EYES SO BEAUTIFUL

“EYES SO BEAUTIFUL” —Smút Matsunaga An “Enchantress”: A type of woman who is blessed with pure beauty. They are the witch for the women’s high society and a Goddess for men’s eyes. But for the Enchantress, it is like a shackle… a shackle that was stuck underwater. You will forever be drowned by its bittersweet curse. “OCEANA, DID YOU WEAR THE BLINDFOLD TIGHT?” My mother asked, reaching for the knot of an old fabric that covers my eyes. “Yes, Mom,” I answered making sure that I’m holding my mother’s hand to avoid getting lost. As soon as our feet are outside our house, anxiety automatically fills our hearts. “W-we would like to purchase one loaf bread,” My mother said, but the baker who is in charge of taking orders today turn his way to face a maid which comes from a prestigious family based on her gorgeous clean maid outfit. “What’s your order, my lady?” he asked concerning the new customer. Flattering the woman, which made the maid look at us in a confident and bragging way. “My Miss wants an apple cake especially made by the head chef of this store.” She handed us one silver coin before staring at us. “Madam and her child’s hair are so rare. I can even compare it to sweet apple which My Miss ordered.” She smiled at us politely before crossing her arm causing my mom to inhale sharply. It may seem like a compliment but for people like us, it is nothing but an insult. The lady wanted to point out that we’re an Enchantress. A blessing that was given to a woman through heredity. Like the common trait of Enchantress, we have a pair of cat-like eyes and striking hair in the color of red which most of the time, compared to an apple—specifically a fallen apple that will slowly rot away due to the unfair laws promoted by the kingdom. Ameerah, The Goddess, noticed a Lady that's always hiding behind an apple tree. Always peeking at women who are wearing gowns and pieces of jewelry. Callista, The Lady, is always with her cat whenever she goes out thus she, who received the attention of the Goddess, one day woke up with beautiful red hair and cat-like eyes. Callista who was in cloud nine appeared in the crowd of ladies. Finally possessing both beauty and confidence that even made her the Flower of society and a person who is always compared to freshly bloomed roses. Yes. She is that beautiful to the point even a Prince and an Imperial Knight would fight head-on just for her. But even though roses are beautiful, Callista has her thorns. She would always plot against the Ladies who have quite a gorgeous appearance and would even reach a specific distance from her suitors. She became greedy that's why the Goddess Ameerah punished her by feeding her greediness. Each man who dares stare directly at her eyes would feel attracted until it turns into a heavy obsession. Callista who's greedy for attention, beauty, love, and power—made men fell head over heels but due to the obsession—she was killed by one of her Lover who only wants to have her until death. “Your order?” The Baker starts to check out my Mom without any hesitation. "A Loaf." "1 Gold." "What?!" My mom couldn't help but raise her voice. "O-one Gold? How can a loaf be that expensive? Isn't it 10 copper?" "Are you trying to say that a baker like me, who is one of the staff doesn't know the price of our bread?" He argues. "The supply of sugar is quite low, that's why the prices are soaring high." "I apologize." "You should be. Now, are you going to buy one?" Mom held my hand tight before pulling me closer. “I'll buy it." My head automatically turns to my Mother who just said those words. I was about to open my mouth when she squeezed my hand. "Oho? I didn't know an enchantress can buy such loaf. Well then, I'll get it for you." "Mom, why did you—" "It's just for today, Oceana." I heaved a sigh and just nod. "Okay." One Gold coin. It can even let a commoner family live for half or even a whole year without working. That's why. I don't understand why Mom would buy a piece of bread for 1 gold coin when it can cost about 1 copper only. "Here it is, 'Madam'." Mom received the bread and we hurriedly went out of the bakery. "Let's go." _ "Where are we headed, Mom?" I asked innocently when I saw right through the fabric an unfamiliar alley we were turning into for quite a few minutes since we left from our last destination. My mom didn't answer. We turned left one more and I saw a bunch of people... smoking cigarettes, sharpening their knives, and women who lack proper clothes. "I'm here for a toast." My mom said. A man with a scar across his face suddenly appears and removes the dust from his pants. "A toast?" My mother nod and the man shrugged his shoulder before entering the building behind him. A fat man went out of the building inhaling the tobacco. He puffed out the smoke and I cough due to the smell. "What does a lowly Enchantress want that she even came here herself and ask for a toast?" "I-I have heard that those words are made for transaction from an acquaintance of mine." She explained. "I am here to make the same deal called Pour Une beauté." Suddenly, the man stopped smoking. "Pour une beauté..." He stares at my mom before gazing at me. "Which one of you? Or is it both?" "Just... Just my child." My heart starts thumping when I heard those words. It seems like... Pour une beauté isn't a simple word. "What a cruel mother." He reacted. "How much will it be?" My mom asked nervously. "Let me look at the child." He demands. My mom quickly pushes me to him. "She has no scars or any wounds." "Hmm." The count motioned, holding my chin and moving my face side to side as he's evaluating something. "What's the color of her eyes?" "Ruby." My mom answered. "Check her out." The fat man instructed. All men turn their head and the woman holds my blindfold then pulled it down. "W-what are you doing?!—" "It's true." I hurriedly put it back with shaking hands. "Great! She'll belong to one of my rare stocks!" "If that's the case then, You'll receive Three Gold coins." "Just three gold coins?!" Mother and the fat man started to argue with the prices while I... I shiver in fear. How... How can my mother do this to me? "Fine! Five gold coins!" From my vision, I saw Mother smile widely and viciously—an image I haven't seen ever since. "It's settled then." "Take the child." As if on cue, I hurriedly run to mother. "M-mother!" Few men start holding into me, "Mother! Mother!" I grab one man's hand and bit it while I kicked the second one so hard to remove myself from their grasps. I hug my mother's foot and cried. "Mom! Why are you doing this?" "Stop fussing around, Oceana!" Mother angrily yelled. "This is the only thing I can do that will benefit the both of us." "If I sold you to the Baroness, He'll give me money and I can finally buy your younger brother his medicine. Plus, we can survive from the upcoming harsh winter without over-working." "No!" I hugged her foot with all my might when the men start dragging me again. "If you're under his Baroness, he can educate you to become a better woman and an enchantress. You can seduce someone Noble and be his concubine. You'll be able to help us lift from this disgusting position in the future." That time, I felt like my heart is broken into tiny pieces. "Your eyes are something rare so do better and be good to the Baron. He's our benefactor." With that, My shattered cries echoed all day long. Whips and curses are often heard but it didn't stop me. Tortured, Manipulated, The education starts from man after man and sometimes group of bulk men stayed all day long. The mind is being pulverized, The heart was always deceived, The body developed while being constantly dirtied. Until one winter, the cries suddenly stopped.