'Til I Found You (COMPLETED)

14

Day 2

Morning comes with an empty side of the bed. She groans, rubbing her eyes as the memories of the previous night flood back. A sudden dizziness and a sharp headache killed her fun, forcing her to retreat early. She wanted to indulge and forget about him for a while, but it was to no avail. At least he is not around when she wakes up. This will do. She gets up and looks at herself in the mirror, only to freeze in shock. Her neck and chest are marked with unmistakable hickeys. She strokes the reddened skin, finding her shoulder is no exception.

"Bw-sit! Ano ba'ng problema niya?!", she mutters, pursing her lips. Aga clearly did this on purpose so she would be unable to wear any of her revealing clothes. That man truly has too much on his plate. She sighs to relieve her frustration, but her head begins to spin again. Suddenly, her stomach acts up, and she barely makes it to the bathroom before she barfs. After cleaning herself, she strokes her tummy, a flurry of worries flooding her mind. This cannot be happening.

"Relax, Lei. Relax. You’re just tired from yesterday. Besides, you didn't eat much. Yes, that's it. I have to eat a lot this morning," she tells herself. She feels exhausted, her body begging to stay in bed all day, but she forces herself to fight back. Just then, her phone beeps with his name on the screen again.

From: Babes 💋
Good morning, babe. I hope you’re awake by now. I hope you feel fine. Please check your bag. You found an excuse last night, but that won't work for me today. We’re eating breakfast at the lounge area. By the way, drink your medicine on the side table. You looked sick last night. Love you!

She throws her phone on the bed and grabs her bag. Her eyes widen. All her clothes, except for her undergarments, are gone. In their place are the items he chose—plain shirts and plain shorts. She groans in anger, searching every corner of the room for her belongings, but finds nothing. Eventually, she walks toward the lounge wearing plain clothes and a messy bun. A smirk plasters on Aga's face the moment he sees her.

"Madam! Ang ganda mo," Jason jests.

"Che!", she snaps, pulling out a chair while Emma snorts with laughter.

"Totoo naman, Lei. You’re blooming," Emma adds.

"Kumbaga sa bulaklak, nadiligan," Kristine jokes.

"Tigilan niyo nga ako. Can I eat peacefully?", she responds, her voice tight.

"Ay ang init ng ulo," Jason replies.

It is their second day, the last chance for the staff to help Aga patch up their broken line. He is not losing courage or faith that Lea will find her way back to him. He misses her deeply; waking up next to her remains the highlight of his life. He stares at her beauty, struggling to maintain control. He knows his kisses left a trail on her neck and chest, and truth be told, he did it with intent. She brought clothes meant to flaunt her body, and he hates the thought of other men snatching glances. Even in a plain shirt, she is pure seduction to him. She enjoys laughing with her co-teachers while he finds solitude in a corner where she is always within his sight. This day should end on his terms.

As time flies, Emma initiates the next step to amp up the tension. "Today’s game is a bit dirty," she winks.

"Oh! I love dirty, dirtier, dirtiest!", Jason exclaims, wiggling his brows.

"Each partner will draw a question from a bowl. Face your partner while asking it. Sounds simple, right? But that’s not all. You have two choices: pass or yas. Say pass if you don’t want to answer, but take note—one pass equals one hickey." The group hoots with giggles, but Lea remains silent. Jason elbows her, noticing her quietness.

"Madam? Are you okay?", Jason asks.

"I’m fine," she casually replies. In truth, she feels agitated. Her body has felt different these past few days, but she tries to disregard it. She calms herself, thinking she is just overthinking. As Emma calls the teams, Lea sneaks out. She needs to be alone. She finds a viewdeck where the clouds enshroud the sunshine, looking as if rain might fall at any moment. She looks up to breathe in the fresh air when arms suddenly wriggle around her.

"I miss you," he whispers, kissing her head.

Tears form in her eyes. If only she could shout the truth. She misses him so much, and her heart still beats for him, but she is a coward. Hurtful words from her past recur in her mind, haunting her. Phrases like "Pokpok ka!" and "Malandi ka!" echo in her thoughts. She is certain Aga would despise her if he knew everything. She filed her resignation last month, convincing the HR Head to keep it a secret. It is the only way. He won't stop chasing her unless she walks away—far enough for both of them to start anew.

She loosens his hold. "Aga, ano ba?"

"Mag-usap tayo please," he begs.

She braces herself. "Tapos na tayo, Ags. Tigilan mo na ako."

"Ang dali naman ata, Lei. Sorry. Babes, please. I'm sorry. I crossed the line. I'm an asshole. Sinubukan ko namang kontrolin yung sarili ko, Lei. But you were being distant. What do you want me to think? You reply with only yes or no. You don't answer my calls. You changed so suddenly after that night. Minsan naiisip ko... are you hiding something from me?"

Her heart pumps faster. She grips the bar behind her, trapped by his presence. "What if I said yes? What if I'm hiding something from you, Ags? And I don't want you to know about it!?"

"At kailangan talagang hiwalayan mo ko?! Lea, tell me anything. Kahit ano! Nakakabaliw na. Give me any reason! Bigla ka na lang nanlamig. Ang hirap ng ganito, Lei! Buti ka pa nga eh. You look completely fine! Wala lang sa'yo ang lahat. Ang dali para sa'yo. Lea, I can't sleep at night knowing my next day won't have you in it. Sana nga ako na lang si Stephen eh! Nakakasama ka niya. Nakakausap ka niya araw-araw. Sabihin mo na lang kase yung totoo sa'kin, Lei. Mahal mo ba siya?", his eyes turn glassy.

She can't stop her tears. It hurts to lie, but she lacks the courage for the truth. "Like I said labas siya sa usapan natin. I... I don't love you, Ags. I thought I did but I was wrong. Maybe because you're too nice to me kaya... kaya akala ko I fell for you. Tantanan mo na ako. Tama na, Aga. You can find another woman who’s better than me."

She tries to leave, but he is in a rage. He scoffs. "Tang-na! Ginag-go mo ba ako, Lei?! So ano yun lahat?! Biruan lang?! Naglolokohan ba tayo?!"

"Say whatever you want!", she cries, exiting his sight. But before she can take a third step, he pulls her back. "You’re lying, Lei! I can tell. Mahal mo ko. Huwag na tayong maglokohan pa!" He grabs her close and kisses her forcefully. She keeps pushing him.

"Aga! Ano ba?!", she pounds his chest, but he is aggressive. He wraps his forearm around her nape, pressing his lips against hers in a deep, desperate kiss. He seems to eat all the words she tried to use to silence him. She thumps against him, but he feels nothing. Tears mix with their kisses. Despite the running and the hiding, she still misses him. She cannot deny that his arms are the safest place to be. Her lips move on their own volition, responding to his touch. The movement turns gentle and soft. She surrenders.

He breaks away and stares at her. Tears fall restlessly as the weight of her defeat settles in. She is tired of lying and denying.

"Ngayon mo sabihin sa'kin, Lei...", his voice is subdued. "that you don't love me."

She shuts her eyes and leans her head under his chin. She sighs, feeling the moment of surrender.

"Tell me when you’re ready, babes, but I won't let you go," he says, lifting her chin to level his eyes with hers. "Like I told you... mananatili kang akin."

He kisses her again, this time with a tenderness full of emotion. She follows his lead as he pulls her close. Soon, he is on top of her, pinning her down as their bodies move in sync. She moans as they reclaim the warmth they both missed. She does not know what tomorrow brings, but she knows the truth must prevail eventually. She will gather the courage to say it, just not today. Whatever happens, she will accept it. He is her last.