Ephemeral Ecstasy

Chapter 1

*Ephemeral Ecstasy: Navigating the Abyss of Desire and Mortality*



Carmelita had been observing the gentle face of the man beside her for a while now. Who wouldn't be captivated by a beauty that surpassed that of a mere artist?

When she realized that several minutes had passed, Carmelita promptly stood up. She didn't make a sound, and even suppressed her breath to avoid waking the peacefully sleeping young man.

She went straight to a large mirror and gazed at her own naked body. Tears started to flow from her eyes, causing her to let out a soft sigh before she spoke to herself... "It has begun."

Years ago, as the family was heading home from the hospital, they encountered an elderly woman. The old woman's eyes held a mixture of fear and pity. She spoke of a curse that would befall Carmelita, where her s****l desire would be uncontrollable, but, paradoxically, her virginity would remain intact, no matter what transpired every night. At the age of eighteen, at the stroke of six in the evening, the curse would take effect, and it would continue indefinitely. It's disheartening to think that the old woman offered no remedy for Carmelita's fate.

Carmelita's family was filled with fear and confusion, torn between what others might say and the future of their child, struggling to understand why this had happened. They examined the curse just yesterday. They usually celebrated family birthdays in the evening, but yesterday, they did so in the morning, on Carmelita's own birthday. The family could hardly fathom that the curse had indeed come true. When 6 o'clock in the evening arrived yesterday, Carmelita left home and went to a famous club in their city, known for its professional atmosphere.

Carmelita immediately found her clothing and dressed without making a sound. Every move she made was silent. Before leaving, she approached the man, placed her lips near his ear, and whispered, "Thank you."

"Are you okay?" a concerned voice came from the other end of the phone line. Carmelita opened her jet-black car and sat in the driver's seat, responding with a simple "Yes." Upon hearing her reply, the person on the other end of the line let out a sigh of relief. "That's good. How's your first night?"

Carmelita swiftly inserted the key and started her black car, leaving the towering hotel behind. "Mom, it's true."

"I'm sorry, dear. You ended up like this," her mother said sadly on the other end. Carmelita smiled at her mother's words. "Mom, this is not your fault. Smile over there."

"Mom, is there something to eat there?" Carmelita changed the topic to lift her mother's spirits.

"Yes, hurry, we have somewhere to go," her mother replied. Upon hearing her mother's response, Carmelita accelerated the car.

"Do you know the man? Is he handsome? How is he in bed?" These were the questions and comments added by her mother.

Carmelita almost collided with the car in front of her, causing her mother to exclaim, "You almost hit it, MOM!" Her surprise grew when her mother burst into loud laughter, and there was someone else with her.

"DAD, SIS!?" she added another question for the voice on the other end, and received a response, "SEE YOU, LITTLE SIS!!" Three voices chimed in. Their voices were so loud that they could be compared to children reciting in unison in front of a class, which caused Carmelita to burst into laughter as well.

Carmelita endured a long journey, slowed by the creeping traffic. Even on a Saturday, the streets bustled with vehicles, perhaps due to families on leisurely outings or individuals buying necessities for the week ahead, from Monday to Friday.

"You're here!" greeted her sibling as she arrived. Carmelita retrieved her phone from her pocket, glanced at the time, and offered a sweet smile to her sister.

There were only two of them, and Carmelita was the youngest. Her older sister had completed her education and had become a renowned doctor. Her sister was immensely focused on her studies, consistently ranking at the top of her class. She excelled not only for herself but also for their acceptance into their father's family. They weren't considered family because their father had entered the realm of love, which resulted in the end of his education. While their grandfather couldn't get what he wanted from their father, he found happiness and contentment in their family.

Resentment dominated her father's family because he was the eldest among five siblings. Her sister made amends and did not fail to achieve what was necessary. Their family was more readily accepted once their parents established a successful business, and she became a teacher. The siblings facilitated their studies due to their innate intelligence. Despite their family's considerable success, they harbored no ill feelings and worked to build a happy relationship between their father and his own mother and father, especially with their siblings. They turned this into their inspiration for success.

Upon hearing the voice of "Cynah," Carmelita's sister, the couple came out. They embraced her tightly and kissed her forehead. "Are you okay?" As parents, it was only natural for them to worry. Even while you were still in the womb, their love, concern, and hope were already present. Carmelita was accustomed to her parents' mannerisms, and this eased her. "I'm fine, just hungry."

Cynah laughed and paused in her writing. "I'm getting hungry too. Have some mercy on me; I'm starving."

The three of them laughed and headed for the dining room. As they approached the table, the enticing aroma of home-cooked food greeted them. Almost everything served was prepared at home, and it was their mother who created these dishes. It was her hobby. The siblings had tried to convince their mother to hire help to ease her burden, but she refused, and their father agreed. Being a mother was her job. The two had no choice but to follow their mother's wishes, and her cooking was undeniably outstanding, akin to a five-star hotel's quality. She had learned it from the chefs at the orphanage.