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.