'Til I Found You (COMPLETED)

39

The air in the room is thick with the scent of brewed coffee and the unspoken weight of Lea’s secrets. She has been replaying that night in her mind like a broken film strip, caught in the sudden gush of emotion that overtook her. While the refreshing candor of their encounter offered a moment of relief, it cannot erase the jagged edges of the truth: he is married. The idea of being a mistress has never crossed her mind, yet here she is, suspended in uncertainty.

Stephen remains a steady, quiet presence by her side, visiting her and Eli during his final days in town. Though Aga clearly hates the sight of her with another man, he keeps his distance, acutely aware of where he stands—for now.

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"So, you let this ex-boyfriend Aga fulfill his obligations to my inaanak? Eh akala ko ba you don't want this man to be a part of your life again?" Jason asks, leaning forward with his arms crossed.

Lea gazes out the window, her voice small. "I felt sorry for my daughter. Naisip ko ... I can't drag her away from him for the rest of her life. It changed her a lot. Halos di na nga kumikibo sa bahay eh. She missed her dad."

"Yung anak lang ba talaga?" Emma jests, her eyes narrowing with playful suspicion.

"O-of course," Lea stammers, pursing her lips as a wave of guilt washes over her features.

"Talaga lang ha. One same roof in a night then what did you two talk about?" Jason adds, pressing for more.

"Ab-about Eli. We ... I ... mmmm ... I told him her ... her usual foods. Her hobbies. Her ... Ugh! I hate this!" Lea facepalms in defeat, her composure crumbling. Jason and Emma exchange a knowing look, refuse to buy the act.

Emma snaps her fingers, pointing in triumph. "Sabi na eh! Marupok kang tunay! So, ano? What happened, Lea?"

"Fine! Oo na! I admit. We ... we made out," Lea confesses, dropping her gaze to the floor.

"What! Agad-agad?! Aba! Madam, you're marupokest!" Jason exclaims, nearly jumping out of his seat.

"I know it shouldn't happen but ... it did! We did! And I regret it. I don't know why I gave in. Now I am worried."

Emma heaves a long sigh, reading the conflict written across Lea’s face. "Lea, I can feel that you're still into him. Just the way you look at him, I know you still love him. Pero kase, Lei, this is so complicated eh. Alam mo naman yun. May asawa yun. Pamilyado."

Lea takes a deep breath, the secret burning to get out. "Actually, he came here the other night. Alli is not his daughter. Luisa slept with other guy before Aga."

Silence drops like a stone. The two friends stare at her, their expressions shifting from shock to utter disbelief.

"What?! Tama ba yung narinig ko?! Hindi anak ni Aga yung bata?!" Jason rises to his feet in a sudden rage. "San ba yang gagang 'yan?! Sasabunotan ko lang!"

"Relax, J," Lea says, reaching out to calm him.

"Lea, twelve years yung nasayang! Pinanagutan ni Aga yung batang hindi kanya. Eh yung inaanak ko yung kawawa. Gaga yang babaeng yan ah! Kung makapanghusga sila sayo, eh sa inyong dalawa, mas bagay sa kanya yung pokpok eh! Naku! Naku! Sinasabi ko sayo wag talaga magpapakita sakin yang babaeng higad na yan. Ang landi!" Emma hisses in annoyance.