After visiting the Ghost God, both Ruby and Julian made their way back down the hill. The moment they stepped off the liftway, Julian stretched his arms and took a deep breath, his earlier drowsiness completely gone.
"I feel totally fine now," he said, surprised at himself.
Ruby gave him a warm look, her hand brushing some dust off his shoulder. "That’s great. Let’s eat now, I’m starving."
Soon after, she found a small restaurant tucked beneath the shade of a flowering tree near the temple entrance. The place was simple, but clean and cozy, with the scent of herbs and roasted spices drifting in the air.
They sat near the open window, letting the fresh wind cool their skin. Ruby sipped her cool water while Julian looked over the menu, his mood clearly lifted.
When their lunch arrived...steamed buns, fragrant rice, and crispy vegetables in spicy pepper sauce...they both dug in with quiet smiles. The food was warm, comforting, and filling, just what they needed after a long morning of travel, waiting, and climbing.
For a while, neither of them spoke. They just ate together in peace. It felt simple, ordinary... and yet perfect.
"We should come here again too," Julian said as he chewed the last bite of his steamed bun. His eyes still carried a trace of wonder. "The energy inside... it was so powerful. I don’t know how to explain it, but it felt like something cleansed me from the inside."
Ruby smiled softly, resting her chin on her hand as she looked at him. "Yeah... maybe we should visit again. Next time, with Milo, Karl, and Adrian."
Julian nodded quickly, his eyes lighting up at the idea. "Brother Karl will probably cry the moment he sees the glowing tree," he said, chuckling. "And Milo will ask the priest a hundred questions about how the glass capsule works."
Ruby laughed under her breath, imagining it all. "And Adrian will just stand in the back, arms crossed like he doesn’t believe anything—but I bet even he’ll feel something."
Julian was now very comfortable around Ruby so much so that he didn’t even realize how naturally his hand would find hers when they walk, or how he would fix her sleeves or tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear without a second thought. These small touches had become a part of their rhythm, something that once made him shy now came to him as easily as breathing.
After lunch, they returned to the hotel. Ruby let out a small yawn as she dropped her small bag near the table. "Let’s freshen up," she said, and Julian nodded, already heading to the bathroom.
Both took long, relaxing showers, one after the other letting the hot water wash away the weight of the morning’s journey and temple climb. The room was filled with the faint scent of their floral soap and shampoo, the open window letting in the red rays of the setting sun.
Later, they both rested on the soft bed, not talking much..just lying beside each other in silence, content. Julian turned his head slightly, watching Ruby as she dozed off for a bit, her hair spread like a curtain across the pillow. He smiled gently.
By evening, they got ready and stepped out again for dinner, both refreshed and in better spirits.
And on the other side...
Karl was lying on the couch, fully sprawled out like a lazy cat, eyes glued to the phone screen.
He furiously tapped the screen, eyebrows furrowed in full focus. "Yes—yes—come here you stupid fish—HA! Got you!"
"Brother Karl!" Milo’s voice broke the air, his hands on his hips, clearly distressed. "You’ll ruin the phone! Wife will get angry! You can’t always play that fish game!"
But Karl didn’t even glance up. "Shoo, let me play," he muttered, curling further into the couch like a burrito.
Milo looked heartbroken. His eyes shimmered with emotion. "You’re out of control ever since wife and Julian left! You just play, eat, sleep! No bath! No books! No rules!"
Karl groaned dramatically. "They abandoned me. What else am I supposed to do? Survive in this cruel, wife-less world with dignity?"
Milo blinked. "I don’t know what dignity means but I know it doesn’t involve you wearing the same robe Two days in a row!"
Karl hissed and covered himself with a nearby pillow like a wounded beast. "Leave me to mourn in peace."
Milo sighed like a tired little grandpa and walked away, whispering under his breath, "Wife please come home soon..."
He then prepared tea for them, placing two small cups on tray and carefully walking toward sofa.
As soon Adrian opened door, Milo rushed to him with wet eyes.
"Brother adi! Look brother karl he is not listening me..." he said pointing at Karl who was lying on sofa with pillow and phone in hand.
Adrian eyes narrowed coldly seeing him still playing that stupid fish game.
Milo sniffled, "I didn’t want to disturb you because you always come home tired... but now I have no choice, if I don’t complain... brother karl will become more lazy..."
Adrian glanced at Karl again and said nothing... just walked inside silently, his aura slowly turning darker...
"Karl," Adrian called, voice low but sharp.
Karl’s hand trembled, and his fish game character died on the spot.
He slowly turned his head like a guilty child caught red-handed. "Y-Yeah?"
Then his eyes narrowed at Milo, who quickly hid behind Adrian, peeking with only his head showing.
"You complained about me?" Karl said, eyes filled with betrayal.
Milo puffed his cheeks, "You were playing fish game for four hours! And you didn’t even brush your hair..."
Adrian crossed his arms, standing tall with a cold look in his eyes. "Karl. You’re not a child. Don’t make me treat you like one."
Karl groaned and buried his face in the cushion. "Hmph! I brush my hair, okay..." he muttered stubbornly, peeking at Adrian with one eye.
Adrian raised a brow, clearly unimpressed. "With what? Your fingers?"
—To be continued...🪄