Bright Fire

"SEEMS like your son found a friend in my niece, Julian."

"Carlota," Julian uttered. "I'm glad you made it."

She motioned her glass.

"Congratulations to you and Josef."

"Thank you," he replied with a smile and glanced upstairs. "I did not recognize Clara right away. She grew up into a charming lady."

"Is Josef dating? Clara isn't. They would make a perfect couple if they get to know each other."

"I don't actually interfere with my son's dating life. If he's happy, I respect that."

"Julian, you should seek for a perfect daughter-in-law. Someone who's submissive and would not get in the way of Josef's success. Someone who already had everything."

"But don't you think the kids are still young to talk about marriage? I want them to take their time. I'm sure there are a lot of things they want to accomplish."

"I see that as an opportunity to bring them closer. I'm going to be honest. I want Josef for Clara."

Julian stared with an amused smile.

"Well, I don't see anything wrong with that," he said and drank his wine.

"What about you, Julian? Don't you have any plans to marry again? It's been years since Seferina died."

For a moment, Julian's expression turned grim at the mention of his deceased wife.

"Seferina would want that," he said as he stared at his glass. "But it was not easy for me to let her go. I just can't."

Carlota looked away as her jaw clenched. Even after years since she died, Seferina was still a tight rival. To think that she met Julian first.

She glanced at her purse when her phone vibrated. She heaved a sigh and smiled at Julian as she fished her phone.

"I'll just take this call."

"Sure. Go ahead."

She went to a corner away from the guests. It was Baron calling. The nerve of this brute to call her for personal reasons. "What is it? I'm in the middle of a party," she said in a bored tone.

"Were you trying to hit on that widower del Mar again?" he said in a mocking tone.

Carlota rolled her eyeballs ceilingward.

"Yes, I am, insensitive jerk. If you have nothing important to say, I'm hanging up."

"I need you tonight. Don't be like that."

Carlota paused and took a deep breath.

"May I just remind you that I call you when I have a job for you. You don't call me when you want to fuck."

Her mood was completely ruined because of Seferina. And Baron was not helpful, either.

"All right. I know my place. You do too, right?" Baron chuckled.

Carlota hissed and ended the call.

JOSEF led her to another hallway, but they stopped at the sight of a familiar man coming toward their direction.

Clara's heart throbbed as she met Fuego's gaze. He was wearing a black shirt under a dark coat. He got a clean haircut that made him look younger than his age. He was walking casually, his hands in the pockets of his pants.

He glanced at her hand on Josef's arm and said nothing. She wanted to burst into tears for some weird reason.

"There you are, Uncle. I thought you already left," Josef said.

"I was about to," he replied matter-of-factly.

"I'd like you to meet Clara. Clara, this is my Uncle Fuego. He's only five years older than me. Sometimes we are mistaken as brothers because we really look so much alike." "She's beautiful." Fuego extended his hand. "Lovely to meet you, Clara."

Clara swallowed. When Josef looked at her, she had no choice but to accept Fuego's hand.

Her own hand was cold and slightly trembling.

"N-nice to meet you, too," she said.

He squeezed her hand and let go at once.

Fuego did as he was told. He pretended not to know her. It was harder than she thought. It hurt to see him again in such an awful situation.

It looked natural to Fuego, though. He must have done it with the other women who were involved with him in the past. Did Clara really think she was special?

"You look good together," Fuego remarked as he put his hand back in his pocket.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

Josef smiled at her, but she looked away.

"I'm just giving Clara a tour. Don't leave just yet. The night is still young."

Fuego smiled curtly. "I'll go talk to your dad. Have fun." He nodded and walked past them.

Clara heaved a sigh. Suddenly, it was difficult to breathe.

"Are you all right, Clara?"

"Y-yes," she nodded and forced a smile.

"DID JOSEF ask for your number?" Aunt Carlota asked as they headed to the parking lot.

"He did. He said he's coming to check my coffee shop one of these days," Clara replied quietly. She was walking behind her aunt. She was thankful she could not see her face.

"I hope he'd come sooner." Aunt Carlota turned to her and cupped her face. "Your first meeting was more remarkable than I imagined. I am so proud of you. You're getting there." Clara only nodded.

"Why don't you look so happy? Josef is a gorgeous, young man."

"I know, Auntie. I'm just tired."

"Then, get some rest. I'll just see you tomorrow."

"Aren't you coming with me?"

"No. Something important came up in one of our branches. I need to go."

Somehow, Clara felt relieved. She could not imagine talking with Aunt Carlota about Josef inside the car for the whole ride.

"Take care, Auntie." She kissed her cheek and got inside the car.

Aunt Carlota left, and the driver turned the car on. Clara heaved a heavy sigh as she slumped on the backseat.

Just when the car began to leave the parking lot, Clara saw Fuego walking toward his big bicycle. She straightened her back and moved to the window side. She wanted to call his name, but she did not have the courage to do so. She bit her lower lip, hurt and helpless. She was scared Fuego would only ignore her again.

"IF I did not have a miscarriage, our child would have grown as wonderful as Josef," Carlota lamented as she gazed blankly outside the car.

Baron picked her up from the venue, and she thought he was driving back to his place.

"The world was never fair to me. I lost the man I love, then the doctors told me I could never bear a child again."

"That does not give you the reason to be unfair to others, Carlota," Baron said. "Your niece cared for you. Treating her as your own daughter won't hurt. But you actually wanted to control her life by setting him up with Julian's son?" Carlota shot him a glare. Baron threw her a glance, unbothered by her reaction at all.

"Can't you see how fragile Clara is?" she sneered. "She needs someone like Josef. He was a fine man. He's perfect. I am not just setting her up with any man!"

"Your niece is only fragile because you did not want her to be strong. You instilled in her mind that you always know what's best for her. You took her away from her family. You never asked what could make her happy." Carlota faked a laugh. She was not expecting to hear that from Baron.

"And since when did I give you any right to say something about my personal life?"

"Let's stop fooling around, at least for now, Carlota. You know we are more than familiar with each other."

"But it seems to me that you are on Clara's side," Carlota said, raising an eyebrow.

"I am saying you're wrong this time."

Her jaw dropped in disbelief.

"Wow. That's new. I can't believe it!" She glanced outside the car. "Why are we here?" The car just passed the familiar guardhouse of Carlota's village.

Baron made a turn on the first street, away from the block where Carlota's mansion was.

"I decided to show you my new place," he remarked nonchalantly. "I guess that makes us neighbors now." The corner of his mouth twisted into a grin. CLARA threw her purse into the bed and heaved an exhausted sigh. Coming home did not make her feel any better.

She went to her closet and grabbed her pajamas. Just then her phone rang.

She grabbed her purse, her heart racing, hoping it was Fuego, finally wanting to talk to her. But to her disappointment, she saw Josef del Mar's name on the screen. She could only sigh in dissatisfaction. But she decided to take the call.

"H-hello?"

"Hi, Clara! Did I disturb you?" Josef sounded enthusiastic, unlike her.

"N-no. I was just about to go to bed."

"I'm glad to hear that. I was just checking on you. I can't wait to see you soon."

"Me, too, Josef. Thank you for your kindness tonight. I really appreciate that."

"You're always welcome, Miss. Good night!"

"Good night."

Clara sat on the bed and stared at her phone for a moment. Should she let this day end without talking to Fuego? She doubted if she could even sleep. Are you mad? Can we talk? I want to tell you I'm sorry.

Clara cleared her throat as she fought back the tears in her eyes. She was falling in love for the first time, and she did not know what to do.

She stared at her text message for another moment. She had become impatient, hoping Fuego would read it at once and send a reply. Then, she realized it was not enough. Should she call him already?

Clara stood up and sauntered to her window. Biting her lip, she clicked Fuego's number and pressed the call button.

As the other line rang, her heart could not help racing again. Finally, someone picked up.

Clara held her breath as she anticipated for Fuego's smooth voice.

"Hello?"

Clara's eyes widened as a woman's voice answered. She could not find the words to say.

"W-who's this? This is Fuego's phone, right? W-where is he?"

"This is Venice, Fuego's girlfriend. He's already asleep. May I know your relationship with him?"

Clara froze as the words rang in her ears.

"Hello? Are you still there?"

How could he have a girlfriend? He said he did not have one.

"I-I..." Clara swallowed hard as tears sprang from her eyes. "I-it was nothing important. Please don't mention that I called. B-bye."

"Sure. No problem!"

Before she could even go back to bed, her knees gave in, and she fell to the floor. It hurt, but it was nothing compared to the pain in her heart.

She could not believe Fuego lied to her. She felt betrayed. Thinking that he slept with that woman tonight only made the pain worse. That night, jealousy brought her to sleep.

CLARA was thankful Aunt Carlota was not around the next morning. She did not want her to see her puffy eyes, and she did not want to lie. "Are you all right, Clara?" Rosa asked.

"I'm not," she replied weakly as she stared at the delicious food on the table.

"What happened? Did you get into a fight with Carlota?"

She shook her head.

"It's not like that at all. Aunt Carlota knew nothing. And I don't want her to have an idea."

"Was it the man you went with last time?"

Her lips quivered as Fuego's face flashed her mind.

"I guess we could never really be together." She sighed. "I don't have an appetite, Rosa. I got to go. I am sorry."

"I'm going to pack your breakfast. You can't have an empty stomach, Clara," Rosa said firmly.

"I appreciate that. Thank you very much."

Rosa cupped her face and smiled gently.

"I hope you fix things right away. I love to see you happy and in love."