Ephemeral Ecstasy

Chapter 2

"Did you know the guy?" Everyone at the table was so focused and quiet as they ate, probably due to their ravenous hunger. This led the patriarch of the family to speak.

Carmelita paused in her meal, raising her head to look in her father's direction. She felt a blend of joy and sorrow in her response. "No."

Upon hearing this, her mother and sister gave Carmelita approving looks. "That's good to hear; he's no longer a problem," her mother said. The conversation continued with her sister holding a glass of red wine. It had become a tradition for Cynah to have wine with her meals. "What if he recognizes you?"

Carmelita turned her gaze to her sister. "He was very drunk that night, and I'm sure he'd have a hard time recognizing me."

Cynah gave Carmelita a sweet smile, knowing that her sister would no longer be troubled.

"Do you have any plans to seek revenge against the one who did this to you? Do you intend to find him or her?"

Everyone fell silent, their eyes directed towards the home's illumination. The mother's words brought sadness to Cynah and her father. Carmelita, however, responded with a natural smile and continued her meal.

"Yes, I can find that person, but then, do you think the police and attorneys will support me in these unbelievable situations? I would only be wasting my energy and efforts. I won't seek revenge. Let karma do all the work."

•••

In the remaining hours of the morning, they prepared the dishes to be brought to their grandparents' mansion. They were to have lunch there, and there were important matters to be discussed with the elders.

The family embarked on a long journey towards the mansion. Upon their arrival, the household staff welcomed and greeted them. The mansion was extraordinarily beautiful, akin to a palace. Anyone who entered would instantly feel like a prince or princess.

The family's arrival coincided with everyone gathering at the grand dining table. All of Carmelita's father's siblings were present.

The second child of the Silverio family was a woman who worked in the court. She was still single. The third and fourth children were present too. These fine gentlemen chose careers in the police force. They had their own families, and like their father, they were content and happy. The youngest sister, like the second, remained single despite completing her nursing degree. She had no plans to work, so she stayed at home to care for the elders. Their uncles didn't bring their own children with them, so only ten people were seated at the dining table.

"Thank you for coming," Carmelita's grandfather joyfully stated, prompting everyone to look in his direction.

"I invited you because your mother and I are going to America for a vacation," the elderly man added, eliciting smiles from everyone except Lucy, the youngest among the siblings. Their mother noticed Lucy's reaction and reached for her wine glass on the table, taking a sip. "Lucy will stay here," the elderly woman declared, causing the entire room to burst into laughter.

"Agree."

"That's a great plan, Mother."

"Exactly, it'll just be a hindrance there."

"It's just an addition to the budgets."

Lucy couldn't put up a fight and could only frown. The elderly man spoke again, "Cynah, Carmelita, don't follow in Lucy and Lillia's footsteps. Especially you, Carmelita, don't be like them. You're beautiful, and many will be interested in you."

Carmelita responded with a sweet smile towards the elderly man, but it was Lucy who spoke up. "So, am I ugly because I don't have a boyfriend? Can't I simply not have plans for those things, Dad? Can't I love myself first, there's no need to rush." Everyone fell silent, pondering that Lucy made a valid point. Love won't run away, but her grandfather also had a point - life is borrowed; dominate and create happiness for yourself and for others.

At 3 pm, Carmelita and her family returned home. Throughout the entire day, they engaged in conversations and exchanged greetings. They rarely had the opportunity to be complete, so they cherished every moment of it.

Upon arriving home, Carmelita went straight to her bedroom and collapsed onto her luxurious bed, utterly exhausted. She briefly opened her eyes, grabbed her phone from her shoulder bag, and set an alarm. Half an hour of rest would suffice for the young woman.

After half an hour, Carmelita headed to the bathroom. She began washing her face for ten seconds and examined her reflection in the mirror. She sighed and left the bathroom. She stood outside for a few minutes, about to walk away when she noticed that her cheeks were flushed, and there was a large wound on her cheek. Her eyes widened, and she revisited the events that might have caused it. As she recalled the events of that night, her eyes revealed the sadness and fear of what had occurred. She thought to herself that her life had changed since last night. With a heavy heart, she made her way to the brownish closet.

The eyes of Carmelita's parents and her sibling widened in astonishment when she made her grand entrance. For the first time, she donned high heels and adorned herself in a scarlet gown, embracing the contours of her slender frame. Everyone was left spellbound as they beheld her, adorned with makeup that accentuated her allure, her scarlet lips igniting an irresistible fire.

"Are you leaving?" These words, spoken by her mother, were the catalyst of awakening.

She glanced at her mother, bestowed a smile, and made her way outside the house, heading toward the direction of her sleek black car.