22.

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

My heart shattered into a million pieces, my world crumbling around me. No, it can't be. The stranger can't be... my husband's father. The man who had been hiding in the shadows, pulling the strings of our lives. The man who had destroyed my family, my husband's family.

"Pa!" Jarred's voice cut through the air like a dagger, its finality slicing through my denial. But I refused to acknowledge the truth. I couldn't bear to face it. This had to be some cruel joke, a twisted prank. There was no way... no way this could be happening.

But then, the words that shattered my world: "Jarred, anak." The confirmation was like a sledgehammer to my chest, leaving me breathless and reeling. His father? No, it couldn't be. I wouldn't let it be.

Why did it have to be him? Out of billions of people, why did it have to be Jarred's father? Was our world really shrinking, conspiring against me to unleash this devastating truth?

Jarred's anger was palpable as he spat out the words, "Bakit kayo andito?" But I couldn't respond. I was lost in a sea of grief, still reeling from the news of my father's death. This new revelation was too much to bear.

Jarred's voice called out to me, soft and gentle, "Clyde.." But I shook my head, unable to face him, unable to face the truth. It was all too painful, too hard to accept. I felt like I was drowning in a ocean of despair, with no lifeline in sight.

Ang lalaking minahal ko anak ng taong naging dahilan kung bakit namatay ang Ama ko.

His words were like a rusty blade, twisting and turning in my heart, causing unbearable agony. "She deserves to know the truth, Jarred." Each syllable was a fresh stab, shredding my soul into ribbons.

My world imploded, leaving me standing amidst the ruins of my shattered heart. I gazed at Jarred, his eyes filled with guilt and regret, but it was too late. The damage was done. I felt betrayed, deceived by the one person I thought I could trust above all others.

Bakit pati ikaw?

Jarred took a step closer, his hands reaching out to me, but I recoiled, shrugging away his touch. It was too painful, too raw. I couldn't bear the thought of his hands on mine, not now, not after this.The hurt was suffocating, crushing me beneath its weight. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of despair, unable to escape the agony that threatened to consume me. Jarred's betrayal had unleashed a torrent of pain, and I didn't know how to stem the tide.

Bakit ganito? Bakit ang daya ng mundo sa 'kin? Bakit lahat ng taong minahal ko may tinatago sa 'kin?

Ang daya niyo. Napakadaya niyong lahat.

"Love.." Jarred's voice cracked as he called out to me again, his eyes brimming with a pain that seemed to pierce my very soul. Those eyes, once filled with adoration and love, now swam in a sea of sorrow and regret. I forced a weak smile, trying to reassure him, but it only seemed to cause him more pain.

"Isang tanong, isang sagot," I whispered, using our familiar phrase, but instantly regretted it as I saw the anguish in his eyes deepen. His tears flowed like a river, and I felt my heart shatter into a million pieces.

I had hurt him, and it hurt me even more.

I took a deep breath and asked the question that would change everything: "Kilala mo si Papa?"

Jarred's lips trembled, and he looked at me with helpless eyes. Another wave of tears crashed down, and his mouth quivered as he tried to speak. His hands reached out for mine, but I pulled away, afraid of what he might say.

Please, say no. Tell me you don't know anything. Please, don't let it be true that everyone knew the truth about Papa and kept it from me.

But Jarred's answer destroyed me."Y-yes," he stammered, his voice barely audible.I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. Tita was right; the truth would ruin me. Mama was right; it would have been better if I never knew. But now that I did, I felt like my whole world had been shattered.

I smiled weakly at Jarred, feeling betrayed and broken. "That's all I need," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.I never thought that Jarred, the person I trusted most, would be keeping secrets from me too. The pain was suffocating, and I didn't know how much more I could take.

I turned to Jarred's father, my voice icy cold. "Sir, thank you for telling me the truth. You can leave now." I wiped my face, shocked to find it dry. No tears had fallen, as if my body had forgotten how to cry.

Sa subrang sakit ay wala nang luhang tumutulo. My body had forgotten how to cry. The pain was too much, too overwhelming. It was no longer just my hypothalamus reacting, but my heart, heavy with grief.

"Clyde, I'm sorry." Jarred whispered an apology, his voice cracking as he sobbed uncontrollably. I saw the pain in his eyes, but I was too consumed by my own agony to comfort him. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of unbearable pain.

As I looked at Jarred, memories flooded my mind. All the times they had told me it was better not to know the truth, that it would ruin me, that I would hate myself.

'It's for your own good.'

'Mas mabuting wala kang alam'

'You will hate youself kapag malaman mo ang totoo'

'Alam mo ba 'yung kasabihan na mas mabuting ibaon nalang sa limot ang katotohanan dahil baka masira ka at makasira ng iba sa oras na malaman mo ito.'

It all made sense now. They had been trying to protect me, to shield me from the devastating truth. But now that I knew, I couldn't help but wonder why they had kept it from me for so long. I lay down on the sofa, covering my face as I sobbed uncontrollably.

Sana pala ay nakinig nalamang ako sakanila. Sana hindi ko nalang inalam ang katotohanan. Sana ay hinayaan ko na lamang.

"Jarred, tangina naman, bakit nito 'ko ginaganito?" I asked, my voice shaking with grief.

"Bakit pati ikaw" I continued to cry, the pain and anger consuming me. "Baka may tinatago ka pa diyan, sabihin mo na oh!" I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "Para isang bagsakan nalang."

"W-wala na," Jarred whispered, his voice trembling. He leaned in to comfort me, and I instinctively hugged him, releasing a torrent of tears. He wrapped his arms around me, holding me close, but I couldn't shake the feeling that his hug was no longer warm, no longer comforting.

Was I slowly starting to hate him?

I pulled back, my eyes searching for answers. "Kelan pa?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. Jarred took a deep breath before speaking.

"Nung wedding natin." The words cut through me like a knife, unleashing a fresh wave of pain. He had known the truth since our wedding day. He had kept it from me for so long.

I laughed, a cold, mirthless sound, and pushed him away. "So, when you were fucking me, you knew what your father had done to mine?" I shouted, my anger boiling over. Jarred's eyes filled with fear as he tried to calm me down.

"Baby, please, calm down." But I was beyond consolation.

"Calm down? You've been lying to me since the beginning!" I screamed, my heart shattering into a million pieces. Jarred tried to explain, his words tumbling out in a desperate bid to justify his actions.

"N-no, nalaman ko lang nung pinakita mo 'yung picture ng Papa mo... I would never forget the face of the man who saved my life and my sister's life, but I never expected that he was the father of the woman I loved the most." His words were like a blow to the gut, leaving me breathless and reeling.

My knees buckled, and I collapsed to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. "Why?" I wailed, my heart pouring out all its anguish. Jarred wrapped his arms around me, holding me close as I cried.

"I'm sorry for hiding the truth," he whispered, his voice trembling. "Natakot ako, natakot ako na baka iiwan mo 'ko kapag sasabihin ko."

It's too painful. Kaya ko paba? Kaya ko paba tiisin?

I instinctively touched my belly, a gentle reminder of the life growing inside me. Crying while pregnant isn't healthy, I thought, trying to compose myself.

"I'm sorry, anak," I whispered, apologizing to my unborn child for the turmoil they were witnessing. "Mommy's been crying a lot lately."

That night, Jarred and I slept in the same bed, but I turned my back to him, unable to face him. The pain was still too raw, too overwhelming. I wasn't in the mood to talk to him, to confront the emotions that were swirling inside me.We were in the same bed, but it felt like we were worlds apart. The distance between us was palpable, a chasm that seemed impossible to bridge.

Kay lapit, ngunit kay layo 'din.

As I descended the stairs, Jarred greeted me with a cheerful "Good morning, baby." He was busy preparing breakfast, a warm smile spreading across his face. But I couldn't return the gesture. The pain from the previous day still lingered, refusing to be shaken off.

Every time I looked at Jarred, I was reminded of the hurt he had caused me. The memories of his deception, of the secrets he had kept from me, flooded my mind. Just like Mama and Tita, he had hidden the truth from me, and that realization cut deep.

I gave him a cold, detached look. "Hindi na ako kakaain. Ma-late na ako," I said, my voice flat and emotionless. Without another word, I turned and left the house, not even bothering to say goodbye.

I knew my actions would hurt Jarred, but I couldn't bring myself to care. I was hurt too, betrayed by the person I trusted most. He had kept something important from me, something that had shattered my world.

As I made my way to the company, I found myself lost in thought, reminiscing about my trip to Japan with Papa. We had gone with Papa's boss's family, but try as I might, I couldn't recall the face of his family. Kahit anong pilit ko ay wala akong maalala na mukha ni Jarred. Na pagkikita namin nung kami ay mga bata pa. Wala talaga kahit isa. My mind was a blank slate until I arrived at the office.

I mechanically made my way to my workstation, my mind elsewhere. I went through the motions of my job, my thoughts consumed by the events of the previous day. My colleagues were watching the news on TV, but I tuned it out, not caring about the latest updates.

"Anak ng dating politiko nangunguna sa senatorial race survey." The news anchor announced, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of despair wash over me. I tried to focus on the TV, but the news was heartbreaking - despite the controversies surrounding him, people still intended to vote for him.a

Isa 'to sa mga dahilan kung bakit hanggang ngayon ay wala paring asenso sa bansa. Dahil may pagkakataon sila na bumuto ng tama, ay may pinili nilaqng ipagbili ito. Pinipilit silang mamulat sa katotohanan ay mas pinipili parin nilang mag bulag-bulagan.

This country seems to be allergic to good governance.

As the news segment ended, I shifted my attention back to my work, trying to distract myself from the ache in my heart. But even as I busied myself, the pain lingered, a constant reminder of the injustices that seemed to plague our country.

When lunchtime arrived, Kiraz appeared at my desk, her expression tense and urgent. "Girl, sa condo tayo ngayon. Emergency," she whispered, her voice low and serious.

I looked at her, confused. "Pumunta ka," she added, her eyes locked on mine.

I hesitated, unsure of what to do. But Kiraz's insistence left me with little choice. I nodded, and she nodded back. "Ngayon na?" I asked, wondering if we had to leave immediately.

Kiraz nodded again. "What about work?" I asked, concerned about abandoning our responsibilities.

"Clint's with us," she replied, referring to our boss. I raised an eyebrow, feeling uneasy about the favoritism.

"Kiraz, we're being unfair to the other employees," I pointed out. It wasn't right to just leave the office because of her relationship with our boss.

But Kiraz was insistent. "I know, but this matter is important," she said, her voice firm. She continued to persuade me until I finally relented, gathering my things and following her to her condo.

As we entered Kiraz's condo, I was taken aback by the unexpected gathering. Jarred, Clint, and Ashley were all there, their conversations halted as they turned their attention to us. The tension in the air was palpable.

Kiraz was summoned by Clint, and as they began to talk, Jarred's gaze met mine. He smiled, and I felt a pang in my chest. I looked at him blankly, my emotions still raw from the previous day's revelation.

I took a seat beside him, and he leaned in, his lips brushing against my temple. "I missed you," he whispered. I looked at him, my heart heavy with the pain of his deception. I missed him too, but the wound was still too fresh.

Lasing ba 'to? Amoy alak.

Ashley's voice cut through the air, her tone laced with malice. "Ba't nandito to?" she asked, pointing at me. I bit my lip, holding back tears. It hurt me to see her like this, to know that our friendship had been irreparably damaged.

Jarred's voice held a warning, "Ash." But Ashley just rolled her eyes and leaned back into the sofa.

"Ano ba kailangan niyo sa 'kin?" she asked, her voice dripping with disdain.

I felt the pain wash over me again, and I couldn't help but think that Ashley had changed. She was no longer the friend I once knew. The realization stung, and I struggled to hold back my tears.

Clint's words cut through the air, "It's about Danie." I flinched, my heart skipping a beat as Jarred's gaze locked onto mine.

Ashley's voice dripped with sarcasm and bitterness, "Oh, tapos? I already broke up with him when he cheated on me with my so-called friend." Her eyes rolled in my direction, and I felt a surge of guilt. I gripped my skirt, biting my lip to stifle the emotions welling up inside me.

Jarred's hand enveloped mine, his thumb caressing my skin. I looked up, and he offered a gentle smile. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I realized the pain I had caused him. He had been hurt by the picture, by the truth, and by the secrets he had kept from me. Yet, here he was, comforting me, smiling at me.

Kiraz's voice broke the spell, "We want you to stand as a witness." I was taken aback, confusion etched on my face. "He molested a minor," Kiraz continued, her voice grave, "and that poor girl deserves justice."

Ashley's eyes narrowed, "Bakit ako?"

Clint's response was straightforward, "Because you were in a relationship with him."

Ashley's gaze flicked to me, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. "Ako lang ba?" she asked, her eyes darting towards me with an unspoken accusation.

Kiraz intervened, her voice firm, "Ashley!"

But Ashley shrugged, "I'm just saying."

Jarred's voice cut in, his words laced with a sense of urgency, "Danie Riel's family has a lot of power and influence. If you don't stand up as a witness against him, the victim might lose the case just because of their wealth."

As I listened to Jarred's words, I couldn't help but think: Would he do the same for me? Would he fight for me if I told the truth? The urge to volunteer as a witness rose up in me, but Danie's threat still lingered in my mind. What if standing up against him put Jarred in danger? I bit back my words, my silence a heavy burden. For Jarred's safety, I remained quiet.

"Bakit ba kayo nakikisali sa kaso niya?" Ashley asked, her tone laced with skepticism.

Kiraz's eyes welled up with tears, and her voice cracked with emotion. "That girl is important to me, Ash."

Ashley's expression softened as she witnessed Kiraz's pain. She seemed to melt, her defenses dropping. "Alright... I'll try," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kiraz's face lit up with hope as she flung her arms around Ashley, embracing her tightly. I couldn't help but smile at the tender moment between the two friends. At least Ashley was still willing to be there for Kiraz, even if our own relationships were complicated.

After that, we headed home. As we were on our way, a realization suddenly struck me - I had been unfair to Jarred. He, too, was hurting, but I had been so consumed by my own pain that I hadn't stopped to consider his. He needed me just as much as I needed him, but I had been so blinded by my own emotions that I hadn't been there for him. The weight of my guilt settled heavy on my heart.

As we sat down to eat dinner together, the tension between us was palpable. I couldn't shake off the feeling of guilt that had been gnawing at me since our last conversation. Jarred, sensing my unease, reached out and took my hand in his.

"Love, I know I hurt you," he said, his voice low and husky. "But we can still fix this right, love?"

I looked up at him, my eyes welling up with tears. "Sinaktan din kita, Jarred." I whispered, my voice cracking with emotion. "I was so cold to you, so distant. I didn't even give you a chance to explain."

Jarred's eyes filled with tears as he pulled me into a tight hug. "You had every right to be angry, Clyde," he whispered into my hair. "I lied to you, I kept secrets from you. I don't blame you for being cold to me."

I clung to him, feeling a wave of pain wash over me. "But I hurt you, Jarred," I sobbed. "I hurt you so badly. And now... now I don't know if I can ever make it right."

Jarred pulled back, his eyes searching mine. "We can make it right, Clyde," he said, his voice filled with conviction. "We can work through this together. But you have to promise me one thing."

I looked up at him, my heart pounding in my chest. "What's that?" I whispered.

Jarred's eyes locked onto mine, filled with a deep sadness. "You have to promise me that we'll never leave me each other no matter what happened," he said, his voice cracking with emotion. "I don't think I can survive losing you again, Clyde."