“Kim’s wife? But what about Maezy?”
“There’s was no marriage between them.”
“What?” I gasped; my eyes almost fell out from their sockets.
“Kim is just paying for the price of a sinful indulgence.”
I was about to ask further, but the attendant came over to take our orders. I felt like sitting on needles already that I could no longer stay seated for a long time. I excused myself and went up to our room. My mind was flooding with strange thoughts already – from those repeated dreams, the building I saw near the company, Kim’s business partners calling me Jakara. I felt it in my heart that somehow, all these were related to my life.
I did a video call with Zed once I got inside the room. He was already changing into a suit, preparing for his speaking engagement that night. The tailored piece that hugged his well-built body made him look extremely gorgeous. I couldn’t even take off my eyes on him.
“Is there a problem?” Zed asked, smiling but pulling his brows together.
“No. I just can’t take my eyes off my husband.”
Zed let out a soft laugh and asked, “You find me handsome tonight?”
“No, dear. Not just tonight, but all the time.” I smiled; what I said was true.
“I’m flattered. Thank you, babe. How I wish I am already enough to deserve everything about you.”
I froze. That was a tone of insecurities, and I didn’t expect it. It felt like an unseen needle darting into my heart. My mind was screaming, urging me to ask what he meant, but my mouth failed to open up.
“Enjoy the party, dear. If you need anything, I’m just a call away. I would have wanted to accompany you there, but since traveling would be the nature of your work from now on, I’d just help myself to get used to it.”
I let out a faint smile. “Next time, Zed, free up your schedules so we can travel together. Especially when my bump would be big already.”
“Of course. I will do that for you.” He smiled, making him more eye-catching.
“Thank you, dear. I love you.”
“I love you more.”
I changed into a comfortable cotton dress after I ended my call with Zed. I stood before a huge mirror afterward, examining myself. The cream shade of my dress looked good on me. Its soft fabric clung snugly on my body, emphasizing my swelling curves. The hem fell about five inches above my knees, showing out my long, pinkish legs. I couldn’t explain why, but I wanted to look beautiful tonight.
Instead of returning to Trish in the café, I sneaked out and hailed a taxi. I went directly to the building across Kim Yuan Microelectronics. While looking at the façade of the building from the car’s window, my heart started to go crazy again. I stared at the silver letters of the signage that glittered against the lights from the lamp posts nearby, and again, it felt like I had seen it before already.
Kim Yuan’s Apartelle. If in my dream, I had run into this place when Kim chased me, then it could mean I had stayed here.
I went down and entered the building. The design of the lobby, the placement of the reception area, the color of the walls – all of them resembled the physical structure of the one in my dream. When I looked up, the lady in the reception area smiled and bowed down at me. Her features told me she’s also a Filipina.
“Good evening, ma'am. Is there anything I can help you with?”
I heaved out a sigh, debating within myself if I should do the things my mind had dictated to me. I stared at the lady, observing her expression if she would be kind enough to cater to my needs.
“Ma'am, if there is something you wish to ask, please feel free to do so.”
I sighed in relief. It looked like I would reach my goal for tonight. “Ah, Miss, is there a tenant here named Jakara Blue?”
“In a moment. Please let me check.”
She looked down on her computer, and I then heard the sound of her finger against the keyboard.
“She’s occupying Door 13, ma’am.”
So, it only meant Jakara Blue really existed. But how is she related to me? Why does she look like me?
“Miss, since when has she stayed here?”
She looked down again and looked at the computer. “Six years already.”
My heart was already pounding twice harder than when I came here. “May I see her profile photo?”
The receptionist gave me a quick stare, then smiled. “That is something confidential, ma'am. I hope you understand. I will ask permission from the owner first.”
“Of course. Miss, can I just see the door? Or, the corridor leading to the room?” The view from the corridor would also confirm that this was indeed the place in my dream.
“Sure, Miss. But please, wait for a while. I will get the spare keys from the storage.”
“Thank you,” I said, smiling.
“Please sit down first,” she said, pointing to the sofa across the reception area.
“Okay.”
I watched her as she entered the elevator. I hurriedly looked around to see if there were other people aside from the two of us. I knew there were CCTVs, but I couldn’t calm down knowing that the receptionist hadn’t closed the computer. What if the profile of Jakara could be seen right away?
I was about to stand up and peep at the computer, but a voice jolted me out of my seat.
“Ma’am, please come with me. I’ll bring you to Door 13,” said the young man who suddenly appeared in front of me.
My heartbeats were already deafening, that I felt I would die soon from arrhythmia. Yet, I stood up and followed the boy excitedly. Once we reached the second floor, I saw the stretch of the long corridor in my dream. I didn’t know why but I suddenly felt nostalgic. When I finally saw the number ‘13’ on the door, my knees started to wobble. I then felt a surge of emotion rushing from within me.
Despite the fact that I shouldn’t go beyond my limit, I rushed to the door and opened it. Everything I saw in my dream was there. The shade, the design, the appliance…
I sprinted towards the bedroom door and opened it without minding that I would be sued for trespassing. To my shock, there was the huge bed where Kim and I made love.
I dove into the bed, pouring out my emotion in a loud sobbing. I felt someone closing and opening the door, but I couldn’t care less anymore. I would face the charges later, but I couldn't worry about it now.
"Yen?" a familiar voice cut through my emotional outburst. I turned to look at him, and it was indeed Kim. To my surprise, he dressed exactly as he did in my dream. I may have wondered why he was suddenly there, but I was too compelled by my welling emotion that I didn't bother to ask. All that mattered at the moment was that I wasn't dreaming.
I scrambled out of bed and flung my arms around his neck. I didn't know what prompted me to do that. It just felt like it was a natural act. Right then, I had felt both the warmth and the emotional baggage I had in that dream where I tried to run away from him and out of his life. Drench with tears, I looked at him through my blurred vision and asked,
“Who are you? And who am I, Kim?”
He didn’t answer, but his lips found their way to mine. He claimed them hungrily as he did in my dream. I also kissed him back like that was my only chance, setting aside my unanswered questions. I couldn’t explain what drew my submission to him. I just realized there was a sense of longing within us and a pang of hunger that had to be quenched.
Later on, I felt like both of us were filling the void that some kind of loneliness had demanded at the moment. I got carried away with my unexplained emotion and I yielded freely. Somehow, I didn’t feel any guilt. We took turns in exploring every inch of our bodies until I gave my all to him. He went inside me, and I rode in the pleasure. I danced to its rhythm until both of us lay down by each other's side, feeling the height of both physical and emotional fulfillment. The feeling and the sense of satisfaction seemed familiar, but it was something I couldn't feel with Zed.
As my breathing calmed down, my mind also cleared. But then I realized, I did something wrong. I scrambled to my feet and ran away, bothered by the mysteries of my identity...
END OF BOOK 1
BOOK 2 WILL FOLLOW RIGHT AFTER THIS CHAPTER
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Thank you so much for joining me in the journey of Zed, Yen, and Kim. Books 2 and 3 are now published. Please reward this author with your reviews. I considered it an accomplishment to have completed Book 1.