'Til I Found You (COMPLETED)

23

A half-empty bottle dispenses its content into his shot glass as he reminisces about what is gone. Months go by, enveloped in a deep yearning for her vicinity. Life continues for him at a dull pace, shadowed by his incorrigible mistake. He wonders where Lea went. Though it should pester his mind no more since he chose this path apart from her, he still cannot help but think of her. A flood of thoughts fills his mind because he knows there is so much left to say, but she is gone now. The woman he fell for when Luisa gave love a bad name has decamped from his life. Guilt thrives and snowballs with each passing hour. Their kinship was marred with unsaid words and broke into smithereens. It disappeared into thin air while he was apathetic, dragged down by the thought of her being a vamp. He did not cock an ear to her, but reservations now commix with the abyss of his thoughts. She remains foreign to his eyes; behind her seductive facade is a somber secret that lights up his inquisitiveness.

A business card wedged in a pile of documents juts out as though enticing him to run his eye over it. Gary handed it to him one night at the bar—a VIP card to the place where Lea once worked. Aga is prompted to take a glimpse.

As far as I know, the club owner is a friend to Lea. Baka lang alam niya san si Lea.

Gary is worried as well. It was his fault. If only he had pulled himself together that night, Aga would have worked things out. It could have saved the last bit of their relationship. Aga imbibes the last drop of his gin. In spite of being all at sea, he packs his suitcase and books a flight.

He longs to see her.

---

An upscale club sees a number of prominent customers walk in and out of the establishment. Party lights and blaring music animate the room. As he paces with a puzzled look, stunning women bunch together to offer their services. He cannot conjure up the image of Lea doing such a nasty job, wearing a skimpy getup and being groped by perverts just to survive the day. It crumbles his heart. He quickens his pace to the crew and asks to see their superior. At first, they give him a hard time, but when he flashes Gary’s VIP card, he is assisted. A heavy silence envelops the hallway as they walk. The walls are decorated with abstract paintings, and huge floor vases are placed in selected areas. It is not a typical club.

The man knocks on the office door before stepping in. "Excuse me, Ma’am. VIP client."

An older woman in a plunging neckline gestures for them to enter. "Good evening, have a seat."

Aga takes the client's chair and roams his eyes around the well-decorated office.

The woman lends her palm for a handshake. "I am Miss Divina."

Aga accepts it and plasters on a smile. "Mr. Aga Martinez."

"Nice to meet you. Apology for this, but you don't ring a bell. All VIP customers are known to me, but you..."

"I got this VIP card from a friend."

"Oh. I see. Well, this club has strict rules with regards to..."

He wants to drop the small talk and get down to business. "I am not here for any... uhm... for whatever service you call it. I just want to ask you about... about Lea."

Divina furrows her brows. "Lea? Sorry, but we don't have workers here with such a name."

He dredges up the name he learned from the night he discovered her past. "Madeleine. That’s her club name. Her real name is Maria Leanne Salazar."

"Apology, but it’s the club’s policy to conceal personal informations of our workers."

"Is that so? I don't want to waste time here. Let’s get real. Your club is doing illicit activities. I could hit the call button and use all the connections I have to shut this down, or you’ll tell me anything about her so I’d keep my mouth shut. Your pick, Miss Divina."