Damn Yen! What has she done to herself? It would have been easier for her to put the blame on me. While I’m thinking of saving her from Kim’s wrath, she also can’t wait to destroy herself.
“No. Yen is the one lying. She’s just scared you’ll kill me for this, so she blames herself.”
“I’ll really kill you!” Kim roars, and Yen’s sobs turn louder.
“I’ve sinned, Mr. Mori. So, I’ll accept it. Anyway, Ella is also gone and my reputation is ruined. Why would I still want to live? And by the way, if you’re the one spreading the sweet news of my incapacity, we’re even now. You’ve successfully hurt and destroyed me. But you have to spare Yen.”
“Are you the one leaking it to the public, Kim?!” Yen yells; her voice is quivering. I can see her in my mind – bloodshot eyes, quivering lips, hair disheveled.
Kim let out an irritating and devilish laugh, hurting my ear. I even have to tilt my head away from the phone.
“Before I answer your question, answer me first. And be sure to tell me the truth, or else you’ll also see this over the internet.”
“Ask whatever you like,” I say, scoffing afterward. I have no idea what he meant by that.
“I’m forwarding you an email. Read it.”
I swipe my phone’s screen and press my Gmail app. A red dot on the icon tells me he indeed has sent a message on my mail. I open the message right away that says, “Is this true?”
I open the attachment, and my heart immediately skips some beats. It’s a photo of Yen’s rolled panties in the middle of the bed. And I remember this was when I made love to her in my coffee shop.
I zoomed the photo by stretching it with my two thumbs. The crotch is laid out open, but the sides are rolled – implying that someone slid it out from her and threw it on the bed. Images of that day then flash in my mind. I then see myself taking her panties off before I dive into that tempting spot at the base of her thighs.
“Dare tell me it's not true!” Kim snarls into my ear.
“I'm not denying it,” I tell him. Of course, things will get more complicated if I lie. I then hear a loud sound, implying that he kicks on something.
“I’ll give you a minute to explain why you two cheated on me!”
“Enough, Kim! If you can’t bear the thought of me cheating on you, then let’s call this marriage off!”
Kim suddenly ended the call, and I got scared. I can already imagine him beating Yen. I drop myself on the chair and place my elbows on the table so that I can rest my face on my hands. Shutting my eyes tightly, I also cover my ears. The brutal scenes I have pictured out in my mind where Kim is hitting Yen are so scary that I also have to shut my ears. Drops of sweets roll endlessly at the sides of my face, and I start feeling dizzy.
To my surprise, Kim calls again. And as soon as I press the green icon to accept the call, it switches to a video call.
A room interior then opens before my eyes. A huge bed sprawls at the center, and I see Yen snuggling against the beadboard, her knees folded against her chest. She’s clutching a sheet under her chin, but the sides expose her bare shoulders. It seems that Kim forces her into sex before he confronts her.
“Now, talk!” Kim demands, but the camera is aimed at Yen.
“Mr. Mori, please don’t hurt her. It was my fault,” I beg. My eyes start to burn upon seeing Yen in that condition. Her eyes are red, her nose puffy.
“It depends on how you explain it to me. She’s my wife, and I can do whatever I like.”
My hands also start to shake, so I put the phone down on the table. If only they were near me, I would have strangled Kim by now. But I can't do anything, so the least I can do is to be obedient.
“It happened on the day I came back from the USA. My lawyer came to see her, telling her of my intention to give her the branch of the coffee shop we opened when we were still married. But then she came to see me at the coffee shop to decline my offer. Perhaps, she didn’t want to appear rude in turning me down without explaining it to me personally. After all, she knew that shop meant much to me."
I glance at Yen who remains in her position, listening to my explanation. She stares at her hands instead of looking at the camera.
“We talked for a few minutes, and then she left. But then she forgot something, so she knocked at my room. But when I saw her at the door frame, I lost my sanity and grabbed her forward, forcing myself on her. I missed her, so I did everything to have her. That’s how it happened.”
“Jakara, answer me! Did this bastard rape you?” I hear Kim, his face hidden from the camera.
Yen pulls a long face as she glares at him. “I already told you everything, Kim. I don’t want to repeat it.”
“Did you ever think of me when you did that? Answer me!” I can feel Kim gritting his teeth, and soon a lampshade comes flying against a wall. My eyes fly at Yen, but to my surprise, she doesn’t move.
“Of course, but I also wanted to know if Zed is healed.” She raises her head and fixes her eyes on Kim, who is apparently standing at the foot of the bed. Beads of tears start rolling down her face, and a pang of pain batters my heart.
“Kim, that is the part I was also guilty about. I have talked to Dr. Vergara, and he told me everything. That I was the cause Zed got like that. It’s because he saw James crushing me that night, and that sight tortured him mentally. I was his high school sweetheart, and we were best friends. He has already cared for me long before I met you. So, I hope that is enough to tell you why I am drowning in guilt.”
“Yen, don’t,” is all I’m able to say before I cut the call. I slump in my seat and broke into tears. Tears for her that I kept on suppressing for a long time.