"Really?"

  Mateo's dumbfounded reaction as he watch his friends just casually enjoying the ride with the white van. Everything just happened so fast that he didn't have the privilage to react.

  The moment his mom reveals what's going to happen. Their suitcase including his are already packed with clothing and his friends quickly pull him inside the van.

  "Come on guys. Do we really need to do this?" Mateo asked.

  "Of course! Just look at you, you look like a mess!" Sophia answers with ethusiasm.

  "Besides. Mom would not allowed you to return to Yhigressia in that state. You know that right?" Shiva's opinion as he drives the white van.

  Mateo stays silent for a moment as Shiva's words is true. The recent incident really take a toll to him.

  And he assumed the same with his friends. Mateo just sigh as he seems defeated by the majority.

  "It's a great opportunity for us to clear our minds before we resume adventuring again. And also to strenghten our bond as a party." Claustrine commented as she look at Shirna who still in deep thoughts. But his expression is calm.

  "You're the one I least expected to say sentimental things like that." Beltrand commented.

  "Who do you expect to say it? Sophia?" Claustrine answers.

  "Hmmm... Yes?"

  "Eh? No no, that sounds embarassing." Sophia quickly refuse.

  "Anyways Shiva. Why you also join us?" Mateo asked.

  "You guys can drive this van?"

  Everyone stays silent.

  "Fair enough." -Beltrand.

  "But you still have a auto-repair shop you need to manage."

  "Don't worry about it. Dad would replace me temporarily for managing the shop. As for now, we should just focus on making this two months vacation worth it."

  Mateo sigh again, contemplating.

  "One month huh? Shiva."

  "Yes Bro?"

  "Can we go to Naic?

  ~~~~~~°~~~~~~

  Grand Ecstasy is now in front of Glimmer & Co jewelry store.

  "We're going to buy expensive jewelry?" Sophia asked as they walk inside. The armed guard recognize Mateo and friendly let them enter.

  "No." Mateo asnwers Sophia.

  They reach the backroom where Ailan's office is and Mateo knocks on the door.

  "It's open!" The voice behind the door shouts.

  Mateo opens the door and they see Ailan sitting on his office chair with the CCTV monitors behind him.

  "Welcome back pre. And I didn't expected that you will also bring them here." Ailan's greeting as he observes the guests from another world.

  "You must be his friend that knows his secret. Nice to meet you." Claustrine greeting, the other three bows alongside Claustrine.

  Grand Ecstasy introduce themselves to Ailan formally.

  "No need for formalities. Hey pre, I don't know how you got them but your friends are truly such beauties huh?" Ailan smirks which makes Grand Ecstasy surprised.

  Mateo just smirks back.

  "Oho interested huh? Perhaps I should also tell your wife that you find my friends' beautiful pre?"

  "So you already know?"

  Mateo and Ailan looked at each other silently for a while then laugh their hearts out to the confusion of Grand Ecstasy.

  "You motherfucker! You didn't even tell me that you got married and now have a kid! You didn't even invited me as a Ninong!"

  "As if I have a way to contact you on another world you jackass!"

  After some time. Everyone is now sitting. Mateo and Ailan are seated like their in home while Mateo's friends are timidly on the chairs.

  "So? What brings you here?"

  Before they exit the white van, Mateo already pick several gold coins from his Bag-of-Storage and put it on a paper bag. He now puts the paper bag in Ailan's table.

  "I want to convert some gold."

  "Another big project huh?"

  "No. We just need funds for our vacation?"

  Ailan's eyes widen a bit then he smiles. He looks on Mateo's friends.

  "I see... They surely gonna have fun on our world? And how you gonna do your vacation?"

  "Road trip."

  "Damn! I wish I can join you." Ailan's envy as he counts the bills he's going to give to Mateo.

  "I mean, you can. Do you want to join us?"

  "Nah. I'm pre-occupied at the moment. I just gonna wish your road trip is a safe one."

  Ailan gives a paper bag of bills which Mateo carefully puts on his sling bag.

  "That's... A huge amount of money for an amount basically equal to our weekly budget. Is gold really that valuable here?" Beltrand commented.

  "I guess so. But still, I'm surprised. No wonder Mateo's family is living good life in his world." Sophia stated her opinion.

  "Uhmmm... Can I ask a question Mr. Ailan?"

  "Ailan is fine. So what's your question Miss Claustrine?"

  "I curious. Mateo is trading gold on you for years now right?"

  "Yes."

  "But gold seems a ultra valuable material here. Isn't going to be suspecious when you have a unusual supply of gold?"

  "Ohhh good question. Thankfully we already prepared for that problem and created numerous countermeasures."

  "Like?"

  "Besides Jewelry and Currency. Gold is also used on more things here. For example, gold is used for our gadgets like this phone I holding right now." Ailan answers as he shows his phone.

  "But it doesn't look gold and shiny." Shirna answers.

  "Because the gold is inside this phone. Look, I don't know how it works but with millions of digital products being produced yearly, I always have ways to distribute Mateo's otherworldly gold without rousing suspicion." Ailan proudly said.

  "Besides electronics, you have other ways?" Mateo asked.

  "Hmmm... my best option is to sell gold to Medical field. Space industry is also good but..." Ailan sigh.

  "Space exploration is so tied to government. And those people are the last one we want to look for our trails."

  Grand Ecstasy can't really understand what Ailan is saying.

  "Anyways, I must bored you to death. How about you guys start your road trip now?" Ailan's proposal.

  "Ah... We must make Shiva wait for so long. Yeah."

  Mateo stand up followed by his friends.

  "By the way. How's the noble react to the drinks?" Ailan asking about Gilmore

  "He love it. We now have a close relationship with him." Mateo answers with pride.

  Grand Ecstasy then starts to exit the room

  "We're leaving now. Thank you pre."

  "You're always welcome pre."

  But before Mateo exits the door.

  "Wait pre!"

  "What's wrong pre?"

  "Clara pays a visit a week ago. She's asking us to have some bonding together."

  "Ah... Clara huh?"

  Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!

  Mateo feels a sense of nostalgia as he remembers the past. He smiles.

  "Just make a plan and tell me later. Let's meet again if our schedule give us some free time."

  And then Grand Ecstasy leaves the office. As they walk back to the public carpark.

  "Who's Clara?" Claustrine asked.

  "She's a friend of us. A very close one."

  "I see...",

  We reach the van and see Shiva sitting inside, eating burgers.

  "You guys really take your time huh?"

  "Sorry." Mateo apologize.

  "No worries, I enjoy my alone time anyways. So? Where we should go next?"

  Grand Ecstasy enters the van.

  "Let's go to a mall."

  "Mall? For what?" Shiva is confused as they supposed to have a road trip.

  "Let's buy some phones."

  Claustrine, Beltrand, Sophia and Shirna perks up after hearing what Mateo said.

  ~~~~~~°~~~~~~

  Grand Ecstasy leaves the smartphone shop. Claustrine, Beltrand, Sophia, and Shirna having a mesmerized and excited face as they hold the box of phones like it's a very delicate treasure.

  "Wait... Is this for... Real?" Sophia still didn't believe what's just happening.

  Meanwhile, Shiva is having a curious look on Mateo as he hold an eco-bag full of freebies.

  "Are you sure about this?" Shiva is still uncertain on Mateo's decision, especially on what just transpired 3 days ago.

  "Uhmm... Yeah. I agree on Shiva. Are you sure?" Claustrine heared what Shiva said and joins the conversation.

  Mateo gives a faint smile.

  "I think I should trust you guys more. Besides, it's unfair that I can break my own rules. That's hypocritical of me."

  "Are you going to just throw away the rules you made?"

  "Nah..."

  Mateo smile slyly.

  "But it's not like we should strictly follow it... Right?"

  Claustrine smiles slyly.

  "You rascal."

  "Ok let's go back to the van. We can set-up your new phones there as we continue our travel."

  "Mateo."

  "Yes Trinne?"

  "Is there a chance... That I can also get a... Laptop?" Claustrine shyly asked.

  .

  .

  .

  .

  Grand Ecstasy exits the PC shop. Claustrine in dreamy state as she hug the box of new laptop.

  But Sophia and Beltrand are quiet jealous.

  "Why she's the only one that get a laugh tap?" Sophia pouts.

  "Bias." Beltrand commented.

  "As if you guys can use a laptop." Mateo smirks.

  "If we learn to use a laugh tap. You should also gift us one!" Sophia continue to pouts.

  Shirna just smiling while eating his chocolate bar. Listening to the banter of his friends.

  The party is now inside the van, ready to leave as they set-up the the newly bought phones. Claustrine finished first and takes her first photo.

  An inexperienced selfie.

  "You look so ugly there." -Beltrand.

  "Shut up."

  Claustrine takes a stolen shot of Beltrand then show it to him.

  "Ugly." Claustrine smirks.

  "Fuck."

  "If you practice camera angles, I'm sure you can capture good photos." Mateo's advice.

  "Can you teach me?"

  "Do I look like a photogenic type?"

  "Foto jeric?" Beltrand's confuses question.

  Claustrine tries to remember the word with her little knowledge on Earth then she recall the word used by Beatrice once. Claustrine look at Mateo.

  "No."

  "So? Where we should go first?" Shiva asked after he inspects the car one more time.

  "Let's go to Batangas." Mateo's proposal.

  .

  .

  .

  ~~~~~~°~~~~~~

  In one of the beautiful beach resorts in Batangas. A group of 3 dudes are happily bickering as they enter the entrance. Their appearance resembles those playboy with huge money to spent for their pleasure of youth.

  Pleasure including traveling, gambling, drinking, and hitting on girls they deemed good.

  And have a good time if they're successful.

  "Dude... That one looks so hot." A long haired man points to a girl nearby as he whispers.

  "Yeah. And also that one. And that one." A bulky man whispers.

  Their leader, a blonde and good lookin guy just sigh.

  "You fuckers are still terrible on picking up chicks.",

  "The fuck you say?"

  "Look."

  The blonde observes one of their picks and point on a man just 1 meter away to the girl. The man is masculine and scary.

  "One wrong move and you guys going to go home with broken bones. That one is already taken."

  The blone continues to point on the other girls.

  "And that one, and that. Also that one."

  "Damn... You really good at this huh?" The masculine dude's praise

  "Years of experience. You guys are years late." The blonde smugly says.

  "Whatever fucker." The long haired dude is unimpressed.

  The blonde continues to observe the surroundings until his eyes widen after finding her target.

  "Bingo."

  "Huh? You find someone?"

  The blonde points on the reception desk and there, they see a group of tourist.

  They ignore the tall bulky man, the small girl and the average man as they focused their attention to two girls in the group.

  The shorter lady in the group with pink hair in twin ponytails. The trio are easily captivated by her sizable breasts. The lady is happily talking to her friends with excitement.

  But unlike the other two, the leader is more focus to the other lady which make him captivated in the first place.

  The beautiful and tall blonde lady with side braid. She's just chilling on the backsides. Talking to the average looking filipino dude.

  "Dude... Are you sure? Their foreigners and we don't know any english." The long black haired dude asked after he realized what their targeting.

  "Besides. That two seems already in relationship." The bulky man follows.

  "It's not shithead. Look, based on their interactions. It's more like they're just a group of friends having fun together. We have a chance if we play our cards right." The blonde playboy smirks.

  They watch as the blonde lady seperates to the group and sit on the bench as she waits.

  "Now that you confident that you can catch them. Then show us your english skills bastard. Our teacher Mrs. Kruz hates your guts for a reason you know?"

  The two laughs at their leader who just sneer.

  "Just watch and learn."

  The blonde playboy fix his appearance and walks towards to the blonde lady with confidence and vibrado. The lady continues to play with her phone when she feels the man standing next to her.

  The man is making a very friendly smile.

  "Hello miss... Yu are... also going in vacation here?" The man's attempt on english.

  His two friends face-palmed themselves from a distance.

  The lady smile softly.

  "Yes... Also, marunong ako magtagalog kaya wag ka na magpakahirap mag english."

  The blonde playboy's mouth open slighly after hearing the clear tagalog the lady said. He feels stupid and embarrassed.

  From the distance. His two friends are trying to hold their laugh. He make a sharp glare them then returns his friendly demeanor to the lady.

  "Ah-ahahaha... I see. How about your friends? Are they also skilled in speaking tagalog."

  The lady faintly smiles.

  "Not yet. But we still learning."

  "No worries. You can master it anytime. By the way, you guys are new to this beach resort?"

  "Yes."

  The blonde playboy's smile widen.

  "Good! You see, me and my friends are patrons on this resort. How about we guide you all on so you can have fun to the fullest?" The blonde playboy's proposal.

  "Oh? That's a good idea."

  "Trinne! Let's go." Her filipino friend called her which she replied. The lady stand up.

  "I gonna tell them your idea. See you inside mister." The lady smile then wave gently as she starts to walk away.

  After the group leaves. The blonde playboy's friend reunites with him and slap her shoulder.

  "Nice one dude! We got an entry with them." The long haired dude's compliment.

  "Yeah. But we still need to intergrate ourselves to them. This is the first time we doing this as most of the time, we targeting one or two isolated girls." The bulky man's opinion.

  "No worries. All we need to do is to gain their trust and be friendly to them. After we become close, that's when we going to do our charm and then..."

  The blonde man smirks.

  "Isolate the two chicks without their friends knowing. With that, we can also have our fun."

  Meanwhile inside the resort...

  "I see you talking to some man. Is something wrong?" Mateo asked.

  Claustrine sigh.

  "Yeah. Some playboy try to hit on me."

  "No waaaay!"

  Everyone looks at Beltrand.

  "You? Getting targeted by playboys? Is this world's beauty standard warped?" Beltrand continues to walk as he speak, everyone is behind him.

  Claustrine slaps Beltrand's back really hard.

  "Ouch!"

  "It's been a while since I saw Claustrine physically hit Beltrand instead of giving insults back. That must be sting a bit for both side." Shirna commented, Sophia chuckle on the analysis.

  "Yeah. Anyway, what did you say to him?"

  "Well, he proposed that he would like to join us so he and his friends guide us to this resort. I said I relay his idea to all of you guys." Claustrine casually explained.

  Mateo pinch the bridge of his nose.

  "You should just refuse."

  "Well it's not like those playboys would stop pestering us. Especially when they see a chance."

  "Ah yeah. Lets hear advice from the professional womanizer himself." Claustrine smirks as she look at Beltrand.

  "So Mister Womanizer? What's your opinion on this?" Mateo also smirks.

  Beltrand contemplates.

  "Hmmm... I can say that we should just show that we're not interested on anything. Show disinterest on anything they say and make them bored to death." Beltrand shrugs.

  "What if they become even more pushy instead?" Sophia asked.

  "Well, that's when me and brother would intervene and give the NO that they deserve. It's not like we can't knock down some smallfry right?" Beltrand smirks.

  "Dude. We're here to have fun and not to have fight." Mateo's concerned warning.

  "But giving them truth in a hard way should be fun right? But yeah you're right. You know what! We should just focus on enjoying our vacation instead on worrying on useless crap!" Beltrand shouted as he points on the sparkling blue water after they finally reach the coast.

  "I never been on a beach this lively before." Sophia commented as she observe the crowd of people. Some are having a swim while the others are relaxing under the shade of their huge beach umbrella or sunbathing.

  "I think I understand now why Beatrice insist on us wearing those... Weird underwear." Claustrine commented as she observes the ladies and their bikinis.

  "Damn. Your world is really more free than us."

  Shirna just watched one dude surfing from the distance. Mesmerized on the man riding the waves with ease.

  "Guys. Look like that's our cabin. Let's help Shiva on bringing our luggage there." Mateo points on a sizable cabin facing the blue sea.

  "Okaay!!" His friends collectively reply.

  ~~~~~~°~~~~~~

  "Finally!"

  The trio of playboys are now enjoying the scenery after they bring their stuffs on their cabin.

  "Now we just need to find them." The long haired dude said as he look at the surroundings.

  "They mus be still inside their cabin." The bulky man commented as he also looking on their targets.

  The blonde playboy also doing the same until...

  "I spot them now. Let's go."

  The trio walks towards a set of huge beach umbrella, a table and chairs where the group they finding is resting.

  As they walk closer, the blonde playboy prepares to introduce themselves.

  "Hello guys. Sorry for making... You... Wai..."

  His expression change from friendly, to confused and then finally... Fear. His friends also feel the same as they observe Grand Ecstasy.

  Grand Ecstasy, still unaware of the trio's pressence are just talking to each other. Mateo, Shiva and Beltrand carefree removes their clothes until they only wearing beach shorts, their target Clautrine and Beatrice at first are refusing to remove their clothes as they feeling embarassed but they tough themselves up and remove their cardigans. Revealing bikinis personally picked by Beatrice for them. Shirna also do the same and reveal to the trio that he's a boy all along.

  Yet the Shirna reveal doesn't faze the trio at all. As they're too engrossed on watching Grand Ecstasy's bodies.

  Their eyes are widen in horror as they observed the huge scars plastered over Grand Ecstasy's body.

  Some are small but others are so grim that they question how they even manage to survive such injuries.

  Like the long horizontal scar of Mateo.

  Or the numours stab wounds of Beltrand.

  The blonde playboy quickly turn around and walk away. At first his two friends are confused but they just follow their leader. They also feel the fear their leader experienced yet...

  "Why we just leave like that?" The long hair dude asked.

  "Yeah... It's just scars right? Besides, our targets are still look fine." The bulky man asked.

  Yet their expression is full of uncertainty.

  "Dumbfucks! You didn't realized it at all.

  The blonde man's steps are heavy as he imagines scenerios on his head. He's a son of a high ranking politician and he's well averse of the tales from his dad's world.

  "Those scars just screams that they're dangerous people and should not messed up with. Whatever thing they got involved with to get such scars, I don't want to involved with it." The blonde playboy speaks with dead seriousness.

  Seeing the serious expression of their leader, his two friends just follow without asking anymore. In their mind, they might dodged a bullet with the help of their friend's intuition.

  Meanwhile, Grand Ecstasy just watch as the trio walking away from them.

  "Huh? Why they just leave us without introducing themselves?" Claustrine's genuine confused question.

  Mateo just shrugs.

  "Who knows."

  "Well. Maybe they just give up on hitting on you and Sophia. Good riddance I guess?" Beltrand's casual answer as he munch on his potato chips.

  "Well whatever. Still, is my bikini look good on me? I mean, I got these scars so it must be not look good fight

  " Claustrine asked shyly as she shows her bikini with a partnered sunhat. Fully showing a mature vibe.

  Mateo looks at Claustrine and smile.

  "You look so beautiful now Trinne."

  "Thanks." Claustrine smiles while blushing.

  "How about me?" Sophia asked as she shows her simplier bikini that shows more teenage young spirit.

  "Yeah. It fits you perfectly." Mateo happily while Beltrand nods. Agreeing on his words.

  "Guys. Let's go take a swim now!" Shirna calls as he's already on his way to the sea.