CHAPTER 20 “JEALOUS SUITOR"

"EXCUSE me?" that was the question that escaped her lips.

Lara heard the heavy sigh that Ramil let out before he stared at her.

“That man who delivered you earlier. Who is he?" he asked while Lara immediately noticed the resentment in the tone of the young man's speech.

“Ah, that’s Joaquin. New friend and acquaintances,” she replied.

At what she said the emotion on the face of the man in front of her immediately changed. "I thought he was your boyfriend," he said, laughing softly.

Lara did not comment on what Ramil said. She didn't know what she could say because the more those moments linger, the more tired she felt in her body.

“Lara don't I really have a chance on you? Why don’t you try to open your heart on me?” Ramil asked after a while.

Lara immediately sighed at what she heard. Ramil knows the answer to that question. Because honestly, that wasn’t the first time the man had asked her that. This time, she didn't know if she still had to answer that.

"You know the answer to that, don't you?" she asked in an informative tone.

Ramil nodded. "You think of me as a friend and you're not ready to love yet?"

"I'm sorry. If only I could, I might have done it a long time ago,” she would tell the truth.

"So you mean you're rejecting me again?" Ramil asked laughing, although there was a hint of resentment in the tone of his speech.

Lara sighed again. “I didn't make you expect, did I? From the very beginning, you know the truth,” she said.

Ramil nodded. "But I will not give up," he replied in a tone full of determination.

"That's enough, it won't help you anymore," she replied.

The truth is that she really feels sorry for Ramil. It’s also been a long time since he started courting her. And despite that, she really didn’t feel special about him. That was despite the fact that her father wanted him for her.

She also has to admit that there are times when she wants to be angry with the young man. The good thing is she has a very huge understanding because of Ramil’s natural kindness.

“Why? Is it because of that man that’s why you are like that?”

Ramil did not raise his voice, but Lara was surprised by the words he uttered.

"What are you saying?" she asked.

“Please stop pretending! That man before, didn't you even deliver him? You know Lara you're getting into my nerves actually. And I'm tired of you!” this time he already felt anger in the tone of the man's speech though his voice remained low.

When Ramil said that Lara immediately felt the blood seem to rise to her head.

Yes, this time she was really angry. And since this man had already started everything, there was no reason for her to hold back how she really felt in those moments.

“Hey, what are you saying? And what right do you have to question my decisions? You are not my boyfriend, and I didn't tell you to court me?” she disgustedly answer Ramil with those series of questions.

“That's it. Why are you treating me like this? Why with that man did you say you only knew, well the way you smile at him is up to your ears? Do you like him?”

Lara no longer liked the tone of Ramil's speech at those moments. But despite the fact that she wanted to give him the kind of fight that he deserves she exercised more of her composure.

“You know I'm really tired, but I chose to let you stay because you're my friend. But if this is what I’m going to get from you, maybe you'd better leave because I also want to rest,” she shooed the young man away.

"Yes, I think that’s the best thing to do right now," Ramil replied arrogantly then he stood up and left.

Lara followed the young man not to deliver him but to close the gate. She could hear Ramil's car moving away, and Lara sighed there.

What does Ramil say is the difference between her treatment with him and Joaquin's?

Honestly, even she can't get that.

"Oh, has Ramil left yet?" her dad asked as she sat down on the vacant part of the long sofa where they were sitting.

The young lady nodded then stroked the hair of her daughter who had fallen asleep on her father's lap.

"Papa, am I selfish to Ramil?" what she thought to ask.

From Rodolfo’s eyes being focused on the TV screen, he immediately looked at her.

“What do you mean sweetheart? How can you say you are selfish to him?” her father even asked.

“He’s acting weird. He was jealous of Joaquin,” she admitted to her father.

That was when Rodolfo nodded understandingly.

“It's normal for Ramil to feel that way, especially since he's been courting you for a long time. But he still doesn't have enough rights to say hurtful and unkind words to you just in case,” said her father. “Wait, did he say something bad to you? Tell me?" her father even added.

“Nothing. He was just jealous, that’s all. Didn't I tell him before that he doesn’t have to wait for me? Because I only consider him as a friend?”

His father nodded. “But he loves you. And I understand him in that part because I was like that with your mother.”

Lara smiled at what her father said and admitted to her. “But Papa, you and Mama were in love back then. It's not like I have a heart of stone because I don't have any special feelings for Ramil,” that was really the truth, and it wasn't the first time he said that to Rodolfo.

“The heart cannot be taught, sweetheart. That's why I understand you,” he said, tapping her cheek lightly afterward.

Just a few moments and she said goodbye to Rodolfo to go to sleep. She just carried Callie to their room.

While lying down, Lara silently stared at the ceiling of their room.

She can't blame Ramil for what he said. But he still has no right to question her decision. Whom she will befriend.

Maybe, as her dad said, he had reason to be jealous. But she also did not fail to remind him of the fact that he has nothing to expect from her. Maybe, what happened and the conversation between the two of them earlier was enough for him to stop her. Because even though she didn't admit it, now that she had seen her daughter's father, there was a part of her heart that hoped that her family would be whole. That was despite the fact she had denied that earlier to Cynthia.