21

Warning: This chapter contains sensitive topics that might trigger you.

As Jarred turned his back and walked out of the house, I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. Clint followed him, leaving me alone with Kiraz and Ashley. I collapsed onto the floor, overcome with tears.

Why was this happening? Bakit ba nangyayari 'to? Akala ko magiging maayos na lahat dahil nakauwi na 'ko. Pero bakit parang mas lumala?

Ashley's words cut through my despair. "Sa lahat ng tao ikaw ang hindi ko inaasahan na mag ta-traydor sa 'kin." She looked at me with so much pain in her eyes, and I felt a pang of guilt.

"Guys, pag-usapan natin to ng maayos." Kiraz tried to intervene, but Ashley was having none of it.

"Pag usapan? Tignan mo 'yung mga litrato!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the room.

I shook my head, feeling lost and in pain. "Ano ha? Na accidentally lang na nagkita kayo at napunta 'yung makamay niya sa bewang mo? Na miracle lang na nahalikan ka niya?" Ashley's sarcasm was like a knife twisting in my soul.

My body trembled with fear as Danie's touch and kiss flashed through my mind. I could still feel it, like a tattoo on my skin. "N-no," I stuttered, trying to explain myself, but the words got stuck in my throat.

Ashley's cries grew louder, her voice cracking with pain. "Clyde, ang sakit," she wailed, her words piercing my heart like a dagger.

"Bakit ikaw pa?" she asked, her voice trembling with anguish. "Matatanggap ko pa kung lolokohin ako ni Danie, pero bakit ikaw pa?" Her words felt like a slap in the face, and I felt my heart shatter into a million pieces.

I pleaded with her, desperate for her to listen to me. "Ash, no, I didn't betray you," I begged, my voice shaking with emotion. "Please, makinig ka naman sa 'kin."

But Ashley's expression only grew more disappointed, her eyes filled with a deep sadness. "Tangina naman oh... Kapatid na turing ko sa 'yo," she said, her voice heavy with sorrow.

She took a step closer to me, her eyes blazing with pain. "My relationship with Danie is going down, I even planned of breaking up with him, pero bakit sa ganitong paraan pa? Bakit sa kaibigan ko pa?" she asked, her voice cracking with emotion.

I looked at her, desperate for her to believe me, but she just shook her head, her eyes filled with disappointment. I felt like I was drowning in despair, unable to escape the pain and heartache that surrounded me.

I tried to beg her again, to plead with her to listen to me, to believe in me. But she just turned away, leaving me standing alone, my heart shattered into a million pieces.

Ashley's final words were like a death sentence. "Our friendship ends here." And with that, she walked out of the room, leaving me shattered and alone.

Kiraz called out to me, but I didn't respond. I just lay on the floor, pouring out my heart in tears. The pain in Jarred's eyes, the tears that escaped from his eyes... it was all my fault. I hurt him, and I hurt Ashley, my best friend since high school.

The memories of Jarred's tears and the pain in his eyes haunted me. He never cried, always choosing to see the good in every situation. But when he did cry, it meant he was in unbearable pain. And I was the one who had caused it. I had hurt him, hurt him badly.

The weight of my actions crushed me. I thought about Ashley, my best friend since high school. She had cried so hard, her pain and sadness palpable. And in the end, she had ended our friendship. I had hurt her, hurt my friend, hurt the person who had always been by my side, who had always defended me.

I felt like I had ruined everything. Our friendship, which had been a constant in my life for so long, was now gone. And it was all because of me. I couldn't shake the feeling of guilt and regret that consumed me. I had hurt the people I loved, and I didn't know how to make it right.

Kasalanan ko lahat ng 'to. Hindi sana mangyayari 'to kung hindi ako umalis ng bahay. Tama siguro si Tito, kung nag suot ako ng maayos edi sana hindi ako nabasto. Sana hindi nangyayari lahat ng 'to.

Kiraz's gentle voice brought me back to reality. "Nandito lang ako. Hindi ako aalis." She whispered, and I felt a glimmer of hope.

I turned to her, and she wrapped her arms around me. "Sabihan na nila akong enabler at nag to-tolerate ng kaibigan, ay wala akong pake. Hindi kita iiwan mag-isa." Her words were like a balm to my soul, and I cried even harder, grateful for her unwavering support.

"Bakit nangyayari 'to?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, as if I was losing all hope. Kiraz was still clinging to me, her body shaking with sobs.

"Clyde.." she whispered, her voice trembling. I held her close, trying to comfort her.

"Hindi ko niloko si Jarred, at hindi ko trinaydor si Ashley," I whispered back, hoping against hope that she would believe me.

Kiraz looked up at me, her eyes filled with tears. "Clyde, ang hirap paniwalaan," she whispered, her voice cracking. "Pero kahit mahirap, maniniwala ako sa 'yo." I felt a glimmer of hope, but it was quickly extinguished by my own fears.

Maniniwala din kaya si Jarred tulad mo? Makikinig din kaya siya tulad mo? Hindi niya naman siguro ako iiwan hindi ba?

Kiraz held me close, trying to comfort me. "Natatakot ako. Natatakot ako na baka iiwan ako ni Jarred. Na baka aalis siya," I whispered, my body shaking with sobs.

Kiraz's voice was a gentle whisper in my ear. "Mahal na mahal ka nun, hindi ka niya iiwan. Besides, buntis ka hindi ba? Hindi hahayaan ni Jarred na lumaki ang anak niyo ng hindi buo ang pamilya."

We sat there on the floor, holding each other, crying, and hoping against hope that everything would be okay.

Natatakot ako. Na haka matatapos na 'yung maliligayang araw ko. Ayaw ko nang ganito. Ayaw ko nitong sakit na nararamdaman ko. Masyadong masakit, hindi ko kaya.

"Magpahinga kana." Bulong nito sa 'kin. "Hindi 'to nakabubuti para sa anak niyo."

Tumango lamang ako sa kaniya at dumiretso na sa kwarto namin. Humiga agad ako sa kama, sinusubukan na matulog. Baka pag gising ko maayos na ang lahat. Na baka panaginip lahat ng 'to.

Sinubukan kung matulog ngunit kahit anong pilit ko ay hindi. Na sa tuwing pag pikit ko ay nakikita ko ang mukha ni Danie. Kung paano niya 'ko pagnasahan.

Ni hindi ko alam kung ilang oras akong nakatulala habang nakahiga sa kama namin. Natuyo na ang mga luhang tumulo galing sa mata ko. Ngunit ang sakit ay nandito parin.

Pinipiga nito ang puso ko. Hindi ko kakayanin ang sakit. Ikakamatay ko 'to. Hindi ako sanay na masaktan at natatakot ako sa maging posibleng gawin nito sa sarili ko.

As I slowly rose from my slumber, I was met with an eerie darkness, and a haunting realization - Jarred was still nowhere to be found. A wave of worry and anxiety washed over me, threatening to engulf me whole.

I frantically reached for my phone and dialed his number, my heart racing with every passing ring. Finally, a faint voice answered,

"Clyde?" It was Clint. My voice trembled as I asked,

"Clint, si Jarred?" The pause that followed was deafening, and I could sense the unease emanating from the other end of the line.

"Clyde, nandito kami sa bar, lasing na lasing si Jarred," Clint's words cut through me like a knife. I sprang into action, my heart racing with every step. "Pupuntahan ko siya diyan," I said, before ending the call.

I hastily made my way to the car, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios. As I arrived at the bar, the thumping music and cacophony of smells assaulted my senses. I scanned the crowded room, my eyes frantically searching for Jarred.

And then, I saw him. His eyes, once bright and full of life, now seemed dull and lifeless. His hair, usually immaculately styled, was now disheveled and unkempt. The pain and anguish etched on his face was like a punch to the gut.

As I took a step forward, a menacing figure emerged from the shadows, blocking my path. "I didn't expect to see you here," Danie's voice sent shivers down my spine. "Nabitin ako nung nasa mall tayo," he sneered, his eyes glinting with malice.

My heart racing, I stumbled backward, desperate to escape the clutches of this monster. I retreated until my back was against the cold wall, trapped and helpless. The darkness seemed to closing in around me, and I was paralyzed with fear.

Nakikiusap ako, taman napo. Masyado ng masakit. Kung nakikinig po kayo sa 'kin, tama na. Batid kung wala kayong problema na binibigay sa 'min na hindi namin kayang lagpasan. Pero nakikiusap ako, tama na po.

As Danie's hot breath whispered against my ear, I felt a chill run down my spine. "Hindi dapat napupunta kay Jarred ang isang magandang babae tulad mo," he sneered, his voice dripping with malice.

I tried to struggle, but he held me firm, his grip like a vice. I pleaded with him, my voice trembling with fear. "Please, Danie, tama na. Nakikuusap ako."

But he just laughed, his eyes gleaming with a sinister light. "Not until I get what I want," he hissed, before crushing his lips against mine.

I tried to push him away, but he was too strong. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of despair, unable to escape the clutches of this monster.

Tears streamed down my face as I cried out for help, my heart screaming for Jarred to save me. But Danie grip only tightened, his fingers digging into my skin like claws.

Just when I thought all was lost, Danie head jerked up, a look of alarm crossing his face. "Opss, nakita ata tayo ng asawa mo," he whispered, before releasing me from his grasp.

I stumbled backward, my eyes scanning the room until they landed on Jarred. He was standing there, his face a mask of pain and shock, tears streaming down his face.

My heart shattered into a million pieces as I realized that he had witnessed the whole thing. He had seen me being sexually harassed, and he had just stood there, frozen in shock.

Jarred walked towards me, his face blank, his eyes empty. He removed his jacket and draped it over my shoulders, his touch gentle, but his eyes... his eyes were dead.

He wiped away my tears, his fingers tracing the contours of my face. "I'll just pretend that I didn't see anything." he whispered, his voice barely audible.

And then, he looked at Danie, his eyes flashing with anger. He punched Luke's face, the sound of the impact echoing through the room.

Without a word, Jarred grasped my hand, his fingers intertwining with mine. Together, we walked away from the wreckage, leaving behind the shattered remains of my heart.

The silence between us was deafening. We drove home in silence, and even as we stepped into our house, the quietness persisted. I was paralyzed by fear, my body trembling uncontrollably. The memories of Danie touch, his breath, and his kiss still lingered, etched into my skin like a permanent scar.

I felt dirty, stained, and disgusting. The thought of being tainted by Luke's actions made me want to scream.

Kiraz's gentle voice broke the silence. "Clyde..." she called out, but I barely registered her presence.

Jarred's cold tone sent a shiver down my spine. "Kiraz, umuwi ka na muna. Mag-uusap lang kami."

Kiraz nodded and quickly gathered her things, leaving me alone with Jarred. I reached out for his hand, desperate for comfort. "Love..."

But he turned his back on me, and I felt a searing pain in my heart. He had never turned his back on me before.

"Magpahinga ka na," Malamig na utos nito.

I stood my ground, determined to make him listen. "We need to talk," I said firmly.

But Jarred's response cut me deep. "Wala tayong pag-uusapan. Kasi wala naman ako nakita, diba?" He turned to face me, a smile plastered on his face, but his eyes told a different story. They were dark, hurt, and angry.

He caressed my face, his touch gentle, but I knew he was hiding his pain. "Stop crying, we're okay," he whispered, his voice cracking with emotion.

I saw the effort he was making to hold back his tears, to keep his anger in check. But I knew him too well. I saw the way his eyes flashed with anger when he looked at my lips, the way he clenched his jaw, the way he bit back his tears.

He turned away, his voice barely above a whisper. "Please, magpahinga ka na."

I followed him as he went to our bathroom, where he stayed for what felt like an eternity. I knew he was crying, hiding his tears from me.

When he finally emerged, his eyes were red-rimmed, and his face was pale. He lay down beside me, his body weak and exhausted. I snuggled into his chest, feeling a deep sense of longing and love.

"You still trust me, right?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

But Jarred didn't respond. I felt his deep breaths, his chest rising and falling with each inhale and exhale.

I whispered my promise to him, my heart aching with emotion. "Hanggat alam kung naniniwala ka pa sa 'kin, kakayanin ko."

Our days blended together in a haze of tension and unease, like a perpetual twilight that refused to yield to dawn. Jarred's behavior was a heart-wrenching mix of coldness and sweetness, a bittersweet symphony that pierced my soul like a thousand daggers.

He'd make me breakfast, his hands moving with a quiet precision that belied the turmoil brewing inside him. He'd tend to my morning sickness, his touch gentle but detached, as if he was caring for a fragile, broken thing. He'd ask about my cravings, his voice low and husky, but his eyes... his eyes were like two empty wells, drained of all warmth and light.

"May gusto kang kainin?" he'd ask, his voice a monotone that sent shivers down my spine.

I'd try to respond, to muster some semblance of normalcy, but my voice would crack and falter, like a bird with a broken wing. "Wala naman," I'd stammer, but we both knew it was a lie.

Jarred's eyes would narrow, his jaw clenched in a tight, hard line, but he wouldn't push the issue. He'd just nod, his face a mask of calm, and continue with his daily routine, as if nothing was wrong.

But everything was wrong. The trauma Danie had inflicted on me still lingered, a festering wound that refused to heal. Every time someone approached me, I'd flinch, my heart racing with fear, my mind screaming with memories of that fateful night. The thought of being touched, of being reminded of Danie's assault, was a constant, gnawing terror that haunted me every waking moment.

"Love, naka-uwi kana pala," I forced out, trying to sound cheerful despite the ache within. But he just nodded, his eyes devoid of warmth. I took a step closer, hoping to bridge the gap between us, but he recoiled, avoiding my kiss. I stood there, frozen in confusion, as he delivered the final blow.

"Akyat muna ako, pagod ako galing trabaho."

His words cut deep, and I bit my lip to stifle a sob. I watched as he disappeared from view, and then the dam burst, releasing a torrent of tears. I clutched my heart, overwhelmed by the anguish that threatened to consume me. "You can do this, Clyde," I whispered, trying to rally my shattered spirit.

But the night only brought more pain. I waited for him in our bedroom, but he never came. I sought him out in his office, and there he was, sleeping peacefully, having chosen to abandon me to a lonely, tear-filled night. The realization seared my soul: he hated me, was repulsed by me, couldn't stand the sight of me. The agony was suffocating.

As I wept, memories flooded my mind, taunting me with the promises he had once made. "Kahit kailan, kahit anong manyari, ikaw lang paniniwalaan ko" But now, it seemed those vows were nothing more than empty words. Why had he chosen to believe a mere picture over my own words? Where was the trust, the faith, the love he had once professed?

The days blended together in a haze of sorrow. He was cold, distant, only deigning to speak to me when inquiring about my pregnancy. And then, the silence would descend once more. I yearned for the Jarred I once knew, the man who had captured my heart. But he was gone, lost behind a mask of indifference.

And to make matters worse, Ashley had cut me off completely. She'd blocked me on all social media platforms, and even blocked my phone number. I tried to reach out to her, to apologize and explain, but she avoided me at all costs. I even went to her condo, hoping to catch her and talk things through, but she refused to see me.

"Ashley, please, just listen to me," I begged, my voice hoarse from crying, as I stood outside her condo door. "I'm so sorry, Ashley. I never meant to hurt you. Please, forgive me."

But there was only silence. The rejection and isolation were suffocating me, crushing me beneath their weight. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of pain and guilt, with no lifeline in sight.

As I walked back to my car, feeling defeated and alone, Jarred's words echoed in my mind. "I'm here for you, Clyde. Always." But even his words of comfort couldn't ease the ache in my heart.

I felt like I was losing myself, like I was disappearing into a void of despair and hopelessness. I felt like I was dying, slowly but surely, and I didn't know how to stop it.

As I drove home, tears streaming down my face, I couldn't help but wonder... magiging buo kaya ako ulit?

I called out to him on a night when he came home reeking of liquor. He looked miserable, his eyes sunken and his face pale. "Love..." he slurred, his voice barely above a whisper.

I stopped in my tracks, taken aback by the term of endearment. It was a word he hadn't used in a long time, not since the distrust had crept in.

He grasped my face, his hands cold and clammy, and smiled weakly. "Bakit mo nagawa 'yun?" he asked, his voice cracking with emotion.

I felt a stab of pain, like a knife twisting in my heart. I realized, with a sinking feeling, that he no longer believed me. The trust was gone, shattered by his own doubts and fears.

"Jarred, you're drunk," I said, trying to deflect the question.

But he shook his head, his eyes welling up with tears. "I need to be drunk to say this to you," he said, his voice trembling. "It hurts, Clyde, it fucking hurts so much."

He sobbed uncontrollably, his body shaking with the force of his emotions. "I tried not to believe the picture, pero nung nakita ko kayong naghahalikan... it hurt so much."

I stood there, frozen in helplessness, as he poured out his pain and anguish. "Baby, why did you cheat on me? Wasn't I enough for you?"

His words cut deep, and I felt my heart shatter into a million pieces. He looked at me, his eyes filled with a deep sadness, and whispered, "Love, napapagod na 'ko."

And with that, he fell asleep, his drunk body slumping forward. I covered my mouth and cried, great sobs racking my body. I cried in front of his unconscious form, my heart broken into a million pieces. He no longer trusted me, no longer believed in me. And I knew that our marriage was on the brink of collapse.

It's been a month since my world was turned upside down. I could feel the marriage I dreamed of slowly slipping away, like sand between my fingers. I saw the end looming before us, and it terrified me.

But every time I thought of giving up, I remembered the promise Jarred and I made to each other.

"Kung sakaling makita natin ang dulo, bumalik tayo sa umpisa."

Kaya pa kaya namin na bumalik? Makakabalik pa kaya kami gayong nadumihan na ang pagkatao ko?

I felt like I was drowning in my own despair. I wanted to surrender, to let the waves of pain and guilt wash over me. But I was afraid that if I did, Jarred would let go of me, too. He'd give up on us, on our marriage, and on me.

I remembered the vows we made in front of the altar. I remembered the promises we whispered to each other. This was just a test, I told myself. A trial by fire that we could overcome, together.

But as I sat alone in our house, surrounded by the silence and the shadows, I couldn't shake off the memories of Luke. His face haunted me, his touch still lingered on my skin. I felt like I was losing my mind, like I was trapped in a never-ending nightmare.

I curled up in a ball, hiding in the corner of our room, and let the tears consume me. I wept for the marriage we once had, for the love we once shared. I wept for the pain and the fear that now gripped my heart. And I wept for the uncertainty of our future, for the possibility that we might never find our way back to each other.

I wrapped my arms around myself, holding on tight as I sobbed uncontrollably. "Bakit? Bakit ba nangyayari sa 'kin 'to?" I wailed, my voice echoing off the walls.

"Ano ba ang naging kasalanan ko?" I moaned, my body shaking with each ragged breath.

When I was alone, I let my tears flow freely, releasing all the emotions I'd been bottling up. I longed to cry in Jarred's arms, but I was afraid. Afraid of his reaction, afraid of his anger, afraid of losing him.

Kaya ko pa ba? Kelan pa 'to matatapos? Hanggang kelan pa 'ko magtitiis? I thought, my mind racing with questions and doubts.

Just as I was lost in my thoughts, I heard a knock at the door. I quickly wiped away my tears and composed myself, taking a deep breath before making my way downstairs to answer the door.

As I opened it, I froze, my heart skipping a beat. My eyes widened in shock, and I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. I couldn't move, couldn't speak, couldn't breathe. All I could do was stand there, frozen in terror, as I stared at the person standing in front of me.

The air was thick with tension as the stranger's eyes locked onto mine. "Clyde, right?" he asked, his voice low and gravelly.

I felt a shiver run down my spine as I nodded, my mind racing with memories of this man. His chiseled features, his slicked-back hair, his piercing gaze... it all came flooding back, like a tidal wave of emotions.

He stepped inside, his eyes scanning our home with a mixture of curiosity and nostalgia. His gaze landed on our wedding picture, and a faint smile played on his lips. "You're married to him?" he asked, his voice tinged with amusement.

I nodded, feeling a sense of trepidation wash over me. What was he doing here? What did he want?

The stranger's eyes locked onto mine, and I saw a flicker of regret, of sympathy, of pain. "Clyde, I know I should have done this a long time ago," he said, his voice cracking with emotion.

A single tear escaped his eye, and I felt my heart skip a beat. What was he about to reveal?

"Pero hindi na kays ng konsensya ko," he added, his voice barely above a whisper.

I felt a sense of curiosity wash over me. What did he mean? What secrets was he hiding?

And then, like a thunderbolt on a stormy night, he dropped the bombshell. "Planado ang pagkamatay ng Papa mo," he confessed, his voice trembling with emotion.

I felt like I'd been slapped in the face, my heart reeling from the shock of his words. The room around me began to spin, and I stumbled backwards, my mind racing with the weight of his confession.

"Ano pong ibigsabihin niyo na planado ang pagkamatay ni Papa?" I demanded, my voice shaking with a mix of anger and grief.

The stranger's eyes dropped, his voice barely above a whisper. "Clyde, naging gahaman ako sa pera, hindi naging sapat sa 'kin 'yung kinikita ng hotel. Kaya umutang ako ng malaking halaga. I invested in the stock market, but it was a gamble that went horribly wrong. I lost everything, and I was left with nothing but the crushing weight of debt and despair."

His words were like a dagger to my heart, twisting and turning with every painful revelation. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of sorrow, unable to escape the undertow of his betrayal.

He reached out and took my hand, but I flinched in horror, as if his touch was a poison that would infect me with his guilt.

"I'm sorry, Clyde," he whispered, his eyes filled with tears. "I'm sorry for everything. Your father saved my children, and I repaid him by sealing his fate."

I felt like I was living in a nightmare, trapped in a world of pain and sorrow from which I couldn't awaken. Memories of my father flooded my mind, memories of our time together in Japan, memories that now seemed tainted by the stranger's betrayal.

"Clyde, planado ko talaga na dalhin kayo sa Japan," he continued, his voice cracking with emotion. "Dahil pag uwi niyo ng Pilipinas ay papatayin nila ang Papa."

His words were like a death sentence, a pronouncement of doom that hung in the air like a challenge. I felt like I was staring into the abyss, with no safety net to catch me if I fell.

I screamed, my voice echoing off the walls. "Ano pong karapatan niyong ibenta si Papa?" I demanded, my heart pounding with rage. "Hindi niyo naman po siya pag mamay-ari, kaya ano pong karapatan niyo?"

"Alam niyo po ba kung gaano kasaya si Papa nung sinama niyo kami sa Japan?" I asked, my voice trembling with emotion as memories of the past flooded my mind.

"Napakasaya," I continued, my eyes welling up with tears. "He was fucking beyond happy, damn happy. Para siyang nakakita ng langit sa lupa."

But then, my expression darkened, and my voice turned cold with anger. "Tapos trap pala 'yun? A fucking trap you planned for him?" I shouted, my words dripping with venom.

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut, my heart reeling from the shock of his betrayal. The memories of our happy times in Japan now seemed tainted, like a beautiful painting with a rotten core.

"You used us," I spat, my anger boiling over. "You used my father's kindness and generosity for your own twisted purposes. How could you do that?"

The stranger fell to his knees, his eyes pleading for forgiveness. "Clyde, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything."

"Si kuya, nakakita niya kung paano pinatay si Papa," I said, my voice shaking with emotion. "It messed him up and it was traumatizing for him. We couldn't even talk to him properly. He needed help from a psychologist. And to this day, he's still taking medication because of how traumatized he was."

I looked at the stranger, my eyes blazing with anger and hurt. "Kayo ang may kasalanan sa lahat ng ito," I said, my voice cold and detached. "Kayo ang may kasalanan sa pagkamatay ni Papa, at sa trauma na naranasan ng aking kapatid."

"I'm sorry, Clyde."

But I was beyond forgiveness. I was consumed by anger and grief, my heart torn apart by the betrayal.

"Hinding-hindi ko po kayo mapapatawad," I spat, my voice venomous. "Hanggang sa mamatay ka ay mararamdaman mo ang galit ko. Nadamay ang pamilya ko sa kasakiman mo, kaya madadamay din ang pamilya mo sa galit namin."

"Clyde, may hindi pa 'ko sinasasabi sa'yo," he said, his voice low and hesitant, filled with a mix of guilt and trepidation.

"'Yung dalawang batang sinagip ni Papa mo ay isang babae at isang lalaki," he revealed, his eyes locked on mine, filled with a deep sadness and regret.

I felt my eyebrows shoot up in surprise, my mind racing with questions and doubts. " 'Yung babae anak ko, isang taong gulang lamang nun, pangalan nun ay Jane," he said, his voice cracking with emotion, as if the weight of his secrets was crushing him.

I was stunned, my jaw dropped, my heart racing with a mix of shock, denial, and fear. No, it can't be. There are many Jane's in the world. Please, don't let it be true.

"At 'yung lalaki ay walang iba kundi si- But before he could continue, my husband walked into the house, his eyes widening in shock as he took in the scene before him. His eyes locked onto the stranger's, and for a moment, time stood still.

And then, the unthinkable happened. The stranger's eyes locked onto my husband's, and a faint smile played on his lips. A smile that spoke of secrets, of lies, of betrayals.

"Pa?" my husband said, his voice trembling with confusion and shock, his eyes filled with a deep sense of unease and fear.