Aiko's Curse

I sighed, checking my phone for the hundredth time, the screen reflecting the colorful lights of the carnival. "Still no message," I muttered to myself, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. The air was filled with the sweet scent of cotton candy and the distant screams of joy from the roller coaster. I had been waiting for what felt like hours, my heart fluttering with anticipation that slowly turned into worry. "Maybe he got held up," I tried to reassure myself, but the doubt lingered. I decided to grab a drink to calm my nerves, weaving through the crowd towards the refreshment stand.

A vibrant sign hanging from a small tent caught my eye, "Fortune Teller - Your Future Awaits!" I paused, considering. I wasn't usually one for superstitions, but maybe it would take my mind off my absent date. I stepped closer, the scent of incense filling the air. An elderly woman with warm, twinkling eyes welcomed me, "Come in, dear. Let's see what the fates have in store for you." I hesitated, then smiled, "Why not? Let's see what you've got."

As I settled into the chair opposite her, my gaze caught a large, boldly lettered sign hanging on the wall. "Bring Love to Your Life in 3 Days." I chuckled softly, my cheeks flushing as I was reminded of my dry spell. It had been a while since I'd felt that connection, that spark. The fortune teller noticed my reaction, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Ah, love, is it? Well, sometimes all it takes is a little nudge from the universe. Let's see what's in store for you, shall we?"

The fortune teller's eyes widened as she grasped my hand, her fingers tracing the faint, almost invisible mark on my palm. "This… this is extraordinary," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the carnival's din. "I haven't seen this mark in decades. It's a curse, an ancient one, placed on your family line long ago." I stared at her, bewildered. "A curse? But what does it mean?" She looked into my eyes, her expression grave. "It means that the women in your family have been cursed with submissiveness, with a tendency to yield to others' wills. Have you noticed this in your family? The women, they…" She trailed off, leaving the question hanging in the air.

I thought back to my family, the women who came before me. My grandmother, my aunts, even my mother, they all seemed to carry an air of deference, a quiet strength that bowed to the will of their husbands and partners. I remembered my cousin, her laughter filled with a freedom that seemed to disappear when her boyfriend was around, her laughter replaced by a quiet obedience, a sparkle in her eye dimmed. I remembered my aunt, her face flushed with embarrassment as she was dragged away from the public park, her hand clutching a small, discreet package that had been her undoing. I had always thought it was just our way, a traditional Japanese upbringing, but now, with the fortune teller's words echoing in my mind, I wasn't so sure. "Yes," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper, "I think I understand what you mean."

I shook my head, my confusion deepening. "I'm sorry, but this is all a bit much. I don't believe in curses." The fortune teller nodded, her expression understanding. "I know it sounds far-fetched, but hear me out. This curse, it affects the woman's instinct, her senses. When she submits to a man, truly yields to him, she becomes bound to him, forever changed. It's why your family has always been so submissive, so obedient. It's in your blood, your very essence.

"But I don't understand," I protested, my voice filled with frustration. "I'm not a virgin. I've had boyfriends, and I've never felt this… this compulsion you're talking about. I've never been one to just… yield." The fortune teller leaned back, her eyes never leaving mine. "The curse only takes effect when a man truly takes you, Aiko."

I recoiled, her words striking a chord within me. "What do you mean, 'truly takes you'?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper. The fortune teller looked at me, her expression grave. "It means letting a man claim you, Aiko. Letting him finish inside you. That's when the curse takes hold."

A chill ran down my spine as I realized the truth in her words. I had always been careful, always used protection. I had never let a man finish inside me. Could it be that this curse was real, and I had unknowingly been fighting it all along?

"Is there anything I can do?" I asked, desperation creeping into my voice. The fortune teller shook her head, her expression somber. "I'm afraid there's not much you can do, dear. This is ancient magic, powerful and beyond my abilities to break. But," she added, a glimmer of hope in her eyes, "you can fight it. You can choose to resist the pull of the curse, to maintain your free will. It won't be easy, but it's not impossible."

The fortune teller's words sent a shiver down my spine. "You'll feel it, Aiko," she warned, her voice low. "A desire, a longing, a need to be possessed, to be dominated. It will grow stronger with each passing day, each encounter with a man. And when it becomes too much, when the urge to yield consumes you, you must be strong. You must resist, or you will be lost to the curse forever."

"How old are you, Aiko?" the fortune teller asked, her gaze intense. "If you're over 20, the curse is already active. You should have felt the desire by now, the urge to yield." I hesitated, then nodded. "I'm 22. And… and I think I might have felt something, something I couldn't explain." I remembered the times when I had felt a strange pull towards my past partners, a desire to please them, to submit. I had always pushed it down, attributed it to my upbringing or my own desires.

"It's been over a year since I've been with anyone," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "I thought that's why I've been feeling this… this urge. I thought it was just my body's way of telling me it's been too long. But this can't be real. It can't be a curse." I shook my head, my disbelief growing. How could something so ridiculous be affecting me?

The fortune teller's words sent a jolt of fear through me. "It is real, Aiko," she insisted, her voice grave. "And you must be careful. Men who are bold, who speak openly of their desires, they will be especially dangerous for you. You'll find yourself drawn to them, their words painting irresistible images in your mind. You may even find yourself attracted to men you wouldn't normally give a second glance. Resist, Aiko. Resist with all your might."

The memory of my no-show Tinder date came rushing back, a shiver of unease running down my spine. He was a black man, his face not classically handsome, but his words… his words had been bold, brazen, painting a picture of desire and submission that had piqued my curiosity. I had agreed to meet him, drawn to his audacity, his raw, primal masculinity. Could he have been one of the men the fortune teller had warned me about? The thought sent a wave of worry crashing over me.

"I remembered," I said, my voice barely above a whisper, "I had a Tinder date, a man, not handsome, but… but his words, they were bold, perverse. I felt drawn to him, to his audacity." The fortune teller's expression darkened. "That's not the last time it will happen, Aiko. You will face this temptation again and again, for the rest of your life."

"Then I'll choose someone," I said, determination burning in my eyes. "Someone I can see a future with, someone I could marry. Then I can end this, break the curse." The fortune teller shook her head, her expression grave. "It's not that simple, Aiko. The curse doesn't care about your feelings or your plans. It will find a way to manifest, to tempt you. And the more you resist, the stronger it will grow."

"What do you mean?" I asked, my heart pounding in my chest. "It's not just about the first man who… who finishes inside me?" The fortune teller's gaze was steady, her voice low. "No, Aiko. Once you yield, once you submit, you become a **** to all who claim you. There is no limit, no end to the men who can control you."

I scoffed, shaking my head in disbelief. "This is ridiculous," I muttered, my voice barely audible over the carnival's din. "Magick doesn't exist. Curses are just fairy tales. I'm a university student, a women of science, I know better than to believe in this nonsense." And yet, as I spoke the words, a part of me remained unconvinced.

"Right?" I asked, my voice wavering as I searched the fortune teller's eyes for any sign of deceit. "It's just an act, a performance, isn't it? This can't be real." My voice was barely above a whisper, my confidence faltering as the weight of her words sank in.

The fortune teller took a deep breath, her eyes softening with understanding. She leaned back in her chair, a small smile playing on her lips. "Of course, dear," she said, her voice laced with false reassurance. "It was all just a bit of fun, a game. I'm sorry if I frightened you. Here," she reached into her pocket, pulling out a small, intricately designed card, "take this. It's my real business card. I'm a tarot reader, nothing more. No curses, no magic." She handed me the card, her smile warm and inviting.

I took the card, my fingers tracing the intricate patterns on the surface. Something about her sudden change of heart left me uneasy, my worry growing rather than dissipating. If she was a fraud, wouldn't she try to sell me some fake protection, some potion or charm? But she hadn't. And that, more than anything, filled me with dread. Could it be that the curse was real, and she was trying to confort me in the only way she knew how?

I managed a weak smile, taking the card and tucking it into my pocket. "Tarot, huh? Nice," I said, my voice barely concealing my unease. I stood up, my legs wobbling slightly. "How much do I owe you for the session?" I asked, my voice steady despite the turmoil within me. The fortune teller took my arm gently, guiding me towards the exit of the tent. "Don't worry about it, dear," she said, her voice soft. "I won't charge you. I just want you to be safe, to have a happy life. I wish you all the luck in the world." She smiled at me, her eyes filled with a sincerity that only deepened my worry.