'Til I Found You (COMPLETED)

30

"Here's your key, Sir. Enjoy your stay." The receptionist, a woman in her early thirties, hands it over with a polite smile.

Stephen reaches for it and paces toward his room, his heart full of an inexplicable burst of emotion. It entails a smidgen of hope—the chance to see his first love after all this time. She is the greatest love of his life, the one who left a space no one else could ever fill. He has spent years hunting for her, but no one would clue him in on her domicile or even her workplace. Upon reading Eli’s message, he had nearly jumped out of his chair. He misses her deeply. He had asked Emma and Jason for her whereabouts, but they kept mum. Though doubts flooded his thoughts, he understood; Lea wanted a restart, away from the wreckage of the past. The day she left was his absolute lowest point. Even with his wedding only a month away, he isn't ready to relinquish this slight chance.

With only a driblet of information to go on, he begins his day hunting for the truth.

○ ○ ○

The two haven't spoken for the rest of the night. Eli locked herself in her bedroom, tears drifting down her face as she curled up in her bed. She longs to know her father. Though Lea has told her countless times that he lives far away with a new family, she hides that yearning from her mother. She calls to mind her younger days, always wishing for his appearance. Every birthday wish was for him to show up. Every Christmas Eve, she was the kid who believed that if she were good enough, her father would be waiting downstairs on Christmas morning.

But it all crashed into pieces.

Hindi ka nga niya kilala at wala siyang pakialam kahit makilala ka pa niya! Why do you keep bringing this up?! Stop asking about your dad! Hindi ka non gugustuhin na makilala!

The words crumbled in her heart. She cried herself to sleep, convinced that seeing her dad was an impossible dream.

When morning comes, Lea bustles around the kitchen while Eli takes her seat in solitary. The deafening silence settles over the dining area like a heavy fog. Lea notices her daughter’s downcast eyes, and her heart clenches with the knowledge that this is her fault.

"Eat a lot. You skipped your dinner last night," Lea says, filling a plate with Eli’s favorite fry-up.

Eli gazes up at her mom, her eyes brimming with an apologetic light. "Mommy..."

The waterworks begin.

"...I'm sorry, Mommy." Eli rises to her feet and hugs her mother tightly. "I swear to never ask about Daddy again. I won't bother you about him. I understand it now, Mommy."

Lea holds herself back from bursting into tears. "Just forget it, Eli. I know you want to see him." Lea lifts Eli’s chin, meeting her gaze. "I'm sorry. Baby, it's just you and me. I can't introduce you to him because that would make things complicated. I am doing this for you. Someday, when you're old enough to understand, I'll lay it all out for you."

Eli nods as Lea wipes the tears from her face. Lea kisses her forehead, hugging her until the tension breaks. She feels a deep pity for her young one; Eli’s tears leave a permanent mark on Lea’s heart.

Invisible scars are always the most painful.

○ ○ ○

"So, you're not joining?" Candyce asks later that day. Eli had just shared the revelation of the previous night.

With a crestfallen countenance, Eli nods. "It's fine. I'll just ask Ms. Alba for a special project. Besides, I'll still be around for the event. My club brainstormed the activities, anyway. Maybe Ms. Alba will give me points for that."

Candyce pouts. "Share na lang kaya tayo ng daddy that day. I'll ask Ms. Alba, and I am sure Dad would agree."

"Silly," Eli chuckles weakly. "Mom won't agree. She'd personally show up to Ms. Alba’s office to demand a special project rather than bother your dad. It’s fine, Candyce. I’ll just focus on doing well in our exams instead."

A pang of sadness loads her heart, but she made a promise. She has thrown away that yearning. It is all but gone.

When Candyce’s driver arrives, the two bid goodbye. Eli is left alone to clear her thoughts and map out her excuse for Ms. Alba. Knowing that every other classmate will be participating makes her feel like an outsider. She decides not to tell her mother about the event at all; it would only add to Lea's burdens. After knocking on the office door, she twists the knob.

"Ms. Alba? Good afternoon," she greets her teacher. Her heart skips when she sees a man sitting next to the school owner—the same man she poured her drink on. She avoids his gaze, a flush of shyness creeping over her.

"Come in, Ms. Salazar. What is it?" Ms. Alba gestures for her to sit.

Aga, sitting only a few feet away, pauses at the mention of the name. He had decided to show up today before heading back home. He misses his daughter, Allison, his sole reason for going on. She wants him back, and he has finally weighed his options, deciding to give the political run a shot. But as he listens to Eli, his heart begins to thump in the rhythm of a drum.

"Ma'am, I can't join the upcoming event," Eli begins.

"Why? Can't your dad make it? It's a graded activity, Ms. Salazar. Try to convince him."

Eli looks down at her lap. "I... don't know my dad. I grew up not knowing anything about him, Ma'am. I don't even know his name or what he looks like."

Aga sees the raw longing in Eli’s eyes, and a strange, electric feeling begins creeping through his veins.

"I see. Mmmmm. I’ll give you a special project, then, but your presence is still a must. Your club is managing the morning activities."

"Yes, Ma'am," Eli nods.

As Eli rises to leave, Aga feels an uncontrollable urge to follow her. His mind tells him it’s a coincidence, but his heart demands the truth.

"Mmm. Ms. Alba? That kid? May I know her full name? She seems... familiar," he asks, his voice slightly strained.

"Si Eli ba, Sir? She's Maria Elise Salazar. One of our top students," the teacher replies.

In a dash, Aga rises and leaves the office. He roams the area as students bustle about. For a second, he thinks he has lost her, but then he captures the figure of a woman he has longed to see for twelve years.

She welcomes the girl with a sweet smile—the smile he missed most—and a hug. The world seems to halt. There she is: the woman from his past. With her pixie hair and eyeglasses, he sees how the years have changed her, yet she is instantly recognizable. Memories call him in a heartbeat. It feels like only yesterday that he could touch her.

"Lea," he whispers to himself, his vision smudging with tears.

As Lea drives away, Aga runs to his car to follow. He ensures he stays far enough back to avoid suspicion, following her into a quiet subdivision. He watches as they enter a small, two-story house. He wants to show up at her door, to scream her name, but he remains anchored to his seat instead.

He holds a lifetime of longing, but in this moment, he loses the courage to face the woman he hurt so badly.