The drive home was quiet.

It rained as we were leaving Tagaytay and never let up.

I listened to the sound as it pelted the roof of the car.

The windshield wiper worked doubly hard.

I could barely see in front of me as Althea maneuvered the treacherous road.

I thought of our lunch.

Of how Althea served me food after the cute server girl left.

The serving spoon was suspended in the air when she realized what she did.

She blushed and put the spoon back in the bowl.

"Habit," she said apologetically.

To ease the tension, I asked her about her life, other than what I witnessed in the cemetery.

I started by asking what her real name was.

"I already told you, it's Althea." She scooped a serving of chopsuey and placed it on the edge of her plate, careful not to let the vegetable soaked in the oily bulalo soup.

"That's it?" I asked. "You only have one name?" I chewed on the stir-fried-shrimp that tasted sweet.

"Guevarra," she replied.

I stopped chewing the food and grabbed the glass of lemon-iced tea.

"Are you alright, Jade?" Althea was filled with concern as I downed the rest of the drink.

"You are The Althea Guevarra?" my eyes grew wide with astonishment.

"It sounds weird," she replied. "Hearing it from you,"

"No wonder you look so familiar," I couldn't contain my excitement.

"I can't believe I am face to face with the fiercest rival of our company," the words came out instantly and Althea's expression turned serious.

"I'm sorry," I said as soon as I realized what I did.

"It's weird to me how you never found out about the lie when I told you I was Liza,"

I shook my head.

"I guess you were right when you said that my father hated you," I replied.

"He never talked about business at home,"

"I thought it was odd because it's important to know what's going on in the world,"

"Now I know why," I wiped the side of my mouth with the cheap napkin.

My appetite turned sour all of a sudden.

Althea didn't ask me for the reason.

She probably figured it out on her own.

This was the thought running in my head as I put the pieces together.

If they all knew about my history with Althea, then, were they careful not to let me remember any of it by intentionally hiding things from me?

Were they afraid that a picture of her would bring back memories?

I bet if it weren't for Ama's deteriorating condition, my father wouldn't let us come back to the Philippines.

I missed Ama so much that going on Skype dates with her just won't do.

I begged my father to allow us to visit but he refused every time.

When I learned that Ama was confined at the hospital because she wasn't eating anymore and was rapidly succumbing to her dementia, I threatened my father that I would leave David and DJ in Canada and come home.

I wasn't kidding.

He was left with no choice but to allow us to go home.

When I think about it now, I realized that we were exiled.

We could afford to go to the Philippines anytime we want but my family visits us in Canada every six months, especially during the weather season.

I would always beg them to let us visit because I wanted DJ to know where she's from but I was always denied.

Eventually, I gave up.

That was until I learned of Ama's condition.

"We're here Jade," Althea's voice brought me back to reality.

I looked around me and saw that we stopped in front of Glorietta.

A few feet from us were the taxi station where I would get a ride home.

"I would drive you home but I don't think this is the right time," Althea told me as I unbuckled the seat belt.

Instead of opening the door, I remained where I was, hesitant to step out and face my family.

"Jade?"

I stared into her eyes.

She was tired that much is obvious but her expression was thoughtful, worried.

Her right hand was resting on the gearshift and I covered it with my own.

Althea looked down on it.

"I'm scared, Althea." I confessed.

With her free hand, Althea gently touched the side of my cheek.

I closed my eyes as soon as I felt her warmth.

When I opened them again, I noticed the charm bracelet she was wearing.

It looked worn.

"You'll be fine," Althea whispered.

I leaned closer and hugged her.

Her body tensed as it caught her by surprise.

When I let go, she was still wide-eyed.

"Take care of yourself, Althea." I said to her then I unlocked the car door.

I was about to step outside when she touched me by the elbow.

I sat back on the chair and looked at the people around us.

Althea stared at me, her eyes brimming with loneliness.

I turned around to face her and without hesitation, leaned in for a kiss.

She didn't respond at first, probably because she was stunned at the spontaneity of what I did but I opened my mouth and kissed her deeply.

This time, Althea willingly submitted herself to what I was doing.

I closed my eyes as a thousand stars flashed before my eyes.

The dizzying sensation of feeling her lips on mine was unexplainable.

I got lost in it and pulled her even closer but Althea called my name.

"What?" I asked once I opened my eyes.

"We shouldn't," she said and just like that, the magical feeling vanished in the air.

Her eyes filled with tears and it broke my heart.

"If it was up to me, I wouldn't stop kissing you." She explained.

"But......." she didn't finish her sentence.

I nodded my head.

It wasn't rejection but guilt.

Guilt in knowing that what I did was inappropriate.

I am still married.

But damn!

That kiss was a confirmation.

As if my soul melded with hers.

No wonder Sally went gaga for soul mates among other esoteric beliefs.

I sighed.

"Just in case you were right and this would be the last time I saw you, that kiss will forever be seared in my memory, with or without amnesia." I told her as I got out of the car.

***

I watched Jade walked away towards the taxi.

My hand reached up to touch my lips as my heart throbbed from the intensity of the kiss.

Whatever drove her to do that, I have no idea.

If there's one thing I'm sure of, I was flung out of space the moment her lips touched mine.

I didn't have time to process or reimagine what took place because the hands-free phone rang and the display read Batchi.

I pressed the answer button.

"Althea, where have you been?" Batchi's voice was hurried and nervous.

I skipped the hello.

"I was at the cemetery," I replied, omitting a very important detail.

"Do you have time to meet me for coffee?" I heard her shuffling papers in the background.

"Alright," I replied, beginning to get puzzled at the urgency of the request.

"The usual Starbucks?" I asked.

Batchi agreed then hung up.

***

Half an hour later, a disconcerted looking Batchi, arrive at the coffee shop.

Her black tie was crooked and her usually neat hair was a little disheveled.

As if she's been scratching the back of her head.

She sat across from me and without beating around the bush, told me the reason for the meeting.

"Oscar did what?!" I asked, astonished.

"Yes Althea," Batchi adjusted her tie and unbuttoned her black suit.

"He came to the office looking for Jade and he was very upset," she called the server and ordered a grande caramel macchiato.

Although this was uncommon, we are regulars at the place.

When the guy left, I told her to give me the details of what happened.

"Oscar was desperate, Althea."

"He said he knew about the hiatus and he wondered if Jade's disappearance coincided with your plan,"

I didn't respond.

The guy came back with her coffee and a plate of blueberry cheesecake with two forks.

"It's on the house," the guy told us then left.

Batchi shrugged her shoulders, glad at the sweet gesture.

She set aside her coffee and took her fork.

"Would you like some?" she offered and I shook my head.

"God I'm so hungry!" she exclaimed as she worked her way through the cheesecake.

"I didn't get to eat because he came when it was time for me to go out for lunch," she explained.

"I know we have an alert for him at the office but he stormed through the building and demanded to see you,"

"That man is losing his mind, Althea."

She put the fork down and slowly drank her coffee.

"He was right," I exclaimed and Batchi almost choke of the hot drink.

"Wha?......." her eyes widened from surprise.

I told her how Jade and I met at the cemetery by accident.

She didn't believe me.

"Althea, it doesn't seem logical that she would show up at the same time you decided to visit Papa," she explained, her voice softening at the mention of my father.

"I know, I know......" I agreed.

"But she was there, Batchi." I insisted.

"She said she felt something pulling her to go the cemetery so she escaped her bodyguards and travelled all the way there ."

"That's bullshit!" she shook her head, doubtful of every word I said.

"Are you sure Angel didn't set this up?" she postulated.

I haven't really thought of Angel.

"Why would she do that?" I was puzzled at the suggestion.

"I am paying her to do her job,"

"I would think with it comes a little bit of loyalty not betrayal," I ruminated.

Batchi took a long, deep breath.

"I don't know, Althea."

"Things are not making sense."

"Don't you see how strange the situation is?"

I reached for my espresso and drank the rest of the contents.

The bitter taste and aroma assaulted my senses.

Batchi kept talking.

"First you went to see Papa, then Jade showed up, and now Oscar is after you?"

"How are these even connected?" she slumped on the brown wooden chair and gently massaged her right temple.

"I don't know, Batchi." I replied.

"Sometimes, things happen without a reason."

She agreed on this one.

"I am not going to focus on that anymore," Batchi straightened from her chair.

"There's one more thing I have to tell you," her face turned serious.

"What is it?" I asked.

"JLT is closing five of its malls in the city," she disclosed.

I thought for a moment.

The rumor had been circulating among the business community for a while now but JLT wasn't confirming or denying the information.

"The one in Quiapo was one of them," Batchi added.

"I thought they were going to keep that store to the death," I remarked.

My best friend nodded her head.

"The store had been steadily losing money," she replied.

"We know that already," I reminded her.

"But still, that place is more than just a store."

"It's a living testament to their history," I said to Batchi.

"I guess they're closing that page of their history," she replied.

I leaned on the chair and with an assured air, requested Batchi to make the necessary paperwork and buy three of the stores.

"No matter what happens, don't lose the bid on the store in Quiapo."

She smiled and a wicked look shone in her eyes.

"Payback time!" she exclaimed and raised her coffee cup.

I took my empty mug as we cheered on this turn of events.

Karma's a bitch, Oscar Tanchingco. I thought to myself.