Chapter 65: Chapter 65

My heart thumped louder than Zed’s voice, but I tried my best to conceal my guilt.

“Yes, we’re out to meet a client. Mr. Mori is introducing me to him as the new Asian branches manager,” I said, looking at Kim.

There was a pause, and every second that passed by sounded like a bell banging against my ear.

“Okay, dear. Enjoy your lunch, and don’t stress yourself on the meeting.”

I heaved out a sigh after ending the call. If this situation keeps repeating, I'll soon die of nervousness.

“Okay, let’s have lunch together,” Kim said, his brows knitting closer. What had been the state of bliss we were enjoying a while ago popped out like bubbles in the air.

“But we have no client to meet,” I argued. “We better go back to the office and have lunch there.”

“No.”

I kept my mouth shut. Kim’s mood turned sour, and I knew it wasn’t the right time to add flames to the coals.  Kim picked up his phone, swiped a finger on the screen, then place the gadget on his ear. Whoever he was calling, I couldn’t tell because he spoke in a foreign tongue.

“I’ll drive. You’re not in your sound mind,” Kim said, glancing at me sideways before he crawled to the seat behind the wheel.

“Go ahead.”

Soon, we turned right into a road. A few meters away, the landscape signage of Sherraway Hotel greeted my eyes. Kim then pulled over a wide and open parking lot surrounded by tall trees and ornamental plants.

After unbuckling my seat, I stepped out of the car, not waiting for Kim to open the door for me. He led the way, and I followed. Sensing my silence behind him, he stopped.

“Walk by my side. I’m not your boss, but your husband.” His eyes fell on my shoulders – and I could tell his desire to place his arm around me if only we weren't in a public place.

“Here we are again.” I sighed then glared at him, but his eyes became affectionate as he looked at me. He then pulled me behind those tall ornamental plants that lined the cemented path towards the hotel.

“I’m also a human, Jakara. And I’m hurting every time you remind me that there is another man in your life. I had been searching for you for five years, only to see you again this way? If only I could force things my way….”

I felt my blood flowed in the wrong direction. My scalp tingled, and my hair stood on its end.

“I wasn’t married yet when you found me, Kim, but why didn’t you stop me?”

And his reply was prompt, sending me shivering.

“Because I saw how happy you were. I followed you and Zed one time. And at that moment, I had decided to let you go because I was already too late. Also, because I am only a stranger to you, you didn’t recognize me, and forcing you would only drive your joy away.”

“And that remains the case until today.” I scoffed.

“I’ll wait for the right time, Jakara.”

“Please, don’t.”

Drops of tears trickled down my face. My heart went out with him, but my sympathy was still with Zed. All that was in me that remembered him was my heart, but not my mind. There were no memories to look back, except for those recurrent dreams that I had.

Kim pulled out his handkerchief and wiped the tears on my cheeks. A pained smile broke on his face.

“I’m not a tyrant, Jakara. Remember that.”

More tears flooded into my face until he could no longer resist the temptation of gathering me in his arms. It took some time until I freed myself from him. I would have stayed longer because I found myself relaxing in the comforts of his arms, but then I remembered Zed.

I got guilty again. And this had become another reason to support my decision to resign from my job. We shouldn’t see each other anymore or else, I might not be able to stay away from him anymore. Zed didn’t deserve this.

Kim’s phone sounded, and after picking up that call, he placed an arm around my shoulders and ushered me towards the hotel. Unfortunately, he only took away his arm when we were already a few steps away from the entrance.

“I called Mr. Virgil to join us for lunch. And I would indeed introduce you to him. It was him who just called, informing me that he has arrived already.”

I nodded but still kept silent. An attendant saved the moment since he diverted our attention into a location he suggested for us to take. Leading us to a less-crowded corner, a man suddenly stood up from the rows of tables, throwing us a wide smile. And right across from him was a familiar figure I never expected to see – Zed!

“Mr. Mori, good to see you again!” the man reached out a hand for a handshake with Kim, then turned and smiled at me. “Glad to see you, too, Miss Williams!”

My heart immediately went wild. I glanced at Zed before I let out an awkward smile, then at Kim. Kim, responding to my uneasiness, raised a hand and tapped the man’s right shoulder.

“Mr. Virgil, meet Miss Yen, the new manager for Asian branches,” said Kim, stressing out my name.

So, he was Mr. Virgil. He squinted his eyes and looked at Kim, and Kim locked his gaze with him meaningfully.

I walked toward Zed, and he also stood up, smiling at me. I thought he felt bad when he learned that I was out with Kim, but his smile showed otherwise. And then I wondered what he felt, now that he saw me with Kim.

And what if he saw us hugging each other outside? I felt like fainting at the thought. And if this kind of scenario would keep on repeating, it wouldn’t be long before I go crazy.

“Mr. Ramos! I’m surprised to see you here,” Kim said, extending his hand to shake with Zed. My hands went numb right away.

“Mr. Virgil and I are discussing something over lunch. But we are almost done,” replied Zed.

Zed took his hand, then drew me in afterward for a quick kiss on the lips. I froze. My lips still had the taste of Kim. But, more than anything else, Kim was watching us. Aside from him, there was also Mr. Virgil, who knew me as Kim’s wife.

Mr. Virgil looked dumbfounded as he sat down on the chair. He ran his eyes over the three of us like he was expecting a spectacular scene to happen!

When the three of us settled in our seats – Kim on the right and Zed on the left, Mr. Virgil opened his mouth to speak.

“Mr. Mori, it looks like you owe me an update. Isn’t Miss Yen, Miss Williams? What happened to the two of you these five years?”

I thought only women are tactless…