'Til I Found You (COMPLETED)

26

Candyce asks her mom a series of questions about Eli’s dad, but to no avail. Emma eludes giving any details to the young ladies, staying true to Lea’s request. To Lea, that part of her life is long forgotten. Eli is on the safest side if she remains innocent of anything relating to her father, or so Lea thinks.

"I didn't get any, eh. Mommy said she doesn't know your dad, but I can feel she's lying. Tita Lea tells all her secrets to Mama J and Mommy," Candyce pouts, relaying the failure of her mission to Eli. It is their lunch break, so the two are hunched over a table in the busy food court.

Eli grins, her eyes sparkling. "It's alright! I got his name." With her brows wiggling, Eli squeals in a low voice.

Candyce gapes. "Really!? How? Did tita Lea tell you? She didn't get mad?"

"Of course not! As though Mommy would be happy to hear me asking about Dad, noh. I just thought of an alibi, spiced up the conversation, and tada! Mommy told me his name. He is Stephen Perez."

"Stephen? Nice name! So, what's next on your list? Where would we find him?" Candyce is pumped up for her friend.

"I looked through Facebook and stumbled upon his account. He lives outside the town, and I haven't messaged him yet." Eli heaves a heavy sigh.

"What? Why not? What else are you waiting for? Diba you want to meet him? And talk to him? Eli, you're close to that. So close."

"I don't know what to say! I can't just invite him for the event and hit the send button. I would sound like a lunatic—a weird teenage girl. I have to clear my mind first. Help me, please? Ikaw na lang mag-type," Eli begs.

"What?! Why me? Eli, he is your dad!"

"Please. Please."

"What will I say?"

Eli takes out her iPad to kick off the introduction. "We'll figure it out," she says, handing over the gadget. Candyce grabs it, biting her lip as she thinks of the right words.

Hi, Mr. Perez. I am Maria Elise Salazar. Your daughter.

Eli narrows her eyes into a squint, shaking her head. "It sounds so straightforward, eh."

Candyce deletes it and tries again.

Hello, Mr. Perez. Do you still remember my mom, Maria Leanne Salazar? Your ex-girlfriend? I am your daughter. My name is Maria Elise Salazar.

Eli groans with an unsatisfied countenance. Candyce jabs the clear button, and the two go back to the drawing board.

"Eli, just say what's in your heart na lang kaya. Mommy told me that writing a letter to someone dear to you should come from your heart," Candyce suggests softly.

Eli pauses for a second, allowing the words to fall into place. She heaves a deep sigh. "I am doing this for my grades. Just this one," she mutters to herself. She grabs the iPad.

Hi. I don't really know how to put this. My mom's name is Maria Leanne Salazar. Does it ring a bell? I am her daughter, Maria Elise Salazar. I grew up not knowing your name. I don't even know what you look like until recently. Our school has an upcoming event and I need a daddy on that day. Mommy has no boyfriend and so I don't have anyone else to grab. She doesn't know about this. I know it's bad to lie, but she won't let me see you even if I asked for permission. She told me you have a family of your own. I don't mean to disturb you. Just this one. I hope to hear from you soon but if not, I'd completely understand, Sir.

"There! You said it!" Candyce feels a rush of relief for Eli.

Eli hits the send button, a flicker of hope rising that Stephen will respond. Almost immediately, guilt begins to gnaw at her. Lea never tolerates wrongdoing, and if her mom finds out, she will surely pay a price.

Just then, the bell rings. The two grab their things to head back to class, but as Eli turns around, she bumps squarely into a man. Her orange juice pours directly onto his suit. Her heart beats faster than usual when she sees the principal standing right there with the school heads. The man stands stunned, his shirt drenched in orange.

"S-sorry, Sir. I... I didn't mean it," Eli stammers. She takes out her handkerchief to wipe the excess, but the man gestures for her to stop.

"Ms. Maria Elise. It's you again," her English teacher sighs, catching the scene.

"Sorry, Ma'am. I didn't know," Eli says, bowing her head.

The man, who happens to be a school visitor, turns around fully. "It's alright, Ma'am. Hindi naman sinasadya nung bata."

"I will just pay for your suit, Sir. I'll tell my mommy," Eli says, already envisioning her mom's expression. She just got into a fight last week when a classmate teased her; her patience had snapped, and she’d pulled his collar and punched him. Lea had to apologize to the parents and shoulder the hospital bill while Eli just rolled her eyes at the beaten boy. Another round of trouble would surely give her mom another white strand of hair.

"It's fine, young lady. I didn't watch where I was going."

That brings a light to her face. "You have a point, Sir. It could've been avoided if you watched your—" Eli sees her teacher’s lifted brow. It’s a cue to shut her mouth or risk the guidance office again. "Apologies again, Sir. It's my fault."

The visitor chuckles. "It's nothing. Don't mind it. I presume you girls have classes to attend. You might be late."

"Eli and Candyce, go to your classroom now," a teacher orders.

The girls rush away. After taking a few steps, Eli turns back. Something about the man sends a shiver down her spine.

"You're really something, Eli. You should've shut your mouth, noh. You tried to outsmart the visitor. If tita Lea finds out, you'll be grounded again," Candyce notices Eli isn't paying attention. "Hoy!"

It brings her back to her senses. "What? Y-you're saying something?"

"Are you alright? Do you know our visitor? Miss Alba said he owns a chain of restaurants. He came here to donate a building. He is a friend of the school owner," Candyce explains.

"I don't know him nor have I heard of him. He is just... tsk. Never mind. Siguro lang I met him before somewhere. Let's go."

The visitor tours the campus, memories dredging up in his mind. It was a long time ago when he sold his own academy. Now, he is back in town to donate construction materials for a new building. The school owner is a family friend—his father's old college classmate.

"And this is our gymnasium, Mr. Martinez," the principal tells him.

Eli watches him disappear around the corner, a strange, lingering restlessness settling in her chest. She shakes her head, trying to dismiss the odd feeling, and follows Candyce into the hallway.

Meanwhile, Mr. Martinez adjusts his damp blazer, his gaze lingering on the spot where the spirited girl had stood. There was something in her eyes—a flash of defiance and a familiar tilt of the head—that felt like a ghost from a life he lived a long time ago. He pushes the thought aside, refocusing on the principal’s voice, unaware that he is taking a path that leads to his buried past.