'Til I Found You (COMPLETED)

27

Aga drives toward the hotel as beautiful scenery welcomes him, the fresh air kissing his skin. It is a welcome change of pace; business has been his only escape ever since Lea left. He rivets all his energy toward the success of his branches and being a father to Alli, but deep down, a smidgen of hope has lived within him for the last twelve years—a hope that he might catch a glimpse of her again. Wherever Lea is at this juncture, he only wishes for her to be happy.

After settling into his room, he hits the road again. He is here to meet a family friend. Don Arnaldo had sworn to donate construction materials for a school building. Aga could have sent someone else, but he saw this trip as a necessary break. Luisa's father, the current Mayor, is prompting him to run in the next election, and even his own mother, Doña Carol, is urging him to accept. She always intervenes in his life decisions. To find ease of mind, he decides to take two weeks away from all of them.

His phone vibrates as he pulls over. "Hi, baby."

"I miss you already, daddy," Alli says, her voice thick with a sadness that only a daddy’s girl can project.

"Miss you too, Alli. Daddy won't be away for too long. We can keep in touch anytime you want."

"But it will never be the same without you here, dad."

He scoffs gently, imagining her pouting. "Baby, your mommy is there. Besides, I'm just a few hours away. I'll be back before you know it."

After bidding his daughter goodbye, Aga steps out to visit the school. It is a private academy, significantly larger than the one he used to own. Memories pop into his mind like ghosts; it feels like just yesterday when he bought his own academy to be with the woman who swept him off his feet. If he wasn't such an asshole back then, Lea might have been working alongside him today.

The principal and school heads welcome him, and he roams his eyes around the campus. The all-white uniforms of the students are pleasing to the eye, and the Catholic school’s religious statues offer a sense of quiet discipline. As the principal acquaints him with their strict policies, a young lady bumps into him.

Orange juice drenches his suit. His temper begins to boil, but when he glances at the girl, he stops cold. He feels like he is looking at someone close to his heart. That small indent on the left corner of her chin... it reminds him hauntingly of Lea.

The girl bites her lip as she apologizes, her fingers fidgeting as her round eyes glance up at him. Lea used to do that every time she felt anxious. He scoffs internally; he could never forget every bit of her.

"Ms. Maria Elise. It's you again," a teacher calls out.

Aga’s heart skips. He scoffs again at the sound of that name—that specific name.

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

Seeing the shyness in her eyes, Aga faces the teacher. "It's alright, Ma'am. Hindi naman sinasadya nung bata."

"I will just pay for your suit, Sir. I'll tell my mommy," the girl offers.

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

"You have a point, Sir. It could've been avoided if you watched your—" She halts, catching her teacher’s warning look. "Apologies again, Sir. It's my fault."

He chuckles. Only Lea would dare to counterattack him like that. His mind takes on a life of its own, wondering if he could have been a father to a "mini Lea" if fate had allowed it. "It's nothing. Don't mind it. I presume you girls have classes to attend to."

After the girls leave, the principal offers her own apologies. "Apologies, Sir. Nadumihan tuloy yung suot niyo."

"Don't mind it, Ma'am. I brought a suitcase full of these," he jests, buttoning his coat to hide the mess.

The rest of the afternoon is spent touring and enjoying a feast prepared by the school owner, Mr. Fernandez. As they catch up, the owner mentions an upcoming event. "Our school event is near to date. It's a father-and-child event for a cause. If your daughter is around, you should join."

"I can't promise, as Alli didn't tag along, but I will try to come," Aga says politely.

He bids them goodbye at dismissal time, squeezing through the crowd of students toward the exit. Little does he know that Lea is just a few yards away, waiting by her car.

She waves. "Hi, baby!"

"Mommy!" Eli runs to her, twining her arms around Lea’s.

"Should we go now?" Lea asks.

"I postponed my meeting, Mom. I want to prepare for the Math quiz bee tomorrow. As usual, your baby is the representative," Eli grins. Lea beams with pride; despite Eli’s stubbornness, her wit is undeniable.

Aga pulls his car door open at the exact moment Lea does the same, just a few feet away. Their cars face each other, separated by only a small stretch of pavement, but fate dictates their paths for now. They both steer away, unknowingly leaving the small distance between them closed for another day.