Chapter Sixteen: Trouser and Hoodie Jacket

CHAPTER SIXTEEN : TROUSER AND HOODIE JACKET

October 23, 2019

Baguio City, Philippines

Oblivious, Thera brought her right hand across her left chest. She was almost there. There were still a lot of memories that were trying to break free from her mind but it felt like her brain will explode if she would force herself to remember.

Those flashes made her more confused, though. She was clearly begging Sean for a second chance from the memory from the bathtub. But from the memory that pricked in her mind earlier, why was she as cold as ice? And though she was evidently trying so hard to be cold and mean towards him, in the end, she cried when she saw him hurt his finger.

What made her change? When did she start to be disdainful towards Sean? Towards the people around her? Everyone who was once dear to her, why did she consider them now as her enemy? Especially with Kisses, why was she angry with her?

Thera could not remember having a misunderstanding with her best friend before. What was her reason? Were they valid enough for her to throw away all the years they spent together?Her eyes fell upon the bag she was holding. Thera suddenly felt restless. Tomorrow morning, she will have Fely accompany her to Kisses' house. She was sure her best friend knows something. Perhaps meeting with Kisses will help remember her everything faster. Though now she was a bit scared. Her intuition says that she will be hurt once her lost memories return.

According to her doctor, the brain would decide to erase memories if it was too painful to bear. What kind of pain did she experience that she was able to convince her mind to forget her past? The reason for her pain, was it Sean? Thera has been giving it a thought, she lost her memories exactly a day before she met him.

Some of the memories about him were giving unfathomable pain in her heart. Those fragmented memories were making her heart empty and weary. It was as though she has been fighting a war alone for several years. She looked like that silly soldier who was still tightly holding on to his gun even though he knew he has already run out of bullets.

Thera took a deep sigh. She was about to return the bag from the shelf when she saw Sean standing near the door. She turned around to face him and then lowered her gaze on guilt.

“Entering your husband’s room when you could not even remember him, you must really have no fear.”

She raised her eyes to him. She could not understand what Sean meant by that. Was there something to be scared of? It’s not as if Sean would do anything stupid to her… Thera’s eyes grew wider. She was inside a man’s room! Alone!

Her heart race when Sean’s lips slightly twisted in an amused smile. Holy God, this man could send any woman on cloud 9 just by flashing his white stellar smile! Could he read her mind? When their eyes met, Thera gulped. She felt her body tensed when Sean walked towards her. Sean’s lips were now unsmiling but Thera felt like some emotions were carefully hidden in his calm, expressionless face.

How could a man looked dangerous, manly, and sexy all at the same time despite that dark blue pajama trousers and black hoodie jacket? Thera had met many men on the road wearing their hoodie jackets but none of those men grabbed her attention like this.

“What brings you here?” he asked, his intense gaze was making her insides flutter.

‘What brings you here?’ The same question she should have been asking herself.

Would she tell him her reason? He won’t surely believe her, she should be in his room but he found her inside his walk–in closet instead. Would it be okay if she told him she wanted to correct his misconception about her instead? Thera hesitated, not knowing what to say she bit her lower lip.

“You can relax. You won’t die in here,” he said in a controlled voice when he notices she was anxious.

Thera cleared her throat “I… I have…I mean..” Thera closed her eyes tightly.

Did Sean’s piercing gaze affect her tongue? She suddenly felt silly and stupid. When she opened her eyes, she glanced at Sean. If it were not for his expressionless face, Thera would think that the amusement that she saw dancing in his dark eyes was real. Sean slid his hands inside the pockets of his jacket. He glanced at the red handbag before transferring his gaze to her slightly flushed face.

“That is… my mom’s bag,” he said afterward.

Thera was stunned. Sean grabbed the bag, then handed it to her. She accepted it, obliviously.

“This bag belongs to your mom?”

He nodded. “I saw you intently looking at it. Mama won’t surely mind if I give it to you.”

Thera stared at him, confused. Sean was also staring. She opened her mouth to ask something but Sean’s phone rang, totally stopping her from throwing questions at him.

Sean fished his phone inside his jacket and turned away before answering the call.

“What is it?” he asked talking to whoever the caller was.

Thera on the other hand was disoriented while staring at the man’s broad shoulder. It was the same bag from the flash of memory a while ago. The bag was hers. Why was he lying again?

The call was brief. When the call ended, Sean put the phone on the shelf and walked towards the cabinet. His movements were quick, he drew a white shirt, denim jeans from there and then took off his jacket.

When Sean took his shirt off, Thera came back to her senses. She opened her mouth to say anything that would let the man realized her presence but no voice came out. When Sean was about to take off her trousers, Thera wanted to look away but could not. Jesus Christ. Her beautiful innocent eyes!

Sean was about to take off his trousers when she finally remembers her existence. He stopped and turned around. He stood up straight and drew a sigh.

Thera could not move her feet nor could not stop the loud beating of her heart when topless Sean walked towards her. She could feel herself getting redder, so she prayed her facial color doesn’t betray her and that may God give her some potential to handle the situation.

Thera held her breath when she felt Sean’s strong warm hands on her shoulders. Without saying anything, he guided her outside the room.

“I need to put on some clothes,” he said and closed the door.

Thera just nodded, unable to remember any word.

FRUSTRATED and flustered, Thera stood up from sitting in front of the vanity mirror. She dived on the bed, still feeling silly and stupid. Her face still felt flushed and bright red every time she remembers what had happened inside Sean’s built-in-closet. She was embarrassed. How could she not force herself to look away when she knew Sean was undressing?

Thera laid on top of the bed and stared at the white ceiling. She could still see herself stiff and cold while Sean was guiding her outside the room. But what’s disturbing was the fact that she was sensitive to Sean’s touch. His warm hand against her bare skin gave butterflies to her stomach. The mere skin-to-skin contact made her feel like she just got electrified. It was new, yet an interesting feeling.

Thera sighed. Was she having a crush on her own husband? How could her seventeen-year-old heart suddenly flutter like that? She closed her eyes tightly. That was silly. She just said a few days ago that she was not the type who would fall for a man like him. How could she be attracted to a man who could not wait to annul her?

Does the saying, “What the mind couldn’t remember, the heart cannot forget?” true? She shook her head. She’s been getting too romantic these past few days. Ah, teenager feels, she groaned.

Sean left the Villa for hours now. She ate dinner alone earlier just as she did the previous days. Honestly speaking, she regretted having missed the opportunity to eat with Sean. He wanted to know how would it feel to dine with a husband. Would it be sweet? Awkward? She grimaced.

But tomorrow she’d make sure she’d be able to eat with him. Aside from hoping that it would help her remember quickly, she also wanted to destroy that high wall that Sean obviously had built between them.

Thera thought she could do it. She at least needs to try to be good to him so their story’s ending would not be sad and tragic. Sean seemed like a good man even though she was cold and distant. He was kind and gentle to the house helpers.

However, Thera has a feeling that behind Sean’s expressionless eyes were a lot of secrets and emotions. And he was hiding it intentionally from other people. Especially to her.

Thera glanced at the door and then she shifted her gaze at the clock hanging on the wall. It was past twelve in the evening and Sean did not arrive yet. It was Miguel, Sean and Tan’s manager who called earlier. Sean left but he did not say anything to her. It must be an emergency seeing how he quickly drove the car out of the driveway.

It was past bedtime but Sean hasn’t rested yet. She was not even sure if Sean had eaten or not. She sighed heavily. Was Tea Caf’s problem too serious? She could not help but worry.

Thera got up and leaned on the headboard. Unable to stop herself, she walked towards the spacious veranda. The cold wind greeted her. She rushed back to her room, shivering in the cold.

She forgot it was no longer summer. During “ber months”, the temperature in Baguio goes down. And she was only wearing a T-shirt and thin leggings when she stormed in the veranda.

Thera took her jacket inside the closet and quickly wore it. She returned to the veranda. Above her were clear clouds and the moon was shining.

The stars were scattered in the sky. The air has always been fresh. She could smell strawberries mixed with sunflowers and pine trees.

Thera should have been past asleep now. But she does not feel sleepy at all. She feels that she won’t be able to sleep until she sees Sean inside the Villa. But should she really wait for him outside? Should she really endure the cold air of Baguio City that seemed to be teasing her?

Ah, whatever. She won’t enter the room until she sees Sean come home. But the Gods must be generous, Thera had only been standing on the veranda for a few minutes when she heard the engine of an oncoming vehicle.

Her face lit up upon seeing Sean’s car. Her gaze followed the car until Sean parked it in front of the Villa. Thera’s heart skipped a beat and a broad smile worked its way across her pretty face when Sean finally got out of the car. But the smile gradually faded when Sean looked up... His gaze paced from the veranda to her. Totally catching her smiling happily like a woman who just received a bouquet of flowers from her first love.

Did Sean know she was out there waiting for his return? Who cares? She was really waiting for him anyway. She's just too happy to finally see him. Thera raised her hand, smiled broadly again, then waved at the man who was still looking in her direction. Sean withdrew his eyes and finally walked inside the house.