To Sign or Not To Sign

That same day, the three of them decided to go for a walk near a park. To Airi’s surprise, people couldn’t stop staring at her, especially the young ladies. Some even checked their phones and looked at her as if they were verifying if they were looking at the same person. Others leaned to whoever they were with, whispering while glancing at her.

“What’s wrong with these people? ” she asked her friends.

They immediately checked their phones to see if something new was uploaded online. Moments later, both were speechless. Zai-zai showed her phone to her. “Looks like the paparazzi had done a great job, taking a zoomed-in photo of yours.”

Hearing that made her dizzy with annoyance. “Can you call Ravi? Please tell him about the situation.”

**

Back at the resort, Airi tried to compose herself not to show her annoyance about the incompetence of Jiro’s staff, who, according to him, could ensure that no photos would leak online.

“My privacy is jeopardized. Aren’t you going to do anything about it?” she asked, irked at Jiro’s nonchalance. He was just sitting across from her and staring intently, as if he was studying her features.

“You remind me of someone very important to me—” he said. “—although I couldn’t really remember her.”

She was about to respond when a car tire screeched outside, hinting to them that a new companion had just arrived. Then, a car door slammed shut.

“Good morning, Sir,” the newcomer greeted Jiro before looking at her. “Nice seeing you again. Ms. Resan.”

It was the lawyer who was with Ravi the time she arrived. As Airi scanned his features, he looked more like a butler than a lawyer. He leaned closer to Jiro and whispered something.

He nodded and glanced at her. “I see.” He then gestured for the lawyer to come sit with them. “I guess you have already met, so I don’t think I have to reintroduce you to each other.”

“No need for that. Besides, I came here about the posts, remember?”

“About that, Miss,” Atty. Ferrer timidly started. “Our staff did their best to delete all the leaked photos. However, with my client’s status, we can’t help it when people would go wild to know that he cohabitated with a newcomer in town.”

“We what?!She abruptly stood and slammed her palms against the glass table due to the shock. She appeared to notice Jiro's slight smirk, though she wasn't sure if her eyes were deceiving her. ‘Is he really toying with me?!’

“Calm down,” Jiro said. “If you don’t want the people to think that way, what about if you…”

“You did this on purpose, didn’t you?” She gritted her teeth. “How badly do you want me to sign that damn contract that you have to resort to blackmailing me?!”

“That’s a serious accusation,” Atty. Ferrer butted in.

“All I want is to live peacefully here. Why are you making things hard for me?” She broke down.

“I’m sorry,” Jiro’s soft, apologetic voice caressed her heart. It was music to her ears. Her anger subtly faded. However, the idea of not being able to stay longer in their town caused her to cry even more. “Whether you sign the contract or not, people already recognize you. They won’t leave you alone, thinking that you’re associated with me.”

“Mr. Sondian is right,” Atty. Ferrer seconded. “Some of them might even find ways to get acquainted with you just to have connections with him.”

“You know that I can sue you for teaming up against me, don’t you? ” she said. However, that was the most ridiculous thing she could think of to try to stop them. Deep inside she knew she couldn’t win against the most powerful clan.

“You look cute, acting brave like that.” Jiro smiled. “You really remind me of that girl I want to remember so badly.”

**

Airi stared at the contract she signed. Contemplating whether she made a good decision or not only added to her troubled mind. She was in a state of mental calamity when Zai-zai and Merry came back from grocery shopping.

“You signed it?! ” they chorused.

“You signed your doom.” Merry chuckled, teasing her. “When is your first day?”

“Today.” She washed her palms to her face. “Atty. Ferrer dropped me off so I could get my things.”

“We’ll miss you, girl.” The two gave her a hug. “Will we ever be allowed to visit you? ”

“Perhaps.” She scanned the contract once more. “Nothing here states that I’m not allowed to receive guests.”

“What story does he want you to write? ” Zai-zai asked. Her round eyes became rounder because of curiosity.

“I got an NDA.”

“Woops! ” Zai-zai covered her mouth. “Guess we’ll just find out once the book is published.”

That afternoon, Airi was back at Jiro’s resort. Fortunately, he wasn’t home yet. He needed to attend a meeting with some business partners. She had the resort all to herself.

After unpacking her stuff, she decided to go for a walk by the shore. She missed the sunset.

“Ma’am?”

She was about to step out when the helper called her. She looked at her with a warm smile.

“Sir Jiro told me not to allow you to go out without permission, especially when he’s not here.”

‘What am I? A prisoner? ’ Of course, she didn’t voice that out. The old lady was too nice to be nagged at. “And why is that?” she politely asked.

“He didn’t explain. He just told us. Maybe for your security.” She continued dusting the paintings hanging on the wall. And they caught her attention.

“Who painted those?”

She walked closer to the framed canvas. She estimated it to be around twenty-four by thirty-six inches. Its golden frame had an intricate flower design. It depicted a silhouette of a girl sitting by the shore. As she watched the sunset, she held her knees to her chest. The hues on the canvas were so perfectly blended that it made her feel like she was a part of it.

“Sir Jiro, Ma’am. He did this every single day after he fully recovered from the accident.” The old lady’s face turned sad and teary. She seemed too concerned about his welfare.

Airi walked back in and sat on the couch.

“Who’s that girl?” she asked. Though her heart screamed that it might be her, her mind scolded her for assuming.

“Only Sir Jiro knows. Or he doesn’t. He would always tell me that his heart knows the girl, but his mind can’t remember her.” She finished dusting the area and smiled at her. “Would you like something to drink, Ma’am?”

“Yes, please. But make it two—one for you. Some pastries might be good too. Thank you.”

The helper went back with a tray of biscuits and drinks.

Airi invited her to join her, emphasizing that since they would be living together for some time, it might as well be a ideal to know each other. The house helper hesitated at first, but she realized that Airi was right.

From their conversation, Airi learned that the helper’s name was Aling Crising. Her husband happened to be Jiro’s driver, the same guy who picked her up from Merry’s place. They had been married for thirty years.

“I was hired here seven years ago. When Sir Jiro was discharged from the hospital.”

“What happened to him?”

“I’m sorry, Ma’am. The very first thing emphasized on my contract was to never talk about it.”

Airi’s shoulders dropped in despondency. Her only chance of knowing the truth slipped from her hands that moment. The light at the end of the tunnel closed. She lost her way out of the unexpected trap. She felt trapped in oblivion of what was really happening.

‘Is Jiro feigning not remembering me, or did he really lose his memory in an accident?’

‘Is everyone around us his cohorts to this act of revenge?’

‘Does he really need to go this far just to get back to me for running away from him?’

‘Is he showing me how powerful he is that he can manipulate people?’

‘Why do I feel like everyone’s toying with me?’

Those questions tormented her to the point that her head throbbed.

“Manang Crising? What kind of hellish deal did I sign?”