'Til I Found You (COMPLETED)

4

The days go by at a brisk pace. Aga brings her everywhere—social events, nights out with friends, business trips—and he thrives on the compliments he receives for the woman standing next to him. Other men hover nearby, and while he can’t blame them, his chivalrous side crops up every time he senses a lingering gaze.

She is beautiful—the kind of beauty that initially attracts him—but there is something more that he can’t quite decipher. He finds her fascinating; she is bubbly and has so much to offer. The quality he admires most is her adeptness at conquering whatever life throws her way, a resilience he feels he lacks. Having grown up with a silver spoon in his mouth, he has always obtained what he needed with ease.

"You sing?" he asks, staring at her amused face as she watches a musical drama. He has taken her out on a friendly date. She once mentioned her interest in musical theater, and seeing her wide smile makes something stir inside him.

"Yeah. I love to sing, but not in front of a big crowd. I don't have the guts," she explains.

"I hope to hear you someday," he says with a smile.

"Sure. I'd love that." She doesn't look at him, her eyes glued to the stage, and Aga simply chuckles. He enjoys stealing glances at her beaming face.

When the play ends, she invites him to stroll around before calling it a night. It is his first time in forever simply stargazing. Millions of stars twinkle above them as they walk through the silence of the night. It is late, but he doesn't mind. As a busy man, he usually manages his time with clinical precision to keep up with business demands, but tonight, she takes all of it. He has no complaints; he is genuinely enjoying himself.

"So, tell me your story," he says, breaking the silence.

"Mmm? My story? Naku! There’s nothing special about it," she replies.

"That’s impossible. Everyone has something interesting in their life."

"You go first," she counters.

"Quick to change the topic, I see. Is there a 'he' in your story?" he asks with a chuckle.

"Nah. There’s no 'he' in the picture."

"So... you’ve never been in a relationship? Impossible."

"I’ve been in relationships, but nobody stays in the end. I can't really blame them."

"What do you mean?" He hears a sudden melancholy in her tone that sparks his curiosity.

"I’m not... lovable."

"Why not? Maybe they just failed to see that part of you."

She scoffs. "You know, it’s nice to see this side of you. Keep it up. I usually only see your grumpiness on campus," she teases.

"I have to maintain an image, though not all the time. Sometimes business problems just drive me mad, so I get a bit irritable."

She nods. "I see."

The cold breeze finally induces them to head back. Heavy rain starts to pour as they drive, turning into a torrential downpour by the time they arrive at her house.

"Thank you, Sir," she says, smiling.

"We talked about the 'Sir,' Lei."

"S-sorry. I mean... thank you, Aga."

A flash of lightning is followed by a booming crack of thunder. His house is quite a distance away, and the roads are becoming unsafe.

"Uhm... do you want to come inside until the rain stops? It’s really coming down out there."