'Til I Found You (COMPLETED)

10

He went back inside the venue feeling momentarily unhinged. For a short span of time being with her, he can easily read her. He knows something is bothering Lea. Her eyes say it all. In just a matter of minutes, he pulled back to his senses when his half empty glass of champagne was snatched by a woman. His eyes squint and looked up to see who it was.

"It's been a long time", she imbibed.

He paused in disbelief. His years went by without hearing anything from her. She changed quiet a bit but in a good sense. Her shoulder length brown hair and tantalizing eyes are just few of many things that he loves about her. It captured his heart before but he belongs to someone else now - Lea.

"Luisa? H-Hi", he stood up to greet her.

"You look ... handsome", she inserts her hair behind ear.

"Thanks", he half-smiled. "I didn't know you're here. You run a business now?"

"Yeah. A shipping line", she sweetly smiled.

"Wow. That's great. Are you with Jerick, your husband?", he asked.

"Uhm. He was .... was gone. He passed away three years ago. Cancer", she looked down her gaze.

"I'm ... sorry. I didn't know", he feels sorry seeing the sadness in her eyes. She plasters on a smile but he can read the emotion through her eyes.

"It's fine. Matagal na din naman yun. By the way, where is your wife? She's beautiful"

It makes his heart flutters everytime he hears compliments about Lea. "Thanks. We're not yet married eh. Soon if she's ready"

"Owh. Akala ko .... anyway, ang tanda mo na noh! Bigyan mo naman ng apo na sina tita", she jested and Aga chuckled at her statement. Time flew fast as they spent some time alone in the balcony and talk about life. She tells her story after their break up. It was a happy married life with her husband but got tested when he was diagnosed with cancer. A battle that really puts them through ups and mostly downs as they suffered financially that time. Aga listens to her rants. Just like the old times he's there to hearken to her but nothing should come between them. He's happy with someone else now.

○ ○ ○

Days went cold and quiet between them as Lea has been spacing out. He tries to reach out but she always finds a diversion. Their situation befuddles her that all she thinks of is to just keep distance for the meantime. She's caught between a rock and a hard place. Aga deserves to know the truth but she can't find words for it. They're moving in a same place but he rarely sees her these days. No matter how much steps he takes toward her, she remains distant. And that didn't get away from her friends attention. Something is off between them and so she was left with no choice but to spill the beans.

"Lei, you should've told us. Hindi ka naman namin i-ju-judge eh. We're friends", Emma comforts her.

"Atsaka madam, hindi naman sa nanghihimasok kami noh pero isn't it unfair na mas nauna naming nalaman 'to kesa kay fafa Ags?", Jason munch on his foods. She invites them to come over to her house.

"I know but you can't blame me. Napagdaanan ko na to eh. I've been here before and look at me ... living alone. Nobody stays with me. They were all assholes", she sighed.

"Including Aga?", Emma teased her.

"Of course not", she replied.

"Eh ganun naman pala eh. Lea, tell him the truth. He deserves it"