstasy returns to their room and take turns on the showers.
Grand Ecstasy is just hanging out on their room's balcony. Watching the city's night scenery full of lights from the buildings, roads and cars.
"Even the night is very alive in this city." Claustrine says.
"Nattunnia pales in comparison right?" Sophia compares and Claustrine nods as she agrees.
"It's amazing indeed but somehow I feel melancholic watching this busy place." Shirna's sudden opinion.
"Perhaps because you're more accustomed to the forest right?" Mateo asked. Shirna only answers with a nod.
"It's not like I don't like this place. Maybe, I just need to get used to sudden change of environment." Shirna's opinion.
"Don't worry, I would ensure that all of you guys can adapt and have fun." Mateo promised everyone who smiles gently.
Grand Ecstasy spends more of the night by watching movies on the huge HD TV while eating snacks and drinking wines they ordered.
~~~~~~°~~~~~~
Mateo alongside Reymundo walks to the parking lot to pick up their Van. They see Shiva talking to one of the guards.
"This damage is nasty indeed. Poor car, brand new yet already suffered damage." The middle-aged guard says as he looks on the Van.
Shiva looks on the front of the Van with 3 bullet holes making a circular crack on the glass.
"Screw that Gunman. I wish he thoroughly punished." Shiva says.
"Oh boy he's going to be punished alright. Attempted murder with an unlicensed firearm. And there's also the damage to property and the car accident if he's the one that caused it. That's going to be a huge pain to deal with."
"Shiva. Are you planning to bring the car to an auto-repair?" Mateo asked as he inspects the damage caused by bullets.
"Yeah. After I bring everyone to the amusement park, I'm going to send the Van to the nearest auto-repair shop for a quick wind shield replacement." Shiva answers with less ethusiasm as he pinch the area between his eyebrow. "And I thought this vacation is going to be a chill one."
"I recommend that you give this van A sacrifice." The guard suggested.
"We already sacrifice a pig for this one." Reymundo answers quickly.
"Then that incident is just a unfortunate coincidence." Mateo and Shiva sighs because of the guard's words.
~~~~~~°~~~~~~
After spending hours on the amusement park, everyone decides to instead wait for Shiva on the supermarket nearby. Grand Ecstasy temporarily seperate ways to others and explore themselves while eating their chosen foods.
"It's funny that we're too strong to enjoy the amusement park. When I was a child, those rides gives me excitement and want me to ride more." Mateo states his opinion.
"I understand the concept that the rides are exhilarating for normal people."
"But in this world, we're not normal." Claustrine added on Sophia's statement with a bite of crepe still inside on her mouth.
"Besides, we literally live fighting deadly monsters that those rides don't give us the rush anymore." Beltrand non-chalantly say then he takes a bite of his shawarma, he smiles as he savour the taste.
Shirna just listens to his friends as he breaks a piece on his chocolate bar and eat. Of all the food from Earth that he tried so far, Shirna find himself falling in-love on the sweet and earthy food.
"Guys, you still hungry?" Mateo asked.
"Are you really asking that question to us? Of course we're hungry!" Sophia said with excitement. Claustrine and Shirna nods.
"Geez. Beatrice message me, inviting us for a Samgy-."
Mateo stops talking when he noticed that Beltrand is gone on his side. He look back and see Beltrand staring on one of the shop's glass window.
"Beltrand? Something got your interest?" Mateo asked as they walk towards Beltrand with curious look on their face.
Mateo now see what caught Beltrand's eyes once he comes closer.
"Is this a lute?" Beltrand points on one of the instruments displayed in the shop.
"That's a guitar."
"Guwitar? Is this also a guwitar?" Beltrand now points on the electric guitar next to the acoustic one.
"Yes."
"But why this one looks so flat, solid and no hole? How it supposed to create sound?"
Mateo scratches the back of his head.
"You see. That's an electric guitar and it needs several devices before it creates a sound."
"Sounds like a hassle. Why you need an instrument that didn't create a sound on its own?"
"Because it creates a completely unique tune."
"I see..."
Beltrand now then focus his gaze on the acoustic guitar. His expression is full of fascination. Mateo smiles as he observe his friend.
"Beltrand, you want that guitar right?"
Beltrand's body twitch due to Mateo's sudden question.
"Ah... uhmm not really. I'm just curious on how beautiful it is." Beltrand tries to lie, he avoids eye contact to his friends.
Mateo, Claustrine, Sophia and Shirna smiles smugly on Beltrand's failed attempt.
"Why you looking at me like that?"
"Because you only really fascinated and focus on things or girls you see beautiful." Sophia says still with his smug smile.
"You're so easy to read." Claustrine smugly says.
"Oh crap." Beltrand sigh as he was completely caught by his friends.
"Fine. Yes I want the guwitar but I'm feel guilty to tell you so I just want to look at it longer."
"Ok. If that's the case."
Beltrand is surprised to see Mateo on the way to enter the shop.
"Wait wait Mateo. What are you doing?" Beltrand walks fast to catch up to Mateo, the other follows.
Mateo smiles.
"Lets buy that guitar."
~~~~~~°~~~~~~
Everyome is now on the Samgyup restaurant which is their last stop before they visit the National Museum with Ligaya's suggestion. In a seperate table next to Agbayani, Grand Ecstasy are perplexed as they watch their meat getting grilled in front of them.
"This world is weird sometimes. Like why we're the one cooking our food?" Claustrine's honest opinion.
"But there's fun on preparing your own food right? Besides, all of these are so delicious." Sophia replies as she dips the now cooked meat on her chosen sauce partnered by some vegies. Sophia uses a fork to eat the food and she make a blissful 'hmmmm' sound as she enjoys the unique new taste with her eyes closed.
"I agree on Sophia." Shirna then eats her portions.
"Miss! Give us more meat for two tables please." The waitress smiles as she jolts down Beatrice's order.
Beltrand is just enjoying the food and enjoys the new concept. He might complain if a tavern in his world is like this but this is Mateo's worlds full of multiple cultures and they now enjoying one of them, and Beltrand can't really complain as the food is genuinely delicious. Next to Beltrand is the guitar gifted to him by Mateo.
Mateo meanwhile is scrolling seriously on his phone when he got interrupted by Claustrine which sitting beside him. Claustrine puts the Mateo's now cooked beef slice on his plate.
"Your food is going to get burned if you don't pay attention."
"Thanks Claustrine." Mateo smiles then picks the beef using chopsticks, dips it on a sauce then eats it.
"Why you so focused on your phone now?"
"Sorry. Just a habbit of mine."
"Geez Mateo, you should just enjoy the food with us. You look so lonely when you're so focused on that phone." Claustrine then frowns.
"My bad. Well then, let's continue to eat and eat a lot. Especially you Claustrine, you need to recover the energy you lost from whatever training you did." Mateo happily says.
"Ok." Claustrine smiles as she blushes slightly.
Mateo place the phone on his side. He forgot to lock it so the phone still playing a news video of a recent school shooting in Texas. The voice of the reporter is muffled by the restaurants numerous voices.
"Classmates of the gunman are confused alongside detectives as the shooter was the last one they would expect to do such horrendous acts. No motives nor reason at all on why the suspect enacts the what now called the worse school shooting incident in American history. People are now preparing a vigil for all the students that lost their life on such unnecessary act of violence."