'Til I Found You (COMPLETED)

32

It is another winning day for Eli. She brings home yet another Math competition title, a feat that has become "business as usual" for her. Lea never has to worry about her daughter’s studies; Eli has been a scholar since the fifth grade, a brilliant mind who finds more comfort in the company of books than in the noisy social circles of her peers. To maintain her flying colors, the school provides a monthly allowance—a small reward for a girl whose intellect seems to outpace her years.

"Congrats, Eli! We should celebrate!" her best friend, Candyce, beams.

Eli glances at her watch, the gears in her head already turning. "We have enough time. It’s an early dismissal anyway. Let’s come back for our things after we grab some food."

"Let’s go!" Candyce pulls her along, and the two head for the exit gate, their laughter echoing in the afternoon air.

But as they step onto the sidewalk, Eli freezes. Her heart skips a beat. Standing near the gate are two men who look entirely out of place in this quiet school setting: Stephen and Aga. They stand like two statues, eyes locked onto each other in a silent, suffocating challenge.

"Oh no," Eli whispers, elbowing Candyce.

Candyce follows her gaze and gasps. "Sh—t! Is that…?"

Before Eli can pull her friend back behind the safety of the school walls, both men call out in unison.

"Eli!"

The girls halt. Eli can feel the frantic thrumming of her pulse against her ribs. She purses her lips, a cold dread washing over her. Mom’s gonna kill me.

"Eli, right?" Stephen asks, his voice softening.

"H-hey. I… I can’t remember you, Sir," she stammers, playing the only card she has.

"It’s fine. No need to pretend," Stephen says, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. "Your mom won't know about this."

Aga’s eyes sharpen as he looks at Stephen. "So… you knew her?"

Stephen shifts his gaze back to Aga, his voice dripping with venom. "Of course. I was there the day you turned your back on Lea."

Aga lets out a harsh, dry scoff. "Ang dami mong kuda, wala ka namang alam sa nangyari sa amin."

"Talaga lang ha," Stephen laughs, a sound devoid of any real humor.

Aga draws himself up, his posture pompous and protective. "I don’t want to argue in front of my daughter."

Eli’s brows furrow in a mix of confusion and rising panic. "Wh-what?"

Aga ignores Stephen and takes a few steps toward her, a tender, desperate smile breaking across his face. "Hi, baby. I’ll be honest with you. I don’t have concrete proof right now that you’re mine, but deep inside, I can feel it. I’m your daddy."

Eli and Candyce exchange a look of sheer disbelief. Goosebumps erupt along Eli's arms. "Y-you?"

Despite her hesitation, that buried, primal longing for a father’s love begins to ache in her chest.

"Mommy shouldn't know about this. She’ll get mad, and I… I don’t want that," Eli pleads, her voice trembling as she looks between the two men.