In less than fifteen minutes, I was already done changing into a casual little black dress. It was a sleeveless, body-hugging dress, and its hemline fell several inches above the knee. I couldn’t care less if it was the proper attire for the party or not since it was all I had. I was even glad that Zed, my thoughtful husband, spared me this extra dress for the trip. He seemed to have predicted that I might be needing it.
And since it was a pool party, I wore ahead a bikini set underneath my dress. Japan is known for ‘onsen,’ a hot spring bath that is geothermally heated under the ground due to natural volcanic activities. So, I presumed I would also have time for this later.
"Yen, where have you been?" Trish sprang up from her seat and ran to meet me while I was still halfway towards the group of people who gathered by the pool. There seemed to be an equal number of men and women; some of them were even seated by twos.
"Sorry, Trish! A friend called out of the blue, so I wasn't able to ask permission when I left."
"It's alright. Come, sit beside me," said Trish while reaching for my upper arm and leading me towards the party area.
Cris, who was talking to someone, glanced in our direction. Upon seeing me, he immediately stood up and walked towards us.
"Miss Yen, I'm glad you are able to come. Trish is happier to have you around, right Trish?"
Trish just smiled as she looked at my reaction, moving her gaze to Cris then back to me. I also smiled back without saying any word.
"Let's go, ladies," Cris said, gesturing with his arm his welcome by moving it sideward.
"Okay," Trish and I answered in a chorus before we both sauntered to the area, not far from the pool.
"Friends, may I introduce to all of you my girlfriend's friend and office colleague, Miss Yen," said Cris the moment we reached the area, calling the attention of those men and women who gathered by twos or threes in small round tables at the sides of a semi-rectangular space.
All of them echoed back their warm response, giving me a welcome smile. One of the men stood up to shake hands with me, prompting others to follow. But there was something in their gaze that told me the same suspicion that I was Jakara.
As soon as I settled in my seat, food attendants came and started serving food on all the tables. Then Cris came forward and announced that we should start our dinner already. As Cris came back to the table, the waiter who was still there suddenly asked,
"Ma'am, sir, since this is also a dinner date, should I serve three sets of plates and cutleries here?"
I looked around and realized that the waiter was indeed right. The tables had two chairs in them, and Cris had none because I took his seat.
"No. Leave the couple to have their privacy," Kim's voice from nowhere made my heart leap.
I looked up in a daze, and before I could speak, he held my upper arm, urging me to stand up. I turned and looked at Trish, and the latter waved at me.
"Let's chat later, Miss Yen."
I smiled and nodded. I would be so mean if I wouldn't give way.
"Cris, are they all the guests you have invited?" Kim turned his attention to Cris, but his hand was still holding my arm. In the eyes of anybody, we looked like a couple. I even caught Trish's amused look as she gazed at us.
"Josh Herra is coming."
Upon hearing that name, I remembered Vic's warning. My body immediately stiffened, and I couldn't explain why.
I pulled a slow but deep breath to calm down before allowing Kim to bring me to another vacant table. I admit I was never comfortable being with him that night. All of those heated moments with him immediately flashed in my mind. And seeing him on a pair of denim jeans and a body-fit shirt that outlined his muscles reminded me of the naked body that held me a while ago.
"Is Mr. Herra your business partner?"
I asked to divert my sense of awkwardness.
Kim's gaze darkened before he answered. "He used to be."
"I see," was all I could say.
"When he's here, don't ever show him your seductive dress."
A sense of anger crept within me. I was about to argue, but the waiter came over to serve our food.
"I hope you like what I've ordered for you," he glanced at me, and our eyes met for a moment. I hurriedly looked down because my heartbeats started to pound wildly.
"Thank you. As long as it's beef, and it has no garlic and onions, it would be fine with me."
I chose to drop the subject about my dress. That was too sensitive a topic because I didn't know if he was offended by my moves, thinking I was seducing him. But, of course, I didn't have to know the answer to that. We were both married, and he may have been likewise tortured by guilt.
I started eating the moment the waiter left. I realized I was hungry already. It had been a long day, and that sinful indulgence I had with Kim seemed to burn all my reserved calories.
When I was half-full, I noticed that Kim hadn't touched his food yet. So I put down my chopsticks and looked at him. His red eyes surprised me.
"What's wrong? You don't like the food?"
He chuckled and sighed before he answered. "I just miss watching you eat, Yen. I'm surprised that you still love Japanese ramen."
I gathered my brows as I gazed at him.
"Kim, this is my first time eating ramen with you. Are you misconstruing me for someone else?"
He closed his eyes for a moment and touched his forehead, engrossing himself in deep thought.
"No, of course not. But…"
"Are you hiding something, Kim? Have we met before?"
Kim held my gaze for a long while. Glints of frustration seemed to flicker in his eyes, but he managed to conceal that emotion right away. He was already smiling the next moment, and those traces of sadness and frustration left no marks already.
However, it was another confirmation point that I indeed linked to Jakara. At that very moment, I wanted to ask him everything, but then Zed's name appeared in my thoughts.
"It's been a long time, Miss Jakara. So surprised to see you again!"
I furrowed my brows as I stared at him. "Do I know you, sir? I'm sorry if I have forgotten."
"Josh, let's talk later. Go and have your dinner first."
With Kim intervening for us, I knew something was off. I then felt my muscles tense and tremored that the chopsticks fell from my hand. Unexplained anger rose from within me that I was already hurting why I felt this way.
Kim stood up and moved his chair beside me. He reached for my hands under the table and held them tight. "I'm here. You don't have to be afraid," he said, staring into my eyes to force me to look at him. I wondered if my reactions were so transparent or if I had a history with this Josh Herra. But my reaction told me I had been into some conflict with him. Addressing me as Jakara further added to my suspicion that I was indeed Jakara. Because If I had an identical twin, I wouldn't have been bothered like this. "Who is he, Kim? Why does he address me as Jakara?" I asked; my lips were already quivering. I was glad the lights were dim because the people around us would have seen my reaction. "Don't trouble your mind for now. You're pregnant, and it isn't good for you to worry much." He released my hands from squeezing, but just when I thought he would already pull them out, he began interlacing his fingers with mine. I no longer realized the roma
CHAPTER 6Trish turned and asked me to zip up her dress. I stopped for a second to give her a thorough overall look and I couldn’t help but stick my eyes on her flaunting curves. The body-hugging cream dress that showed her long legs and a big portion of his back, shoulders, and arms made her so stunning that I even imagined her as a real bride. I even wondered if there was a time where Kim was attracted to her.Remembering that Kath was waiting for us, I also hurried to change into the dress prepared for me. I had no idea on the whole plan for the night, but since Cris involved me in this, I expected that I would have an important role later. While looking at myself in front of the huge mirror, my thoughts then went to Mr. Williams and Josh Herra.Who are they? What is their significance in Jakara's life? And why do I seem bothered inwardly even by just the mention of their names?“Miss Trish, Miss Y
Staring at the old man from my seat, I felt something strange inside. It felt like I had already met him and that I had been close to him. Yet, no matter how I racked my brain, I couldn't bring myself to remember a thing about him.What's the problem here, I thought. Is it really me? Why don't I remember them?I glanced at Kim with a questioning look, but thinking it would prompt an emotional outburst, I excused myself and went to the bathroom. Seeing that I was alone, I let go of the tears that were welling inside me. I was so confused.What happened to me five years ago? Why don't I remember any of these? How do I become someone named Jakara? If I indeed married Kim, what caused our breakup? What role does this old man have on me? I have a biological father in my country. So, why does everyone say he's Jakara's father?My questions popped one after another, and they were as many as the teardrops that raced down my cheeks. T
I froze in my seat when I realized that tonight wasn’t just an engagement party but an actual wedding ceremony. I looked at Trish, and I also saw the massive shock registering in her face. Her glowing eyes were now red, and a gentle emotional tug would surely send her to tears.I turned and looked at Kim and his lips twisted into an amused smile. He seemed to read my mind because he tried to explain.“The couple had some arguments lately because Trish has this feeling of insecurities. So when she learned that Cris is planning to supervise his business in the Middle East, she thought that their relationship isn’t going to work anymore, so she broke up with him. Thus, this surprise wedding ceremony. The grand wedding will follow soon.”“Is there a third party?” I asked because a woman won’t easily get insecure if she doesn’t have to compete for attention from a man.“Not really, but Trish took it serious
I couldn’t believe those things Josh Herra said happened to me. I forgot my current situation for a moment, and it felt like I was listening to a radio drama series.“What happened next, Josh Herra?”Before Josh could answer, a loud siren pierced into my ear. Josh fumbled immediately on my handcuff and released me.“Don’t ever make things hard for me because I always have ways,” Josh said as he glanced at the police car blocking our way. Because his driver didn’t even try to escape, so I guess Josh used this incident as just a threat.Josh rolled out the window when a policeman stood by the passenger’s door.“Sir, what’s the problem?” Josh asked in a poker face that I clenched my hands to hold back my urge to slap him.“We received a call that you’re taking a woman with you by force.”Josh scoffed and moved his gaze between me and the police.
I noticed that he didn’t mention Maezy’s name, but I didn’t expose him. What for? We were already both married and had led separate lives, so it’s useless to cry over spilled milk.Perhaps Kim was afraid that I would confront him for marrying the woman who sold me. If he truly loved me before, he should have married someone else and not the one who betrayed our friendship. But I couldn’t question his decisions because it didn’t matter anymore. Things like that could happen to people, even to someone you don’t expect.“Thanks for coming back to me, Yen,” he said, and his hand crawled on top of my right hand, clasping it with his.Tears rolled down from my eyes as I shook my head.“I am already married, Kim. And so you are.”“But you were mine first.”“But it’s in the past.”I heard with my two ears when Josh confronted Kim for stopping him i
We arrived at about six in the evening, but Zed wasn't in the house anymore. He had probably left for his lecture tonight, so I sent him a message to inform him of my arrival."Welcome home, dear. I'm already here in the Bayfront Hotel. Just heat the food I have prepared for you. Don't wait for me anymore since you need to have a good rest."I roamed around the house and wondered how my home with Kim looked like. Perhaps, our few months of staying together had already let us set up a house of our own. And probably, he had turned that apartelle into our residence.A wave of mixed emotion stirred my emotion. Something deep inside had recognized Kim all along, only that I couldn't remember. Since Zed and I were into a seven-year relationship, it only meant that Zed was my first boyfriend and left for Japan when we were in our second year of the relationship. I began to wonder if Zed knew all about my amnesia. And as to why I got it, I still have to discover it.
We had another round of caterpillar rides of pleasure into the ninth cloud. If it were not for Zed, who already knew I was there, I would have laid there until morning. But since I couldn't afford to make him suspect that I was doing something fishy, I went up and took a quick shower."I'll go down to the restaurant and wait for Zed there," I said, looking at Kim, who just lay on the bed, watching me."I'll order food and take you home. You're tired already.""Zed saw me. You know that."Kim sat up and looked at me. "I should be the one acknowledging you as my wife, not him.""I don't have to explain. You know better than me.""Tell him about us as soon as possible," he said, and I got annoyed at how fast he changed his mind.I picked up my bag angrily and slammed the door shut, leaving him staring at me with a frustrated look. The more I indulged him in bed, the more he became possessive.I sat down at the restaurant wit