Beyond The Rules (𝘾𝙊𝙈𝙋𝙇𝙀𝙏𝙀𝘿/Under Revision)

CHAPTER 40

Yoshio's Point of View

As the sun shone a sorrowful light over the cemetery, I stood there with a deep ache inside. Despite the misery pouring around me, I felt an irresistible desire to repress my feelings.

I was telling myself, "Magsisimula na ang lahat," serving as a reminder of the purity concealed beneath six feet of the ground. As my own children wrapped themselves in one another, tears streaming down their faces, I had to keep calm.

"Why do bad things happen, Dad?" Miizumi questioned between bursting into tears.

"Because sometimes life is unfair," I explained.

As the ceremony progressed, I felt a familiar presence approaching. Davina, with her tired eyes and tear-streaked cheeks, appeared smaller than I recall. Anger boiled within me, but I ignored it.

"Miizumi, pupwede niyo ba muna kami iwan ni mommy niyo?” I told our two children, gesturing for them to step aside.

“Yoshio, pwede ba tayong mag usap?” Davina said softly, her voice breaking the tension. A single tear rolled down her cheek. But I couldn't bear to look at her. Not now.

“Davina, we can end this here,” I replied, every word heavy with the weight of my decision. I had finally found the courage to tell her what had been festering inside me for so long.

She stepped closer and wrapped her arms around me, resting her head against my chest. “Baka naman pwede pa natin’ pag usapan?” she pleaded, her voice laced with desperation. "You've been too complacent to make me tired. I don’t want to end just like this. I know you know that. But you never chose me, not even once."

I pulled away from her embrace, the warmth that had once felt comforting now like a trap. In my hand was an envelope, heavy with the truths it contained. With shaking hands, I handed it to her.

As she opened the envelope, her eyes widened in shock. The color drained from her face as she read its contents — annulment papers and a case for adultery. “Tangina ano to?!" she gasped, looking up at me in disbelief.

"Something deserves to happen, Davina. You've betrayed me in ways that are beyond forgiveness," I'd stated decisively, the emotional barrier within me beginning to break.

"Maawa ka naman sa akin, sa ‘min ng mga anak mo. I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I wanted to fix things!" she begged, tears streaming down her cheek.

"Fix? You kept choosing him over me! You left me with the shards of a shattered home while you were off in your little fantasy," I responded, my voice trembling with sorrow.

"And now, you want me to forgive you, to swallow this betrayal? Ito ang tatandaan mo, Davina. Kukuhanin ko ang custody ng mga bata and I will not let you see them.” dagdag ko.

Mariing tumingin si Davina, "Akala mo ba lahat ng ito ay kasalanan ko? Pinabayaan mo rin naman ako ah!" sigaw niya, ang boses nito’y nanginginig sa galit.

"Pero nakipaglaban ako, Davina! Hindi mo ba nakita? Nakipaglaban ako para sa atin, para sa pamilya natin!" sagot ko. “Pero hindi ka kailanman lumaban para sa akin. Hindi lang ito kasalanan ko—kasalanan natin ‘to."

Tahimik na nakabitin sa pagitan namin, makapal at nakabibingi. Bawat salitang binitiwan ay isang bigat na idinadagdag sa aking puso. Sinubukan kong ayusin ang mga nasira, pero bawat pagsubok ay nagdulot lamang ng higit pang sakit.

Habang nakatayo siya roon, bumubuhos ang mga luha, napagtanto kong hindi ko na kayang dalhin ang pasaning ‘to. "Pinapalaya na kita, Davina. Nag desisyon ka sa maling paraan at ginawa mo na ang mga gusto mo, at ngayon gagawin ko na ang akin.” Sa huling tingin, humarap ako, naramdaman ang isang kawalang-laman sa loob ko na hindi agad mawawala.

The monstrosity dwelling within her was being fostered by the infernal fires. “Pagsisihan mo lahat ng ginawa mo sa akin, Yoshio. And I will never let you be happy!”