'Til I Found You (COMPLETED)

27

He went out of town. It is his first to set foot in the said place. Beautiful scenery welcomes him with fresh air kissing his skin as he drives his way to the hotel. A great place to be when life is in a downward slope. Business has been his escape since Lea left. He rivets towards the success of his branches and being a father to Alli as well.

But deep in him, a smidgen of hope lives all throughout the last twelve years that he would glimpse at her again. He wishes wherever Lea at this juncture that she is happy.

After he settled in the hotel, he hit the road. His point of coming is to meet a family friend. Don Arnaldo swore to donate construction materials for a school building owned by the said friend. Aga could just send somebody else in his behalf but he found this as a break from life. Luisa's father, current Mayor in their city, prompts him to run the next election. He never envisaged himself to take seat in any political position. Managing business is all he expects to do for life. But his mom agreed to Luisa's dad. Doña Carol is urging him to accept the political offer. She always intervenes his life decisions. And so he decides to find ease of mind by taking two-week away from all of them.

His phone vibrates when he pulled over, "Hi, baby"

Her daughter talks in a sad tone. She's a daddy's girl, "I miss you already, daddy"

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

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

He scoffs, imagining his daughter's pouting like she always does in sadness, "baby, your mommy naman is there. Besides, I'm just few hours away from home. I'll be back right before you know it"

"Okay, daddy. Please come back very soon"

"I will, baby. I have to hang up now. Daddy has something to do pa. Bye. Love you!"

"Love you too, daddy. Take care!"

The two bid their goodbyes, and so Aga stepped out to visit the school. It's a private academy quite bigger than his before. He huffs upon memories pop up his mind. It feels like just yesterday when he bought the academy and be with the woman who swept him all over his feet.

If he wasn't an asshole, Lea must have been working alongside with him managing it.

○ ○ ○

The principal and school heads welcome him. He roams his eyes around, appreaciating the beauty of the campus. Each room they passed by is conducive to learning. Students are pleasing to the eye with their all-white uniform. It's a Catholic school, so selected corners of the campus have religious statues. As the principal acquaints him of the school strict policies, a young lady bumped into him. Orange juice drenched his suit. It boils his temper, but when he glanced at the girl, he seems looking at someone close to his heart. That small indent on the left corner of her chin reminds him of Lea.

The girl bit her corner lip as she apologised. With fingers fidgeting and round eyes glance at him, memories dredged up. Lea does it everytime she feels anxious, and he scoffs upon calling to mind her gestures. He could never forgot every bit of her.

"Ms. Maria Elise. It's you again", one teacher calls her attention.

He scoffs upon hearing that same name again.

"Sorry, Ma'am. I didn't know", she bows down her head.

He saw the shyness through her eyes and so he faced the teacher, "it's alright, Ma'am. Hindi naman sinasadya nong bata"

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

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

"You have the point, Sir. It could've been avoided if you watched your ....", she halted upon seeing her teacher's look. "Apology again, Sir. It's my fault"

He chuckles at her. Only Lea dares to counterattack him. All of a sudden, his mind seems to have life of its own. He could've been a father to mini Lea if only fate allows them to have one, "It's nothing. Don't mind it. I presumed you girls have classes to attend to. You might be late"

"Eli and Candyce, go to your classroom now", one teacher ordered. The two young ladies grab their things and left their sight.

"Apology, Sir. Nadumihan tuloy yung suot niyo", the principal apologised.

"Don't mind it, Ma'am. I brought a suitcase full of this", he jests, doing his buttons to hide the mess behind coat. The school heads laugh along as they proceed touring him around the campus. Students dispersed into their classrooms when the bell rung. The school heads apparently done a good job in disciplining their students as he could see. His visitation took the rest of the afternoon when the school owner prepared feast for him. They catch up, chatting about life and business. It's been quite long since he last seen him.

"I gotta go, Mr. Fernandez. Thank you so much", Aga shake hands with the owner.

"Ano ka ba, hijo. It's our pleasure. Send my regards to your dad. Medyo matagal na din kaming hindi nagkikita eh. Atsaka oo nga pala. Our school event is near to date. Is your daughter around as well? You can join. It's father and child event for a cause. All proceeds will be donated to a charity"

"I can't promise eh. Alli, my daughter, didn't tag along. She has classes eh but I will try to come", Aga said.

"That's great"

He bid goodbye to the owner and school heads. It's dismissal time and so students are everywhere when he paced the exit. He squeezed himself in a crowd of students.

Little did he know that Lea is just around waiting for Eli.

She waves at her daughter, "Hi, baby!"

"Mommy!", Eli runs to her waiting mom and twines arms around Lea.

"Should we go now or you have stuff to do pa?", Lea asked her daughter.

"We have English club meeting, mom, but I told them to have it tomorrow instead. I want to prepare for our Math quiz bee tomorrow. As usual, your baby is the representative", Eli grins. Lea is glad to hear her daughter's good news. Despite her daughter's stubborn side, she can't deny her wit. It is one of the many things that Lea is proud of.

Aga pulls to open his car of which Lea did the same few feet from him. Their cars are just facing to each other meters away but fate dictates their path to take. They both steer away, unknown of the small distance intervening them.