C2 THE RED JAGUAR

I

Yhera vividly saw it, she is standing at the middle of a bridge, seems like she's lost, alone and the sky is beginning to get dark; then from nowhere a red jaguar is in its full speed, coming nearer and nearer until it almost hit her! Yhera shouts so loud, she's so afraid for her life. She automatically covered her eyes and sob endlessly, until strong arms hug her tightly. Yher tries to wrestle to free herself but she can't move, the arms around her are too strong, "Ahhhhhh!"

"Yher, Yher wake up," her Mom's worried face was the first thing she saw. She was awakened from such nightmare.

"Are you ok Yher? Would you want me to stay beside you?" her Mom's worries are evident.

Yhera embraced her Mom and whispered, "I'm ok Mom but would be more at peace if you will stay beside me 'til morning.”

Her Mom caressed her head gently then smiled and nodded. After a while her youngest and only sister Yhesa came and found her place beside her until all of them fall asleep again.

Such dream never left Yhera's mind until she sits in her office’s executive chair. She have this feeling that such dream is telling her something, which she would not want to entertain yet in her mind. Her thoughts are suddenly disrupted by a knock in her office’s door.

"Yes, come in."

Her secretary's head pop up, "Ma'am, a man by the name of Seigfred Yee called a while ago, with a note that he wants to meet you by lunch time at Shangrila Makati. Will I confirm?"

Yhera's heart jumped upon hearing such name, "No! Tell him I can't, I have a hearing at 10:00 a.m. today at Quezon City remember?"

"Ahh yes, but it is only until 11:00 a.m. Ma'am," her secretary, Mila's smile is contagious.

Yhera smiled back and shrug her shoulder, "Just tell him maybe next time but not now, okay Mila?"

Mila nodded, "Alright, got it Attorney".

While wondering whether to directly go back to the office or have a break and go to a fine dining restaurant for lunch, Yher’s phone suddenly beeped. She sits first in her car's driver seat before checking her message. It's Seigfred.

"I'm just near; I know you don't have your lunch yet", Seigfred's message that tumbled Yher's heart. She rolled down her car's window trying to search for Seigfred's presence.

He is walking in a manly stride coming near her car. Yher have no choice but to get out of her car. She's in Quezon City Hall's open parking, near the RTC where she attended a hearing.

Siegred's smile is contagious. He seems so vibrant and confident about himself.

II

Yhera found herself in an Italian fine dining restaurant in BGC or everybody called "The Fort" with Seigfred, who is sitting confidently in front of her.

"Thinking of something special in the past?" the gentlemanly voice of Mr. CEO/President broke the silence that was enveloping Atty. Yhera.

Yhera hesitantly smiled, "Nope, just wondering how on earth you persuade me to have lunch with you today."

"Well that's one of my talents, I call it a Gentleman's charm," Seigfred replied with a twist of amused smile on his lips.

Undoubtedly, Yhera is starting to feel light having Seigfred around. Yet, her heart is still guarded, locked that only the bravest could soften and open.

Going back to his office, Seigfred is somewhat in a deep solitary thinking. He is wondering what made Atty. Yher's heart grow like a hard wall; difficult to penetrate and hard to fathom. Her eyes are so magnetic that caught his breath at the onset it met his, yet something in such eyes are mystical. It seems like Yher's eyes have that loneliness, pain that no one could comprehend. Sometimes, such pair of eyes would twinkle a bit, would smile but would immediately turn to bluntness; unreadable. Sometimes, those eyes would sparkle with rage; hurt, that is not open to forgive.

Seigfred became insistent to know what's behind those mystical eyes of Atty. Yhera. He is determined to discover it. He doesn't know but something is telling him, he needs to know. He is a man who never retreats so easily. He will always be around for Atty. Yhera even if she gets pissed-off. He smiled from ears to ears.

Yhera is confused. She is aware of the attraction she has for Seigfred and she can detect fully well the interest he has for her. Seigfred seems a vocal man. He pursues what he wants without hesitation. No wonder he is a successful businessman in his young age. Yet Yher is hesitant. She would not let her feelings overwhelm her head again. Not this time. She was hurt twice so badly, she will not exposed herself to such similar pain again. A lot said, she has everything a man would chase for, yet Yhera never even bother now nor excited about that chasing thing. Men are the same; they will chase you, let you believe that they are into you that deep; they will even treat you like a queen to the extent of almost worshiping you, but what's next? They will cheat you and leave you like you have no commitment with each other; like you have not loved each other after all.

Ahhhh, she would not dare put herself again in that same scenario. The pain was so excruciating; it was like a blade slowly slitting every core of her heart; it put her to a state of total dissolution; she was not herself; she felt like the weakest, the most stupid woman on earth.

Her world is serene now, so why would she dare again to make it complicated by loving and committing into a relationship that would never last anyway?” Atty. Yhera shook her head and murmured, “No. Not again.”

Atty. Yhera’s phone suddenly beeped. She opened it and checked who sent her a message. Her eyes narrowed. “How can this man be so persistent?” she whispered.

For Atty. Yhera, it is not actually a good sign. Jethross before was like that. Almost every hour, sometimes every minute, he would either sent her a message or call her.

“Gosh, the signs are glaring at me. So, No Mr. Seigfred Yee.” She turned off her phone and slammed it inside her bag.

Seigfred dialled again but Atty. Yhera’s phone could not be reached already.

“Wow, she did not want to answer me and seemed like she turned off her phone.” He shook his head in disbelief. No one dared do that to him.

Seigfred’s eyes narrowed.