'Til I Found You (COMPLETED)

24

~ 12 years later ~

Tears sear as the years go by, but invisible wounds are forgotten rather than healed. Two people are severed into different paths with so many words left unsaid and hearts left mangled. Life, with its many deviations, remains unpredictable, and they simply go with its course. Aga gives her freedom. He halts himself from tracking her down, believing it is for the best of everyone.

Guilt flourishes within him since the truth unraveled. He harrowed the woman who gave love a new meaning, and it tears him apart. Emma and Jason keep mum about her whereabouts, and he understands why. She was hurt and assaulted by his distrust. He regrets it all. His mind was once fed with suspicions by those around him, and realization hits him far too late. Letting her go is the least he can do, even though his heart remains to beat for her.

A year after Lea resigned, he sold the academy. It is never the same after she left. Each corner reminded him of her-the smile that used to greet his morning and the giggles that ebbed his burdens. He had never felt such gladness or felicitation since she walked out of his life. He cannot point a finger at others; it is his fault alone. It is a mistake that might mark his life forever. Married life brings him no joy. Luisa and he never miss a chance to fight, arguing over everything. If it wasn't for his daughter, Louise Allison, his world would be completely blue. Fatherhood alone sheds light on his life. He often ponders how things could have been if Lea were by his side-if he hadn't been an asshole for believing she only sought his wealth.

But it is all in the past. He can never bring back what is gone.

○ ○ ○

"Eli! Get down now! You'll be late for school!" Lea calls out to her sluggish daughter. It is a typical morning scene she has grown used to. They live in a simple house she bought upon setting foot in a city far away from him. Maria Elise, her daughter, is grown up now. Time flies briskly as she rears her child on her own.

It is a tough job. She juggles motherhood with work, finding that being a single parent is never as easy as it seems. She plays many roles each day: Elise's morning alarm, a chef in the kitchen, a personal driver to and from school, a doctor when she gets sick, a guidance counselor when there is trouble, and a teacher when Elise looks quizzical over her assignments.

But motherhood is the best chapter of her life. It uplifts her. The past taught her so much; she outbraved every trial alone, and Elise is her reward. When she first knew a little one was growing in her belly, she felt edgy. Doubts grew, but a small hope that Aga would be there enlivened her. The expectation that he was different from the rest ebbed the load in her heart. But it was all a lie. Fate must have been playing with her; he was no different than the others. It was torture, but then Elise came. And even though she was incognizant of how to start this new chapter, her offspring became her new hope.

She runs her eyes over their photos, a soft smile touching her lips.

A smile plasters on her face as she reminisces about her bittersweet past. She made it. On her own, she conquered the battles.

"I'm all set for school, Mommy!" Eli hugs her mom from behind.

"How many times should I call you before you get down? Finish your meal faster," she orders.

Elise is a brilliant kid, competitive at school. She joins different school clubs and is elected as the student president. In spite of juggling studies with extracurricular activities, she always puts a smile on her mom's face with her good grades. But Lea's patience is tested by Elise once in a while. She gets into trouble a few times at school and remains unapologetic toward anyone she bumps into. She has an errant side that pushes Lea to her limit sometimes.

"Bye, Mommy," she gives a peck on Lea's cheek. She drops off Elise at school before heading to her office. When Aga sold the school, Emma and Jason left the city and set foot in her vicinity. They put up a small tutorial school for primary to secondary levels. Emma married her long-time boyfriend and is blessed with a girl who is also Elise's best friend.

Eli walks to her classroom with a crestfallen countenance. It is almost their father-and-child school event, but, as usual, she doesn't have a father to drag along. She grew up not knowing even his initials. Lea eludes questions regarding Aga, and so poor Eli can't convince her mom to blurt out anything about her dad.

Candyce, Emma's daughter, pokes her. "What's with that face? Have you told your mom about the event?"

She rolls her eyes. "No. Of course. As if she'd say anything about him."

"I asked Mommy as well but to no avail. Mama J, too. He always tells me that he doesn't know anything about your dad."

Eli heaves a long sigh. "What am I gonna do?! It's my first year in junior high, I helped out brainstorming for the event, and it would end up with me not being part of the actual day?"

"So, pano nga? Tita Lea won't say anything eh. They won't blurt out even your dad's first name," Candyce asks.

"I don't know! I can't just sit down in the corner watching all of you having fun. Atsaka, Miss Alba announced she'd give points for the participants. I need it!" Eli looks up, slumping her back against the chair.

The two go silent, thinking of ways, when suddenly Eli sits up straight as an idea pops into her head.

"Oh, I know!" Eli grins at Candyce.

"What?"

"What if... I look into Mommy's things? Malay mo, I can find any info about my Dad."

"I don't know. You know naman Tita Lea. Overprotective of her stuff."

"But she won't know. Hindi naman natin sasabihin eh," Eli says.

"Ah basta. I don't feel good about it," Candyce replies with a pout.

"Sige na. Just help me. Candyce, you never knew how it feels like growing up without a dad, eh. Please." Eli presses her palms against each other, begging for Candyce's help.

"Basta ha, you won't drag my name if Tita Lei finds out."

Eli nods in agreement with a beaming face, hoping to find even the slightest detail of her dad.