“Is this really the right location?” the boss asked.
“According to Google Maps, it is, sir.”
“Why is it so deserted? There isn’t a single person around.”
“Let’s go straight to the Elder’s house, sir.”
The four of them went to the Elder’s house near the Wentira monument—the only house in the area.
That same night, Joenathan and Mayang were picked up by Joenathan’s boss.
It was obvious from Mayang’s face that she didn’t want to leave the place. The village Elder noticed it, too.
As she was about to get into the car, Mayang turned once more toward the place where the gate between the supernatural realm and the human realm had first opened.
The village Elder, who had been watching Mayang, saw something in the course of her life.
“It seems you’ll be coming back here again,” he murmured.
“I thought you were already dead, Joe,” his friend joked from inside the car.
“Getting lost means I’m dead now?” Joenathan grumbled.
“So how did you actually get into the supernatural realm, Joe? When you said you’d entered Wentira, I didn’t believe you. I thought it was just an excuse. I even had to ask the guys out in the field, and eventually I believed you.” His boss shifted in his seat to face the back.
“Yeah, Joe. I heard it’s really beautiful there?” his friend added.
“The GPS doesn’t work there. I’ve driven through that area several times and never once saw a hotel around the coffee plantation, but my GPS showed that there was one there. And when I saw the building, it was incredibly grand. The inside was amazing too. I was already suspicious that something wasn’t right, that I’d gotten lost. Then things really got weird when a jinn prince showed up and sports cars came flying in. None of those cars drove on the ground—they floated through the air. The ground and roads there were all made of spotless white marble. Every building was made of pure gold, and even the lightbulbs were made of crystal,” Joenathan explained excitedly.
“What are the women there like, Joe?”
“The women there are all beautiful—tall and perfectly fair-skinned. None of them are short, and there aren’t any overweight ones either. They all look like models. It’s just that…” Joenathan paused.
His words hung in the air, leaving everyone curious.
“Just what?”
“They don’t have a line between their noses and upper lips. It’s completely flat here,” Joenathan said, pointing to the area between his own nose and lips.
“Wow, so what people say is true. The bunian people really don’t have a groove between their noses and upper lips,” Joenathan’s friend said, confirming it.
“And what’s even stranger is that one night there equals seven days here. The jinn realm really holds so many secrets that humans like us know nothing about,” Joenathan continued.
“That’s something human logic still can’t explain,” his boss said.
After they arrived at the company residence, Mayang went inside first and cleaned herself up. The company car Joenathan had driven was parked in front of the residence as well.
“May, eat something. The only food seller around here is a traveling fried-rice vendor,” Joenathan said.
“Thanks, Joe. I’m sorry I caused you so much trouble while I was here,” she said sadly.
“What are you talking about? We’ve been best friends since junior high, and we’ll stay that way forever.”
“Joe, does anyone at home know about this?”
“No. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone.”
“Promise?” Mayang gazed into Joenathan’s eyes, her own glistening with tears.
“Yeah. Finish eating, then get some rest so you won’t be late for the airport tomorrow.”
“Mm.” Mayang looked at Joenathan with a faint smile.
That night, Mayang slept restlessly. The air felt different from before she’d gone to sleep, and it was far too cold. Even so, she felt safe because Joenathan was still sitting in front of his laptop screen not far away.