17 TELL ME, WHAT HAPPENED?

***

“So, tell me, what happened?” Vanessa asked.

During their lunch, Vanessa was excited about what would happen on that night that’s why she dared asking her mother about what happened to his dad. She only knew that her dad left them when she was 12 and her father chose his new family over them. Then, Vanessa eagerly inquired about the real reason why her father went away. “He doesn’t’ love us anymore” she explained.

Angeli was trying to conceal everything to her daughter up until was matured enough to decipher things. Nonetheless, this young woman challenged herself to know the real reason why her parents got separated. She had learned everything without her mom knowing that she was thoroughly searching about those things. At that moment, Angeli divulged to her daughter the real reason why his father left and why she kept it to her for a longer period of time.

“You were too young when it happened. You were too young to comprehend everything – the merely reason why I have to keep it on my own. But I had no plan of keeping it forever, and now that you had the same experience as mine. It would be better for you to know what happened. Your father cheated on me. He blamed me for what he had done. He said that I was the one to blame because I had no time for him when you came up. Like the usual married couple, our relationship was tested with temptation and trust but your dad was too coward to fight for it. He promised he would change when I first knew that he was cheating on me. It was raining forgiveness but he flooded me with continuous infidelity. I knew he would never change and the pain he brought to my life was becoming too heavy to bear. One night, I was in the midst of great despair and my mother, your grandmother approached me and asked me if I wanted to revenge. I was too vindictive at that time and I had no one in mind but to hurt him that’s why she summoned the Goddess love to curse him.” Angeli explained.

“Wait? Isn’t ‘it love is the most precious thing in this world? Why would the Goddess of love curse someone?” she interruptedly asked.

Vanessa already knew the reason why her father left them but what she was curious about caught her entire attention – curse and the Goddess of Love. She was seemingly a bit excited to know everything about the Goddess of Love, reason why she asked a practical question. She was thinking why would that kind of god hurt someone?

“Love is for people who deserve it. But for people who use love to intentionally hurt others – a punishment is waiting for them.” She explained.

“So, what happened to dad?” she asked again.

“I met the Goddess of Love on that night, your grandmother asked me to lie down on the bed and suddenly, I met her. She was totally beautiful and an epitome of grandiosity. She asked me why I was crying even though she knew everything. She just wanted me to tell everything to her until when I was done, she used her power to punish your dad. The punishment was for her to decide until one day, I found out that your dad became barren, unable to produce child. I never chose the punishment but it was the Goddess of Love who chose the perfect affliction for him.” Angeli added.

“Oh, dad never had children after me.”

“Yes, you were the only daughter and the only child Vanessa.”

When she heard the punishment bestowed to his dad, she had second thoughts to continue the ritual later that night. She was thinking that maybe it was too harsh for her to inflict that kind of punishment to Austin. However, the scream of her hatred was roaring, she shook her head and reminded herself to stick with the plan. Then, because Angeli perceived that her daughter was half-hearted, she asked her if she was okay. Vanessa was quiet but she was able to answer her mother and uttered that she was fine until she posted another question.

“Have you regretted it Ma?”

“No, I have never regretted anything.”

Because of the response she heard from her mother, it gave her too much confidence to eventually push the plan. She was eager for Austin to be punished that’s why she mentioned to her mother that she was thoroughly decided and fully equipped for the ritual. Angeli asked her daughter again for reassurance. Vanessa, with all her might, nodded and uttered that she was really ready for everything.

***

“Ξυπνήστε το καλό της αγάπης Xypníste to kaló tis agápis!”

Vanessa opened her eyes and she wondered where she was. She was totally clueless about the place. The room where she was located was filled of flowers; she woke up in the bed full of pillows. Everything was white, clean and perfect. She stood up and was trying to call her mother. Her mother, Angeli was not answering and wondering where she mother was. She was confused. She was bewildered. She was dumbfounded. She had questions on her mind until one beautiful lady with her magnificent white dress appeared.

“Oh, you’re awake!” The lady uttered.

“A-ah, H-Hi! Do you know where my mom is?” Vanessa asked.

Since she was not familiar with the place, the first question she asked was the location of her mother. She was a bit afraid and nervous when she met the lady. She was trying her best to communicate well without mistakes that’s why she was too careful in uttering words.

“Your mom sent you here, remember?”

“My mom?”

When Vanessa heard that her mom was the one who sent her on that place, she recalled that they were in the middle of a ritual. She was being reminded that she was there to meet the Goddess of Love and when she was thinking about that fact, she looked back to the lady and said, “Oh my god! Are you the Goddess of Love?”

The Goddess of Love nodded. Vanessa was thinking that she was in the dream state and what was happening to that moment was part of her dream just like the moment she dreamt of having date with Austin. She tried to slap her face. She slapped it again and again and again until the Goddess of Love smiled and explained that she was not dreaming. Everything was real. Then, Vanessa approached the Goddess and touched her dress. She praised how beautiful and exceptionally enticing her dress was. Then, without any hesitation, she also touched her smooth face.

“Oh, you are real.”

“Yes, I am.”

After she was convinced of the fact that she met the Goddess of love. She began telling her story. She said that she was hurt loving a playboy. She promised to herself not to fall in love with person like him but she had eaten her words right after finding herself falling for the guy. She mentioned how foolish she was for making herself believe that Austin would change. She cried and cried until the Goddess of love was moved by her story.

“I came here not just for myself but in behalf of all the girls he hurt.” She said.

The Goddess of love wiped her tears and held her shoulders. She said that she was able to help her in her desire to get his punishment necessary for him. The Goddess had a special task for the girl, she mentioned that she will be needing her help in implementing his punishment.

“Sure! What do you want me to do?” she asked.

“A kiss!” the Goddess of love uttered.

In order for the punishment to be implemented, it will start using a kiss – a kiss from Vanessa. The Goddess of Love didn’t mention about the curse or the punishment behind the kiss. What she saw was her willingness and enthusiasm to do her part for the completion of the punishment. She raised her hands and uttered words Vanessa couldn’t comprehend until she woke up.

“Ξυπνήστε το καλό της αγάπης Xypníste to kaló tis agápis!”

Angeli stopped shouting the words when she saw that Vanessa was awake. She tried to help her sit and asked her if she was okay. Vanessa could hardly breathe that’s why her mom got her a bottle of water.

“Drink this first!” Angeli said.