CHAPTER 6
Trish turned and asked me to zip up her dress. I stopped for a second to give her a thorough overall look and I couldn’t help but stick my eyes on her flaunting curves. The body-hugging cream dress that showed her long legs and a big portion of his back, shoulders, and arms made her so stunning that I even imagined her as a real bride. I even wondered if there was a time where Kim was attracted to her.
Remembering that Kath was waiting for us, I also hurried to change into the dress prepared for me. I had no idea on the whole plan for the night, but since Cris involved me in this, I expected that I would have an important role later. While looking at myself in front of the huge mirror, my thoughts then went to Mr. Williams and Josh Herra.
Who are they? What is their significance in Jakara's life? And why do I seem bothered inwardly even by just the mention of their names?
“Miss Trish, Miss Yen, are you done?” Kath’s voice interrupted my thoughts.
Being unable to shift back my thoughts right away on the current situation, I wasn’t able to open up my mouth ahead of Trish.
“Yes, Miss Kath. What should we do next?” answered Trish while fixing her hair through her fingers.
“Just a slight makeup retouch. I’ll do it for the both of you.”
"Why are we dressing up? Am I going to dance with Kim? Another more surprise and I would already explode!"
Kath laughed as she stepped inside, but she still didn't answer her question. Though I was also curious, I chose to keep quiet - not wanting to spoil Cris's surprise.
She then let Trish sit down on a chair and started cleaning her face with a cotton swab.
“Miss Kath, who is Mr. Williams?”
Kath lifted her eyes without moving her head. “One of Cris’s business partners, and one of his important guests.”
Of course, I knew it but that was not the answer I wanted to hear.
I saw her glancing back at me. And just when I resigned to the fact that I wouldn’t get something from her, she added, “He owns Quicksend Remittance.”
“I see." That wasn't still the answer I was looking for. But then she added something that stunned me.
“I heard he lost a daughter who also happened to be Sir Kim’s wife. Only to learn later that his dad’s second wife was the one who caused his miseries.”
His dad’s second wife?
I then remembered what Kim said about his dad before. That he remarried someone who was much younger than he was. And that woman was no other than…Maezy? But why did Kim marry her?
"Pssst. We're gossiping already. Someone might overhear."
I may have hated Trish for interrupting Kath, but I knew this wasn't the right place to talk about it. The marquee's wall was so thin that anyone from outside would hear your breathing.
I didn't wait for Kath to do my makeup. Pulling a seat across from them, I took out my makeup kit and started to reapply a thin layer of pressed powder on my face. I proceeded to apply lipstick and eyeshadows, and just as I placed my kit back in my bag, Kim's voice from outside floated into our ears.
"Ladies, the next part of the program is about to begin."
Kath's eyes flew wide and her hands fumbled on Trish's hair. Perhaps she's frightened that Kim might have overheard her.
"In three minutes, Mr. Mori."
"Okay," he replied, and my heartbeats immediately responded to his voice. Its pounding became so loud that I could no longer hear my thoughts.
In less than three minutes as Kath had promised, Trish and I were already on our dresses. While running my eyes on my old rose dress with its matching pair of shoes, I couldn't hold my curiosity anymore.
"Kath, how do you know my size?"
Kath was also quick in giving her answer, although she seemed tactless again.
"Mr. Mori has been our client for many years already. We make his business and function suits, so when you two got married back then, we also saved your measurements…" Kath suddenly stopped, her eyes darting wide at me.
Trish also froze, her mouth hanging open as she watched my reaction.
"When did we get married?" My sharp eyes on her and my cracking voice demanded an answer.
"Ahm, Miss Yen, ahm…" I stared at Kath, waiting for her to complete her sentence, but then the door opened and Kim stepped inside.
I lifted my head and looked Kim in the eyes. Drops of tears were already gathering at the corners of my eyes, threatening a deluge.
"I'll answer all your questions later," Kim said, looking at me affectionately. "But as of now, we have to get out of this tent because the guests are waiting."
Thinking about Trish and the fact that it was her special night, I nodded, but I wasn't able to hold back the tears from trickling down onto my face. Kim immediately pulled out his handkerchief and patted my tears dry.
Perhaps realizing that they were watching an intimate scene, Kath and Trish immediately excused themselves and hurried off the tent. Kim also reached out for the curtain and spread it out to block us from the outside view. Our eyes then locked when he turned to look at me. He lifted my chin and said,
"I've been waiting for so long to do this again."
Without further explanation, he bent his head and captured my lips in a hungry kiss. And like a candle that easily melts against a small flame, I also yielded and melted in the bliss of the moment. Yet, my mind was on what he said, "he's been waiting for so long to do this again." The word 'again' was a confirmation that this kiss was a habitual act he had with me.
"They are already waiting for us. Come," he said, reaching for my hand to hold it.
Both mesmerized and confused by the sudden turn of the event, I followed like a mute puppet until we were in our previous seat again. Trish was already there with Cris on their table, and both were looking at us. If action speaks a thousand words, their gaze also told me that they were both worried and curious.
"Cris, are you taking me for a dance? Why are we dressing up?" I heard Trish's voice as she tugged his arm, diverting their attention from me. To get out of my emotional mess, I shifted my attention to both of them.
"Yes, later."
"What are we waiting for?"
"Mr. Williams' arrival. He said he's almost here."
Just as Cris ended his answer, he also scrambled to his feet and hurried off to meet the man in his seventies who was walking in our direction.