DM #4: Ares Madriaga

Kabanata 29

Kabanata 29

Pain

Over the past few days, I experienced the lightest and most relaxing day yet. I dedicated my time focusing on my pregnancy, just making sure that I am taking care of myself and the baby. It was a much-needed break after the emotional stress I got from the controversies.

Also, I was able to spend more time with Ares. He wanted us to leave the city for the meantime, but I chose not to. Lalo na dahil madalas ay sa bahay siya nagtatrabaho. At least he can still visit the hospital if there's something urgent. Hindi kagaya kapag wala kami sa Manila.

It's not like we need to leave the house just for me to feel relaxed, since having him with me is enough. We're also planning to travel abroad next month after the wedding.

The controversies have been silenced, although some speculation remains that I've chosen to ignore. Ares took care of everything for me—he managed to remove all the articles about the past issues and handled the case we filed against Franco Cabrera.

I initially wanted to attend the hearing, but Ares was opposed to it. Eventually, I agreed with him, given my current situation. I gave my statement to the attorney to support the evidence that I was harassed.

Franco Cabrera was found guilty by the court and will serve 30 years in prison. His sentence turned out to be longer than I expected due to his past cases being discussed in the hearing.

I'm deeply thankful to Ares for standing up for me and for helping the other victims of Franco who had been forced to stay silent. I feel like the world will be much kinder to me in the coming years now that I'm not alone anymore.

I've come to accept that life will not always provide me with the perfect life I once dreamed of. So, instead of longing for an ideal that might never come, I've decided to focus and appreciate the things that life has offered me.

I'm content, but still I felt an urge to visit Papa at the rehabilitation facility where he is currently staying. Although our relationship might not be the best, I still want to see how he is doing—not for my own satisfaction, but to genuinely check on his situation.

Hindi sang-ayon si Ares sa ideyang iyon. I expected that. At kahit sa likod ng isip ko, ayaw ko rin siyang makita matapos ang mga nangyari.

I'm not ready to forgive him yet after everything that happened. However, there's a part of me that thinks if I see him and feel some sense of pity, I might be able to find it in my heart to forgive. I want to forgive, not for his sake, but to free myself from the lingering trauma and finally heal.

I took the time to explain everything to Ares, and after some thought, he eventually agreed. This made me realize how much he was willing to set aside his own feelings and concerns just to support me.

It was afternoon when we decided to leave the house. Hindi iyon kalayuan kaya ilang minuto lang din ay nakarating kami.

When we arrived, I chose to roam around the area first to clear my mind. Hinayaan naman ako ni Ares.

The facility featured spacious interiors decorated in neutral tones, with large windows that allowed natural light to flood the space. There are therapy rooms, private counseling spaces, and communal areas intended for relaxation and social interaction. Then, the outside of the facility was surrounded by landscaped gardens with walking paths and outdoor seating areas.

Nasa garden kami naglilibot nang may namataan ako hindi kalayuan. Bumagal ang paglalakad ko hanggang sa tuluyan ng tumigil. Ares also stopped from walking and I felt his hold on my waist tightened a bit.

It was Papa, sitting quietly on a bench, completely absorbed in a book. He was wearing his usual glasses and reading with his legs casually crossed. The sunlight filtered through the trees, casting a warm glow on him as he sat there, turning pages with a calm and focused expression.