'Til I Found You (COMPLETED)

25

She slumped her back at the swivel chair, letting a gentle blow to kick off her day. Managing a business corresponds to being Eli's mom; patience and a lot more of it. Life isn't all sunshine and rainbows. As she skims through the quarterly income, deep sigh and head stroking are all she could do. It's declining for the last two months.

"Ang AGA-AGA, lalim ng hinga ah", Emma jests.

Lea rolled eyes, "language!"

"What? Did I cuss ba?", Emma chuckles.

"Well, for me, that name is worse than a cuss", Lea yanks her drawer, huffing. The two bullies chortle at her. She always ends up as a laughingstock of these two, but has no complain at all. They are her shoulder to cry on. And when the world seems dragging her down, they lift her up. In spite all the drama she had in the past, they never left her side. In fact, raising Eli became a lot easier because of them. With their uplifting words, she had the courage to fight against all odds.

Her phone vibrates.

My baby ❤

Hi, Mommy! Just don't pick me up. We were dismissed earlier today. Our teachers conduct an emergency meeting. Candyce's driver picked us up already. Also, tell tita Emma that Candyce will stay at our house through the afternoon. Thank you! I love you!

Reply:

Okay. I will. Eat your lunch, Eli. Mommy might go home late. Just tell me if you need something. Love you too!

She slid her phone in her bag.

"The girls are dismissed earlier from school. Nasa bahay daw si Candyce until afternoon"

"Sounds fun for the young ladies", Jason butt in. Lea initiates the meeting and goes over some details. It concerns her that the business is losing than earning.  She handles the financial aspect of their business. Looking at those numbers it gave her headache. She does the planning and budgetting as well for each month. Her life goes around like this for years, but she is glad to see other side of her than just handling students. Upon putting up the business, she came out of her comfort zone. And through the years, the business flourished from having two classrooms to ten conducive for learning classrooms.

○ ○ ○

The young ladies get through the house. Candyce feels edgy of Eli's plan. She knows her tita Lea very well, but Eli is stubborn. She is persistent and adamant of matters that she wanted to bring off. Each step they take pumps Candyce's heart briskly.

"Eli, wag na lang kaya. Tita Lea will get mad eh", Candyce pulls Eli's arm.

"Candyce, we're here already. Nagpaalam na ako kay Mommy to tell tita Emma that you're here. Mommy won't know. It's our secret. Atsaka, the event is near to date. I need a father that day"

"Pero .... what if let's ask na lang Mama J? He has boyfriend naman eh. Malay mo he would lend you tito Mark to be your dad for that day", Candyce suggests, but adamant Eli just heaved a deep sigh.

"Do you really think that haven't crossed my mind? Tito Mark won't be around that day. He has business trip abroad. And for sure, Mama J won't do it for me. Candyce, please! This is all I can think of"

Candyce pouts in defeat. Eli is a real pain sometimes. She is dauntless. It's her certain character that pushes Lea to her limit.