"That's not possible, you know I really love Tanya, don't you?" it was Patrick in a protesting tone.
In fact, Joaquin was not surprised by what his friend said. He expected that because even he was against what his father wanted to happen.
"That's why I'm here because I want to ask you for advice," he explained in response.
That same day he decided to go to Patrick's office to talk. Because the truth is, he too has a hard time with everything his father said before.
“You need to find a woman you can marry. That's what you do,” he told her.
Joaquin stared at Patrick in surprise.
"Are you serious? It seems like everything is easy for you!” he said disgustedly.
His friend laughed softly. “Why? What is difficult there? Actually, Tanya and I are also planning to get married. And that might happen as soon as possible now because of what you told me today. But of course, before that just do what your father says. Try to find someone you know. After all, your Papa's three-month grace period is still quite long,” said Patrick.
Joaquin immediately thought deeply about what his friend had said.
“This is quite difficult if you would ask me. And who is the woman who will agree to such an agreement?”
"Why don’t you just try it first? After all, it is not difficult for you to do that. You are rich and handsome,” his friend teased him.
Joaquin nodded. “You don’t understand, Pat. Papa wants me to hide my social status from the woman I will marry,” he said here.
“What? Why is there a need for that?” Patrick's laughing question that if the basis he was going to make was the tone of his speech, it seemed like what he said was huge nonsense for him.
"He wants to make sure that the woman I'm going to marry is not after my money," he replied.
“However, I can't blame Uncle Joaquin for what he wants to happen. You have slept with too many women,” said Patrick who laughed out loud afterward.
“Crazy! But seriously, where else can I find that kind of woman?”
“There is such a thing. Look at Tanya,” Patrick's tone was full of pride.
As much as her friend said that, Lara's beautiful face suddenly came back to her mind.
Simple woman, beautiful and hardworking.
"I have to go," suddenly that's what he said.
"Hey, we haven't even talked yet," said Patrick who stood up then followed him.
“Believe me, dude. You have helped me already,” he said tapping Patrick on the shoulder before leaving.
*****
"WHAT time will Joaquin arrive and why does he still not hear? It’s almost seven o'clock?" Cynthia asked that night while she was still busy in front of the computer.
"Maybe he has changed his mind," she said, followed by a weak laugh.
She couldn’t help but feel amusement for her friend who seemed even more excited than her. Then Lara sighed and continued what she was doing.
Then she glanced at the desk clock on the bottom of his desktop computer monitor.
Maybe it's not right for her to laugh at her best friend because even she can't wait to see Joaquin again. At the thought, she was immediately stunned.
Earlier this morning, she asked the young man to dropped her off at the mall entrance. But she still gave the young man the name of the boutique where she worked after saying he would pick her up.
He may have really changed her mind.
The other side of her mind said that somehow made her heart grieved.
Well, if that’s true, she has no other choice but to accept that.
"Ma'am, excuse me but there's an angry customer outside," said one of the salesladies of the boutique, Hannah.
"Angry?" Cynthia asked almost simultaneously.
Hannah nodded.
"Okay, allow me to handle this," Cynthia quickly volunteered herself.
“No, I’ll do it. Just continue what you are doing,” she said to her friend.
"Are you sure?" Cynthia asked in a weeping tone.
Lara nodded. "Of course," she added.
*****
FROM a distance, Joaquin saw a familiar boutique. According to Lara, she works there as a Branch Manager.
As far as he could remember, he was once taken to that store by one of the women he had a relationship with. But he could no longer remember who.
As he approached, Joaquin seemed to return to the past when from outside he saw a familiar figure. He cannot be wrong. She’s the same woman he had seen before in that same store. Maybe three or four years ago. And now?
Well, he couldn't believe it.
The woman he saw then and the woman he is looking at now is Lara?
"Wow!" that's what Joaquin just said while stunned and remained standing outside the store.
*****
“FIRE her! She shouldn’t be working here because she’s stupid!” the woman's furious shout, in fact, would have been beautiful, but in her behavior of course all the qualities she has would have easily become nonsense in Lara’s eyes.
“Calm down, ma’am. The truth is that we can change this item right now, so you don't have to worry,” Lara calmly replied and then glanced at Denise. Her sales lady is being complained about by the female customer.
“No! I was bored and bothered by her stupidity so she should just be removed from here! Or maybe you want me to include you?” now she was the one the woman faced.
Lara is used to these types of customers, so she was not alarmed by what she said. In fact, this one is even calmer than the previous ones when they were treated like slaves.
“Ma’am, we can discuss your problem properly. So, I hope you calm down because otherwise I will be forced to call security,” she threatened then stared at the woman intently.
“Wait! What did you say? You don’t know me? Well, if you don’t know me maybe you better find my face in TV commercials because I’m famous! Now if you don't get rid of that woman, I will get rid of you too!” she pointed out a finger on her afterward.
As the woman did so, Lara's patience quickly seemed to reach its climax. But instead of hitting her with powerful words, she took a deep breath and then tried to calm herself.
"Ma'am, I'm sorry but I don't know you. And if you say you're famous, that still doesn't mean you have the right to step on and belittle those like us here. Now if you want to complain about me for defending my employee and not following your crooked righteousness,” she said and went to the cashier counter and took a calling card. “Here, on this calling card are all the details you need about our head office to report and get me fired. But I hope you just make sure that what you say is correct because this store has CCTV cameras. You may suddenly lose the luster of popularity that you are proud of when the truth comes out,” she said emphatically in a tone that obviously suppressed anger.
The woman did not speak after she said that. In the end, she just came out of the store with a new stock of clothes in exchange for the one she complained was the wrong size.
"Ma'am, are you going to fire me?" Denise's tearful question to her.
It was then that she stroked the back of the sales clerk. “No. And just in case you will have a problem, I won't leave you. I know our boss, he will not tolerate such behaviors even if you say she is a customer,” she told Denise.
"Lara," the voice said from behind her.
That familiar voice of a man immediately made Lara's chest heave. And it only intensified when she turned around and looked up. Then their eyes met.
"So, you came," she said laughing softly.
“Yeah, enough to see everything. And you impressed me with the attitude you showed,” he complimented her.