Tikbalangs are romantic creatures. They feel emotions like humans do. They can get bored and excited. And mostly, they can fall in love as well. There were instances where they fell for humans but those were once in a million chances.
And when it rains on a sunny day, it means a tikbalang couple are getting married.
And in Marhwan Region where humans and otherworldly creatures gathered for a rare occasion, Babaylan Mumbaki raised her hand and her staff, her eyes turned white, tikbalang couples kneeling in front of her.
Then she declared in a loud voice, "And from today onwards, you are now husband and wife. You will support each other in your lonely quest to guarding the spirit world along with your other companions. And may you continue to guide us to traversing the many unknowns of your world. I, Babaylan Mumbaki along with all the Marhwana people present here now stood witness in your union."
And as soon as she finished saying that, on that very hot day, an ear-piercing thunder descended from the sky accompanied by the streaks of lightning that seemed to be cheering for the new couple. Thunders and lightning are usually scary and threatening, but on that day, they celebrated along with the creatures on land. Then a heavy rain poured. Then the people cheered. Then the White Lady wept in joy while the Kapre puffed out an enormous cloud of smoke with his tobacco.
***
At the Prospera Park in Saffron Avenue.
Back in his invisible state, the man carried the baby out of the cubicle and into the isolated alley between an old apartment complex and a fashion boutique just adjacent to the Prospera Park. The baby still kept wailing in his arms but as long as the agimat stone is still in effect, no one can see them and no one can hear them.
It's not invincible, however. Once they bump into people then it's over for them. The mist concealing them will disappear. And they'll get found out.
Also, it is useless against people with special eyes.
Once he reached his destination, he took the metal rattler from his pocket and rang it a couple times. He stole it from a certain babaylan once upon a time. And this metal rattler can summon certain creatures from the spirit world depending on the way you shake it.
But this time, the creature he summoned is not someone ordinary. He was someone well-respected and feared.
The air around him started to ripple subtly. Then it warped before revealing a man.
Short with a petite, yet muscular build. Purple eyes and a striking red, curly hair that frames his small face. Wearing a suit and top hat. His name is Payaso. The God of Mischief and Trickery's right-hand man. There are only seven of them. One for each of the gods.
There used to be seven gods the Straestina people used to worship in the past. They've long been forgotten though except for the Marhwana people who still worship them to this day.
"You called me again, Fili, my human friend." Payaso said as he peeled open a durian-flavored lollipop and started sucking on it.
"You came quicker this time, Payaso." Fili told him, a bit fidgety, afraid that the effect of the agimat stone was already wearing down. He can see the pearl-white mist surrounding him thinning out.
"I was just around the area and I believe I have the information you need, my friend." Payaso then aggressively bit the lollipop after saying that. He got impatient that the flavor wasn't as strong as he was expecting. "Ugh! Why aren't they selling fresh durians these days?" he grumbled.
"Really? You found him?" Fili got excited somehow.
"Exactly, my friend. That's why give me that baby and I'll return him to his poor mother. And you show yourself back to the kids you were playing with earlier. You wanted a clean record, didn't you?"
"I expected nothing less from a god's right hand." Fili said, grinning, as he handed the baby to Payaso. "By the way, you see that ice cream store over there?" He asked Payaso while pointing to the small shop across from them with a striking pink color that has red bold letters at the front that says, 'CREAMY EXPLOSION'.
"They sell durian ice cream. The flavor was really strong on that one. You might wanna try that." Then he ran back to the cubicle. Just on time before the agimat stone's effect completely wore off. "Phew! That was close."
He patted his clothes, adjusted his necktie, and he finally opened the cubicle door. He nodded to the old man washing his hands at the sink when he got out.
And like nothing happened, he went back to the seesaw. He noticed some police were already at the park, talking to the mother. He tried his best not to look in their direction.
"Oy! The uncle is back, Gerald!" One of the kids yelled.
"What took you so long, uncle?" He asked Fili when he saw Gerald already running their way.
"Ha?! Why, you ask? Well, my dung was bigger than expected. Can't help it. Haven't let it out for two days." Fili casually answered. "And why're you looking at me like that?"
"You're really gross, uncle. Bleh!"
***
"Bennet, dear. Are you sure we haven't forgotten anything?" Ginny asked her husband.
"I told you already, Ginny. I already checked it. We're good to go now."
Today was the day that they are moving to the main house. It was located in the Mandara District, eleven kilometers southeast of the city of Lucena.
Franchesca, Fidel, Bennet and Ginny, and of course, Chuck. All of them are headed there now. They are loading their luggage into the van.
"Hihihihihi. They're moving out. They're moving out. Hihihihi. Me coming with them. Me coming with them. Hihihihihi."
Meanwhile, the peculiar creature that seems to have taken a liking to Chuck never stopped pestering the poor baby.
"Hmm? What's the matter, little kid? You're hungry again?" Fidel said when he noticed Chuck began to squirm uncomfortably again. He was carrying his nephew.
"Uwaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
"Ugh! What a troublesome baby you are. Wait. I'll give you to your mother."
'No, you stupid uncle! I'm not hungry! Why are you pretending not to see? I noticed you and grandma staring at it a while ago! I know you can see that hideous creature so why are you pretending not to see it now?!'
Sadly, little Chuck can't speak yet. And all they could hear were his seemingly earth-shattering screams.