“WORRIES"
"It's good you are home, I haven't seen you here for a few days," was Joaquin's father's introduction to him.
"Papa!" his happy greeting to his father he saw and caught in the living room busy reading a book. "I'm sorry, I'm too busy with work so I prefer to stay in the condo since it's closer to the office," he said kissing his father on the forehead afterward.
Joaquin Sr. threw a critical stare at him, so he quickly felt amusement for him.
"Why are you looking at me like that, Papa?" he asked pretending to be sullen.
"You are lying. Who is the woman you are talking to your condo?” he said to him in a tone that seemed very sure.
Joaquin was quick to react to that false accusation made against him by his father.
"Papa, I never brought a woman to my condo," he said, which was really true.
Except for Lara, he never once brought a woman to his condo. Because for him, his place is just right for him to share and show to the woman he wants to be with and know personally. Deeply. And that method doesn't mean body heat like Lara and he shared this morning before he dropped her to her workplace.
His father smirked at what he said. "What's the latest to you then?" he asked him again.
At that point, Joaquin laughed softly and then sat down in the empty chair opposite the one his father occupies.
"I think I found her," he said, unable to stop the mixture of intense admiration in the tone of his speech.
In an instant, he suddenly felt a longing for his girlfriend. He knew in himself what had happened to the two of them earlier would definitely not be the last. Because just now, he is already looking for her.
Her smooth and very fragrant skin. And her soft lips.
He used to feel like he was going crazy as he claimed Lara. And even though he didn't admit it, he also knew in himself that only one woman other than her that once had made him feel that way. And that is none other than Venus.
"What do you mean?"
His father's voice seemed like a rope that pulled Joaquin back into the present. That was when he confronted him to answer his question.
“I have seen the woman I am going to marry,” he replied without hesitation and then smiled meaningfully at his father. “Your plan to marry me to a woman I don't like will not succeed, Papa. Because I will marry the woman, I know I love.”
Even he was stunned after the last thing he said.
The woman he loves?
He was attracted to Lara, yes and that was no doubt. But to say he loves her seems like he can't believe it because it's too early for that.
He wanted to claim her. Kissing and hugged her tightly. But more than all that, he wanted to protect her. Honestly, not only Lara but also her daughter Callie who really bears a lot of resemblance to his late mother.
"Love? So, you are in love this time? Is that what you mean?” Joaquin Sr. questioned him in a tone that obviously did not believe what he said.
He can't blame him after all. He doesn't believe he's in love with Lara even though that's what came out of his mouth earlier. But he had to tell his father that so he could convince him that was how he really felt. To stop his plan to marry him to another woman whom he did not really like. And most of all, the girlfriend of his best friend.
"Believe it or not, that's the truth," he replied.
Even Joaquin was secretly amazed at the tone of his speech on that occasion. It turned out to be normal and very true that even he would really be convinced just in case.
"Good, I want to meet her," her father told him in a tone with dignity.
He shrugged and then stood up. "No problem," he replied. “By the way, I'll just take a shower, Pa. I will also return to the office before lunch,” Joaquin informed his father before he finally left.
Joaquin Sr. just nodded as he saw continued reading. While he, as he said earlier, went up to his room to take a bath. After that, he lay down first to take a nap.
He was really tired of what had happened between him and Lara earlier. And he didn't want to admit it, but he felt a little bit exhausted.
When he remembered how warmly Lara's response to his claim was, Joaquin was not surprised by what happened next. The lust immediately flared up in his body in the way he knew, and he was sure if the young lady was just next to him at that very moment he would claim her again.
He needs Lara. And the intense need he feels for her he does not know where it could possibly lead him. But that didn't matter to him anymore. Because like his previous plan, he will marry her.
She knew once her father found out about Lara being a single mother, it would surely make him angry. His father will hinder what he wants to do. But just as he had felt since the first time he saw Lara being chased by two men on the side of the highway, he would protect her. Not only Lara actually, but Callie and her father Rodolfo are also included.
*****
Joaquin picked her up in the evening as they had agreed.
When such a time there are not too many people in the mall as well as in their shop, so she is having a more peaceful time finishing the other things that need to be finished.
In order not to be bored, she decided to let Joaquin stay in her office. At that time no one was there except her because Cynthia had already returned home.
"Wait a minute, okay? By the way, do you want some coffee?" she asked Joaquin who she saw busy wandering his gaze around the room.
He shook his head one after another before opening his mouth to speak. "No, don't worry I'm okay," he said, giving her a smile with assurance to reinforce what he said.
"All right," she said, turning her attention back to what she was doing.
It was only a matter of time and she was able to finish what she was doing. There was still about half an hour before the store closed so she immediately took care of the other things that needed to be fixed at the cashier counter.
"Bye Ma'am Lara," her saleslady said goodbye to her.
"Bye," she said as she filled her bottle with water from the dispenser.
She was just entering the office to ask Joaquin to go home when her boyfriend startled her with what he did.
"They're all gone?" he asked her then gripped her hand tightly.
"Y-Yes, I am usually and often the one who came home late because I'm the one who closes the store since I have the key," she justified and simply withdrew her arm but what she did made the situation worse.
"Good," Joaquin said as he pulled her into the bathroom.
"W-What are you doing?" her nervous question to the young man.
Joaquin did not answer that question. Instead, he just grabbed her face and then kissed her on the lips.
"Let's make this quick, sweetheart," he said, releasing her lips and then starting gazing at her face.
