"Goodness, I’ve searched the whole area but didn’t find my wife," Hugo muttered angrily, crossing his arms.
"Yes, yes... and my wife is nowhere to be found either!" Karl grumbled, biting his finger angrily.
In no time, the two had bonded, becoming fast friends over their shared struggle: both were on a mission to find their missing wives.
But soon, Hugo’s expression turned worried. He glanced around nervously, lowering his voice. "You know... I still haven’t found my wife. And did you hear about Sasa? That witch who tried to... you know..."
"Yeah, I know about her," Karl replied, seemingly unfazed.
Hugo’s eyes went wide in disbelief. "You’re... you’re still not worried?" He was practically vibrating with anxiety. "I’m afraid for both of us! That witch I remember she is ..."
Karl, however, just shrugged. "What’s there to be afraid of? I know her name, it’s Sasa, and she’s bald," he said with a smirk, sounding almost proud of himself.
Hugo: "..." He just stared at Karl, speechless, wondering if his new friend was brave or just clueless.
After a pause, Hugo couldn’t help but add, "Wait... is this the same ghost who was back in the bar, shouting, ’Save me! Save me!’?"
Karl’s proud smirk faltered, and he looked away for a moment, clearly embarrassed. "That was... different," he mumbled, crossing his arms.
Hugo snorted, barely holding back a laugh. "Right, sure! Brave warrior Karl, unafraid of bald witches. Just make sure that next time, you’re the one doing the saving." Karl rolled his eyes.
The restaurant lights dimmed, but each table had a pretty neon glow around it, giving the place a cozy, magical vibe.
There was even a small stage, and the other witches customers suddenly looked excited. Soft music started playing in the background, but it soon shifted to an upbeat rhythm, filling the whole place with energy.
Ruby watched with mild curiosity as a ghost appeared on stage. He wore a low V-neck robe that showcased his strong chest, and a belt at his waist emphasized his lean figure. His long, silky black hair flowed with his movements as he started to dance, captivating nearly everyone in the room.
"Stop drooling," Ruby teased, noticing Angeline watching him with starry eyes.
Angeline grinned, not even trying to hide it. "Just admiring...heheh," she said, taking a bite of her food.
Ruby laughed. "Weren’t you saying you had enough with six husbands? You’re not considering a seventh, are you?"
Angeline laughed, glancing back at the ghostly dancer. "Well... a witch can appreciate good talent, can’t she?"
Ruby shook her head, amused, but her focus was fully on the food. She’d been hesitant at first, thinking the flavors in this world would be strange, but she was pleasantly surprised.
The red rice balls with curry were perfectly seasoned, and the side dishes—a mix of tender meat and fresh vegetables with a spicy chili sauce—were deliciously addictive. She even enjoyed the bowl of sweet syrup rolls, which melted in her mouth with every bite. And thankfully, there was cold water to wash it all down.
Ruby was so immersed in savoring her meal that she barely noticed the performance anymore. While others admired the show, she was perfectly content being absorbed in her plate, thinking this world’s food was better than she’d ever imagined.
They didn’t notice two heads peeking at them from outside.
"I’m actually getting tense! Where could my wife be? Has she eaten or not? And here she is, enjoying the wild ghost dance... and even drooling at him!" Hugo exclaimed, his eyes wide with disbelief. They were both hiding behind a wall near the restaurant, getting a clear view of the scene inside.
Karl bit his finger in frustration. "My wife is in there too! I can’t believe she stopped being an alcoholic. It seems she’s traded in her wine for ghostly eye candy.."
"Your wife is here too!" they both exclaimed at the same time.
"Otherwise, why should I be hiding here?" they repeated, looking at each other with wide eyes, surprised by their synchronicity.
"My wife has white hair and red eyes," Karl said, shaking his head in disbelief as he stared at the restaurant.
"My wife has black hair and blue eyes," Hugo replied, glancing back inside, trying to catch another glimpse.
"And they are sitting together!" they shouted in unison again.
Their eyes widened when they saw the pretty ghost approach their wives’ table. He actually touched Angeline’s cheek, and she closed her eyes, leaning into his touch.
"Feel sorry for you..." Karl muttered, feeling pity for his new brother like friend.
But then, the candy ghost brushed Angeline’s cheek and turned his attention toward Ruby, leaning in closer to her as she gulped down her food. Ruby lifted her eyelashes, surprised to see someone getting so close. When she saw his face hovering near her, she instinctively moved back a little.
Oh! He looked good, but she didn’t need more problems in her life!
However, the ghost seemed genuinely interested in Ruby. He found her good-looking and attempted to hug her from behind, causing her to almost choke on her food.
"Can you let me eat my food in peace? You can go over there; this witch is more interested in you!" Ruby exclaimed, pointing at Angeline, who was watching them.
The ghost looked embarrassed by her comment and quickly walked away, returning to dance at the other tables.
After enjoying a delicious meal, Ruby felt warm and content in her body. Wiping her mouth with a tissue, she turned to Angeline and asked, "Do you know a place where I can rent a house? I’ve been looking for a decent one."
"You should have asked me before!" Angeline replied. "Actually, my neighbor is moving to the city. If you’re interested, you can come see the house tomorrow. They’re eager to sell quickly..."
"Sell?" Ruby raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"Yeah, they’re selling it. The house is empty, and they’re offering it at a cheap price. They asked me if I knew someone who would be willing to buy it." Angeline’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
—To be continued...🪄