Beautifying Stool
Not only were they outrageously expensive, but they also came with strict conditions. She'd only make one for a woman who's been heartbroken by a man.
I was lounging in a rocking chair, half-asleep, when a tall, bulky woman came to our door. She wasn't exactly easy on the eyes.
I knew immediately she was here to pick up her glamour stool. Just a few days ago, she had come by with her husband and another woman. When they left, she was the only one who walked out the door.
To make a glamour stool, there must always be one man and two women involved. That was the rule.
"Mom, someone's here for you," I called out.
My mom appeared, smiling warmly, "Selene, your stool has been ready for a while. Come inside and try it out."
Selene blushed and followed my mom upstairs.
The door to the second floor slammed shut. I crept up the stairs quietly, pressing my ear against the door.
My mom had been making glamour stools for as long as I could remember, but I had never actually seen one. Every time a customer came to pick one up, she would lock the door. Soon after, a woman's groan came from inside.
A few moments passed, and I heard Selene's voice, softer and strangely more feminine than before.
My curiosity was killing me. What did these stools really look like?
But before I could think more about it, the sounds stopped.
I rushed back to the courtyard, pretending to water the plants as if nothing had happened.
A few minutes later, Selene emerged, carrying a large box, her face flushed.
Was it just my imagination, or had she slimmed down a bit? Her skin seemed smoother, too.
I knew that in a few days, Selene would fully transform into a beautiful woman. That was the magic of glamour stools.
As she passed by, Selene paused, then turned to my mom. "When are you going to teach your daughter your craft?"
My mom glanced at me, frowning slightly before letting out a sigh. "She's not ready yet. Once she has a boyfriend, I'll pass it on to her. I've been wanting to retire for a while now."
If my mom taught me, I'd finally get to see what these mysterious stools looked like.
Truth be told, I already had a boyfriend. We were madly in love. But my mom had always forbidden me from dating, so I never dared to tell her.
The moment Selene left, I couldn't hold back any longer. "Mom, I actually have a boyfriend! Teach me how to make glamour stools!" I said, barely able to contain my excitement.
In my head, I was already planning it out. Each stool was sold for 200 thousand dollars. If I could make three a month, I'd be set for life after just a few years. Then, I could retire with my boyfriend and live peacefully.
I thought my mom would be thrilled to hear about my boyfriend. But to my surprise, her face clouded over with worry. The sadness in her eyes was unmistakable.
"Have you slept with him?" she asked bluntly.
My face turned scarlet. I never expected her to ask such a direct question, especially given how strict she'd always been with me. Part of me was scared she might blow up.
"It's okay, you can tell me. You're an adult now. I won't punish you like I used to when you were younger."
Embarrassed, I nodded.
She smiled softly and ruffled my hair. Despite the smile, I could see the sadness still lingering in her eyes, as if she was holding back tears.
"You've grown up. Bring your boyfriend over sometime. I want to meet him. If he passes my test, then you can start learning how to make glamour stools. The first one you craft will be for yourself."
Her words left me pondering. I had never seen the stool my mom made for herself. I'd have to sneak into her room one of these days and see if I could find it.
Feeling a surge of excitement, I called Zephyr Gray to tell him the news. He was thrilled and promised to come meet my mom as soon as his work let up.
I couldn't help but spill the secret that once my mom passed the torch, I'd be making a fortune.
Zephyr was even more excited than I was, dreaming up plans to buy a house in the city and bring my mom along to live with us.
A month later, Zephyr came to visit my mom.
I woke up early and waited at the intersection for him.
When he finally showed up, his expression was dark and stormy.
"Lyra, you say your family is loaded, but why do you live out here in the middle of nowhere? Are you messing with me?"
My house was tucked behind the mountain, facing the shaded side, because glamour stools were need to be made in a dimly lit environment.
From where we were now, we couldn't see the big villa.
I linked my arm with Zephyr's, trying to lighten the mood.
"Just wait a little longer, and you'll see my house. I promise, you won't be disappointed."
He gave me a skeptical look.
"I'll take your word for it, but if you're lying, I'm out of here."
I tightened my grip on his arm. Even though he was the one who pursued me first, I genuinely liked him. His charming features had me completely enchanted.
As we rounded the bend, Zephyr's eyes widened when he finally spotted the grand villa nestled against the hillside. "Lyra, that big villa can't be yours, right?"
"Yep! I told you my family is super rich!"
He glanced nervously at the modest gift he was holding. "Do you think this is too cheap?"
I looked at the discounted flowers he picked up from the supermarket and smiled. "Not at all! As long as I like it, my mom won't care."
In the distance, I spotted my mom standing at the door. Zephyr's eyes lit up in awe.
"Lyra, how come I've never heard you mention your sister?"
Anyone who met my mom usually thought she was my sister. With her smooth skin and no wrinkles, plus a figure that turned heads, it was no wonder. No guy could resist being captivated by her.
Zephyr looked down, wiping his mouth as he chuckled, "Your mom is gorgeous. How come you don't look anything like her?"
I had asked my mom that same question when I was younger.
I was always the awkward one, overweight, short, and battling acne through my teenage years. Now that the acne had cleared up, I was left with scars.
The customers who visited the shop would often tease my mom, joking that I must have been adopted.
She would always insist that I looked just like her and that once I mastered making glamour stools, I'd be even prettier.
That was why I was so eager to learn how to make those stools.
I dreamed of the day I would transform into a goddess.
I even wondered if the ingredients had some magic beauty powers.
"My mom says once I start making glamour stools, I'll get prettier."
Zephyr playfully pinched the fat on my belly and smirked. "Let's hope so!"
He walked over to my mom and greeted her respectfully.
My mom extended her hand with grace. "Hello, Zephyr. I'm Lyra's mom."
Zephyr looked surprised but shook her hand, not wanting to let go. It wasn't until I cleared my throat that he finally released her hand, albeit reluctantly.
I shot him an annoyed look and sulked into the house.
My mom seemed delighted and hurried after me, whispering, "The ingredients are really good!"
I was a bit confused by her comment but didn't get the chance to ask her about it.
At dinner, my mom started asking about Zephyr's family, and the more she heard, the happier she got.
When Zephyr was eighteen, he lost both his parents in an accident, so now he was on his own.
But he had a decent job, and honestly, I was pretty satisfied with that. He was good-looking and educated, and I felt lucky to be with someone like him.
After a few drinks, Zephyr got a bit emotional, hugging my mom and saying that once we got married, he'd move in with her since we'd be family.
Just as we were all enjoying the moment, Selene walked in.
I knew she would look good, but I was still taken aback.
With her small, cute face, rosy lips, and curves that would make any star jealous, she was stunning.
Selene brought a few boxes of fancy wine to thank my mom. I'd seen this kind of thing before, so I just focused on peeling shrimp for Zephyr.
His eyes were fixed on those boxes of wine. While Selene and my mom chatted, she sauntered over and playfully touched Zephyr's face.
"Wow, this guy's really handsome! Your daughter has great taste!"
Zephyr didn't pull away and just grinned like a fool.
Then, Selene mischievously gave him a playful pinch, making his face turn crimson.
He still didn't object, just kept smiling away.
With a teasing grin, Selene said to my mom, "Once your daughter nails making those glamour stools, she'll be so lucky. She'll end up even prettier than I am!"
I was fuming, so I slammed my fork down and stormed upstairs.
I thought Zephyr would come after me to cheer me up, but to my surprise, he decided to walk Selene out instead.
My mom's face fell instantly, and she sent Zephyr back, insisting on seeing Selene off herself.
Later that night, after switching off the lights, Zephyr finished up quickly and fell asleep. I touched my face, thinking that once I got prettier, he'd turn on the lights just to look at me.
Lying in bed, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Eventually, I went up to the rooftop to gaze at the stars.
Suddenly, a soft, feminine voice drifted into my ears, breaking the quiet.
Our neighbor lived far away, so this voice had to be my mom's.
Could it be that she was dating someone?
I could understand. She had been single for years, and it must have been tough for her. Still, I was curious about which guy had managed to win over this high-maintenance woman.
I quietly crept over to my mom's bedroom window. Just one peek, and I was left speechless.
I caught sight of my mom perched on a peculiar stool, her movements strange and almost ritualistic.
After what felt like ages, she stood up and fetched a basin of water, meticulously cleaning the glamour stool while talking to herself. Then, out of nowhere, I heard my dad's name slip from her lips.
Once, when she'd been drinking, she'd called out his name. I had asked her what he was like, but that had sent her into a rage.
She told me never to mention him again, and I took that to heart. Since then, the topic had been off-limits.
Once my mom finished washing the stool, she carefully wrapped it up and tucked it away in the safe.
I dashed back to my room, my mind racing. Could that be her first glamour stool?
She always said that a maker's first glamour stool was made for themselves. But I had a boyfriend now, so I didn't need one.
I planned to sell my stool and travel with Zephyr instead.
The next morning, my mom pulled me into her bedroom and opened her safe.
"You've always wanted to see what a glamour stool looks like, right? Today's your day!"
I struggled to contain my excitement as I followed her inside.
She gently lifted a large box from the safe, and when she opened it, a rich, enticing fragrance wafted out, enveloping me.
It was the same stool she had sat on last night.
The stool had an old-world charm, but its material was unusual, definitely not wood or stone. It was almost like skin.
Just the thought gave me goosebumps.
I was about to sit on it when my mom suddenly pushed me aside. "This is my glamour stool. Only I can sit on it. You'll have your own one day."
If I couldn't sit on it, touching it should be okay, right?
But as I reached out, my mom blocked my hand again.
"You can only touch the sides, not the top."
I nodded, feeling the soft surface beneath my fingers.
Oddly enough, it felt alive, almost as if the stool was breathing and welcoming my touch. When I pulled my hand away, it seemed to lean toward me, as if it craved more contact.
Seeing I was finished, my mom crouched down, cradling the stool as she closed her eyes and rubbed it lovingly. "Cedric, do you see? Your daughter has grown up. She's not like you. She's like me."
I turned to the mirror, scrutinizing my features. None of them resembled my mom's.
"She has a boyfriend now. You'll meet him soon. He's even more handsome and accomplished than you. Lyra will definitely create the best glamour stool in the world."
As I listened, an unsettling feeling washed over me, making me think of the stool as a stand-in for my dad.
My mom filled another basin with water and began washing the stool with a tender touch.
"Lyra, remember to clean the stool thoroughly after using it."
I nodded, trying to absorb every word.
Then she handed me an old, worn leather book.
"The methods for making the stool are all in here. You can look through it yourself."
I opened the book, took one glance, and screamed, flinging it away in shock.
I stared at my mom, covering my mouth in disbelief as I stumbled outside and collapsed beside the flowerbed, my stomach churning violently as I began to vomit, nearly bringing up my bile.
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