My Jinx, Your Doom

Tonight is the engagement party for Henry Lewis and me. The ballroom sparkled with crystal chandeliers, the air thick with celebration. But inside me, it felt like a heavy stone was pressing down — an unmistakable unease. I was born with a "quirk." Any bad wishes I speak always come true in strange ways. My friends jokingly call me a jinx, but only I know how much trouble this power really causes. "Una, what are you daydreaming about?" Henry walked over and reached to wrap his arm around my waist, but I instinctively dodged. His hand froze mid-air, a flicker of displeasure crossing his face. "Still sulking? It's just that Linda is coming. She is like a younger sister to me; don't overthink it." I said nothing, my gaze settling on the entrance not far away. Linda Thorne wore a scarlet slip dress, her makeup striking and bold, holding a delicate clutch as she approached us with a radiant smile. I knew their relationship was far more complicated than it seemed. "Congratulations, Henry, Una." Linda came up to us, but her gaze was fixed solely on Henry. "I thought you wouldn't invite me—after all, I did say before that whoever tries to steal Henry away will pay the price." She paused, deliberately raising her voice so the surrounding guests could hear: "Speaking of which, I once said that if anyone fancies Henry, they'd get smacked unconscious by bird droppings the moment they stepped outside. Una, do you think that curse actually works?" A low murmur of laughter rippled through the crowd as the guests watched the spectacle with amusement. I met Linda's defiant gaze, took a deep breath, and said calmly, "Sometimes, vows turn out to be more potent than you'd expect." The moment I finished speaking, a dark object fell from the skylight above the banquet hall, landing squarely on Linda's head. It was bird droppings. Linda screamed, flailing as she hurried to wipe it off; her makeup instantly ruined, she looked utterly disheveled. The guests nearby lost all restraint and burst into laughter. Henry's face went pale. He rushed over and grabbed my wrist, his voice full of anger: "Una! Are you doing this on purpose? You the power of your cursed mouth, yet you still say things like that deliberately!" I shrugged off his hand. "She provoked me first, and I was just telling the truth." "Telling the truth?" Henry stood in front of Linda like a mother hen protecting her chick. "Look at her now! Una, you've gone too far! Today is our engagement party—can't you behave yourself for once?" Linda leaned against Henry's chest, crying softly, "Henry, I didn't do it on purpose. I just wanted to joke with Una—I never expected..." "Alright, stop crying. I'll take you to get cleaned up." Henry gently patted Linda on the back, then turned to glare at me. "Una, you need to seriously reflect on yourself!" After saying that, he left with Linda, leaving me standing alone, bearing the strange gazes of the guests. I watched their departing backs, as the last flicker of hope in my heart completely shattered. I coldly said in their direction, "Those who did bad deeds are bound to be struck by lightning."