Passing time

 -Tessa Mialila Passionata-

- December 18, XXXX

Each passing day feels like a slow march into oblivion. The town grows duller with every sunrise, as if life itself is being drained away.

The sun no longer shines with its usual warmth and brightness. Instead, it casts a pale, sickly light over everything. The moon, too, seems to have lost its glow, its pale presence adding to the lifeless atmosphere.

I tell myself this might just be the natural weather of December. But still...something feels off.

I didn't feel like exploring the town today. I noticed a basketball court not far from the highway while gazing out of the second-floor window in the main room. It caught my attention, sitting there quietly, almost inviting me.

I decided to check my things. I hadn't touched them since we arrived. I started with my phone, only to find a slew of missed calls, social media updates, and messages from before we reached Dilopog.

As expected, the signal bar flickered between one bar and none. What surprised me more was the battery—almost dead.

"I swear I charged this before we left. Speaking of charging...where's my charger?"

I rummaged through my bag, growing increasingly frustrated. Finally, I realized I must have forgotten it. Hoping for a miracle, I asked my mom and brother.

Mom didn't have a phone—so, of course, no charger. My brother? His little Nokia phone, with its keypad and all, couldn't have been less helpful. Cute, but useless for me.

I sighed and shoved my phone back into my bag. My frustration eventually pushed me to explore the basketball court.

I cleaned up, crossed the highway, and walked down a cement path leading to a concrete resting hut. Sitting on a cold bench inside, I watched a game unfold.

A group of men were in the middle of an intense match. The red team was struggling against the blue team, which dominated with sheer precision and strength.

What really caught my eye, though, was a tall man with blond hair and piercing blue eyes. He had the presence of a celebrity, exuding an almost beastly aura. His movements were fierce yet calculated, and he effortlessly tore through the red team's defense to secure a perfect three-point shot.

I couldn't help but watch in awe, my frustration from earlier fading into the background.

But then I felt it—a gaze from somewhere far off. It was like a pull, drawing my attention to the source.

In the distance, I spotted a teenage boy, no more than 4'11. He wore a plain white t-shirt and blue shorts, his golden-reddish eyes glinting with an otherworldly hue, as if a faint blue glow danced within them.

His stare was enigmatic, almost magnetic. It wasn't unsettling, just...mysterious. I felt an urge to walk towards him, as if some invisible thread was drawing us together.

But before I could make a move, the game ended. The players approached the resting hut, laughing and exchanging words, the blond-haired guy walked toward me, his movements confident yet unassuming. His blue eyes locked onto mine as he gave a soft smile, one that felt strangely disarming.

"Hey," he said, stopping a few feet away. "I haven't seen you around before. Are you new here?"

"Yeah," I replied, my voice quieter than I meant it to be. "Just got here a few days ago."

He nodded, his gaze lingering for a moment before he spoke again. "I'm Cedric. You Gorgeous?"

"Tessa," I said simply, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear and blushing slightly.

His smile widened slightly. "Tessa… nice name. So, what brings you to Dilopog? You don't exactly look like someone who grew up around here."

I hesitated, unsure how much to share. "My family… decided to move here. Kind of a vacation, I guess..."

"Dilopog, a vacation spot?" He chuckled softly, the sound light and warm. "That's… different. But I guess it has its charm."

I tilted my head slightly, curious. "What about you? Are you from here?"

"Nah." He shook his head. "I'm from Mayahag, just a few towns over. Way more lively than here. Probably the opposite, actually."

"Mayahag?" I repeated. "What's it like?"

"It's… busy" Cedric said, leaning slightly against the post of the resting hut. "Kind of like one of those high school TV shows. Lots of energy, lots of drama. People running around, doing their thing, and action stuff," He paused, his eyes meeting mine. "You'd probably like it. You don't seem like someone who belongs in a quiet place like this."

I felt a faint heat rise to my cheeks, his words catching me off guard. "What makes you say that?"

He shrugged, his smile teasing now. "You've got this… vibe. Like you're used to a different kind of life. A city girl, maybe? Oh no, more like a goddess aura,"

"I wouldn't call myself a city girl, and definitely not a goddess" I said, unable to hide a small laugh and my face slowly turning red. "But yeah, Dilopog is… quieter than what I'm used to."

He seemed to study me for a moment, his expression softening. "Well, quiet's not so bad. Sometimes it gives you a chance to notice things you wouldn't otherwise."

His words hung in the air for a moment, and I felt a strange pull, like there was more meaning behind them. Before I could say anything, Cedric gestured toward the court.

"You were watching the game?" he asked, his tone casual but still carrying that natural warmth.

"Yeah," I said. "It's… interesting to watch, I guess."

He laughed softly. "Interesting, huh? I don't think I've ever heard basketball described like that before."

I smiled, feeling a little more at ease. "Well, I don't know much about it. I just saw the court from the window and thought I'd check it out."

"Well, now you're here," Cedric said, his eyes locking with mine again. "And I'm glad you did. It's not every day I meet someone new in a place like this."

For a moment, the world seemed to fade into the background. The sounds of the court, the wind brushing through the trees—it all felt distant, as if the moment had shrunk to just the two of us.

But then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw him again—the boy with the golden-reddish eyes, standing far off in the distance. He hadn't moved, his enigmatic gaze fixed on us like before.

I broke eye contact with Cedric, nodding toward the boy. "Do you know him?"

Cedric turned, following my gaze. His brows furrowed slightly. "Him? Where?"

"There," I said, pointing. But when I looked back, the boy was gone.

Cedric turned back to me, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Weird," he muttered under his breath, then shrugged it off. "Anyway, I was thinking… if you're free after Christmas, maybe you'd like to visit Mayahag?"

I blinked, surprised by the sudden invitation. "Visit Mayahag?"

"Yeah," he said, his smile returning. "I could show you around. You know, give you a little break from all this… quiet." He gestured to the surroundings with a playful grin.

I felt my cheeks warm at his offer, but I managed to nod. "That sounds… nice. I'd like that."

"Great," Cedric said, his blue eyes lighting up as if he hadn't expected me to agree so easily. "It's a plan, then."

I couldn't help but smile back at him, feeling a strange warmth settle in my chest.

But just as the moment lingered, Cedric's phone buzzed. He glanced at it, his expression instantly shifting to something more serious. "Sorry, I have to take this," he said, stepping aside to answer the call.

I watched as his carefree demeanor melted away, replaced by a focused, almost commanding presence. When he ended the call, he returned to me with an apologetic look.

"Looks like we have to head back to Mayahag," he said, his tone regretful. "Something came up."

"Oh," I said, trying not to sound too disappointed. "That's okay."

Cedric gave me a small, reassuring smile. "I'll see you after Christmas, then."

Before I could reply, he added, "It was nice meeting you, Tessa. Really."

"You too," I said, my voice softer than I intended while still blushing slightly.

He turned to his team, clapping his hands to get their attention. "Alright, boys, we're heading back!"

The group groaned but began gathering their things, offering cheerful goodbyes to me as they prepared to leave.

"Bye, cutie! Take care!" one of them called out, waving.

"Yeah bruh, take care!" another chimed in.

"Bye, everyone!" I called back, waving awkwardly but feeling strangely touched by their friendliness.

As they mounted their bikes—sleek, expensive ones that gleamed in the fading light—I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. Cedric, sitting confidently on his bike, gave me one last wave before they rode off in a roar of engines, leaving a trail of dust behind.

I sighed, watching them disappear into the distance. Despite their abrupt departure, my mood had lifted, and I couldn't help but smile at the thought of visiting Mayahag.

The red team left not long after, but unlike Cedric's group, they walked away on foot, chatting and laughing among themselves.

-Tessa Mialila Passionata-

Finally, I found myself alone again. I sat back down on the concrete bench in the resting hut, letting the stillness wash over me.

Lost in thought, I almost didn't notice when someone sat down beside me.

Startled, I turned to see the boy from earlier. His golden-reddish eyes met mine, calm yet piercing, as if he'd been waiting for this moment all along.

"Hi.." he said softly, his voice carrying a strange mixture of familiarity and mystery.

I blinked, unsure how to respond. "…Hi?"

For a moment, we just sat there, the silence between us heavy yet oddly comforting.

After a lingering silence, the boy stood up and moved to stand directly in front of me. His presence felt almost magnetic, pulling my focus entirely onto him.

"I've noticed how this town has changed," he said, his voice soft yet firm, carrying an air of melancholy. "The way it dims with each passing day—it's… unsettling."

I blinked at him, caught off guard by his statement, but before I could say anything, he continued.

"You," he said, his gaze locking onto mine with an intensity that made my breath hitch, "are very interesting."

"Interesting?" I echoed, unsure whether to feel flattered or unnerved.

"Yes," he replied. "There's a dark essence lingering in your aura… but there's also something else." His eyes flicked to my necklace—the green jade pendant my brother, Calix, had given me just yesterday. I instinctively touched it, the cool surface grounding me.

"This necklace…" the boy said softly, almost as if he were speaking to himself. "It carries protective energy. Strong, but fragile, like it's meant to shield you from something."

I frowned, gripping the pendant tightly. "What are you talking about? How do you know that?"

His enigmatic smile returned. "Let's just say I see things most people don't."

"Who are you?" I asked, my voice low but firm.

"A wonderer," he said simply. His words hung in the air, frustratingly vague.

"Is that all you're going to say?"

"That's that," he replied with a small shrug.

Without another word, he turned his back to me and began walking toward the highway. Just a few feet away, a pair of worn roller blades lay abandoned on the pavement.

I felt an urge to stand, to follow him, but it was as if some invisible force pinned me to the bench. My legs refused to move, no matter how much I willed them to.

The boy bent down to put on the roller blades, his movements calm and deliberate. Just as he was about to leave, he glanced back over his shoulder, his expression tinged with something I couldn't quite place—sadness, maybe?

"It's a disappointment," he said, his voice low but clear, "that you will be either a food of darkness or… an imprisoned soul."

The words should have sent a chill down my spine, but they didn't. Instead, they carried a strange weight of sorrow that settled in my chest.

Before I could respond, he turned back and began gliding down the highway. For a brief moment, his mysterious aura remained intact—until he hit a rock on the road and stumbled, nearly falling flat.

I couldn't help but wince at the sight. The boy quickly recovered, though, brushing himself off and continuing on his way with a noticeable hint of embarrassment.

I stared after him, unsure whether to laugh or dwell on his cryptic words. In the end, I shook my head and decided he was just trying to scare me. Still… a small part of me couldn't shake the feeling that there was some truth in what he said.

Pushing the thoughts aside, I stood and made my way back home. Cedric's face lingered in my mind as I walked, his smile, his confidence, and the warmth he exuded. By the time I reached the house, my thoughts were consumed by him entirely.

For the rest of the day, I couldn't help but replay our earlier conversation, a smile creeping onto my lips every time I thought of him. I felt giddy, like a teenager caught in a whirlwind of emotions—a love fever that refused to let go.

-Tessa Mialila Passionata-

December 19, XXXX

Rain drummed against the roof, the cold seeping through the walls. My mother made pork porridge to warm us, filling the house with its familiar, soothing scent. I wrapped my hands around the bowl, thinking—maybe I should write a novel about this town, this house.

With that thought, I climbed the stairs, rummaging through my bag until I found my old notebook. Flipping through the pages, I traced my childhood sketches and short stories—fragments of my past adventures. This notebook had been with me for eight years. Maybe longer.

When I reached a blank page, I began to write. I described the town's winding dike, the clustered houses, the quiet church. I sketched what stood out—places that stirred something deep in me. One, in particular, caught my attention: the third room on the second floor.

It had always been locked. And yet, every time I looked at it, a chill crawled over my skin. There was something… breathtaking about staring at it.

Had my father ever managed to unlock it? No, he would have mentioned it if he had.

Still, my curiosity lingered.

I closed my notebook, tucked it into my bag, and stood. Before I even realized it, my feet had carried me to the door. I stared at it, the air suddenly heavier, my breaths slightly shallower.

"Mysterious, isn't it, sis?"

I turned. Calix leaned casually against the wall, dressed in his usual style, his charm as effortless as ever.

"Good morning, brother." I glanced back at the door. "It is mysterious… but somehow, it feels familiar."

He studied it with a smirk. "Want to try opening it? I gave it my best shot, but it wouldn't budge. The wood's too solid, the lock tougher than metal. An axe wouldn't even leave a scratch. Unbelievable, right?"

That was surprising. If even Calix couldn't open it…

Still, I reached for the handle. Turned it.

The door clicked open with ease.

"W-What? How?! Sis, I feel so dumb right now—how did you do that?!" His hands shot to his head, eyes wide with disbelief.

I blinked. "I… I don't know? Maybe because that's how you open a door?"

But no—this had been locked. We all knew that.

"Never mind," Calix said, excitement replacing his shock. "Let's see what's inside."

We stepped in.

The room was… empty. Not just bare, but stripped of life. Dust hung thick in the air, the wooden floor creaking under our weight. The only thing in it was a window, its glass fogged over with age.

"What a letdown…" Calix muttered, sighing. He had spent days obsessing over this room, only to find nothing but silence and dust.

I forced a grin, hoping to lift the mood. "Well, at least we can make use of it. Want to claim it, or should I?"

He shrugged. "You can have it. You brought the most stuff, anyway." Then, after a pause, he added, "Speaking of things, I think your charger's in your luggage. You didn't check yesterday."

My eyes widened. "You're right!"

I threw my arms around him in gratitude before rushing to my bags. After a frantic search, I finally found my charger—but my excitement faded. My internet issue still wasn't solved, and the nearest outlet was too far from the third room.

I frowned, deep in thought, when Calix handed me an extension cord.

"Here, this should reach."

He plugged it into the main socket. I pulled the cord into my new room, testing it.

"It works!" i jump in joy, while Calix gave me a adoring look with his genuine smile.

With that i start with cleaning the room and setting up my things, im glad i brought a wallpaper for decoration with a hello kitty design, although i feel silly but it's my preference, so i don't care nonetheless.

-Calix Evren Passionata-

I watched from the corner as my ever-beautiful sister decorated and set up her new room. I had offered to help, but she gently refused—wanting to do it herself. Father would be shocked if he found out she had unlocked the door to this mysterious room. After all, we had tried everything just days ago and failed. Yet, somehow, she had opened it instantly.

What was even more baffling was the curse energy that had once protected the door handle—it dissipated the moment she touched it. That energy had been formidable, meant to prevent anyone from unlocking the door. And yet, it vanished as if it had never been there. How? Was she connected to this place in some way? Or she was recognized as an owner or somesort but It didn't make sense at all.

"Are you okay, brother? You seems too preoccupied..." Tessa asked, her voice tinged with concern as she always knew how silly my face is when im overthinking things.

"Nothing... just continue. If you need help, I'm here," I replied calmly. She nodded in understanding before returning to her task.

I continued to ponder the possibilities—revisiting everything from the start of this vacation to the strange occurrences that had followed.

From the moment we arrived, the province had felt different. Nostalgic, peaceful, and dazzling—until we passed by that church on the bus. I had sensed a dark energy emanating from within, though it was weak. I didn't give it much thought at the time, too preoccupied with pretending to be asleep. A little habit of mine—I liked being carried around while "asleep" or at least pretending to be. It was amusing in its own way for me atleast, haha.

But the second strange thing about this town was the house itself. Beyond its eerie yet unique design, I could sense a deep history within its walls. I couldn't quite describe it yet, but I was certain that something had happened here long ago.

The most intriguing part, however, was the invisible barrier surrounding it—a supernatural defense, far stronger than any metal. The energy seemed to originate from the attic, likely from an artifact or relic designed to protect the house. But why? The town, as it was now, lacked the dark energy required to summon horrors or trigger harrowing events. Maybe in the past, something catastrophic had occurred. Or perhaps the previous owner had been extremely protective of their family and possessions.

Whatever the reason, I needed to uncover the truth. I couldn't let my family suffer unknowingly. I longed to return to the city, resume my investigation at that school, and fall back into my usual roles—whether that be a laid-back troublemaker or something else entirely.

But for now, this mystery took priority.

On our first night—no, closer to midnight—I sensed it. That mysterious door was coated in formidable curse energy, so strong that dispelling it would require an immense amount of power. I knew I wasn't capable of breaking it yet, and perhaps, it was better to leave it alone until fate decided otherwise—just like today's revelation.

I could feel it. I was only one step away from uncovering the source of both the curse energy and the invisible barrier protecting this house.

Another strange event worth noting was that porcelain doll with gleaming ruby eyes. A possessed artifact—undeniably powerful—and clearly still owned by someone. It was the first haunted object I had encountered in this town. I returned it to a small, abandoned house, a place teeming with possessed toys and eerie antiques. The whole scene was unsettling although i had to pretend im fearless that time infront of my Old Sister haha. Whoever had gathered all those items… were they some kind of emissary of haunted objects? Creepy...

And literally as i can spot a hole of what supposed to be a "private place" of that doll...has a strong male gross scent, i wonder why.

Then, there was the old lady who lived no so far away from there, the there's a visible pathway towards her house. Unlike the abandoned house, her own home was well-maintained, complete with a lush garden. However, her small pond was eerily empty, its murky waters stagnant and lifeless.

The woman herself was an enigma. I sensed both light and dark energy within her—a strange contradiction. Yet, I didn't believe she harbored any vile intentions. If anything, I suspected she was being manipulated, her body acting as a vessel for the dark energy. Perhaps it was tied to her beliefs, as she was a devoted member of an unusual religion.

Maybe tomorrow, I should wander around the town—visit that church or go to snother town for a change of scenery.

But first of all, investigate the shifting atmosphere. The air was growing heavier with dark essence, thickening with each passing day, Turning this town into a miserable place and I wasn't talking about bad weather.

I also wondered… what was Mayahag Town looks like?

While im deep in thoughts my old sister finally arranged everything her new room...