Alluring
Alluring
It was a forbidden garden...
And it was a forbidden girl she was seeing…
Yet she wouldn’t stop… couldn’t…
for however hard she tries…
she really was no match for those alluring eyes…
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A few days before, I wouldn’t have even gone near this forbidden old door at the back of our garden. Yet now, here I am, key in hand, as I once again turn the knob in synch with the clicking of the key in the lock. I gave the door a slight push before slipping inside and closing it again. The forbidden door…
I hanged the key around my neck before looking around. A line of bushes filled with white roses paved a way towards a white gazebo in the middle of the garden. My eyes lingered for a moment at the line of supposedly beautiful flowers now in full bloom before it was transfixed at the elegant structure in the middle of the magical garden. A silhouette of a woman could be seen standing in the middle of the only structure inside that beautiful realm. The woman shifted and I smiled.
She knows I’m here.
She’s been waiting for me.
It took my full self control to prevent my feet from running towards the woman.
I can’t help it.
I really want to see her again.
After what seemed like hours to me, which were in reality, only a few seconds, I finally reached the small structure.
And there she was, standing in the middle of the marble floor, as enchanting and elegant as always. She was wearing a simple black dress that made her milky white skin glow. An enchanting glow that deemed me unworthy to even touch her.
I never thought anyone could be this beautiful.
She slowly lifted her head up... looked through my being with those alluring eyes… And everything suddenly became surreal…
I still remember the first time that I saw those eyes.
It was a hot afternoon. I was bored and had nothing else more to do. Mom and Dad went to the town a few kilometers from our rest house to transact some business and the maids, at that moment, were busy doing their chores.
I had no one else to talk to.
I was really bored to death.
And so I decided to explore this little mansion that we have.
I walked around
and around.
Explored every nook and cranny.
and was bored again by mid afternoon.
I had explored every place possible…
every place…
Well except for the forbidden door that is…
The forbidden door leading to the alleged cursed garden at the back of our mansion.
No, I shouldn’t go there.
I hesitated.
I battled with myself.
Yet still, my curiosity won.
And chose to go.
I made sure no one was around the place when I started searching the wall for the so called hidden door.
And well…
I found it.
But… I just had a little problem…
It was locked.
Aish!
I was then about to give up and label what I did as a stupid thing and a waste of time when I suddenly heard the sound of something dropping on the fertile soil. I glanced around and was surprised to see a key lying near the place where I was standing. A ray of sunlight hit it and it sparkled invitingly. I furrowed my brow at what I had just imagined but nevertheless, walked towards the key and picked it up. It was a golden key attached to a silver necklace. I examined it, thinking where on earth it had come from. Right at that moment, I happened to glance at the lock on the forbidden door and as if it was beckoning me, I walked towards it. I have no idea why but I had the feeling that the key would fit. So without a moments hesitation, I lifted the necklace up, inserted the key, and surprisingly, it clicked. I turned the knob and slowly pushed the door open. It voiced a hesitant complain at being disturbed from its rest before fully relenting at the force exerted. I was then greeted by a majestic line of rose bushes. I was in awe. It was as if I was in a different realm. A realm so beautiful and majestic, it makes you think it’s not real. The mellow sound floating all over the whole garden seeped through me and immediately, I felt like I was floating. I lifted my head up and saw a gazebo in the middle… A gazebo where someone was gracefully dancing at the moment. Curious, I fully entered the garden and closed the door behind me. I then walked slowly towards the gracefully dancing girl in the middle of the elegant structure. The girl shifted her head and glanced at my direction.
Our eyes met…
and…
… I was sucked in by those alluring, seductive eyes.
I couldn’t move. I was mesmerized beyond compare and my body seemed to have forgotten its function as I stood there staring at the now standing still girl. She held my gaze and smiled. She gestured me to come closer and I did. It was as if I was hypnotized and my body has now adored her as its new master. I just found myself standing a few inches before her, still gazing at those deep alluring eyes.
And the music started again.
As if my body has a mind of its own, I extended my hand to her and she accepted it with a smile.
And we danced.
Body against body.
Mind against mind.
As the music carried the both of us…
to a different kind of ecstasy.
And it has been like that…
…we have been like this
… for a week already.
Dancing till our bodies could no longer take it.
Dancing until our bodies drop down in exhaustion.
And then I would leave…
And come back again the next day…
yearning to see…
those alluring eyes again…
And in those many times that our faces have been a few inches away…
Oh how I’ve yearned to taste those cherry red lips…
to savor their sweetness…
to make all of her mine.
But not yet.
I would not be able to forgive myself if I would treat her like all the women that passed by my life…
A kiss could lead to something more…
And I do not want that…
I want to discover first…
the mystery behind those alluring eyes…
For now I’d be satisfied, with just a look at her…
until she’d be willing…
to at least tell me her name…
Until then…
I would be here…
dancing with her…
almost being one in body…
and in mind…
As the music stopped, we stared into each other…
…not uttering even a single word.
This was a signal for me to smile and turn around…
To leave and be back the next day.
But today seemed to be different…
Because she held unto my arm…
and told me to “stay”.
I smiled at her and asked her, “May I know your name?”
She ignored my question, and instead asked her own.
“Don’t you want to kiss me?” A seductive whisper.
I smiled at her timidly.
“I most certainly do like to. But I would first want to know the alluring girl that has greatly captured my heart…”
I gave her a sincere answer. I really do want to know her first. Because I don’t think being only one in body would satisfy me…
I sincerely think…
Who she is…
would be worth knowing…
Who she is…
would bring more joy to my heart… and would make me fall deeper.
So I sincerely want to know…
who this girl is.
I want her to freely give…
the key to her soul.
I don’t need…
just one night of ecstasy…
I need a name…
And a heart…
freely given…
She touched my cheek and gave me a smile…
a smile so different from those seductive ones she’s been constantly giving me…
A sincere and sweet smile.
She wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me down.
She gave me a soft kiss on the cheek before leaning towards my ear to whisper…
“Jessica. My name is Jessica.”
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“Ms. Yuri’s awake! Ms. Yuri’s awake!”
Sounds of feet running engulfed my whole senses as my eyes slowly fluttered open. My eyelids felt heavy as I tried to brush the sleepiness away. It took me a short while to adjust as my vision turned from blurry to clear. And I was surprised at what I saw. All the maids seemed to be inside my room and looking at me as if I was a spectacle to behold. I glanced at each one, puzzled at all the teary-eyed, yet smiling faces looking at me.
Why do they look extremely happy?
Just then, Mom and Dad entered and Mom immediately rushed to my side, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Oh my daughter! My lovely daughter!” My mother clasped her hands over my right hand and continuously kissed it as tears continued to fall from her eyes.
I glanced again at all the people before turning to my right.
“Mom? Dad? What is happening?”
“You’re finally awake my daughter. You are finally awake.” It was Dad’s turn to talk and I could see tears threatening to fall from his eyes.
Huh? How long was I asleep?
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“You are one lucky girl Yuri…”
I am still in my bed, gloomily gazing at the stars outside when Mr. Go, one of the oldest helpers we had, asked if he could talk to me. Of course I agreed. I have nothing else to do anyway. Lying in bed the whole day really is boring. I don’t even understand why they wouldn’t let me go out of my room.
“What do you mean with that Uncle Go?”
I have been calling the old man Uncle Go. He’s been with the Kwons for ages and we have treated him as family already.
He gave me a somehow, sad smile.
“Legend has it that whoever takes even a peek at the garden, would see a beautiful woman dancing in the middle of it. And after seeing the enchanting woman, that person would immediately lose consciousness for his soul would now be taken captive by the beautiful girl. He would be with her until the time she desires. If the man then, surrenders himself to lust and so much as kiss the woman without even asking for her name, he’s soul would be, like all the others, turned into a rose that would pave the way towards the magical gazebo. As legend has it, only one man aside from you has survived the wrath of the garden nymph. He also did not take advantage of the nymph for he has fallen in love with her and has vowed to respect her. Though unlike you, the luck of love wasn’t in his side, for the enchantress, merely let him go without saying her name. But you… she has given you her name… An evidence of an affection that she has developed towards you. Call her out tonight and if she has indeed fallen in love with you, she will appear… released from the curse… and fully human.”
The old man smiled at my puzzled expression before turning around.
“Wait Uncle Go!”
He stopped on his tracks and slightly glanced at my curious face.
“Why do you know so much Uncle?”
The old man smiled upon hearing my question. He then started walking again towards the door before deciding to answer.
“I just do.”
And with that, the door closed.
What does he mean?
I sighed.
Should I go?
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“Jessica… Jessica?”
I called in a whisper for the nth time this night.
I sighed.
Maybe Uncle Go was wrong… Maybe she did not fall in love with me.
Just then, I heard the same music that I’ve been dancing to, these past 7 days, resound all over the still beautiful garden. The gazebo then glowed and the figure of a woman in the middle of the small structure walked out of it and met me halfway down the pathway lined with roses. She was wearing a white dress this time. She looked so pure and blissful.
“You were looking for me, Yuri?”
I smiled.
“Yes I was Jessica. Yes I was.”