'Til I Found You (COMPLETED)

43

These passing days were an amalgam of muddle and incertitude for Lea since Don Arnaldo snitched her of Aga's annulment. His assertiveness is irrefutable and evident. It would be a total fabrication if she claims that didn't get her upon hearing such fact. Truth be told, she felt a remorse seeing him go that night. It was, at some point, her fault. She takes the blame of Eli's pain. No matter how much she rescinds this emotion lingers to her heart, she feels defeated each time. She can't help but feel the emptiness inside.

T'was almost late at night but Lea is tossing and turning in bed. He has been running through her mind restlessly. Almost half a year since he left and she nourished a bit of guilt upon declining his calls. She awaits with hope that he would hit the call button again but it's been quite awhile. He never rang her up once more. And, she starts off to perceive a stab of regret. A knock brought her back to senses. It's her daughter, Eli, who gets through her room. With groggy stance, she hops on next to Lea. She could discern Eli is going back to her affectionate self, and Lea is glad about it. She misses her so much.

"Mommy, can I sleep next to you?", Eli asked.

"Of course, baby. Come", she gestures her to come closer of which Eli obliged. She wraps her arm around Lea's waist. She gave her daughter a peck on the forehead. It's been quite awhile since her last hug from her daughter. Eli has been so distant but she understands. At some point, she shares the same emptiness inside with Eli. She misses her daughter's father as well but her mind knows where to stand.

She hums Eli's usual lullaby — Lullaby and Good Night. Eli is a grown up now. As she looks back at the time when Eli was still a tiny one crying in her arms, a smile plasters on her face that she got through that certain stage all by herself. And even if the chance to get back together with Aga turns vague, she won't mind for as long as Eli is with her. She's already complete.

After a moment of silence settled in, Eli gazed up to her. "Mommy?"

"Mmm?"

"I'm sorry. I've been rude towards you. It was so not me but I just really miss daddy. He always asked me about you each time he goes to school and pays a visit. Daddy loves you so much, mommy. He told me that no one else occupies his heart except us. I know it was never a good thing to lie but I also knew you would get mad if I tell you that daddy visits me at school everyday"

It melts down Lea. She couldn't find a reason to feel exasperated. "Forget it, baby. Mommy understood it. I know you miss him so much. Your dad and I are just impossible to get back together. It's complicated, nak. Once his marriage is legally over, I am sure he'd come back to see you. And, even if we can never bring back what we had before, I swear to let him fulfill his obligations to you. You don't have to lie from me just to see your dad"

"Mommy? Can I ask you something? I hope you won't get mad"

Lea saw her daughter's sincerity through her eyes. She nods as a response, curious. And Eli is all ears.

"Do you still love my daddy? Mommy, do you miss him too?"

She was caught off guard. It echoes through mind a couple of times but answering in the negatives would be a great lie that she can tell her daughter. Lea smiles at Eli, giving her a soft kiss on the forehead.

"I never loved anyone else than your dad, Eli. He ... he means so much to me. And I miss him, too", she calls to mind his smile that caught her eyes, his eyes that glimmer each time they meet, and his words that she couldn't admit melting her deep down inside.

"I miss your daddy so much", she added of which Eli plasters on a wide smile. It's all that she longs to hear from her mom. Those words boost up her enthusiasm to pursue her objective. Don Arnaldo is fully aware of her idea to bridge the gap between her parents. Though he was in doubt at first but Eli pleaded for his help. And he knuckled under Eli's plan.