Bright Fire
CHAPTER THIRTEEN

I CAN'T reach you lately. I hope everything is fine. Clara could only heave a sigh as she gazed at Josef's message.

It had been more than a week since she had dinner with the del Mars. Since then, she had been contemplating her next steps. She was intentionally avoiding Josef and decided to only speak to him when she had made up her mind. Clara was determined to change her life. Even if it meant leaving everything behind-including Fuego. She broke his heart again that night. As much as she wanted to run away with him, that was not the best thing to do. She must set things right, or she would only go on hurting the people around her.

"Are you really going to the shop today, Clara? You don't look well to me," Rosa said.

"It must be something I ate yesterday. I don't know."

"Here, I made your favorite fried rice with lots of garlic. I hope this will make you feel better." Rosa put a plate of hot fried rice in front of her.

Clara would usually beam in delight every time Rosa made that for her. But she caught her nose and grimaced this time.

"What's this smell? It's awful!"

"What do you mean? You like the smell of spices, don't you?"

"Please take that away from me," she begged.

"Okay, okay." Rosa removed the plate from the table.

Clara's stomach suddenly turned. She stood up and rushed to the sink. She threw up, but nothing would come out.

Her knees were wobbly as she opened the faucet and gargled. She had no idea what's going on.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Rosa stroked her back, her voice laced with concern.

"I-I think so."

"Clara... you're not pregnant, are you?"

Clara froze as she stared at Rosa.

CLARA slumped on the bathroom floor as she stared at the pregnancy test kit in her hand. There were two red lines that indicated the possibility of life inside her womb. To make sure, she had to see a doctor. But the thought of her becoming a mother soon brought different emotions-happiness, anxiety, and hope. Her lips quivered as tears rolled down her face.

She was pregnant. She was going to become a mother.

Clara thought of Fuego. Should she let him know? But what would he feel about it? It could ruin his relationship with Venice...

She was not sure if he wanted it. And she did not want to force him to acknowledge their child. She hurt him. He had nothing to do with her anymore.

She wrapped her arms around her tummy protectively. He did not have to want it. She could raise the baby alone. She now had more reasons to have the courage and be strong. CLARA was still floating in the air as she walked out of the clinic with Rosa.

Pure happiness filled her heart when the doctor announced that she was six weeks pregnant.

She did not go to the coffee shop as planned and asked Rosa to accompany her to the clinic instead.

"I'm going to be a mother, Rosa," she said, her eyes teary again.

"And I'm so happy for you. I know you're going to be a great mother," Rosa said happily as she squeezed her arm. "But do you plan to tell the father of your child?"

Clara stared ahead and sighed.

"I'm still thinking about it, Rosa. After pushing him away, I'm not sure if I still have the right to turn to him. It was all my fault that things turned out this way. It hurt us both. But I know that my pregnancy is a sign that beautiful things could still happen to me. I did not stand up for Fuego, but this time, I'm not going to fail my child."

"I'm glad to hear that. How about we have a simple celebration? I'm sure there's something you crave for."

"I want an egg pie," Clara said, giggling.

"ARE YOU ALL right, Clara? Aren't you sick or something?"

Clara nodded and smiled. She finally called Josef to meet with him at her coffee shop. They were inside her office. Josef, being the good person that he was, went right away. She wondered if she really deserved a friend like him. "I guess you could say I'm sick, but not that sick. Don't worry about me."

"You sure you don't want to go to the hospital?"

"I've been there already."

"Okay. If you say so." Josef sighed in relief.

He took a sip of his coffee. Clara watched him intently.

"Josef." She took a deep breath. "Can I ask you a huge favor?"

"What kind of favor?" he asked as he put the cup down.

"I'll have to close this shop indefinitely, but I don't want Jennifer and Agnes to lose their jobs. They are wonderful women, and it's just hard to let them go. Do you think you have a place for them in your company?" Josef's forehead creased.

"Hold up, Clara. I'm afraid I'm not understanding you. Why are you closing this shop indefinitely? I... I don't understand what's happening."

"I'm going home to my parents. I want to take a break, and I'm not sure how long that would take me. I don't think I have something to return to here. S-so," she cleared her throat, "maybe you could help Jennifer and Agnes." "What the hell is going on, Clara?" Josef looked confused and a little frustrated.

"First of all, I want you to remember that I sincerely wanted to be your friend. You are a wonderful person, and I wish you to be surrounded by people who only have good intentions toward you. I'm doing this for my baby." Josef's jaw dropped. "B-baby?"

She nodded. "I'm pregnant."

"Who is the father?"

Clara glanced at her tummy as she put a hand over it.

"He doesn't know about the baby yet, and I don't know how to tell him, or it's even necessary. As far as I know, it's over between us."

Josef shifted in his seat.

"Do I know him?"

Clara sniffed as warm tears rolled down her cheeks.

"I was used to being a submissive niece to my aunt because I love her so much. She had everything planned for my life already. I let her because I used to believe that she always wanted what's best for me. I never knew what I wanted in life until I met this man on that fateful night. I did not know breaking rules was fun. I fell in love with him despite knowing him for a short time. I can't choose him even if I wanted to. I don't want to break Aunt Carlota's heart."

She took a deep breath as she brushed her tears with the back of her hand.

"But if you chose him, it will be worth it. That is your life to live, Clara."

"I thought it was as easy as that. But I found out that he already had a girlfriend. If the woman finds out about me, that will ruin his relationship with her. I can't afford to be selfish. She doesn't know anything about what happened between us." Josef clenched his fist over the table.

"He's an asshole."

"I know. But I know he really cared for me. And I can't hate him. You know, I realized that a person who was desperate to be happy would grab it even if that happiness was only temporary and would ruin you in the end." Clara took a deep breath. "That night, when we were having dinner with your parents, he begged me to take him back."

Josef stared.

"If I hadn't known the truth that he already had a girlfriend, I would have asked him to run away." She laughed blandly as tears kept pouring. "And then I found out I was pregnant with our child. How cruel could life get?" "Clara..."

"When you see Fuego, can you pretend you know nothing about these things I told you?"

The color drained from his face.

"Please, Josef... I beg you."

"And you expect me to be okay with that? My uncle cheated on his girlfriend, and he got you pregnant!" he roared.

Clara flinched, but she did not say a word.

"This is driving me insane, Clara. He has to take responsibility. That's his blood in your tummy!"

"I know. But I don't want him to stay with me because of pity. He has always shown me kindness. It was my fault I was pathetic all my life."

Josef grabbed her hand.

"Will you stop being mean to yourself, Clara? You're not pathetic. You're a wonderful woman. You're only vulnerable, and my bastard uncle took advantage of that by sleeping with you."

"No, you got it wrong. It was the other way around. I can't blame him if he lied that he had a girlfriend before we met."

"Stop defending him. I know he's my uncle, and I look up to him. But this isn't right, Clara."

"This is why I hesitated to tell you the truth. I don't want to ruin your relationship with Fuego. He cares about his family. He cares about you."

Josef fell silent and avoided her gaze for a moment. He knew it was true. Fuego cared about him.

"He should know the truth as soon as possible. He should be a man."

"Do you think he will listen after I hurt him?"

"He does not have a choice," he said firmly. Josef leaned in to wipe her tears with his handkerchief. "Don't stress yourself too much. That's my cousin you're carrying. I want him or her to take after me." Clara laughed as she cried harder.

"I-I'm sorry, Josef. I d-don't deserve you."

"It's okay. I understand. Don't be sad now. Here's my suggestion. Leave this shop to me, and I'll do my best to manage it until you return. I know this shop means a lot to you. You don't need to lose Jennifer and Agnes, too. Does that make you feel better?"

Clara nodded like a child.

.

"T-thank you. I don't know if I could ever repay you."

"You don't have to. We're family now. Let's just say I'm doing this for my cousin." Josef smiled.

CLARA went to Aunt Carlota's office after talking to Josef. She was supposed to do it alone, but he insisted on driving for her because he was worried about her condition. She never once thought that he was the kind of friend she needed. "Do you want me to go up with you?" Josef asked.

"No. You've done enough already. I can manage. I have to do it for the baby." Clara smiled.

Josef nodded.

"All right. I trust you." He pulled her into his arms and tapped her back lightly. "I'll be here waiting. I'll never leave you."

"Thank you, Josef. I'll never forget this for the rest of my life." She took a deep breath as she pulled away. "Wish me luck."

CLARA'S heart was pounding as she rode the elevator. It felt like time had slowed down. She brought her hands together and realized they were cold and slightly trembling.

Aunt Carlota's office was the place she frequented the least. Until now, she still felt like she did not belong there. Sometimes she wondered if her life had been different if Aunt Carlota trusted her capabilities.

When the elevator finally opened, she drew a loud breath as she stepped out. She was almost at Aunt Carlota's office when the door opened and Dessa, her assistant, came out.

"Miss Clara," she greeted.

"H-Hi, Dessa. Is Aunt Carlota busy?"

"Well, she'll be having a meeting in half an hour. Can I get you something?"

"No, I'm fine. Thank you. I'll just go talk to her."

Dessa nodded and smiled politely.

"See you around, Miss Clara."

Clara pushed the door opened. She found Aunt Carlota sitting in front of her laptop. She glanced up. For a moment, she looked surprised.

"Hi, Auntie," she greeted weakly.

"Clara." She shifted on her seat. "What are you doing here?"

Clara closed the door and sauntered to her table.

"I came here to say goodbye," she said.

Aunt Carlota's jaw dropped.