CHAPTER 4: THE CURSE

THE CURSE

I thought my eyes had been blinded from the flashing cameras outside the venue. Heaving the sigh of relief when I realized that I can still see.

"Mom, happy birthday." Eric kissed a woman in her late 50s, yet she doesn't seem to age.

From her aura and her gracefulness, anyone could tell that she's living in the world where money rains from above.

"My dearest son, oh, how great it is to see you again," she greeted back with a tight hug.

I feel like an exotic food sitting in the middle of high-class plates of specialties.

"Might I ask who this beautiful gal is with you?" A man who's a perfect copy of Eric's face, only a bit older and definitely knows how to show a smile.

Pushed myself to stand like a ballerina that almost broke my back, Eric snaked a hand around my waist and tied me next to him. Closing the gaps in between us.

"Nicole, these are my parents. Amanda and Bruce. Mom, dad, this is Nicole."

Introducing me to them, I had these endless thoughts of how rich people react to someone they don't know. But it shocked me when I received a warm welcome.

"It looks like you're still working on a proper way to introduce her to us?" Showing off a smile, Bruce held out his hand. "It's nice to finally meet you."

"Uh-- thank you."

"You are so tensed." Amanda guided the way I should properly stand and pushed my chin upwards. "Loosen up and stand like a lady you should be."

"You look prettier in person." Amanda gave me a peck that caught me off guard. "Look at you, it's no wonder that my son fell for you."

"Uhm?" Clearly, this isn't what I thought it would be. But... I don't quite follow.

"Mom." As if he's giving them a warning, Eric widened his eyes.

Amanda let out a gracile giggle. "Oh well, this is a celebration of another start of my year, I hope that you both enjoy this party."

"We will be starting in ten minutes." Bruce patted his son's shoulder. "Make sure to keep your girl companied, son. You know how we never should bore a lady."

"Of course."

When his parents left, Eric brought me on a table and pushed himself closer to me. What made me suck for air is when he placed a hand on my thigh, and his thumb makes these tickling circles.

Gulping all the surprise, I thought I broke my back from sitting way too straight.

"Sir Eric?"

"I told you, it's just Eric."

His face is just an inch away from mine. I can barely breathe because he's taking it away. What kind of voodoo is this?

I can feel myself starting to sweat. Uncomfortably bearing not just a group of butterflies fluttering in my stomach but a whole zoo in having a dance battle.

"Eric." Achingly let his name roll on my tongue, I saw satisfaction in his eyes upon hearing it. "I need to go to the washroom."

"I'll take you there."

"No, it's fine. I can go there myself." Refused immediately before he could even stand up, I had the most relieved sigh when he let me be.

Just one more time, he does something that tickles my heart, I am certainly going to start questioning my head.

"Oh gosh, what is happening?" I groaned as soon as I got inside the washroom.

I checked every stall, and it's a good thing that I'm alone.

"This is not happening!" Fanning myself with my hand, I swallowed hard. "That's not the Eric I know. That is not just him!"

"Perhaps because you asked for his heart?" An old woman's voice caused me to jump on my place.

When I turned, the old lady who gave me that golden flower isn't anywhere beside me, but just at the reflection of the mirror.

"Oh my... oh my... are you a ghost?!" Hyperventilating, I can feel my whole body shaking.

"No, I'm in my world."

"Your world is inside this mirror?" I tapped the mirror.

"No, silly girl," she snorted and brushed her white strands of hair away from her face. "Though, how's keeping up with the situation? I couldn't see any happiness in your face."

"I am certainly not happy. Well, kind of? But how did this happen?"

"Must I take that you weren't listening when I told you how magical the flower was?" She asked me, and I denied it.

"Then I guess you didn't take it seriously."

She hit it bullseye.

Disappointment showed, clicking her tongue a few times.

"What am I gonna do?"

"One must be under a spell, and the other must find what's broken. Piece what's scattered, and let fate decide whether you failed or succeeded."

"What? That doesn't make any sense to me."

Wrinkling my whole face, I tried to replay what she said in my head, but the problem is, I must have lost it.

"I am not really into riddles."

"It's an obvious one, silly girl."

I can hear how she badly wants to smack the back of my head just by the way she talks to me.

"Can't you just be direct to the point so I can catch up? My brain is currently flying above with the planes."

She rolled her eyes in annoyance. This must be her first time encountering someone who's as idiotic as I am.

"The flower I gave you, it has magic -"

"You already said that."

When I cut her off, she released a harsh exhale.

"Can we just skip to the part where I messed up? And how do you fix this?"

"I don't see why you've got a problem with what you wished for."

"Well, yeah, why not?" Letting out a scoff of sarcasm, I grumbled. "But someone like me doesn't belong to his level. And I don't want anyone to fall in love with me when, in reality, he doesn't!"

"Is that really your reason, or was it because your heart still belongs to someone else?"

I almost stammered from that line, and yes, I'm a bad liar. Guilt is written in my eyes, and I'm caught.

"How did you look? Can we just fix this? I'm literally in need of hospitalization right now."

"Once the flower turned to ash, there's nothing else you can do. If your wish was granted, there won't be any way to undo it."

Right there, I felt my entire universe exploded. "What if I disappear?"

"I'm afraid that won't help you."

"Why not?"

"The man you cursed happened to be very influential and powerful. I'm pretty sure he would have eyes and ears everywhere you go." Tilting her head to the side, she lifted her eyebrows.

"No, no, sir, Eric isn't a stalker."

"The effect of the flower is in him, and sometimes, it could be very... abundant."

I want to be sucked by the toilet bowl right now.

"I can't do this." Almost begging on my knees, I shook my head.

"Although... there may be a way."

As if hope sparkled before my eyes, I gasped. "What is it? I'll do it all, anything!"

"If you wish to cut the magic, you must figure out what curse he had before you gave him this one."

"Huh?"

"You will only have a hundred days, and if you fail..."

"What? What?!"

The door opened, revealing Amanda. "Are you okay, darling? Who are you shouting at?"