Ephemeral Ecstasy

Chapter 9

The words from her mother brought Carmelita back to her senses.

"I'll deal with my messy self later; for now, I just need to rest," Carmelita said as she quickly sat on the white sofa and closed her heavy eyelids.

"Is there a problem, dear?" her mother asked as she sat beside her.

"Ankara escaped from the hospital last night, and she still hasn't made it back. I'm really scared, Mom," Carmelita couldn't hold back her tears, her friend meant a lot to her. She continued speaking through her sobs, nestled in her mother's embrace. "She attempted to end her life, but thankfully, she failed. I can't accept that she's gone due to her escape."

"Mom, Ankara is my only friend. I don't want to lose her. I remember our last night when she introduced me to her girlfriend, we laughed so hard. When she got drunk, she revealed her true feelings. It hurts more than an open wound to think she might be gone," Carmelita couldn't bear the thought of her friend being gone. Her mother felt her daughter's pain deeply.

*

"Doctor Yedd, here's your coffee. Are you not going home yet?" a young woman said, wearing a red dress and a white doctor's coat, just like Yedd.

Yedd had been sitting outside the emergency room, lost in thought for quite some time. His reverie wasn't due to a recent surgery but rather the enigma that was Ankara, a young woman. There was still no word about her. "Oh, Judy, thank you. Maybe later."

Yedd and Judy were both medical virtuosos hailing from affluent families, well-known at their school and highly regarded in their profession. Judy's first love had been Yedd, and even though they were no longer together, she still cherished him deeply.

"It seems like you're lost in profound contemplation. Is there a problem?"

"Hmm... Ankara hasn't made it back yet."

At the mention of "Ankara," Judy's eyes widened. "Did she do something to you? Don't tell me she's confessed again. HAHAHAHA!"

Yedd cast a sharp gaze upon the young woman. He was vexed by her response and his own actions. "Here's your coffee," Yedd returned the coffee to the girl. He had lost his appetite for conversation and decided to leave.

"Huh? What just happened there?" Judy muttered to herself in utter astonishment as she watched Yedd from a distance.

Yedd departed the scene, driving away in his black car. He felt an intense anger towards himself, blaming himself for Ankara's disappearance. He believed that he was responsible for all the pain Ankara endured. He yearned to amend the past and make things right if Ankara were to return. His past actions toward Ankara, the teasing, following her home, and school, were all inadequate to restore her former happiness. Thus, when he discovered Ankara's unfulfilled dream, unsupported by her parents, Yedd fulfilled it for her. Yedd knew that Ankara had worked tirelessly to put herself through school and graduate, and this had greatly impressed him. He couldn't see beauty in a face but in a heart, and to him, Ankara was beautiful. Others couldn't see it due to her fame and wealth, but Yedd saw beyond that.

Yedd left the place, riding in his black car. He felt a seething anger towards himself, blaming himself for the loss of Ankara. He believed all the pain Ankara felt was his doing. He wished to correct his mistakes and make up for the past if Ankara would ever return. His prior actions towards Ankara pushed him to make amends. After that incident, he always followed Ankara home from school, teasing her constantly. He knew these actions were not enough to restore Ankara's happiness. So when he learned about Ankara's dream that she had not pursued due to lack of parental support, Yedd fulfilled it. He knew Ankara was the one who had worked hard and spent money on his education to graduate. This act of Ankara's impressed Yedd. He saw beauty not in the face but in the heart. To him, Ankara was beautiful, but others couldn't see it because they only looked at popularity and money.

Yedd went to the last bar where Ankara had been. He drank alone on the 2nd floor of the bar. He felt anger and sadness as he finished his first bottle of liquor.

The 2nd floor of the bar was for long-time customers. Only a limited number of people went there and the ones who did were wealthy. From the second floor, you could see the first floor if you wished.

As usual, Carmelita was sitting at the order station of the bar. Her black fitted dress, curly hair, and red lips attracted the men inside.

Carmelita looked around the bar while drinking. She saw women sitting next to older men in the dark corner, bands playing on the bar stage, and young men and women dancing in the middle. She also looked at the 2nd floor of the bar, there were only a few people upstairs. Unexpectedly, she saw someone familiar to her. She stared at the person and observed. When she recognized him, her despised body gave a sweet smile while her heart bearing the truth felt sadness.

Carmelita couldn't control herself, she stood up and headed to the stairs to the 2nd floor. Her face was different now, so she was sure she could seduce Yedd tonight.

"Hi, I'm Larah," she said seductively. After saying this, she sat in the chair opposite Yedd. Yedd wasn't surprised because he was used to women approaching him in this bar. Yedd stared at the gentle face of the girl and returned to his drink. "Hello," he replied as cold as ice. Yedd's response delighted Carmelita. She was excited because it was very difficult to attract this type of man.

"Searching for happiness?" Carmelita asked seductively while staring at Yedd's attractive face. Yedd was silent and continued to drink his liquor, so Carmelita continued to talk.

"I'm free, I can make your life worth living....Hmm...I will pay you after the service, You can have it all."

"You won't easily find someone like me, I will even pay you. Don't you want that?"

"You will certainly be satisfied," Larah (Carmelita) said seductively while caressing Yedd's shoulder. Yedd glanced at her and took another drink of liquor.