Only for You – Part 1

Only for You – Part 1

True love is hard to find. Ain’t that the truth? I’ve been looking for the right guy for years and I’ve been turned her down by every one of them. Dang it. I can’t be thinking about that right now. It doesn’t help. I came by this calming river to calm my nerves after all. Huh? What’s that over there by the flower bed? Is that a mask? Yeah, it is. It’s pretty creepy too. “Only for You” is written on the forehead with bloody tears drawn near its hollow eyes. It also has red blush, a black and red nose hole, and a hollow mouth.

“Hmm. I could use it for Halloween,” I say aloud.

I’ll try it on when I get home. Okay, let’s see how this looks. Yup. It looks just as creepy as I imagined. It kind of looks creepier with me wearing it. I can’t even see my eyes and mouth in it. “Only for you”. I wish a guy would say that he was only for me. I wish I was the girl someone wanted-

“What the hell?! Ow!”

I hit the shelf behind me, and something dropped on the floor, but that’s not important now. Is that really me in the mirror?

“This can’t be me, is it?”

Everything about my looks has changed. It doesn’t look like I’m wearing the mask at all. My face, my body…

“Even my voice has changed. Is the mask doing this?”

I take off the mask and I go back to normal. This mask is really special. Let’s see how far it can go. Using the mask allows me to look however I want to. I can even look and sound like a guy if I want to. This is the solution to all my love worries!

“Hahaha!”

I can’t wait for tomorrow. I know where this one guy I like works at. With the mask on my face, I go out to impress and get the man who will love me for the rest of his life. When I look at him, I can see the image of the girl he wants and I change into that girl. I look around to see if anyone noticed a few people rub their eyes, so I just smile at them before approaching Amado.

“Hello, Amado,” I say to him.

When he looks up at me, he blushes and looks a bit surprised.

He says, “H-hello. How may I help you?”

“You can help me by going out with me. I’m lonely and need a handsome man like you in my life.”

Wow. I’m not this forward. Is the mask making me be this way?

“Oh, well, I can help you with that after work. I can give you my number for now. Boss doesn’t want me flirting on the job.”

We exchange numbers. The two of us met first on a dating site but didn’t exchange numbers since we only went on to two dates before he decided I wasn’t the right girl for him.

“I can wait for you. Just don’t keep me waiting too long.”

“S-sure thing, heh. What’s your name?”

“Carla.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ll see you after work.”

“See you soon.”

Before I even turn the corner, my appearance has changed. It must be because he’s already imagining our date. It’s a good thing no one saw me change. Once he’s done work, I meet up with him at a nice restaurant and have a nice date. I don’t act like myself, but I’m willing to sacrifice that for love. A strange thing that happened was when the check came, I tried to help pay for it, but my wallet disappears from my handbag until Amado pays for it. I guess that’s part of the mask’s weird powers too. He seems to be happy paying for the meal, so I guess that’s what matters.

That was a great start. I think he’s already falling for me. We’re going to have another date tomorrow, which I can’t wait for. When I get home, I finally take off the mask and look into the mirror. Huh? Is there something wrong with my face? It must be my imagination.

On our next date, we take a nice walk by the river. It’s a great time. Amada even lets me hold onto his arm. We talk and eat at a bar by the river then set up our next date before we say goodbye. Before I leave, I try to steal a kiss from him and get away with it. Another great day and a great day like this deserves a great bath. Time to take this thing off.

“Ah!”

What happened to me? As I look in the mirror, I see that my skin has decayed as if I were a corpse. I feel really weak like this. You know what? I don’t need my old self. That old me was full of unfixable flaws and a personality that no one fell in love with. This new me is loved and perfect. Putting the mask back on doesn’t help the way I feel on the inside, but at least I look better.

During the next date, I feel a bit sick and it’s not because of love. When I look in the mirror, I look fine. I’m afraid to take off the mask not only because of how I’ll look but also because of what Amada will think of me. He’ll probably think I’m a dirty liar and not worth his time. Honesty is one of the core foundations of a relationship after all. I’m not lying though when I say that I would sacrifice my old self so someone would love me.

“Carla? Carla.”

“Huh? Sorry, Amada. I was lost in thought.”

“That’s alright, so-”

“So, are you done beating around the bush?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Go ahead and ask me. I know you have feelings for me.”

“Okay, you saw right through me. Will you be my girlfrie-”

I kiss him on the lips.

“Of course I will.”

Amada kissing me back on this moonlit night with piano music playing in the background is a dream come true. I wouldn’t give this up for anything, but I keep getting progressively sick, so I leave as soon as I can after we agree where and when to see each other tomorrow. I’m afraid to see what I look like now, but I have too-!

“AAAAAAAAHH!”

What-What-I have to get in the shower! AAAAAHHH!!! Get these maggots out of my skin! There’s so many of them! Come on, come on get out! On top of all the maggots in all the holes in my body and face, I throw up maggots as well. In my hurry, I rip off the drainage plug so that the maggots could go down the pipes in the shower. After all that, I sit down in the bathtub horrified to look in the mirror, but I must.

When I look into the mirror, I see a hollow corpse. It’s a wonder that I’m still alive. I’m so ugly now. This is a reflection of who I truly am. A liar. Amada isn’t in love with me. He’s in love with an illusion. A false version of myself and his fantasies. I have to be honest with him tomorrow. I’m afraid of what will happen when I use this mask again anyway.

The next day comes quickly and I wear clothes that hide my entire body and face. Amada meets me near the bench near the river as we planned. I can’t bear to look at his face. He doesn’t seem to notice me probably because I’m not dressed as I usually am.

“Amada. It’s me. Carla.”

“Carla? Is that you? You sound different. You also look different. Are you sick?”

“No. I have a confession to make. I’m actually Cara. I’ve been disguising myself and acting as a different person so that you would love me.”

“What? How can that be true?”

I show the mask to Amada and explain everything to him.

“It sounds unbelievable.”

“I know, but I’m telling you the truth. I don’t want you to see how deformed I am, so I think it’s best if this is the last time we see each other. I’m sorry I tricked you into loving me.”

“I believe you, Cara, and it’s okay. I forgive you.”

“What? You do?”

“I can hear how honest and humble you are. You’re a strong person for giving up such an amazing gift to tell the truth even if you are going to die from using it.”

“Thanks.”

“However, I can’t be in a relationship with you, but I will find you a boyfriend since you’re seriously on the hunt for one.”

“I look like a corpse. No one will love me.”

“Looks aren’t everything. Besides, I’m sure we can get to a doctor to help you get better. Let me see your face.”

“No. It’s too horrible.”

“You’ve come out here to tell me the truth and you won’t show me your true face?”

“Alright, fine.”

I take the hood off my face and look to the ground to avoid looking at him in the eyes.

“You look fine. Better than the last time I saw you even.”

“Don’t lie to me.”

“Seriously, look at yourself in the river.”

I might as well…Huh?! He’s telling the truth! I’m back to normal and better! I cheer and hug Amada then awkwardly let him go.

“Sorry,” I tell him.

“It’s okay. Where’s that mask of yours? We should probably get rid of it.”

“Oh yeah. I left it on the bench.”

We look around for it but don’t manage to find it. No one else was around us, so I don’t know where it went. Whatever the case is, I’m glad that it’s gone. I’m happy that I’m back to normal. Back to myself. With Amada’s help, I should be able to find the right guy for me.