I froze in my seat when I realized that tonight wasn’t just an engagement party but an actual wedding ceremony. I looked at Trish, and I also saw the massive shock registering in her face. Her glowing eyes were now red, and a gentle emotional tug would surely send her to tears.
I turned and looked at Kim and his lips twisted into an amused smile. He seemed to read my mind because he tried to explain.
“The couple had some arguments lately because Trish has this feeling of insecurities. So when she learned that Cris is planning to supervise his business in the Middle East, she thought that their relationship isn’t going to work anymore, so she broke up with him. Thus, this surprise wedding ceremony. The grand wedding will follow soon.”
“Is there a third party?” I asked because a woman won’t easily get insecure if she doesn’t have to compete for attention from a man.
“Not really, but Trish took it seriously.”
“So, there is.”
“No. Just a woman who likes Cris. It’s normal everywhere.”
“Of course.” It’s indeed happening anywhere, just as I got attracted to him when I first saw him at Ara’s office in Kim Yuan’s Microelectronics--Cebu branch.
“Since Cris doesn’t have time anymore to discuss grand weddings, not to mention the time needed for the preparation, thus, this surprise. Most of all, Trish doesn’t believe it anymore. They once set a wedding date, but Cris canceled it.”
I hung my mouth open at this revelation that I wanted to ask more. Only that it wasn’t too comfortable talking about personal matters amidst a solemn atmosphere. Anyway, this could wait.
“What do Cris’ parents say about this?”
I couldn’t help asking since this was one of Trish’s fears that she might not be accepted into the family.
“They are here to support Cris. That couple on the presidential table together with Mr. Williams.”
I followed Cris’ direction, and I indeed saw a couple in their early fifties staring seriously at the officiating minister. Across from them was an old man that I presumed to be Mr. Williams. By looking at him, I felt emotionally drawn towards him.
“Kim-”
“May I call on the witnesses of this special union between two lovers, Tris and Cris?”
The man of the ceremony cut me off.
Kim immediately stood up and held out his hand to me, ignoring what I would have wanted to ask. “We will be the witnesses.”
I gave him a quick stare as I slowly took in the reason why I was also asked to dress up tonight.
“You two plan for this, right?” I whispered as we walked down the aisle towards the table in the front.
“Yes. Before we came over here.”
The aisle was just so short, so I didn’t have the chance to ask further. So instead, I smiled at Trish, and her lips immediately curved downward, signaling her urge to cry.
I chuckled further, amused at her reaction. Yet, I was truly happy for her.
“Mr. Mori, here,” a female usherette guided Kim on where to affix his signature, interrupting my silent interaction with Trish.
“Then you, Miss Blue, right after Mr. Mori.”
I froze for a while as my eyes fell on the marriage registration certificate. The name Jakara Blue Mori lay next to Kim’s. The usherette handed me the pen, but my hand was already shaking that I couldn’t hold the pen anymore, Perhaps to avoid making a scene, Kim held my hand and put the pen in its writing position. He then guided me and put the tip of the pen on Jakara’s name.
“Just please sign it. Let’s talk later.”
Drops of tears gathered at the corner of my eyes. I blinked it away and wiped it secretly as soon as it trickled down my face. This was another confirmation that I was indeed Jakara. I thought of Zed, and I wondered how I would face two marriages at the same time.
“Alright. That was Mr. & Mrs. Kim Mori. To follow is Mr. Williams.”
I hurried to get away from the scene, but Mr. Williams met me at the center of the aisle. He immediately wrapped me in his arms and cried.
“How are you, darling? Dad is so happy to see you again. Let’s talk later.”
I also sniffed in my tears, not because I met him, but because I felt humiliated in knowing that there were lots of happenings in my life that I didn't know. It also explained why I had this unusual attraction to Kim and why I felt this strange sexual desire every time I saw him. And it also explained why I resorted to fantasizing about him when Zed left me unfulfilled during our lovemaking. It’s because I had such fulfilling experiences with him.
I excused myself for the bathroom when we returned to our table, but when I was there, I sneaked fast towards the exit. I wasn’t ready to face any of them anymore, now that I couldn’t even recognize myself. Once I successfully went out, a grey car stopped right in front of me. The door opened, and Josh Herra stepped out of the car.
“Get in the car obediently if you don’t want me to hurt you. I’m fully armed.”
My whole body started to tremble as he pulled out a pistol beneath his windbreaker. I stood frozen from where I stood until he held my arm and pulled me towards the car.
“Who are you, and why do you have this interest in me?” I shouted hysterically and kicked the back of the driver's seat wildly.
Josh Herra clicked his tongue. “It’s a pity that you still have the nerve to fight despite losing your memory!”
“I don’t give in without a fight, you bastard!”
“That’s what I always like in you.”
“Answer my question, you maniac!”
I shouted at his ear, this time. He was sitting beside me in the passenger’s seat, and when he saw that I was combative, he quickly secured my hands with a handcuff.
“I bought you six years ago. You came here for an accounting job. And because Mr. Williams was fond of you, he took you as her daughter and made you the vice-president of his company. I had been pursuing you properly at that time, but you chose Kim over me.”
“One night, you fell into my trap and went out with Maezy in a bar. You were so drunk that time. You even agreed to dance in front of me with just a pair of tiny bikinis. Not just that, you signed a contract that you would be my call girl. I paid high for it, and now I am demanding a service. Just a night with me, Jakara. I wouldn’t ask for a second time.”