[Book 1] M. L. M. I. (My lover, My Idol)

Epilogue

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It has been two years since her third movie with Aga was released and shown in the cinemas.

But up until now, it remains as the highest box office hit in the Philippines' history; towering the success of known movie stars such as Vic Sotto, Vice Ganda, Kathniel and Aldub.

It wasn't mainly because the movie stars Lea Salonga and Aga Muhlach, but more likely it was because that was the last work made by Ellie.

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It was about five years ago..

Nobody had expected it, everyone was shocked, all their hearts felt broken as they heard the sudden news.

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Ellie had just died.

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She was even rushed to the hospital as she had difficulty breathing, grabbing tightly onto her chest as it hurts. As much as they tried, the doctors were no longer able to do anything to save the life of the young woman.

The Broadway star didn't know how to accept the news. She couldn't believe that Ellie is gone. She had waited for her to come back by her side and now that she is, she then just left her and everyone permanently.

Lea couldn't stop crying as the doctors left them in the room to absorb the bad news. All her husband can do is to hug her as she drown herself in tears trying to call out her protege's name.

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Ellie's wake has been attended by so many. Her family that has been known to be so private had been contacted by Lea's side to inform them of the heartbreaking news. It was the first and last time the Broadway star met Ellie's parents.

The interment was held at Loyola Memorial Chapel. Big personalities coming from the entertainment industry gave their condolences to El's family. Some attendees were big shot names from ABS-CBN, some executives from production companies, and those foreign producers who had witnessed the young woman's writing talent in the  austin film festival who came from international countries. They became a fan of Ellie's works and felt so devastated that the woman had to leave this world so young and early.

It was then, that Lea finally met Daniel Yun, El's agent. It was him who told them that Ellie did not actually proceed with the surgery. Her doctors have found further complications with her heart, requiring her to have a transplant instead.

However, El was totally against it. She couldn't welcome somebody else's heart to be used and replace hers. She's afraid that she'd become a different person once she agree to have the transplant.

"I don't want to replace my heart.. I'm afraid I'll be unable to retain all the feelings that are etched onto mine if I'll have somebody else's heart placed inside me. There's... There's someone I truly love back home and I don't want to lose my feelings for that person."

Daniel quoted as what Ellie exactly said when she refused to have the surgery. She just then requested not to let anybody know about her condition as she doesn't want everyone to worry about her.

Hearing all this just made Lea's heart torn into a million pieces. The young woman genuinely loves her. She's already starting to have the same feelings towards her, but now fate took away the chance for her to return Ellie's love.

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The public had mourned with Lea and El's family altogether. Several tributes have been made for the young lady. She was such a big loss; a woman with talents not just in music but also in writing, a woman so beautiful in and out with a fragile yet kind heart, a woman with so much intelligence yet remains so humble; Ellie is indeed a precious gem found in her native land.

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Lea initially did not want to shoot the movie, she was still brokenhearted with Ellie's passing after all. How can she work with a material that will keep her reminded of her unrealized love with El. She didn't even want to go do other projects like TV shows, guesting or concerts. She just wants to coop up inside her home as she tries to forget all the sadness she feels right now. And this went on for about two years as Lea grieves Ellie's death. If not for the latter's mom, she would not agree to go on with the movie Ellie prepared for her.

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"Ellie loves and respects you so much. To the point that she had risked her life than to have a future without the love she has for you. She's so afraid not to be by your side. This was her last work. She has you on her mind as she wrote it. Consider filming it. That script was her gift for you after all." was what Mrs. Martinez said to her on a letter.

Ellie's mom tried as hard as much to convince the Broadway star to film the movie her daughter wrote. She badly wanted to see this masterpiece as it was the very last material her only daughter had poured her energy into.

How can Lea decline the plead of her protege's mom? She is also a mother in her own right so she fully understands how difficult and how hurt the woman is feeling with the loss of her only child.

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And so it now comes to this day, with Lea reminiscing all her memories with El and how she had filmed the movie that the lealistas and teambabes fandom have all been waiting for.

She could not and would not forget this young woman who opened up her world of impossibilities.

They may not have ended up together, even unable to spend time with each other for too long, but she promised to herself and to El's memory that she will not let her feelings for the latter die. She will forever have a place on her heart as she keeps on living. She'll continue to make more happy memories with Nicole and the people they both knew, so that she could tell them all to her once they meet again up above.

Up to this day, Lea can still feel some sadness as she thinks about Ellie. But she knew that her protege will always be with her and will be looking out for her from the heavens. Whenever she misses the young woman, she just grabs the manuscript she personally gave her and read the words on the last page that El meant for her:

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I love you.

I never knew when did it start.
I just realized one day, my admiration for you is no longer of a fan.
My heart flutters whenever I see your face on the screen,
whenever I hear your voice especially when you sing.
Your laughter captures my heart in each moment.
Your giggles make me smile unconsciously.
I see your face even when I close my eyes.
I dream of you even when I am awake.
I yearn for my name to be called as you read the comments on your streams.
And ah! How can I forget that dimple of yours.

I love you.
This is not an exaggeration, but I truly love you from the bottom of my heart.

And I bet everybody else feels the same way.
As you are an angel in disguised.

To Lea.

My lover.

My idol.

My heart is all yours.

— Ellie.

F i n .