Emancipating The Love (On-going)

Chapter 18

Wonders of The World

One peak of sunshine was all it took to wake Aga up. He was surprised to not feel Lea by his side, he didn't even hear her alarm go off, and she went home late the last night—or few hours ago—yet she's nowhere to be found?

He went downstairs, flabbergasted to see her wearing an apron with nanang Selda near her, but her hands on her back. It looked like she was supervising Lea.

"Nanang, is this already okay?" They both took a look of what was in the pot. Aga knew that whatever the older woman answered intertwined with Lea's seeking of approval as a smile grew on Lea's face.

"Aba, anak? Ngayon lang ata kita nakitang ngumiti ulit?" Nanang Selda pointed Lea's small smile with a bigger smile.

"Na-miss ko 'yang ngiti mo, sino ba ang nagpapaligaya sa'iyo? O baka naman... sa puso mo?" There was a taunting grin on the old woman's face as she started cleaning the mess on the counter.

"Nanang! You know that I don't do that?" Lea immediately invoked the thought.

"I know, 'nak. Pero hindi mo mapipigilan kapag tumibok ang puso. Mas masakit kapag pinipigilan, alam mo na?" Her eyebrows wiggled, giving Lea malicious look.

"I don't know that po." Lea shook her head as she hid her laugh. She turned her head to look at the time, and that's when she caught Aga's eyes. It starred profoundly weird to her. It was as if they were sparkling.

"Good morning." He mouthed.

"Oh! Aga, andiyan ka na pala? Sige, iiwan ko muna kayong mag-asawa. Baka masira ko pa time niyo eh." Lea heard how nanang Selda giggled as she walked away.

"Don't mind her." Lea stated.

"I don't at all." Aga assuaged.

"What did you cook?" He changed the topic to divert Lea's attention from the talk she had with their caretaker.

"Sinigang. It's something Elli really likes, I'd at least want to try to cook it for her." Lea opened the pot, scooped some on a bowl, and served it on the counter.

"Do you want to try some?" Lea offered, showing him a spoonful of it.

Without a doubt, he took it into his mouth and swallowed it. Aga remained silenced as he clicked his tongue multiple times to really indulge the flavor on his tongue.

"Is it too salty? Too sour? Should I add more water?" Lea wearily questioned. She doesn't like being criticized, so she makes the first move so that she knows what to expect.

"Calm down, it's perfect the way it is. It's your version of sinigang, and it's the way Elli wants it, too. You did great, I'm proud of you!" He opened his arms and hugged her. Kissing her forehead.

"Good thing. I really want to be accountant of my actions and make her feel better." Lea sighed as she escaped from the hug and took her apron off of her body.

"You're still thinking of it? That's why you can't sleep properly?" Aga's question tamed her. She gave him a look, asking how he knew.

"I can feel how you tossed around the bed last night, Lea." He showed her a grin.

"Never mind that. I'll be back, I'll just call nanang Selda to eat, and bring some to the helpers, too." Lea excused herself, carrying the bowl she scooped the sinigang in earlier.

Aga watched his wife as she carefully, with grace, walks outside where the helpers were eating. They all greeted her as Lea placed the bowl on the table. It looked like they were having a conversation so Aga proceeded to make his coffee first whilst waiting for Lea to come back.