Thinking about the trouble of hiring taxis when Zed is out and thinking about the possibility that I may never buy a car in the future because child-raising would then be our concern, I offered a condition.
“Okay, Kim, I’ll have it your way, but I will pay it through salary deduction.”
Kim’s face darkened, but he still nodded in the end. “Fine.”
“Another thing,” I paused and looked at him, “please change the brand of the car. It’s too expensive.”
Kim shook his head and said, “No way. Vince is not just an agent but a friend. Aside from that, he is in great financial need since his wife has cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy.”
I froze. Never did I expect that a man such as Kim would have sympathy over ordinary people like me. And the good thing was that he wanted to help him in a way that wouldn’t lower his ego.
“Why don’t you just lend him some money?”
“Commission is different than loans or even borrowed money. If I lend him the amount he needs, he will have a sense of gratitude. And whatever I’ll ask from him in the future, he’ll be obliged to do it because he has the feeling of indebtedness. I even refer him to my friends who might be interested in availing their latest models.”
I couldn’t argue anymore after hearing him out. It was about helping people in need, and I suddenly lost the courage to compete. “Fine, as long as you will charge it to my salary as a car loan.”
“Okay.” Kim smiled and ruffled my hair. He then sent a message to Vince, and the two immediately appeared in front of us.
“Please, sit down,” Kim said, glancing at the two. “Miss Yen is now ready to sign the papers.”
“Whoa, that’s good!” Vince exclaimed, raising a fist in the air.
The men both pulled out a seat and sat across from us. Vince then slid the documents and pen back to me.
“Done,” I said after signing all the papers, looking at Kim. Then, I turned to Romeo and said, “Sir, please forward this to the accounting department for my salary deduction.”
“I’ll be the one to tell them,” Kim interrupted, and I began to doubt his sincerity.
“Okay, Miss Yen, can I demonstrate the specs and features of the car now?”
“Sure.”
Vince pulled out his laptop and started explaining the details. My hair stood on its end as I listened to how advanced the technology and craftsmanship this model had. And I realized the advantage of having millions in your pocket because this luxurious thing was but a mere play material for Kim.
“Now, let’s go to the parking area and show some of those specs in actual,” Vince said.
I looked at Kim, and he tapped my shoulders. “Let’s go.”
I felt something strange while watching Vince doing his demonstration with Kim by his side. It’s like a déjà vu, and I stood there rooted on the ground as if I was in a trance. Somehow, my eyes strayed on Kim, and he approached me.
“This is not totally new to you. I bought you one of the series before, but I sold it when you disappeared.”
I just looked at him dumbly. I wanted to speak, but words would not come out. Kim placed his arm around me and led me to the car.
“Let’s drive around,” Kim said, opening the door to the driver’s seat. He then walked to the other side and sat beside me.
“Here’s the key.” I stared at the key in his hand before taking it away from him. This feeling was so familiar.
I turned on the engine, and soon, we were already on the highway. I’m surprised at how experienced I seem in driving a car. The road was clear, and it felt so good to steer a car as luxurious as this.
“I still remember having you choose among the famous cars in Japan. And you chose this brand.”
“Oh, you must be kidding. How can I choose something fatally expensive?” I rolled my eyes.
“You are the only daughter of Mr. Williams, so why not?”
I turned my head sideways and glanced at him. “I’m confused at this adoption thing? Why hasn’t he searched for me? And why didn’t he try to see me?”
“Dad is my partner in searching for you back then. He also knew that I’ve finally found you. He is just waiting for me to take you home.”
I heaved out a sigh. Never did I expect that my life would be as complicated as this. I grew up in a peaceful home and from overprotective parents who didn’t even want me to do tough household chores.
“Can we not talk about him, first? My head is aching already.”
“Sure. How about catching fresh air?”
I didn’t refuse because I already got addicted to driving the car.
“Turn right over there,” Kim said, pointing to a road ahead of us.
I followed his directions further until he told me to pull over the roadside. The place was quiet and tall shrubs partially obstructed the sea view. Kim rolled out the window, and the icy breeze rushed inside, fanning my body. It felt so refreshing.
“We used to do this, Jakara. And I miss this kind of moment with you,” Kim said, reaching for my hand. “When are you going to remember me?”
There was a pain in his voice, and it pierced through my heart. Though I didn’t remember our past, there was always something about him that drew me to him. He was my fantasy, my ideal figure, and the man who makes my heart go erratic every time I see him.
“Kim, I already told you this. We will hurt two important people: Maezy and Zed. We can’t blame our fate. They are the people that make us move on to another chapter of our lives.”
“I never promise that I will let go of you. I’m just giving you some more time, hoping you'll recover your memories sooner.”
“Kim – “ I tried again to convince him, but he pulled me forward and claimed my lips right away.
I tried to resist, but Kim gripped me. His kiss deepened, and I melted right away like wax against candlelight. I wasn’t even able to resist when his hands started crawling under my blouse until it started kneading on my peaks. The sense of pleasure immediately wrapped my whole being that I instantly get lost in the moment. I didn’t even know when our seats reclined, creating an improvised bed.
A knock on the window jolted us from our position. Kim immediately adjusted back to their original place. He then rolled down the window, and the face of a woman in her fifties greeted our eyes.
“I knew it! I knew it! It’s you, the daughter of Maria.”