LEA
I sank into the plush sofa of my hotel suite, the scent of honey vanilla still clinging to my skin from a long, soothing bath. In my hand, the deep red of the wine glowed softly in the lamplight, a quiet tribute to my small victory earlier that day. VinoSarmiento was safe, case had been won, and with that weight lifted, my plans for expansion in the Philippines could finally take shape.
I took a slow sip, savoring the wine's rich, bold flavor, hoping it might dull the restlessness swirling inside me. But as I closed my eyes, an unwelcome memory surfaced—Aga. After all this time, why was it his face that lingered? Dark eyes, intense and unyielding, had a way of looking right through me. The last time I saw him, there was something different, a gravity between us that I couldn't explain away.
A part of me wanted to brush off the thought, to leave it buried in the years that had passed. But no matter how hard I tried, the memory refused to fade, tugging at old emotions I thought I'd buried long ago.
As I swirled the wine in my glass, a wave of nostalgia crept in, loosening memories I'd locked away. Aga and I—those moments felt like an entire lifetime ago, wrapped in the naive confidence of youth. But like everything that burns too brightly, it couldn't last. And still, fifteen years later, here I was, allowing his memory to stir in my mind like sediment in a glass of wine.
What would he say if he knew I still thought of him now and then? Would he be surprised? Or was he as haunted by memories as I was? I sighed, trying to brush off the thought, but the familiar ache lingered.
Suddenly, my phone's ring jolted me back to the present. I glanced at the screen and, unsurprisingly, saw Regine's name flashing. I took a steadying breath and answered.
"Well, look who's celebrating early," Regine's voice sang out, laced with playful sarcasm. "The woman of the hour! And here I thought you'd be hiding after that little staring contest with Aga."
I rolled my eyes, a small smirk creeping onto my face. Leave it to Regine to bring him up within the first five seconds. "Oh, please. It wasn't anything, no. Just...a glance," I replied, feigning indifference. "People look at each other all the time."
"A glance?" she scoffed, clearly savoring this. "Bading, hindi 'yun glance lang. The way you two were locked in like that, I thought I'd need a crowbar to pry you apart."
I sighed, shaking my head. "You're exaggerating. We barely even looked at each other."
"Oh please," she said, undeterred. "If you two had spent any longer in that silent standoff, I'd have started charging tickets! Para akong nanonood ng sine, at front-row pa!"
I could almost picture her grinning on the other end, eyebrows raised, ready to pounce on any hint of a reaction. The two of us were polar opposites: she thrived on drama, loved a good scandal, while I preferred my emotions tucked neatly away, like the court files stacked on my desk. I sighed, deciding to steer the conversation elsewhere.
"Anyway, about that house and lot you somehow convinced me to buy—can I occupy it in, say, three days?" I asked, leaning back against the couch. The place was beautiful in photos, and after today's win, maybe it's time to take advantage of it. "I may need some extra space sooner than expected."
"How's that going to work if you're only here temporarily?" she teased. "But, of course, I'll have the place ready. Just say the word."
"Good," I said, letting out a relieved breath. At least she'd dropped the Aga topic—for now. "At least one thing I bought on a whim might actually come in handy."
Regine chuckled, her voice dripping with mischief. "One day, you'll thank me for it. Who knows? You might even find someone to share it with."
"Puwede ba?," I groaned, though I couldn't help but smile. It was exactly like her to read too much into things, spinning even the smallest details into a story.
BINABASA MO ANG
Love is a Stranger
FanfictionLea Sarmiento returned to the Philippines with one goal: to fix the damage done to her winery's latest shipment. But when her path crosses with Aga, the lawyer on the other side-and the man she left behind fifteen years ago-old emotions surface. Can...