Ephemeral Ecstasy

Chapter 4

"It's FREE, BABY BOYS"

"HEY BABY BOYS!"

"Don't Run!"

Carmelita laughed at what the three had done. "I guess it's their first time losing, HOW WEAK! hehe" she said to herself. Carmelita's joy was heightened when she spotted a taxi in the distance. She waited for it to stop in front of her. As soon as it stopped, she got in and gave the direction.

"Miss, was there a brawl?" the driver asked, confused.

"HUH?" Carmelita replied, utterly confused by the incident, she still managed to talk to herself despite this. "I was the one who fought back" Carmelita sighed and promptly closed her eyes.

The driver's face showed fear. "Miss, you have so many bruises"

Carmelita continued what she was doing. She continued speaking "Actually Manong, I was the one who fought back.. They were rude! They are the ones hurt, not me".

As they drove, Carmelita noticed the driver was acting weird. He didn't charge her but instead gave her money. So Carmelita looked at herself, and indeed what the driver said was true. Most of her bruises were on her thighs, followed by her neck.

She probably knew where they came from. She hastily left the hotel and didn't notice the bruises, she felt embarrassed for the driver who really gave her money. Annoyed, Carmelita got in the car. The car sped up due to her annoyance and she repeatedly muttered "I'll be gentle".

As soon as Carmelita got out of the car, she immediately entered the house. Her mother was busy in the kitchen while her father and sibling were still asleep. "MOM! I'm here" she said loudly, she didn't wait for her mother's answer and immediately went to her bedroom.

It was 10 in the morning when Carmelita woke up. Her whole body felt like a pillow as she exited her room. She immediately went to the dining room. She was eating absent-mindedly, you could tell by Carmelita's movements that she had a lot on her mind.

"Are you Okay?" a question came from behind her. Carmelita was snapped out of her thoughts by her mother's voice, bringing her back to what she was doing. "TIRED". Her mother felt sad at the answer and immediately pulled a chair to sit opposite Carmelita. She held her daughter's hand and gave her a smile. "My child, it's okay, you can do it".

"Yah, But this time the guy I was with wasn't drunk and he knows if he'll recognize me. What should I do?" Carmelita's tears started to fall, she was full of fear and embarrassment.

"Hmmm...If that happens, just pretend you don't know him and it would be better for you if you change your appearance every night and in your true form. My child, You'll always have my support" her mother's words calmed Carmelita's feelings.

"Thank you Mom" Carmelita said, causing her mother to go to her side and give her a sweet kiss on the forehead.

•••

After eating, Carmelita immediately went to her room. She was about to sleep when she heard a sound from her cellphone.

[Carmelita: Hello Ankara, why did you call?

Ankara: Are you busy?

Carmelita: No

Ankara: Good! Let's go shopping. I'll treat you:)

Carmelita: Hmmm...What's up with you?

Ankara: This is rare and I have something to tell you. Are you coming or not?

Carmelita: Okay, See yah]

After the call from Ankara, Carmelita immediately got dressed, wearing a White T-shirt paired with tattered jeans that made her look simple and cool.

Ankara is Carmelita's coworker and friend. Their friendship started in High School, Ankara was a transferee back then and didn't know many people so Carmelita befriended her. They are very close to each other, Carmelita knows about Ankara's life, Ankara also knows about Carmelita except for the curse she carries.

Carmelita immediately went to the location given by Ankara. When she arrived, she immediately recognized Ankara. Her hair was in a ponytail and just like her, she was wearing jeans and a T-shirt. She noticed that Ankara was talking to a young man. They were standing at the entrance, Carmelita smiled and thought. "Is this what she wants to say..Wow" Carmelita approached the two, as she got closer she was surprised by what she saw. Ankara gave the young man a hard slap and sent him away. Carmelita couldn't decide whom to feel sorry for - the young man who was slapped hard across the face or her friend who had just gone through a breakup.

"Carmelita? Have you been here all this time?" Ankara felt a mix of surprise and embarrassment upon seeing her friend. Carmelita embraced her and gave her a sweet smile after breaking free from the hug. "It's okay, there are plenty of boys out there. You deserve better, Ankara."

"Deserved better? He wasn't my boyfriend!" Ankara was taken aback by her friend's statement. She knew deep down that she didn't have any feelings for that young man, and there was no relationship between them. Carmelita was surprised by Ankara's response. "So... what were you two?"

"Sigh... Let's talk about it at the restaurant," Ankara knew she couldn't keep the secret from her friend, so she pulled her towards the mall's second-floor restaurant.

•••

"Who was that?" Carmelita asked, her curiosity piqued by what had happened earlier.

Ankara gulped down her tea, unable to believe that Carmelita still remembered what had occurred. "You don't know him?" Ankara had been wondering why Carmelita didn't recognize the young man.

"NO"

"That was Yedd."

"Yedd? Yedd Gerillio?... That was him?"

"Hmm."

Yedd Gerillio was Ankara's ultimate crush. Many were attracted to Yedd because of his handsome looks, and he was well-known throughout the school. Yedd had made many girls, including Ankara, shed tears. A year ago, on the 14th of February, the school celebrated Valentine's Day with games like a wedding booth. Ankara had decided to confess her feelings. Inside Ankara's classroom, she had even prepared flowers, a gesture typically done by a man. "HAHAHA, CAN'T YOU SEE YOURSELF? I WILL NEVER EVER LIKE YOU. I AM RICH, POPULAR. DO YOU THINK I WOULD LIKE SOMEONE LIKE YOU, WHO HAS NOTHING, NOT EVEN BEAUTY?" These were the words that came straight from the mouth of Ankara's beloved. These events brought great shame to Ankara on social media and throughout the campus. "HOW DARE SHE," "WOW, GIRL, LOOK AT YOURSELF IN THE MIRROR," "CAN I HAVE SOME CONFIDENCE?" were some of the comments Ankara received from Yedd's admirers. This situation brought Ankara great sadness, and she even contemplated taking her own life.