“I THINK I’M IN LOVE WITH HER”

“I CAN NOT agree with what you wanted to happen, Joaquin! Are you out of your mind? You are going to marry a disgraced single mother?”

After hearing what his father said, Joaquin abruptly stopped fixing his tie in front of the mirror and face the old man.

“You do not have to right to call her that, Papa,” he said empathically as he met his gaze.

Joaquin Sr. let out a sarcastic laugh. After that, it was then that he opened his mouth to speak to answer what he said.

“Really? So, this is what I am afraid of. With so many women who have passed in your hands, you will eventually land with someone like her. It’s just disappointing that you opted to choose a low-class woman like your girlfriend over Tanya,” his father continues.

Joaquin's heart was filled with anger because of what he heard. So again, he couldn’t stop himself from answering his father to defend Lara.

“Lara is more than any woman who has passed in my life, Papa. So please, stop saying bad things to her,” he pleaded although he could not hide the anger in his voice.

Again, he heard a silly laugh from his father. Then he spoke sarcastically.

“Don't tell me you love that woman? Because of the tone of the speech and even your reactions are going to be my basis, it is not far off that that is what is happening to you,” the old man continued.

It was then that Joaquin angrily confronted his father as he picked up the car key that was on the console table.

“If what you want to hear is the truth, I will not deny it to you. Yeah, I think I’m in love with her. And this is the first time I’ve felt this way for a woman, Papa. So maybe now that you know the truth, you won't be surprised anymore if one of these days you hear that I married her,” he said, finally passing his father.

The young man was already at the door when he heard the voice of Joaquin Sr. again. And what he said prevented him from taking further steps.

"You will lose everything when you do that, son," he threatened.

Joaquin's heart immediately drew deep resentment after hearing what his father had said. And to alleviate that somehow, he breathed in succession. Then he looked at him and that was when once again their eyes met.

“If that is the case, then maybe I have to start looking for a new job. Or maybe I need to plan to start a small business, Papa,” he replied and then left.

*****

HE was on his way to the office. It had also been a few minutes since he had heard that painful threat from his father. That he will lose everything when he pursues his plan to marry Lara.

Then the young man shook his head one after another. Then sighed.

What he said earlier was true. He feels deep in his heart that he is falling in love with Lara. And it wasn’t just the young lady who touched and captivated his heart. It includes her daughter that every time who looks as if he sees the young version of his bereaved mother.

"I'm in love with her," Joaquin whispered then smiled.

Everything that he told Rodolfo last night was true. That he loves Lara, and she is the love that he never knew he was searching for.

He loves Lara and him so sure about that. Because if not maybe he will not feel a pinch on his chest every time his father says something insulting about his girlfriend.

He adores his father so much. That’s why he always gives his best shot at running their business. Because that's what Joaquin Sr. wants.

But what if he has to choose?

Joaquin sighed at that question.

He poured everything he knew into their business. Although it was already huge and successful prosperous when passed to him by his father at the age of twenty-five.

In that thought, Joaquin quickly recalled the night of his birthday. And the memory of a very beautiful woman. He may never see her face. But what happened between them gave an undeniably unforgettable experience to him.

When he remembered his girlfriend Lara, Joaquin immediately shook his head to take that thought out of his mind.

It may be difficult for his father to believe that he loves his girlfriend. For Joaquin that does not matter anymore.

It is not because he does not care about how his father may feel. Because like what he has said, he loves his father very much. But he can envision his future with Lara. And that is what he wanted his father to understand. There might be a lot of women who have gone in his life, but he knew to himself that those were not serious. Well, Venus was not included --- with the last thought he once again decided to forget about the woman.

He feels that he is betraying Lara, and he will continue to betray her if he will not try to forget that woman.

It's not good that Venus still has memories left in his mind even though it's been a long time.

Joaquin sighed again at the thought.

A few moments later he saw the gate of the company owned by him and his father. Then it seemed like an echo that he heard again what Joaquin Sr. had told him a while ago. That he will lose everything when he pursues his plan to marry Lara.

He hopes he’s not serious.

Hopefully, he’s just trying to scare him.

The truth is, he doesn't want to lose the company either. Because just like he said, he poured all he knew to make it grow even more. And in today’s situation, many employees rely on it. People with obligations in life. People with their own families and children who need to be raised.

And if he loses it might just be neglected by his possible successor. It's not that he doesn't trust the others, but everyone including his dad, knows that he has enough capacity to run and keep their business stable.

But what if his father took the matter seriously?

Joaquin sighed again.

There was nothing he could do because the truth was, that Lara was the woman he knew he could never replace. He loved her dearly and he was serious about his plan of building a happy family with the young lady.

After thinking about that, Joaquin decided to call the judge he knew who could marry Lara and him.

Yes, he will marry Lara tomorrow. And he wouldn't tell his father.

Again, resentment drew into the young man's heart.

He admits to being a playboy. But even so, he also promised himself that he would only marry once. Not because there is no divorce in the Philippines but because marriage is sacred to him. And he would give it to the woman he wanted to be with for life. Only one woman will have the opportunity to bear his name. The woman will be known as her better half. Whom he will introduce as Mrs. Joaquin Antonio Jr. And that was none other than Lara.