PMS1: President's Forgotten Wife

CHAPTER 26 [III]

CHAPTER 26, part III: WHO HE WAS BEFORE

"Mom, seriously? You're making the situation more awkward," the young man replied, making his mother chuckle in excitement before finally closing the door behind her.

When Jade's aunt Jena left, the young man approached her, and Jade instantly averted her gaze as her cheeks blushed like tomatoes out of emotions she can't describe.

"Hi," Geralt uttered, shattering the silence that grew ice around them. "How are you?"

Jade was startled when Geralt spoke, his tone pulling her away from her reverie. She desperately searched for her words but ended up not saying anything, which leaves Geralt to do the talking.  "But I think you're too starstruck by my charms that you unknowingly let the cat get your tongue?"

"W—I'm just..." Jade raised her hands and then instantly let it fall both on her sides before permitting the words to flow out of her mouth, "I just didn't expect to see you—" Jade gestured to his features, "—You've changed. And I'm lost of words because of it. Lucky enough, I was able to think of words and come up with sentences. Imagine my surprise!"

A low chuckle rose on Geralt's throat as he let his hand wandered at the back of his neck, with cheeks flushed red. He looked so embarrassed or shy, but Jade didn't bother to point it out because she thought that causing another awkward statement will worsen the conversation.

"Yeah. I can see that now since you mentioned it. And your voice is trembling, and it's kind of refreshing to hear you today. I'm happy to be near you right now, Jade. So, imagine my surprise when I saw that you'd grown so well." Geralt replied before taking his hand away from his nape and radiantly smiled at Jade like the woman was her source of happiness.

"Well, this is what my job did to me. I'm happy being with people I take good care of, and I think that was the primary reason I turned out to be who I am now." Family, work, and challenges became Jade's major inspiration to keep on moving on with life. They were the reasons to keep her feet to the ground, so she knew that she grew up because of them.

"With the look on your face, I didn't have to ask if you love your job because the word love isn't enough to describe how it affected you as a person." They started walking away from the front door and made their way forward, which the both of them didn't even notice because they were focused on each other too much.

"Yeah. But, how about you? How was your life in another country? I'm sure there are a lot of people chasing you there. Maybe you have broken women's hearts more than you have cherished?"  they both started walking away from the house when Jade said those words. Although she was embarrassed to ask, she ended up asking it anyway because a part of Jade wanted to know if her childhood best friend also had this magnet effect on women or if he only does flings.

"Not to brag, but you're not going to believe it. I never dated anyone, nor did I break someone's heart. To put it simply, I focused on my studies. I have shown interest to no one. That is why they never showed interest in me. Funny, right?" Geralt replied with a wide smirk plastered on his face. Jade laughed to her heart's content without even knowing where they are heading.

"Well, that is really impossible to believe since you're a good-looking man with a charming personality. Don't forget the brains. So, how am I supposed to believe that you never dated anyone in your long stay in Spain?"  Jade said in one breathing while unconsciously lightly slapping Geralt's sturdy arm.

Jade almost gasped in realization after noticing how strong and muscular the young man has grown. "Oh, shoot! Did I just slap your arms like that?" Jade wanted to make sure that she didn't do something silly to embarrass herself. But when Geralt looked her in the eyes, only then did she confirmed that she did something childish she shouldn't have done.

But before Jae could even defend herself, Geralt faced her and directly looked her in the eyes.

"Jang."  It took Geralt a while before speaking to break the awkward silence between them by calling Jade the nickname they used to call each other when they were still young.

"You still remember my nickname, Pochong." It was shocking to know that Geralt still remembered what he used to call Jade during childhood. She thought that by now, after years that passed them by without knowing what they were doing in their separate world, the young man had totally forgotten everything related to her.

But now? The moment he called her 'Jang' became clear to Jade that Geralt never forgot about her. Because just like Jade, she had never forgotten about her best friend, who was always there to make her feel important, like a normal kid that was living in a perfectly imperfect world.

With that thought, Jade can't stop herself from smiling after remembering the name she used to tease Geralt when they were young: POCHONG. 

The reason why she called him that back then? It was because of his physical appearance. Geralt was a fat kid and was a sickly one growing up. Numerous kids their age bullied him for that reason alone, and Geralt wasn't able to defend himself.

When Geralt stopped walking, Jade stopped as well, perfectly aware of her surroundings. It was only then that they realized that they were already in front of the jeep wrangler.

When she confronted the young man, Jade saw a deep emotion painted on Geralt's face.  It was as if the world was coming to an end with the seriousness and depth of its stares at her.

"Would you—" he trails off before scratching his head for the second time in a row. Jade wanted to laugh; however, she stopped herself from doing so while waiting for Geralt to finish his sentence. "Would you like to hang out for a bit? I wanted to show you something. If you'll permit me to take you there?"

"What will you do if I tell you that I don't want to go?" Jade absentmindedly retorted, and it was too late for her to realize what she just said. And before Jade could even take back the words she said, Geralt was already thinking about how to respond, which allowed Jade to wait for his answer patiently.

"Hmm. I'm not sure. Maybe I'll ask you why you would turn me down? If it's about my outfit, then I'll get changed. If it's because of the car, we'll travel by bicycle, or we will walk to make it more dramatic. And if it's because it's hard for you to trust me again, which I totally understand because it's been so long since we last saw each other, then I'll make that trust come back. Because I know that it will come back—everything will come back."

Jade wasn't able to stop herself from hiding the smile she's been forced not to show as her eyes settled on the man in front of her, whose cheeks won't prevent them from burning.

So, to make the conversation going, Jade composed herself and gestured, "Then, lead the way, mister."

A smile crept on Geralt's face as his eyes linger on Jade for a moment before he finally opened the door for the woman, and now like the gentleman he is, "After you, milady."

Jade trusts Geralt even though they weren't in touch for too long. But Jade knew that deep inside her, she couldn't trust herself, her emotions, again.

__________

EISEN tried his best to stand up as soon as he went inside the vehicle, waiting for him to arrive at the port-like area somewhere he can't clearly remember.

As he finally settled inside the backseat, the driver instantly closed the backseat door and made a short turn and went to the driver's seat, and started the car like they were in a hurry.

"Where to?" And when the man looked up through the reflection of the rearview mirror, Eisen wasn't able to halt himself from the shock he felt after realizing who the driver is.

"Sceven?! What are you doing here?" The young man can't stop himself to mumble in anger as his brows furrowed with a crumpled forehead.

"Well, I'm here to drive you to wherever you want to go," Sceven answered in a relaxed tone before starting the engine and finally found his way towards the main road. However, Sceven may sound chill, but that wasn't enough to stop Eisen from massaging his temple in disapproval.

"Didn't I clearly instructed you on the phone that I need a driver?" Eisen remembered that he mentioned to his friend that Sceven should stay out of the way because what he's about to do would be ludicrous to his family.

"I don't have anything to do anyway, so I decided to volunteer. What's wrong with this anyway? It's not like I'm going to kill you?" They made a sudden turn before Sceven looked through the rearview mirror to see how devastated Eisen is for his friend's irrational decision.

"Urgh! It's because I don't want to—I don't want you to get in trouble. I shouldn't have called you in the first place." Eisen facepalmed himself while trying to contain his stress away from his emotion in speaking with Sceven.

"Wait, why? Who would you call other than me anyway? And did your mom not know you're here? Playing the bad guy now?" He teased like it was a funny statement to hear about, lightening up the mood. But when Sceven studied Eisen's expression, only did he realize that this conversation isn't a joke at all. "Oh s**t! Your parents didn't know at all? That you went out and planned to wander around?! Are you stupid or crazy?!"

"I'm both stupid and crazy. That's why I told you not to get involved, didn't I? Please remind me why you didn't listen at all?" Sceven suddenly stopped and parked the car on the road's side before gazing behind him and once again studied Eisen's reaction.

"What will happen if we got caught?" Eisen wanted to laugh at Sceven after witnessing how priceless it is to see him worried and scared for the first time. Well, given the fact that he can't remember anything.

"I'm not sure. But I'll be chilling in my room and hear a few scoldings before my parents will let me go. While you, on the other hand, might actually send you to jail. But since we're both here already, might as well continue driving and bring me to this location." This time, it was Eisen's turn to poke fun at Sceven, who seemed to be his jolliness turned into a tattered nightmare before grabbing Eisen's phone and started the engine for the second time.

"s**t. You sounded like you already remembered everything. But even so, I'm more petrified with your parents now that you tell me about it. I can still remember the time when you invited me into your family dinner and proposed to—" The gentleman absentmindedly answered as he followed a few road directions, and it was too late for him to realize what he just said. "—hey man, I didn't mean—"

"What do you mean by that? What made you terrified of my parents? And what dinner?" Of course, it wasn't a statement that Eisen would let it slip in front of him. Now that Sceven had mentioned something serious, it's time for him to start listening. Maybe that way, he'll be able to remember and understand what happened to him. "Sceven."

"Well, it doesn't matter anymore, you know? It's better—" Sceven nervously chuckled as he tapped his fingers against the steering wheel, letting his gaze wander around the road.

"Sceven! Stop being like my family and start talking about what you mentioned just now about family dinner and proposed to who?! Tell me everything I need to know now before I lose my mind and do something I'll regret." Eisen thought that he had a perfect family. But now, he's not even sure if he even had a family. None of them wanted to tell Eisen about his past, but Sceven will not end up like them.

Eisen wanted to know the truth before it's too late for him to know. He needed to unlock something inside him that was latched for too long to cut him until he bleeds inside.

"Promise me that you won't do anything stupid, okay?" Eisen rolled his eyes before making a response.

"I don't keep promises that I can't keep."

"Then I won't tell you anything without a promise I intend you to keep." If Eisen could strangle his friend, he could do it and come up with an alibi if the police find out. However, he won't and can't do it to someone close to him.

"Fine. You childish motherfucker. Tell me." He insisted.

"Let me hear the two words first." Sceven shot back, making Eisen want to bang his friend's head against the tinted window. Besides, nobody would know that he did it because nobody can see who's inside the car. Should he just do it?

"Oh, come on!" He leaned his back against the chair, which caused him agitated and frantic to know a part of his memory.

"Your call," Sceven acknowledged, making Eisen slammed his hand on the back of the driver's seat.

"Fine! I promise not to do anything stupid! There you have it! It's not even two words, but I already said it! Now tell me the things I need to know." He leaned towards his friend and saw Sceven took a deep breath before making another turn. As the car directed to a road where there are too many cars, his friend started talking.

"A week before the family dinner you're about to attend with your family, you were persistent in inviting me and even paid for my ticket to fly to France. I have a scheduled business to deal with for the whole month, but you sounded so scared and uncomfortable that is why I ended up canceling my plans to fly to France and be there with you and your family." Sceven trailed off before continuing with his storytelling, and he can't help but write a smile on his face.

"Well, I was too early to fly to France because I can't stop but be bothered with the way you spoke with me thru the phone, and I was also worried that something terrible happened to you. I even asked you that time why you didn't bother to call your brother for help when something too urgent happened, but all you did was tell me that you can't tell them about it. I mean, can you blame me if I started overacting because you weren't clear about the information you relayed to me. So, on my way to Paris, I even hired a detective to watch you so I could guarantee that you're safe.

Then, as I arrived, you were too excited, and that was my cue to tell the private detective I hired to stop following you because no matter how worried you are on call, your expression was too much for me to handle. You are happy and bouncy, and everything that sounded so stupid and so not like you. At first, I thought you were just acting unusually to piss me off and to tell me that you simply requested for my presence to waste my time. But you ended up surprising me even more when we reached one of the finest and luxurious restaurants, just facing the Eiffel Tower. Before I could even ask you why you were acting so romantic at that moment, you showed me a small box with a ring on it." Sceven shot a glance at him, and a warm smile enveloped his expression.

"And that's when I knew that you're madly and deeply in love with your wife." It was a long pause that followed after, Sceven giving Eisen a moment to process it all. When Eisen looked at Sceven through the rearview mirror, he nodded to him, indicating for him to continue his story.

"If I could've prepared myself for the sudden surprise, I could've taken a picture of your expression or even film you because your face was priceless! Then you showed me an image of her, and I can't stop but be proud and supportive of you for loving such a beautiful and loving woman like her."

Then the night came. We are all seated on the circular table. To cut it short, you rented the whole place, so we owned the restaurant all to ourselves. You were even trembling out of nervousness. I can still remember the time you told me as you paced back and forth inside the bathroom like it was your wedding day." Eisen can't remember that moment, but he wanted to remember how magical that night was. Just by listening to Sceven, he could easily register his friend's story into his head. Eisen was able to picture the moment even if he wasn't sure whether it was just his imagination working or was already a part of his memory that kicked in his head.

"What did I tell you that night?" He wanted to know what would his old self said that night. Eisen wanted to know who he was before.