Lara did not immediately speak or responded to that question from her father. What should she say to him? Is it right for her to keep it a secret even though in many cases they have only been together since her mother died?
"Lara?" Rodolfo whispered to her as she remained silent.
At that point, a quick decision was immediately formed in the young lady's mind. But instead of opening her mouth to speak, she nodded in response to her father's question.
"Why so sudden, sweetheart?" not angry but in the tone of Rodolfo's speech, the intense astonishment is present.
Lara gasped at that question. Then she decided to explain everything to her father as well. But before that, she glanced at the clock hanging on the wall of their living room.
"Don't worry Lara, I'm not sleepy yet if that's what you're worried about," Rodolfo said when he probably guessed what was running through her mind.
Lara smiled when she heard her father say that. She then stared into his eyes and then sighed before opening her mouth to speak.
“Papa, the truth is, I don't know how to tell you about this. Because to tell you frankly, even I can't believe what happened,” she began.
"What do you mean?" Rodolfo asked in response to what she said.
Lara sighed again to somehow loosen her previously tight chest.
"Joaquin, he's Callie's father," she said without hesitation although she couldn't control the trembling of her voice at first.
Lara remained to stare at her father's face despite the mixed emotions she felt in those moments. That is why she clearly describes the shock mixed with confusion that she saw in him.
"D-Did you mean he ---,"
Lara didn't let her father finish the rest of what he wanted to say.
"Yes, Papa," she sighed. "Do you think, Papa, did I do something wrong?" she asked then as if asking for help staring at her father's face.
There was a long silence before she saw Rodolfo open his mouth to answer her question.
“Why did you do that? I mean, why did you agree to be Joaquin's girlfriend?” he asked her.
Lara didn't have to think about that thing because from the very beginning she already knew the answer to that.
“Because I thought he might propose to me. Maybe this is the way for my daughter to have a whole family. Even though he didn't know that Callie was his daughter,” she replied in a low tone that was full of anticipation.
His father nodded. “In that case, you made the right decision. There is nothing wrong with what you did, sweetheart,” Rodolfo answered him without hesitation.
A sweet smile quickly tore from Lara's lips as she heard her father say that. Her heart was immediately filled with joy. The young lady stood up then hugged Rodolfo tightly who also hugged her back.
"You didn't do anything wrong because you are thinking of your child's welfare, Lara," he said, rubbing her back afterward.
Lara's eyes warmed at what she heard. But despite her desire to shed her tears, she chose to hold back. And she succeeded there.
*****
"Where are we going?" Lara asked when Joaquin when he picked her up the next day as they had agreed.
The young man shrugged his shoulders. "Anywhere, I just want to be with you," he replied.
Lara secretly shuddered at the young man's response.
But she also had to admit that that was not all she felt.
She also felt an intense longing that only this young man made her experience. And since the fact that the two of them are officially dating. It seems that she has remained in her inner soul. Something that becomes active whenever her boyfriend is around or with her.
"Really?" she asked mischievously.
As she did so, the emotion quickly changed in Joaquin's eyes. So, from sitting in front of the steering wheel and being busy driving, he immediately stopped the vehicle on the side of the road.
Lara was surprised at what the young man did. And she was even more surprised when he bowed to her for a passionate kiss.
"N-Not here, please," she said gasping for breath as the young man released her lips.
He knew Joaquin would get what she meant by what she said. And she wasn't wrong. Because after that, he immediately runs the car.
Things happened quickly when Lara found herself standing in front of a large and beautiful house.
"Do you live here?" the unbelievable question that she asked.
Joaquin’s home is within a well-known and exclusive subdivision. That is why she could not help but ask questions mixed with astonishment in the tone of her speech.
Joaquin just smiled and then pushed the door open. “Come on in,” were the only words that came out of his mouth.
Lara quickly traveled her eyes sight inside the household.
All the furniture there is a touch of luxury. But because she was aware that Joaquin was in a good position at work, she did not ask again.
The young man made her sit in the living room.
While she is just like a robot that automatically obeys everything it wants to happen.
"Would you like something to drink?" the young man asked.
She just stared at the face of the man sitting next to her now. Then she smiled at him then she nodded.
"Do you have orange juice?" she asked the young man.
"Yes," Joaquin replied before standing up and getting what she was asking for.
The young man soon returned. He sat down next to her again after he laid down on the beautiful center table a glass of cold orange juice.
"Thank you," said Lara who immediately picked up the glass and drank.
But Joaquin did not answer.
Instead, he just remained to stare at her while in her eyes the undeniable seemingly small fires of longing. For her.
Moments later, when Joaquin probably realized that she had finished drinking, he acted to take the glass from her hand.
But despite that, he did not take his eyes away from her. Something that intensified and accelerated the throbbing of Lara's chest.
Lara already knew what could possibly happen in those moments. And she was actually ready.
Last night when her boyfriend asked about the matter, she also thought that something might happen to them. That's also how Joaquin made her feel. Especially with his warm and possessive kisses on her.
And she could not deny the fact that she was also barren of the young man.
She wanted to experience the feeling of his delicious and scorching method of claiming once again her. And that was exacerbated by the fact that she confessed to Rodolfo about her secret.
She is ready. And not just ready but even more ready to subdue. Because she is also ready to keep up with the flame of desire and hunger for a passion that her boyfriend can throw at her or that all this will come true.