I hurried away from the hotel, pushing away Kim and Zed, who tried to hold me. I just didn’t want the confrontation happening this way. But who could stop Maezy from getting back at us? Perhaps she thought I was avenging for Ara when Kim barged into her home and brought Tim’s things with him. She must have also thought that I manipulated Mr. Yuki and Kim that all those things that should be hers went to Ara instead. She was already desperate, and nothing could stop her from suspecting me.
I went home and sought a place to hide. Yet, Zed had all the keys to open the rooms, even our guest rooms. Of course, I would have wanted to stay at any hotel or resort, but I didn’t have time to prepare anymore. Moreover, I knew that these two wonderful men were already rushing after me. Luckily, I had thought of the stockroom. And I knew Zed would never think I would hide in that messy place.
I turned on the lights and locked the door before I looked for a comfortable place to rest. Thankfully, there was a chair. Maybe, Zed used this in piling boxes on top shelves. I looked around, and to my surprise, Zed had arranged the things so neatly and orderly, even labeling each box with the complete lists of things inside.
I ran my eyes with amazement at how meticulous Zed was. But then my heart sank when I thought about his possible reaction when things go wrong for him. He’s used to doing and planning things in order, and now that his life is turning into a mess, wouldn't he jump over the Marcelo-Fernan bridge?
Unexpectedly, my eyes fell on a blue box. My heartbeats bolted like spikes against my ears when I read its label.
Crime lab, 2014.
I hurried to put it down and opened the lid. And inside the box were stuff placed in sealed plastic bags. I picked up one of them and realized those were the bra and panties I wore that night when I danced before Josh. And that was the night when Kim almost killed him -- the night that caused my memory loss.
I picked up another sachet, and I turned dizzy when I found a man’s underwear, a pillowcase, and a bedsheet. So there were all the pieces of evidence that Kim was looking for. And I turned red in anger when I realized that the reason why Kim hadn’t found the evidence was that Zed hid them.
So, Maezy was right. Zed was the culprit of this trauma I had been into. To evade the investigation perhaps, Zed hid behind a mask, feigning as a good husband. He even pretended he didn’t know about me, my amnesia, and my experience in Japan. All these years, he had been acting like a lamb while I tried all my might to convince Kim to keep our marriage a secret. All because I couldn’t afford to hurt an innocent man like him.
I dropped myself onto the floor, pouring out my disappointment, my anger, and the pain of betrayal into a bitter sob. And before I could calm down, I heard the door opening and Zed sprinting all over the place -- calling my name. But, of course, he never expected that my safe haven was in this stockroom, so he failed to find me.
“She’s not here, but her bag and the car keys are here,” Zed said, and to my shock, I heard Kim’s voice replying to him.
So, the two came together indeed to find me. What a mess!
So that I could hear them well, I opened the door as slowly as I could. From the narrow opening, I could see the two sitting down across from each other on the sofa.
“I have long wanted to tell you about us, but Yen begged to give her more time. And I understand that the time she asks is not to prepare herself but to convince me to let go of her. She doesn’t want to hurt you.”
My tears slid faster as I listened to Kim’s explanation. It was too kind of him to talk to him that way. It would lessen the pain that Zed would go through.
Zed didn’t answer, but he closed his eyes and placed his head on the backrest.
“I saw you many times. But I never plan to expose her as long as she still comes home. There is something I could never give her, and all this time, I am trying so hard to understand.”
Little did I think that his Erectile Dysfunction Syndrome affected him so much that he was willing to give way for my satisfaction, even if that would mean making love with someone else. Even if it would mean spending nights with someone else. He even perhaps knew that something happened between Kim and me behind the closed doors of our office. And I got guilty again when I recalled those incidences where I thought someone was watching us.
Hearing this, I lost the courage to confront him as the criminal. I was then convinced that he was the one, even if I saw another man pushing me inside the room in my dream. And even if I saw him coming in with another man. Then, perhaps, they took turns in raping me. And probably, the reason I lost my memory was that I couldn’t accept that he was one of those who afflicted me.
I had decided to protect him also. I’d rather hide that part in my memory again. Then, at least, I could have something to pay back for the goodness he had shared with me. And even if we part, he could still live a long life. I couldn’t believe that Zed would willingly assault me, but maybe he was drunk. Or drugged.
Others say, “let bygones be bygones.” So, this was what I would do.
“Mr. Ramos, I’m sorry, but one of these days I would be filing a case against your marriage. I want Yen back to me.”
“But Mr.Mori, can we give her the freedom to choose? If she chooses to go back to you, I will accept it. I won’t get in your way. But if she decides to stay with me, please let her go.”
“What matters most is her happiness. If she’s happier to be with you again, I’ll set her free.”
“May the best man win, Mr. Ramos.”