“PLOTTING 7”

"Are you okay?"

That's what Lara heard Joaquin ask when he joined her on the veranda of their room. She was sitting on the loveseat that was there.

She looked up at Joaquin and then smiled at him before opening her mouth to speak.

"Yeah, very much okay," she said.

Her husband just smiled at her and then moved and sat next to her. Joaquin put his arms around her so she tenderly and immediately leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Did I use up all your energy again?" Joaquin asked again.

She didn't move but despite that, she still answered her husband's question.

"You always drain my strength," she said, followed by a soft laugh.

That is the truth. Her energy always runs out whenever Joaquin claims her. But despite that fact, she still likes what he does. His method of claiming her and all that.

"Are you sleepy?" she heard Joaquin ask her again.

That's when Lara acted and then confronted her husband.

"No, just tired," she answered and smiled.

Joaquin nodded and then gazes all over her face.

"You are very beautiful, Lara," he said almost in a whisper.

She quickly felt her whole face turn red because of what Joaquin said and also the way he was staring at her.

“Until now, despite everything, you are still blushing with my compliments?" the amusement in Joaquin's speech was in what he said.

"Why? We're already married, and things have happened to us many times, have you lost your desire for me?" that was the question he answered here.

Joaquin's thick eyebrows rose after hearing what she said. It was as if he couldn't believe it or he didn't expect to hear those words from her so he was like that. But eventually, Lara also saw that his lips twitched to answer her question for him.

"My desire and love for you will never change, Lara," he said to her.

Joaquin's honesty was evident in what he said, which is why it touched Lara's heart so much. Especially when he held one of her hands and kissed it tenderly.

"I love you too, Joaquin. And I want to always be with you," that's what she replied to her spouse.

That's when Joaquin caressed her face and then cupped it with his both hands.

"You and Callie are the best things that have happened in my life," Joaquin's passionate statement made her heart beat faster.

"W-What did you say?" she asked in disbelief.

To be honest, hearing from Joaquin that he was mentioning their daughter’s name even though he didn't know the truth was like a blessing to her. She couldn't explain the happiness it brought to her heart and that gave her indescribable pleasure.

"The truth is, the first time I saw Callie I felt something strange for her," explained Joaquin.

Lara's chest beat faster when her husband said that. And because she wanted to hear what else he had to say, she decided to keep quiet. Soon she saw Joaquin's lips twitch again to continue what else he wanted to say.

"Believe it or not I feel like she's mine. I really feel like she's my daughter," said Joaquin who couldn't hide the satisfaction that was evident in the tone of his speech.

Joaquin, Callie is yours! I just can't tell you and I don't know how to admit that to you. But the truth is, I'm happy even though I keep keeping it a secret from you, I can still hear words like these from you.

That was the cry from the other side of her mind.

"I-I'm happy to hear all that from you, Joaquin," that's what Lara pointed out instead.

Just like she said. She still doesn't have enough courage to tell Joaquin the truth. She didn't know what his reaction might be and she wasn't prepared for that either.

"Yes, I don't know if it's because she looks like Mama but," he said, hanging up on what he wanted to say and then staring at her intently.

Lara's chest heaved again when her husband did that. But despite the fact that she wanted to look away from him, he held back.

"W-What do you mean?" she couldn't help but ask.

Joaquin still couldn't get rid of his smile and shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't know. Maybe just a coincidence. But for me it's really like destiny because you are the woman my heart chose to love and that's why I loved you," he said as he bent down and placed a sweet kiss on her forehead and then hugged her tightly.

Whatever was troubling and causing fear in Lara's heart was immediately dispelled because of her husband's actions.

"Thank you, Joaquin," that's what she whispered as he kept hugging her.

"You are always welcome," he replied.

*****

"And where are you going? Where are you going to live and who are you with?”

Sonia asked her one after another as she watched her organize her things.

“I got an apartment somewhere in Makati. I want to try to live alone, Aunt Sonia," she said with a smile, glancing at her aunt for a moment before finally closing the suitcase on top of her bed.

That suitcase was full of all her important things.

"Did you bring all your things?" she asked her.

She knew she was worried, and she couldn't make her aunt worry. Because just like what she said before. She is like her real mother.

"Not all, Auntie. Is it okay? I'll just come back in the next few days?" she asked in a tone that demanded her approval.

That's when Sonia dodged one of her hands.

"Don't worry about that. Come back here anytime you need me, okay?” Sonia told her in a tone full of affection.

What her aunt said touched Tessa's heart. That's why she quickly approached her with big steps and hugged her tightly.

"Don't worry, Auntie. I will be okay. I can take care of myself," she said in assurance.

Tessa heard the heavy sigh her aunt took and released. Then she caressed her face and spoke.

"I'm worried about you but you're right. I know you can handle and take care of yourself. Just keep me updated, okay?”

"Yes, Aunt Sonia," she replied.

*****

"Everything okay?" it was Ramil who opened the gate for her.

The traffic wasn't that bad, so Tessa got back to Ramil's apartment earlier than she expected.

"Yeah," she said, sitting on the sofa to rest.

"I'll get your suitcases in later, okay? Let's eat first," Ramil said to her.

"I might gain weight if you always take care of me like this, Ram," Tessa said smiling as she couldn't stop the excitement that mixed in her voice.

"It's okay if you gain weight," Ramil replied, pulling her hand upright and then grabbing her waist.

The young lady rolled her eyes at what she heard. "Really?" she said in a tone of disbelief.

"Really," was Ramil's short and confident answer.

"Is it okay with you if I lose my goddess figure that you love so much?" she asked then hooked both arms around his neck.

That's when Ramil bowed to her and then gently pressed a kiss on her lips. "Yes, even I can't believe that but that's the truth," he said for a moment after giving up kissing her to say that and then kissed her again.

Tessa didn't even protest what the man said. She kissed him back and after a while, she pulled herself away from him.

"I'm starving," she said with a giggle afterward.

Ramil didn't seem to read her lips then smiled and nodded. "All right. Later let's have a shower, together?" he asked.

"I like that!" she agreed.