THE CURSE
I thought my eyes had been blinded from the flashing cameras outside the venue. Heaving the sigh of relief when I realized that I can still see."Mom, happy birthday." Eric kissed a woman in her late 50s, yet she doesn't seem to age.From her aura and her gracefulness, anyone could tell that she's living in the world where money rains from above."My dearest son, oh, how great it is to see you again," she greeted back with a tight hug.I feel like an exotic food sitting in the middle of high-class plates of specialties."Might I ask who this beautiful gal is with you?" A man who's a perfect copy of Eric's face, only a bit older and definitely knows how to show a smile.Pushed myself to stand like a ballerina that almost broke my back, Eric snaked a hand around my waist and tied me next to him. Closing the gaps in between us."Nicole, these are my parents. Amanda and Bruce. Mom, dad, this is Nicole."Introducing me to them, I had these endless thoughts of how rich people react to someone they don't know. But it shocked me when I received a warm welcome."It looks like you're still working on a proper way to introduce her to us?" Showing off a smile, Bruce held out his hand. "It's nice to finally meet you.""Uh-- thank you.""You are so tensed." Amanda guided the way I should properly stand and pushed my chin upwards. "Loosen up and stand like a lady you should be.""You look prettier in person." Amanda gave me a peck that caught me off guard. "Look at you, it's no wonder that my son fell for you.""Uhm?" Clearly, this isn't what I thought it would be. But... I don't quite follow."Mom." As if he's giving them a warning, Eric widened his eyes.Amanda let out a gracile giggle. "Oh well, this is a celebration of another start of my year, I hope that you both enjoy this party.""We will be starting in ten minutes." Bruce patted his son's shoulder. "Make sure to keep your girl companied, son. You know how we never should bore a lady.""Of course."When his parents left, Eric brought me on a table and pushed himself closer to me. What made me suck for air is when he placed a hand on my thigh, and his thumb makes these tickling circles.Gulping all the surprise, I thought I broke my back from sitting way too straight."Sir Eric?""I told you, it's just Eric."His face is just an inch away from mine. I can barely breathe because he's taking it away. What kind of voodoo is this?I can feel myself starting to sweat. Uncomfortably bearing not just a group of butterflies fluttering in my stomach but a whole zoo in having a dance battle."Eric." Achingly let his name roll on my tongue, I saw satisfaction in his eyes upon hearing it. "I need to go to the washroom.""I'll take you there.""No, it's fine. I can go there myself." Refused immediately before he could even stand up, I had the most relieved sigh when he let me be.Just one more time, he does something that tickles my heart, I am certainly going to start questioning my head."Oh gosh, what is happening?" I groaned as soon as I got inside the washroom.I checked every stall, and it's a good thing that I'm alone."This is not happening!" Fanning myself with my hand, I swallowed hard. "That's not the Eric I know. That is not just him!""Perhaps because you asked for his heart?" An old woman's voice caused me to jump on my place.When I turned, the old lady who gave me that golden flower isn't anywhere beside me, but just at the reflection of the mirror."Oh my... oh my... are you a ghost?!" Hyperventilating, I can feel my whole body shaking."No, I'm in my world.""Your world is inside this mirror?" I tapped the mirror."No, silly girl," she snorted and brushed her white strands of hair away from her face. "Though, how's keeping up with the situation? I couldn't see any happiness in your face.""I am certainly not happy. Well, kind of? But how did this happen?""Must I take that you weren't listening when I told you how magical the flower was?" She asked me, and I denied it."Then I guess you didn't take it seriously."She hit it bullseye.Disappointment showed, clicking her tongue a few times."What am I gonna do?""One must be under a spell, and the other must find what's broken. Piece what's scattered, and let fate decide whether you failed or succeeded.""What? That doesn't make any sense to me."Wrinkling my whole face, I tried to replay what she said in my head, but the problem is, I must have lost it."I am not really into riddles.""It's an obvious one, silly girl."I can hear how she badly wants to smack the back of my head just by the way she talks to me."Can't you just be direct to the point so I can catch up? My brain is currently flying above with the planes."She rolled her eyes in annoyance. This must be her first time encountering someone who's as idiotic as I am."The flower I gave you, it has magic -""You already said that."When I cut her off, she released a harsh exhale."Can we just skip to the part where I messed up? And how do you fix this?""I don't see why you've got a problem with what you wished for.""Well, yeah, why not?" Letting out a scoff of sarcasm, I grumbled. "But someone like me doesn't belong to his level. And I don't want anyone to fall in love with me when, in reality, he doesn't!""Is that really your reason, or was it because your heart still belongs to someone else?"I almost stammered from that line, and yes, I'm a bad liar. Guilt is written in my eyes, and I'm caught."How did you look? Can we just fix this? I'm literally in need of hospitalization right now.""Once the flower turned to ash, there's nothing else you can do. If your wish was granted, there won't be any way to undo it."Right there, I felt my entire universe exploded. "What if I disappear?""I'm afraid that won't help you.""Why not?""The man you cursed happened to be very influential and powerful. I'm pretty sure he would have eyes and ears everywhere you go." Tilting her head to the side, she lifted her eyebrows."No, no, sir, Eric isn't a stalker.""The effect of the flower is in him, and sometimes, it could be very... abundant."I want to be sucked by the toilet bowl right now."I can't do this." Almost begging on my knees, I shook my head."Although... there may be a way."As if hope sparkled before my eyes, I gasped. "What is it? I'll do it all, anything!""If you wish to cut the magic, you must figure out what curse he had before you gave him this one.""Huh?""You will only have a hundred days, and if you fail...""What? What?!"The door opened, revealing Amanda. "Are you okay, darling? Who are you shouting at?"THE CONFESSIONMy stomach has been complaining since earlier, and these rich people's food doesn't really content the monster in my tum-tum.Imagine having a huge plate served, and the food I'm going to eat is just as small as a pingpong ball. It's aesthetic. It boasts the ultraexpensive vibe, but I can feel my hunger's killing me at the moment."And what does your lovely date do for a living?" Bruce asked before sipping his champagne.Accidentally, a drop escaped on the side of his lips, causing him to jerk on his chair and mumble a curse."Bruce!" Amanda cried, didn't even hand him a napkin that's right in front of her."Oh, here." I gave him the napkin, and he took it with owe, scratching to dry where he spilled his champagne."Do you know how much that suit costs?"I curtly frowned over that. Why would they react like that? I'm sure they have millions in their bank accounts. They can literally buy more than a thousand suits.Bruce grunted when he knew it was useless to clean it wit
THE CONSEQUENCEMorning came, and everything that happened last night felt like a dream. A beautiful one.My heart felt better and lighter. I've got no loads stuck painting my present, and somehow, I am starting to be thankful that Eric was there."Morning, sunshine," I yawned.Groaning as I stretched, I heard loud murmurs from outside my house.Out of curiosity, I went to the door to check it out.But as soon as I realized what's really happening, my groggy state melted when I saw paparazzi and reporters gathering around my place."It's Miss Allen!" One of them yelled, and as if they're bees looking for their queen, they flew straight to my porch with their microphones and cameras pointed at my morning face.I haven't washed, my hair sure looks like a bird's nest and my clothes aren't presentable."Oh, no, this is a huge problem."I immediately closed my door, double locked it, triple licked it, and closed all my windows."Oh my gosh, what is happening?!"Headed straight to my room, I
THE TEASEDays passed like a clock in lapse, what Serena told me about the consequences I had to face if I failed to find out what pains Eric has been bugging me for a while now.I never wanted to end up like how my mother did.I've got nothing else to lose, but I also don't have a reason to give up."Your performance is escalating real quick, Miss Allen," Maddie greeted me with her wide smile, which shows her small teeth and noticeably fat gums."Thank you, Maddie."Everyone in the building began respecting my existence. They're even shocked that I exist, actually.Ever since the unlabeled relationship between me and Eric came up in the world of media, my life can never be the same, ever.The normalcy's lost, and I'm in the middle of a huge battle."Boss wants you to visit his office."After that night of confession he made, which was only brought by his curse, Eric began to build a better relationship with his employees. And that's great!Many were skeptical about his sudden change,
THE DESSERTI thought that Eric would take me somewhere else, but I was wrong. He brought me to his house and personally made our dinner himself.And all that I could say, he's got his own magic in his hands."Wow." Impressed by how he neatly sliced the meat in a right measure. "How'd you do that?"I saw the glimpse of him pushing his ego upwards when I obviously compliment him without saying anything to compliment him."I took culinary course before I focused on business," he opened up. "Being a master in the kitchen was actually my dream ever since I was a boy, but since I'm the only son of my family, they wanted me to take over the company."My eyebrows lifted from the story."So, I ended up dealing with papers, not dishes," he added.Surprised over his sudden share it without hesitation, my eyes glued at him.He looks more dreamy when his tenacity comes.His hair falls, covering his forehead. The edges of his face are very attractive, and how his hand works with real professional o
THE UNLABELEDI don't know how loud my screams are, but what I know is that he's driving me crazy."Unh!"My hands gripped tightly on the corner of the cold marbled counter. Contrasting how my eyes are closed shut, my lips are parted widely, sucking in the air that he's taking."Ahh, Nicole!" He groaned when he pounded hard.His proud rod penetrates the inside of me. Rough and deep, making me feel so high.His hands are on my hips, keeping me still. The tightest of his clutch, the way he spanks the cheek of my ass arouses me."Eric! Oh, Eric!"I have never felt so satisfied as this. He's making me want for more."You feel so good," he whispered to my ear and sipped its lobe. "Oh, so fucking good, baby."Baby, he just called me baby. Not Nicole, definitely not Allen, but baby. Why did it make me smile?"I'm not gonna get enough of you."Thrusting faster. The friction inside me makes my toes curl, and that electrifying sensation is taking me higher and higher..."Aah! I'm-- I'm so close!
THE PAIN"What do you mean you can't do it anymore?" Serena asked with those judging heterochromatic eyes of hers, watching me slump onto the floor."I don't know, I can't - I just can't do this anymore." Crawling up in my bed, I faced down the pillows thinking maybe I could kill myself in guilt and forget to breathe."After what you did last night?" She scoffed and fumbled over my expired makeup and lotions in the cabinet. "What are these things?"She picked up a bottle and sniffed it, causing her to sneeze."How did you know what happened to us last night?" With my widening eyes, I asked."There were lots of mirrors in that room, I had the urge to take a peek." Rubbing her reddening nose, she opened the bottle and stuck out her tongue."That's not food," I chided her before the tip of her literal sharp tongue touched the white cream.Lie on my back, I stared at the ceiling blankly, and everything that happened last night seemed to flash in my memories.His warmth still lingered on my
THE CONFUSION"You're uncomfortable," I heard Eric say from beside me.He's not wrong. Standing next to one of the richest men makes me look like a rug that hasn't been washed for years.His manly beauty slaps the little cuteness I humbly have, and it kind of lowers my esteem. In a way."Why would I be?" Denying the obvious, I gripped the strap of my bag as we stood in front of an abstract painting.I felt his hand snake around my waist and pull me close. I forgot to breathe."Your face is turning red." Lifting his hand to poke my nose, he chuckled.Hearing him make the sound of a thousand singing angels with just a short throaty laugh, the woman in me began to pump hard for him.Oh, please, I need to wake myself up!Cupping my face, I let my head hang low."Cute," he whispered, that my ears heard clearly. "Come on this way, let's find better paintings than this one."I wanted to put a bit of distance between us, but when he intertwined his hand with mine, I had no other choice. I'm st
THE PATIENCEOutside the window, the clear sky doesn't coincide with my feelings. It's too clear and bright, and I feel like I collected all gray clouds and let my shoulders carry the load."So, where's your proud boyfriend?""Shut up," I spat on him lazily. "I'm in your car because I don't have my wallet with me. Don't get too comfortable talking to me."I heard Joshua chuckle, "You're still the same Nicole I knew.""Almost not," I replied and closed my eyes.There I could see the blankness of Eric's eyes when I left him there in the middle of the restaurant.My hand landed on my grumbling belly. I should've eaten something first before walking out.I'm becoming a user. It's not a good thing."Why? Is he manipulative or something?""Just drive, please?"A few moments of silence went by, but Joshua immediately broke it."I know it's wrong to say, but I missed you. I miss you so much," I heard him mutter.My mouth wants to say the same thing, but the pain he caused, it's still in my che
The thunder cracked, yet there was no lightning. The thick, dark clouds were menacing, but the rain seemed to be postponing.The winter cold breeze was chilling. It brushed my skin, making me shudder.But nothing mattered to me more than Serena. Aside from her suffering, she was my only hope for setting those creatures free and for Eric, my Eric."Who the heck is that?" I asked myself, peeping through the edge of the wall and sneaking a look."Your stinking possession has poisoned you, you've turned your back on your people! Take your soul back and save what's left of your barony," Serena grunted.She was shackled and helpless, it seemed like those chains were capable of stifling her magic.What should I do?"The baron is now under my control, and you, you brought me the gift I needed. Where is the human?" The baron grumbled his voice as he questioned her."Away from you," Serena fought the urge to moan in pain when the shackles were pulled. "You will not lay a hand on her, Zeth, ever
The creature guided me to a place much farther than the spot Serena had instructed me to wait. The more distance I covered, the eerier the surroundings became.Though still within the barony's boundaries, it felt as though I had stumbled upon a forgotten area.The walls were ensnared by the roots of an ancient, lifeless tree. Fallen leaves crunched under my boots and dust had claimed the once pristine bricks."Hey, slow down!" I called out, trying to catch up, my fingertips tracing the rough texture of the walls.I jogged carefully, doing my best to avoid stumbling.As we ventured further, we entered a cave. The roots now sported thorns, resembling rose stems. However, there was nothing beautiful about this place. It was filled with darkness, an unsettling view, and a palpable sense of danger."Where have you gone?" I lost sight of the creature and peered deeper into the gloom.The darkness enveloped me with an intensity that seemed to devour any trace of light, leaving me utterly bli
The night was pitch black, and the morning hadn't brought any light. The wind bit into my skin, causing my teeth to chatter in the frigid air.The fire must have died out.With each shivering breath, I forced my eyes open, only to be greeted by an unwelcoming environment. I was still here.It felt like waking up inside a nightmare, trapped within its confines."Serena?" My voice, hoarse and shaky, called out for the only ally I knew. But she was nowhere to be found. "Serena?"I found myself lying on the cold, hard ground. The remnants of the fire stained the stones around me, and the log where Serena had been sitting remained undisturbed.I was alone.This was not promising.Wrapping my cloak around myself for warmth, I clutched the sword at my waist."Serena?" My voice echoed through the trees, the birds mimicking it and sending ripples through the forest.A deafening silence filled the air, so quiet that it was almost painful.Suddenly, the ground beneath me started to shake.The st
An abrupt exclamation slipped from my lips when I spotted the wolves. However, these were not any ordinary wolves with soft white, grey, or black fur like snow."They're made out of smoke?" I shivered.Their eyes were yellow, filled with rage and menace.The paws that should have been digging into the dirt were invisible as they seemed to hover in the air, carried by the dark smoke of the malevolent Zeth."The bringer of fear," Serena murmured, her hand beginning to form a defense against the gloom these wolves, summoned by their master, brought with them."Indeed, they really do instill fear in me." I swallowed the rising tide of negative emotions within me, but the scent of fear still escaped as I heard their growl crawling on my skin."No weapon can harm it while it feeds on you," Serena warned. "You must be strong.""But I'm not," I protested, shaking my head in denial as my worries started to overwhelm me. "I don't know how to fight them.""It's simple," Serena reassured me, look
Despite the danger, we plunged into the water, fighting against coldness.As soon as half of my body got submerged in the waters, I felt my whole body stilled from the sudden drop in temperature."I just remembered how I hate cold baths," I uttered."Wait, stop!" Serena suddenly held us up just as we swam."What is it?" I asked.The bottom of the river is shallow, I couldn't reach it. But I can feel something softly bristling on my legs."What the hell is that?" I flinched."Don't move," Serena warned me.The waters aren't as clear as it must have been. I can't see what's underneath.Serena looked in the water with a deep frown. "There is something in the waters," she said that alarmed me.And before I could say a word, something pulled me down."Serena!"My voice was muffled. Bubbles come out of my mouth.From the bottom, there are whips of leaves that are darker than the night and have hands that vine around my limbs.I'm losing my breath, and I have nothing on me to fight against i
I nodded, understanding her pain. "We will end this, Serena. For Eric, for Mellon, for everyone who's been affected by this creature. We will bring peace back to this world."Justice, I don't know how to explain to her what it means, but I know that she feels it.I can hardly hear my old self whenever I open my mouth. Is this where I get to grow?Her eyes met mine, and for the first time, I saw a glimmer of hope in them. "Yes, we will."As we stood there, under the starlit sky, I felt a sense of camaraderie with Serena. We were both fighting for the ones we loved, ready to face whatever came our way.And that's more than enough for me to keep the urge to step further forward.The next day, armed with the knowledge from the Oracle of Time, we set out on our journey.I do not have enough strength to face what's waiting for us, but all I know is that I have a reason to be strong."You have such a great heart, Nicole." Lady Marmara read my eyes. "I may not accompany you in the world of da
As Lady Marmara whispered to the water, an image appeared.My heart stopped as I saw Eric, his face twisted in pain.Tears welled up in my eyes as I reached out to the image, my hand passing through it."Eric..." I whispered, my voice choked with emotion.The image disappeared, leaving me with a sense of urgency. I had to save Eric, no matter what it took.I turned to Lady Marmara, determination burning in my eyes."I will do whatever it takes to save him," I said, my voice steady. "Tell me what I need to do."The courage in my voice shook me as well. I was never the type of person who would advance to attack.In every problem I have encountered, I face it with my wobbling legs, never with a hard face."I can hardly hear the human I read about," Serena uttered as she looked at me. "You are not ready to face the dark creature. No one is.""The only thing I have in mind is to save the man I love, Serena. What makes you think I called for you?" I clarified. "I'd move mountains just to ge
Inside the castle where I had never stepped foot on its very heart, I was struck by awe when my eyes were filled with its beauty.Then I realized that I had seen it die once.Just as much as the sight of the castle is wonderful, the interior is magnificent.The carvings on the wall and ceiling, the painted walls of beauty tell the whole story of their world lengths from the beginning of the width of the wall to its end.Everything's in white, even the marbled floor doesn't seem to be dirtied.Now I feel guilty walking on it.But that's not really what's inside my head. It's Eric.Are they hurting him? Whatever they're doing to him, if he gets hurt, it's all on me. It's all my fault.Going back to it all, I wonder if I didn't receive the flower. I would've stayed the same, worse, really lost my job, living alone and depressed.Maybe it's time for me to start thinking that everything that happened isn't bad at all. The consequences are.Could I ever stop myself from being pessimistic? N
The broken lamp was on the floor, and the bed was thrown on the other side of the room. I watched how Eric was covered with the dark smoke brought by the air.His face showed how terrified he was, but even when he was the one in danger, he thought of my safety.The claws of smoke dug into his skin, and he screamed in pain as his blood gushed out of his flesh and veins.Torture is brought by fantasy.Is it in my head? Is this real?This can't be.I have left everything behind. Why does it still haunt me?And it's taking Eric!"Allen, run! Run!"My ears heard what he said. Loud and clear, but my feet couldn't move. My eyes settled on him, planning on reaching out for him, but as I was about to make a move, a figure suddenly showed up.I sucked up my breath when it hit me how familiar that figure is.Why is it here?"What the fuck?!" Eric exclaimed when the dark figure appeared. "What is that?""Eric," I called for him, and when he met my eyes, I offered him a trembling smile. "It's okay