Chapter 12：The Mandayan Hotel

Gloria was shouting after knowing that no one has appeared in the kitchen so she just ordered Rodolfo on the phone to pick her up so that they can go immediately to the hotel. After a minute, Rodolfo rushed in and grabbed all their belongings heading to the rented car then off they go. Meanwhile, in the fastfood, Karla seated beside Seb and avoided any eye contact with Nomin. Seb got up again to claim the ordered food but when he goes back they were still silent. While Seb distributed to them the tofu and kangkong with spices he broke the silence.

"What seems to be the matter around. You stayed together for more than eight years, alone in the forest, and yet you act Ike this. Come on, breakfast is here. No one replied and when they were done, they got back home and saw Grandma Tere sweeping the floor and still in the same calm mood.

"Okay, let's finally pack and then leave. Seb went to his room while Karla and Nomin proceeded to theirs.

" I'm..sorry." Nomin spoke in shame while sitting beside her.

" Hmm...it's nothing. I just remembered before when you received a punishment after you suddenly kissed me. You were gone for almost a year and sent to that dusty place you said then you went back to me as I found you in the portal, so frustratingly ill. That's why, whenever I see you as a man, it gives me a headache."

"Same goes with me. This feeling kills me day by day. That feeling when you were the wedded husband but is prohibited to be a man to her. It's something unusual. But hey, I can still smile at you, you know, it's more than anything." He smiled and he lost his chinky eyes showing his dimples.

" Now you've lost me again you cute fellow." Then he ran while she was chasing him outside the room.

The travel has began and Seb put his luggage on the front seat while Nomin and Karla seated at the back. Seb prayed first before they left.

On their way, Seb was eyeing at them on the mirror while the two were communing with the moment together.

Eventually in the other car boarded by Gloria and Rodolfo, something in her mind popped up.

"Nomin looked like my son years ago. They get along well with Seb, and again... they looked alike. Hmm, interesting. By the way, did they know that the food has ' lumay.' Nobody has eaten despite my efforts, it sounds frustrating, isn't it right Demido are you here?"

" He is a soul inside your son, an immortal soul, so strong." Demido whispered?

" What? why you did not tell me? so where's my son?" She's devastatingly angry. Then the usual cue.

"Here's your medicine. I forgot to give this to you because you're on a diet again. Take this. Here's biscuits too and eat some." Rodolfo stopped the car on the highway and pacified his wife a little.

The sojourn continued at the back seat of Seb's car since Nomin braided her waistlong hair. He usually do it beside the lagoon, chatting while braiding her soft hair.

" Your hair looks great now." Nomin smiled while closing his eyes and smelled his hair. Seb was looking at him on the mirror and inevitably mistaken the brakes to halt. Seb's heart became wary and it joggled like it never had been. It was a very intense feeling inside.

" Seb, what happened? Are you alright?" Nomin asked.

" No, nothing. It's maybe heartburn. The coffee really isn't nice. For a while, I have to dip myself on that river, just for a very little while."

He stayed up under the acacia tree and transformed into a dog and dived into the body of waters. It was a very short pool hopping and he transformed into being human again and returned to the driver's seat. Karla tapped his shoulder and gave him some water.

" Seb, drink this, please feel better." She said.

The engine started to travel again. Nomin and Karla were on a silent mode and just looked at each other.

" They were contagious. My heart keeps on palpitating and can't even control it, isn't this weird, I'm an angel." Seb thought while driving.

"Pa, what room are you in?" It's room 23. Your Mom is there already. Just something weird, she's talking to herself alone again and said, "why you did not tell me, so where's my son?" This is a real threat for me, this is so burdensome, her hallucination are getting disruptive now." Rodolfo sighed while leaving him alone on the lobby.

Seb proceeded to the information area and asked the in-charge for any available rooms. Luckily, Seb got two rooms, room number 14 and 17. Nomin checked him at the counter and asked which room they will stay with Karla.

" It's room number 14, you'll be with Karla there." He pouted then left him alone. Nomin smiled at him and felt his jealousy.

" She should have told me earlier then I can stay at room number 17, alone, yeah. I have no worries because he's back being an angel and he's still me. Just wanted to make him a little happy." Nomin thought and smiled.

Seb heard what he was thinking and returned to him.

" Don't need that, I can enter room number 14 anytime without passing the door, you know that. But there's one more important issue that we need to focus at, Demido is with your mom right now. Go and bring Karla with you in room number 14." Seb quickly instructed.

A bellboy passed by that strangely turned their heads to him.

" The evil force, it's the sign of hell, the smell of fire." Seb was talking to him through their thoughts.

" Amazing!" Nomin smiled at him as they went back to Karla at the receiving area.

" How did you do that? I mean, you have just talked to me through inter-thought transfer of message. Seb was just smiling at him.

" Instead of asking if where's Demido now, you are even more interested in the mind-to-mind conversation. But hey, careful, Demido began to suspect us. He can possess and can get inside to anyone's body here, though he can't do that to Karla. Good job, Karla's soul is special. You took good care of her very well in my absence.

They both smiled to Karla while approaching at the receiving area.

" She's really beautiful right Seb, she shines like a northern star in my eyes. Everything on her is perfect and..." Nomin fell down when the bellboy suddenly crossed at the lobby but in a second Seb caught Nomin's back without any injuries.

"The people at the receiving area applauded to how Seb saved Nomin, others had a video on it too.