“MEETING HIS FATHER”

AS Joaquin had promised her, the next day he called her. That was to let her know about the possible dinner with his boyfriend’s father.

"What did he say?" Cynthia asked her after she put down her cellphone.

She was having a coffee break while her friend had just finished. They cannot have it together because there has to be an officer left on duty.

"It's Sunday night," she replied with a deep sigh that she pulled out and then released afterward.

“Perfect timing then. It's your day off. You can still have a beauty rest. Hey, are you still nervous? ” Cynthia asked her.

"As if you don't know the answer to that question, Cynthia," she said unable to stop herself from chuckling afterward.

Lara also heard Cynthia let out a weak laugh. After that, she took her mug of coffee and sipped.

"Do you think I should give his dad a present?" she later asked her friend.

Cynthia paused for a moment in a way that seemed thinking. After that, she opened her mouth to speak. “I think it's okay not to and it's okay if you give him a present. But if you ask me, I'll go with the latter. ”

“What can I give him? Perfume and clothing are very common. I can't afford a watch either? ”

“Why don't you ask Joaquin about that? Your dinner is on Sunday. You still have time to buy a gift,” Cynthia replied to her.

Again, Lara did not say anything that her friend said. After all, Cynthia has a point. She can buy a gift and she can also not.

She didn't want to prove anything to her boyfriend's father after all. She just doesn’t really know what she’s supposed to do and she’s really worried so she’s like this.

She didn't call Joaquin to ask him what he thought she could give as a gift to his father. Instead, she just texted him. Her boyfriend immediately replied. According to Joaquin, his father loves inspirational books.

Lara smiled. And at least they're right next to the bookstore so she won't have a hard time buying. But since it will be closed later when she came home, she just do the shopping tomorrow.

*****

"Your boyfriend is waiting for you downstairs, sweetie," Rodolfo said when he peeked at the door of her room.

Lara's nervousness intensified when she heard that news from her father. From staring at her own reflection in front of the mirror she looked at him.

"I'm done," she said trying to hide the nervousness in her voice and she succeeded there.

A meaningful and understanding smile tore from her father’s lips. After that, he left her.

Joaquin immediately greeted her.

She was wearing a simple red dress that exceeded two inches above her knees for that dinner date. It’s also not sleeveless and rather off-shoulder. While her long hair is down. She also applied thin and simple make-up on her face.

But she didn't know why she saw such admiration in Joaquin's eyes when he saw her. In fact, she even felt a little discomfort especially since Rodolfo and Callie were also in the living room watching TV.

"You look, beautiful," Joaquin said in full of admiration as he stared at her face.

Lara blushed as she bowed her head because of Joaquin's compliment.

I don't think my heart will get used to what you say!

The other side of her mind.

"Let's go?" moments later that was what she heard from Joaquin.

Lara nodded with a sweet smile. Then she said goodbye to Rodolfo and so did to Callie who hugged and kissed Joaquin.

"Just relax, okay?" Joaquin said with amusement when they were already inside his car.

Lara bit her lower lip at what her boyfriend said. She then fastened her seat belt then turned to Joaquin who she saw watching her every move.

"I will be okay, don't worry," he said with a confident smile.

Joaquin just nodded as she saw contentment in the smile that tore from his lips. After that, he touched her face and then kissed her on the lips.

"Yes, everything will be okay because after this dinner both of our lives will change," said Joaquin when he released her mouth.

Lara wanted to ask after Joaquin said that.

She wanted to clarify to him what he meant by what he said. But because she felt as if she wasn't ready to hear about that, she just kept quiet. Time will come and she will also know the truth.

*****

Joaquin and Lara went to a seafood restaurant. And there they caught up with the young man's father.

Lara's chest immediately tingled with nervousness when she looked at the old man who looked exactly like her boyfriend. In fact, this is the old version of Joaquin. So she was not surprised why the young man became his junior.

"Are you okay?" Joaquin whispered to her as they walked closer to the table where the old man was.

Lara smiled though she knew at those moments the nervousness was dominant in her chest. She also thought in the end that maybe Joaquin will somehow understand why she is like that.

Shocks, he is staring at me!

That was the cry of the other side of her mind that at that moment was very uneasy about what was happening. And that feeling intensified as she and Joaquin approached his father.

The old man's gaze did not leave her. In a way that seems to scrutinize everything about her. But when she remembered what Joaquin had said the other day, that no matter what happened he would fight for her, she could say that somehow the nervousness she was feeling was relieved.

"Papa, I would like you to meet my girlfriend, Lara," Joaquin said when they got closer.

Joaquin's father stood up and then reached out her hand and shook it. It was then that Lara took the opportunity to hand the old man the gift she had brought. As Joaquin said, it was an inspirational book that she thought his father would like.

"I won't be surprised why my son chose to take you seriously, Lara," said Joaquin Sr. who laughed softly then glanced at her for a moment.

Lara couldn't understand how she should feel because of what the old man said. In fact, the emotion she sees in his eyes is contrary to the words spoken in his mouth. And that only intensified the discomfort she was feeling.

"T-Thank you," she said unable to hide the trembling in her voice when she spoke to answer what Joaquin Sr. said.

They still talked a lot after all. That includes her work and about Callie that she had better say to him early on.

"So, you are a single mother?" Joaquin Sr. asked in a tone of great disbelief.

That was when Lara tried to open her mouth to answer that question but her boyfriend preceded her.

"Yes, Papa," Joaquin said without hesitation then turned to her.

It was then that their eyes met. She was really worried in those moments that he get mad at her. She didn't say anything about Callie to mention in their conversation. But she couldn't keep a secret about her daughter so that's what she did.

When Lara turned her gaze back to Joaquin's father, she saw the intense disgust on his face. At that point, Lara immediately felt scared. That's why she let go of the fork she was holding and then clung tightly to her boyfriend's thigh under the table.

"This is ridiculous," she heard the old man whisper then shook his head as he resumed eating.

"Is there a problem, Papa?" Joaquin asked in a serious tone.

It was then that the old man angrily dropped the cutlery he was holding that make a noise on the plate. Lara was immediately shocked by what happened and so her hand tightened even more when at that moment she was still holding her boyfriend's thigh.

The old man did not answer. Instead, he just stood up and then angrily removed his table napkin and dropped it on the table.

"I never thought you were this low now, Joaquin!" was the only thing he said before he left and walked away.

Lara couldn't control her own emotions after that. She immediately cried not only because of the fear she had felt but even more because of the painful words said by Joaquin Sr. to her boyfriend.

*****

"HERE, drink this," said Joaquin when he took her to his house.

Lara accepted the glass of water that Joaquin handed her and then halved the contents. While Joaquin sat next to her and then took her on her shoulders.

“I'm sorry if I told your father about Callie. It's just that my conscience can't deny or hide her,” she told the truth and then looked up at her boyfriend.

Smiling, Joaquin kissed her forehead and then carefully pushed her horizontally on the sofa and then leaned over.

“It’s okay. Honestly, I also don't want to hide anything about Callie,” he said, caressing her forehead and then kissing her again.

The corners of Lara's eyes immediately warmed at what her boyfriend had said. Not for any reason, but also because of the sincerity she saw in his eyes.

"Thank you," she said, caressing the young man's handsome face and then playing with his three-day beard with her fingers.

Joaquin did not speak and instead just stared at her. After that, he started dabbing small kisses on her face.

Lara immediately felt the heat of her body when her boyfriend did that. But despite her desire to win over the man and claim his lips, she still held back.

She likes this. She wants her boyfriend to do romantic and hot things to her body. And if this is the method he wants to use and do now so that she can somehow forget what happened earlier in the restaurant there is no problem with her.

"I missed you," Joaquin whispered to her.

Lara swallowed there and then held her breath when she felt Joaquin's hand begin to crawl into the hem of her dress.

“Can I take you, sweetheart? This time inside my bedroom?” the young man's seductive question then imprinted a simple but scorching kiss on her lips.

Lara nodded when Joaquin looked at her again. And that’s all he has been waiting for.

The young man acted immediately and then put her to bed. But Lara was no longer content to wait for that opportunity. She abruptly pulled Joaquin's neck and then started kissing his red lips.

That way, the fury of that is what she knows will wake up even the most dormant heat in her boyfriend’s body. She had to do that, in order for their next scenes to be daring, later inside the room itself.