'Til I Found You (COMPLETED)

25

Lea slumps into her swivel chair, a weary exhale punctuating the start of her day. Managing a business feels like an extension of mothering Eli; it demands patience, and then a great deal more. Life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. As she skims the quarterly income reports, she can’t help but let out a deep sigh, her hand instinctively stroking her forehead. The numbers have been in a steady decline for the last two months.

"Ang AGA-AGA, lalim ng hinga ah," Emma jests, leaning against the doorframe.

Lea rolls her eyes. "Language!"

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

"Well, for me, that name is worse than a cuss." Lea yanks her drawer open with a huff. The two friends chortle at her expense. Though she often ends up as their laughingstock, she never complains. They are the shoulders she cries on; when the world drags her down, they are the ones who lift her up. Despite all the drama of her past, they never left her side. In fact, raising Eli is a lot easier because of them. Their uplifting words give her the courage to fight against the odds.

Her phone vibrates on the desk.

From: 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 slides the phone into her bag. "The girls are dismissed earlier from school. Nasa bahay daw si Candyce until afternoon."

"Sounds fun for the young ladies," Jason butts in. Lea initiates the meeting, diving into the details. It concerns her that the business is losing more than it earns. Handling the financial aspect—the planning, the budgeting, the relentless tracking—gives her a persistent headache. Her life has revolved around this cycle for years, yet she is glad to see a side of herself beyond just handling students. By starting this business, she stepped far out of her comfort zone. Over the years, she watched it flourish from two simple classrooms to ten spaces perfectly conducive for learning.

The young ladies enter the house, but Candyce feels edgy about Eli’s plan. She knows tita Lea very well, but Eli is stubborn. She is persistent and adamant about the things she wants to achieve. With every step they take, Candyce’s heart pumps briskly against her ribs.

"Eli, wag na lang kaya. Tita Lea will get mad eh," Candyce says, pulling at 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.

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