'Til I Found You (COMPLETED)

42

He left the town that night him and Lea argued over his responsibilities to Eli. At some point he understands her worries and frustrations vented out that last night they met. It wasn't easy to walk away with heavy loads weighing in his heart and mind. Though he knew there wasn't other way around than to leave at that juncture but he wanted to stay. In fact, he didn't want to leave their side again but things aren't going pretty well around them. When he left, Aga phoned Lea for quite few times but she never answered even once. Days turned to months without hearing anything from them and he felt so down. At random nights, he reminisced his sole moment with them. Eli's laughter whenever he got a wrong answer to her question echoes through his mind as well as Lea's giggles. He misses them so much. All that he is doing entails with hope to fix things between them of Lea. They are his life.

His annulment is quite smooth sailing. Luisa was a bit adamant at first. She appeared in court once and never on the following court hearings. It put the annulment process into sluggish state. There he knew Luisa won't go easy on him but he's willing to risk whatever it takes to amp up the process. He adds fuel to the fire that would surely blow up Luisa.

It blows her top. Luisa went into his office and vented out. "Aga, this is ours to solve! Hindi mo kailangang idamay si dad dito! I know what you did!"

He scoffs with a coup, "I've only just begun, Luisa. Tama ka. This is ours to solve and you know what I want. Don't make things even more complicated"

"Wala ka na ba talagang konsensiyang natitira, Aga?! Alli doesn't want to go back to school. She wants to see you! Kahit naman hindi siya sayo, she grew up knowing you are her father!"

"And it's because of you! Wag mo isisi sakin to, Luisa. Hindi ako ang nagsinungaling! Kung meron man dito ang walang konsensiya, ikaw yun!", he vents out his frustrations at her. "I can ruin your family but I hope we won't get that far. Luisa, all I am asking is your cooperation. Kailangan ako ng mag ina ko. I've spent twelve years believing in your lies! Kung may natitira pang konsensiya sayo, tapusin na natin to!"

She could discern the persistence through his countenance. Somehow she knew a huge part of his life was messed up the day she hid the truth. It flourished a remorse in her. Her daughter remains incognizant from all of this, and she felt so guilty of what Lea told her. Truly, she is not tough enough to stand on her own without counting on her parents. She wanted to end things up legally between them of Aga. In such way, she thought of making things right but her dad dissented. Luisa, as a dependent daughter, conforms to his own decision.

But she knew this should be stopped. For once, she wants to decide things on her own not for herself but for Alli, her sole purpose in life. "Bawiin mo yung pinakalat mong balita tungkol kay dad. I will attend the court hearing next week"

Aga was in cloud nine upon hearing it. He knuckled under to her condition and, as promised, Luisa was around during the court hearing. It was all but perfect if only his mom, Doña Carol, takes his side. Ever since she heard of their annulment, she rarely talks to him. Aga knew that his mom doesn't like Lea but he is apathetic towards it.

He went to see his father at their old mansion. Upon getting through their home, Doña Carol is sitting at the living room. Their gaze met and Aga was left with no choice but to draw himself near his mom, "Good morning, Ma. Is dad around?"

"He's not. He went out with his friends", she casually responsed.

"I see. Pakisabi na lang ho dumaan ko"

"You just arrived. Aalis ka na agad? I heard your annulment with Luisa is going well. Lea must be so happy about it", she scoffs.

"Ma, please. I came to see dad. Since wala siya, babalik na lang ho ako"

"Wag kang bastos, Aga. I am talking to you! Umiiwas ka tuwing binabanggit ko siya. Ang hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit mas pinipili mo yung babaeng yun kesa kay Luisa!"

"Ma, mahal ko si Lea. One more thing, Lea and I have a daughter. Pinanindigan ko yung batang hindi naman sakin samantalang yung anak ko lumaki ng wala ako", he is losing his temper.

"How sure are you that her daughter is yours?! Eh diba nga ang daming lalaki non?! Nahuli mo pa ngang nakikipaghalikan kay Gary eh. Aga, use your mind! Kung sinu-sinong lalaki ang pumatol don kahit mga kaibigan mo naikama na yung babaeng yun! I did not raise you with that low standard! Son, wake up! Mahiya ka naman sa pamilya natin! You don't have to do this. Pera lang naman ang habol ng babaeng yun sayo! Demand a DNA test at kung talagang sayo yung batang yun then sustentohan mo but you don't have any obligations to Lea!"

Aga clenched his hand into a fist to tamp down frustrations but he is so done with all his mom's intervention. All these years he obliged onto her words but he has had enough of everything, "Are you done, Ma? I am telling you this for one last time, mahal ko si Lea. Minsan na kitang sinunod, Ma. I married Luisa just like you wanted! Nagpakaama at asawa ako then now, what?! Luisa was carrying a child from another man! Lea might not be that decent. She has an unlikely past but I love her, Ma. So much! If you cannot accept it ... itakwil niyo na lang ako. Mag ina ko sila. They are my life. I obliged to all your demands, Ma, but I have had enough. I'm so done with all this mess. Gusto kong makasama ang mag ina ko and no one could stop me. Not even you, Ma. Matagal ko na dapat tong ginawa. I shouldn't have listen to you before! I should've chased Lea rather than marrying Luisa! Itinatama ko lang ang pagkakamali ko, Ma"

"Hindi ako makakapayag na yang babaeng yan ay maging parte ng pamilya natin! Nahihibang ka na, Aga! She's just after your wealth!"

But Aga has made up his mind. It has to end. "She's not, Ma. Don't worry hinding hindi niya makukuha ang yaman mo, Ma, because she doesn't need it. She is not after it. We don't need it, Ma"

She furrowed her forehead upon hearing her son, "Ano'ng ibig mong sabihin?!"

Aga has been thinking about his. He knew this day might come but his mind is made up already, "Ayoko na, Ma. I resign. From now on, I don't want to manage all your branches. Uuwi ako sa mag ina ko and we will build a new life. I will prove to you that Lea is not after anything from us. Mahal ko siya, Ma. Mahal ko ang mag ina ko. They are my life. Mas kailangan ko sila higit pa sa anong bagay. I'm sorry, Ma, but I ... I am so done. I'm leaving. And I wish you and dad the best in life"

Doña Carol called out his name but Aga has decided already. He left without looking back. Though it hurts him deep inside but his family — Eli and Lea — needs his love and attention, his presence. And he can't wipe off the grin plasters on his face. It feels so good to finally stand on his own. He's coming back where his daughter, Eli, and Lea await him. With them, he is finally home.