No, this wasn't right anymore. For Kim to tell me that he's in love with me would worsen the situation. I shouldn't allow this to happen. I was already weak in resisting him, and for him to ride on this situation would only put the embers into flame.
This was perhaps because I had this strange but special feeling for him. But if I also had to entertain the mutual feeling he said he had with me; it wouldn't be long before I would completely fall into the pit of sinning. This I didn't want to happen.
Zed was almost a perfect husband to me, except for his sexual disorder. In our seven years of relationship, we never had gone into any serious argument. He highly respected me and consulted me in every decision-making that he made. He gave me freedom in everything I wanted to do, not suffocating me with his self-set restrictions.
"Don't flatter me, Kim, if your intention is just to pacify me for our sin. It doesn't help the situation at all."
He just pinned his gaze at me. His mouth formed out some words, but its sound never came. I wondered what made it difficult for him to say it, but that moment wasn't the time to raise the question.
I pulled my hands away from his grasps and began to walk away. I no longer turned back to see his reaction, and he also didn't stop me anymore. The moment I went out, the lady receptionist just stared at me with a curious look. Perhaps she was wondering what went through in that whole period of staying with Kim inside the room.
But whatever her opinion was, I couldn't care less.
The dazzling lights beaming from a car's headlight blinded me for a moment. I squinted to adjust to the glare, and when I did, the window from the driver's side rolled down. Vic's head then popped out of the window.
"Ma'am, I'll drive you back to the hotel," Vic hollered. He was Kim's personal driver in Japan.
I forced a polite smile, but I waved a hand in a dismissive gesture.
"Thanks, Vic, but Mr. Mori may have some errands for you."
When I didn't move, the door to his side opened and he stepped out of the car. Walking towards me, he waved a hand with a phone in it.
"Someone wants to talk to you, ma'am."
I gave him a short stare, shifting my gaze between him and the phone. I knew who was on the other line.
"Here," he said, handing out the phone to me with a wide grin on his face
I didn't have the heart to ignore his kindness anymore. He gave me a warm smile; how could I refuse?
Kim's voice flowed into my ear right away. "Let Vic drive you back to the hotel. Unfortunately, in your haste, you have forgotten to wear your…"
I looked down to see my chest, and indeed, he was right. I was naked beneath the thin fabric of my dress. I crossed my arm after handing back the phone to Vic.
"Let's go," I said with my head bowed down, wishing he didn't see my discomfort. I am gifted with a perky full size, so I knew I could barely hide them away.
Vic opened the door for me, and the moment I sat comfortably, he pointed a finger to the box sitting on the corner of the passenger's seat.
"Mr. Mori asked me to lend that to you."
I gave him a questioning look before I slowly opened the lid of the box. He also walked to the driver's side and got in.
"That's a jacket. He said you should put that on. He's afraid you might catch a cold."
I glanced at him through the rearview mirror, and our eyes met. He was also observing me through that mirror. Somehow, I managed to smile before I spoke.
"Please thank Mr. Mori for me. I indeed need this." I needed it to shield myself from shame.
"Sure, ma'am," he replied; his tone was kind, but his suspicious look didn't escape me. But, of course, I could tell what's in the mind of those who knew that I came out of that building and who I was with.
"Vic, how long have you been working with Mr. Mori?"
"Ten years, ma'am."
A sense of excitement wrapped my heart. Maybe, I should make friends with him. I was sure he knew Kim a lot, being his driver for ten years already. He could be the answer to the hundreds of questions running in my mind.
I chuckled softly and said, "I wonder how Mr. Mori looked like ten years ago."
Vic laughed softly as well. "He's stunning when he was younger, but I like his looks better now that he has matured."
"He's gorgeous, indeed. Perhaps he already has a long list of women queuing to get his attention."
"It's true. Lots of women have played tricks to get his attention, but sorry, his heart belongs to Jakara only."
I heaved out a deep sigh to calm down my rising curiosity again. The more they mentioned Jakara, the more intense my desire to know her more became.
"Is Jakara a Japanese woman?"
"By adoption. She worked for Quicksend International Remittance when Mr. Kim met her."
Oh, dear! When Shirley presented my work experiences to the Board of Directors, she also mentioned that I worked for this same company six years ago.
And she was adopted?
"Who adopted her?" My heartbeats hammered against my chest again. I quickly recited some words of prayer in my mind that Vic would just answer my question.
"Mr. Jake Williams, an American national who ran some of his businesses in Japan."
Mr. Jake Williams. The surname may be a common name, but hearing it from the lips of Vic sent shivers down my spine. I had the feeling that I had also met this man before.
Drawing a deep breath again, I gathered my courage for another question.
"Vic, do you have some saved photos of Jakara?" I asked, holding my breath
"Yes, wait."
Vic pulled to the roadside and picked up his phone from the car's phone stand. I moved forward so I could take a clearer look while he browsed on his saved photos. When Vic's finger finally stopped scrolling, I also felt my heart skipping a beat.
"Here, ma'am," Vic said with a triumphant smile on his lips as he handed his phone to me.
My hand that held the phone immediately shook as I saw the photos on the gallery. My heartbeats fluttered, and the hair on my spine crept. All those were intimate poses with Kim.
"Vic, is it me? Or, do I have a twin sister?" I asked, and my tears immediately flowed out like a deluge.