CHAPTER 13 "WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT 7"

Joaquin's movements were careful in those moments.

But because it seems that his weapon is naturally gorgeous and long, it was not easy for Lara to adjust and get used to it. So eventually she just found herself controlling a sob.

"I'm sorry sweetheart," Joaquin said softly and understandingly and then claimed her lips for a torrid kiss afterward.

At that point, Lara was again brought and taken aback by Joaquin's warm kiss. And she can say that it helped to somehow alleviate a little the pain she was feeling in her lower body.

Until the pain finally disappeared and was eventually replaced by indescribable joy.

How many times she called Joaquin's name as he claimed her, Lara couldn't say.

As far as she knew, after the first round, it was followed by another. And she did not refuse. Because the truth is, she willingly subdues everything with the man wholeheartedly.

*****

PRESENT DAY

“Miss, are you okay? I will take you to the hospital!” the man to her.

That question from Joaquin seemed to pull him back into the present. Then, as if losing herself, she swallowed at the same time as she nodded her head awkwardly.

“I-I’m okay. You don't have to take me to the hospital anymore,” she said, shaking her head one after another.

She saw Joaquin's beautiful and thick eyebrows meet. Seemingly unable to believe the words uttered by her lips. But that was only for a moment because she also immediately understood the smile. And the emotion in the man's eyes followed that smile.

"Are you sure?" his question in a tone that seemed to ask her for reassurance.

Lara smiled shyly. "Yes," she added.

“In that case, tell me where your address is. Where can I take you?” he said to her again.

When Joaquin said that Lara was immediately taken aback. She stared at his face again.

"Miss?" it was Joaquin getting her attention when she remained silent.

"Ah, okay go ahead, thank you," she finally thought of answering.

He doesn't seem to recognize her. And one more thing, no one knows anything about his fatherhood to Callie. So maybe it's okay for the two to meet just in case. Because after all, she thinks that after this she will never see the man again.

“You have a name?” the car was running when the man asked her that.

"L-Lara," was her short reply.

Joaquin nodded then smiled and turned around for a moment. "It suits you very well," he said with an admiring look on her face. “By the way, I’m Joaquin. Nice to meet you,” he said, holding out a hand to her despite the fact that his eyesight was on the road.

For some inexplicable reason, Lara felt a strange thrill in her heart because of Joaquin's action. That is why she saw no reason to refuse the handshake.

She accepted the man's hand. And as soon as they put their palms together and felt Joaquin's warmth it immediately seemed to penetrate her heart.

*****

"MAYBE you like coffee?" the first thing Lara said, and thought was to offer to Joaquin when he stopped his car in front of the gate of their house.

Then the young man stared at him with a smile. "Won't I bother you just in case?" he asked her.

She shrugged and then opened her mouth to speak. “Of course not. All right, just think about it as my way of saying thank you for helping me again,” she said, stunned and biting her lower lip when she realized the second to the last words she mentioned.

"Again?" the seems to be wondering question of the man.

"I mean, y-you helped me," she replied trying to get through.

When she saw Joaquin nod, Lara secretly took a deep breath. After that, she immediately moved and got out of the car. The man immediately followed her.

"My Dad is asleep so that means I can't introduce you to him," she said as she put the cup of coffee, she had mixed for Joaquin on the center table.

“Who are you with here aside from your father? I mean, if it’s, okay?” Joaquin asked with a subsequent explanation.

“Sure, my father and my little girl,” she would eventually admit she hesitated a little. But she in the end thought to ignore that.

“You’re married?” Joaquin asked.

That was when Lara shook her head. "Long story," she replied instead.

It might even make Joaquin curious and ask questions. She didn’t want to talk about it because she also didn’t want to tell him lies.

“Is that your way of making me interested in you? Or do you just want to ask if I have a family?” the young man asked.

Lara was very surprised to hear from the man. So, she immediately looked up and then met his eyes. It was then that she saw the intense amusement in his dark eyes.

"What are you saying?" she tried to normalize the tone of her speech and she succeeded there.

"I'm not married," Joaquin replied.

Whether Lara would be pleased or annoyed with what the man said, she did not know. And because she was confused, she chose to just ignore it, again.

"I also don't have a girlfriend," he added even though she didn't ask.

If it wasn't just the man who rescued her earlier, Lara might have been angry. But she knew it would not be a good return for him if she rebuked him. So, she just shrugged.

"Okay," she replied.

"I want to see you again," Joaquin replied without hesitation instead of her.

"W-What do you mean?" her confused question even though in fact she got clearly what Joaquin said.

By then, Joaquin had completely consumed the contents of his cup. Then the young man got up and went to the door.

And since Joaquin still doesn't answer his question, it seems that Lara's feet have their own minds to stand up and voluntarily follow the man.

"Just a minute," she chased after him who at that moment was already on the terrace of their old house.

"Did you hear what I said?" he asked her.

The young lady nodded.

It was then that an amusement caused the corner of Joaquin's lip to lift along with the reflection of a mischievous smile.

"So, is this your way to prolong our conversation?" he asked her again while the smile remained on his lips.

At that point, Lara couldn't hold back any longer. "What ---?" but Joaquin didn't let her finish with anything else she wanted to say.

“I will see you tomorrow. I will take you to your work,” he said in a tone that was authorized but with a strange tenderness and Lara secretly trembled there.

"W-What are you saying?"

That was when Joaquin stared at her intently. "Didn't I save you a while ago?" the young man asked her.

Lara nodded as she remained staring at the handsome face in front of her.

“Nothing is for free now, Lara. And I want you to pay, but the way that I just told you. I'll pick you up tomorrow because I want to see you again,” he said in an explanatory and dignified tone.

Joaquin's words sounded like a broken record that played over and over again in Lara's hearing. Until he disappeared in front of her. A moment later she still remained standing there. Like an idiot and seemingly unable to believe the speed of events.