Beyond The Rules (𝘾𝙊𝙈𝙋𝙇𝙀𝙏𝙀𝘿/Under Revision)

EPILOGUE

Yoshio's Point of View

Ever since Nalu disappeared, I lost the desire to teach anymore. Parang lahat ng pag-asa at pangarap ko ay naglaho sa ere. Walang araw na hindi ko siya naiisip, lalo na noong mga unang taon pagkatapos ng kanyang pagalis.

I decided to resign from teaching and instead dive into entrepreneurship. After ten years, my life was stable; I had built a thriving skincare business for men called Manly Complexion. It was my sanctuary—a place where I could pour my creativity and passion.

I chuckled to myself, realizing that ten years later, I now owned a thriving company, a house in Cavite, and even a small getaway in Pililla, Rizal.

But even amid success, my heart longed for the companionship I had briefly tasted in my Japanese partner. We shared a bubble tea and snacks bar business in Laguna, and though our time together felt like a sweet escape, she chose to return to Japan to reunite with her true husband.

“Watashi kara hanarenai to omotta no? Hontōni, Nihon ni kaerimasu ka? Dō yatte matahitori de ikiteiku no!?”
(I thought you wouldn't leave me? Are you sure you will go back to Japan? How am I going to live again by myself!?) I asked, tears welling in my eyes as she stood by the door with her suitcase packed.

“Anata to wakareru tsumori wa nakatta nodesuga,” (I didn't mean to leave you, but…) she whispered, her voice cracking. “He has been waiting. I’m really sorry, Yoshio.”

I watched her walk away, my heart shattering once more. I am not a perfect man, and I know you will judge me for seeking love.

I remained here, searching for the love that seemed to elude me, caught in the crossfire of fate's cruel jokes.

Over the years, justice found a way. Some of the teachers involved in ruining my reputation including Cyro Amir, in their desperate attempts to slander me, lost their licenses. Nakaganti ako, pero hindi ‘to nagbigay sa ‘kin ng kaligayahan. Ang sakit ng nakaraan ay hindi kailanman matatakasan.

My parents are still caring for my children, Mizuki and Miizumi. I try to see them whenever possible, bringing modest parcels if there is delivery at their place; it isn't much, but it shows I'm still there for them.

"Kailan po kayo uuwi?" Mizuki asked through a video call one afternoon, her little face filling the screen.

“Soon, sweetheart. I promise,” I said with a sad smile, unsure of when "soon" would really be.

And then there's Davina. Since their child died, she left us for her lover and had another child. My heart ached for her but I felt no sympathy. While I moved forward, she fell further into pain, possibly as a result of her decisions. Her decisions reverberated throughout both of our lives, reminding me of how fleeting happiness can be.

Yet, when my ex-wife learned about my success, I was shocked to receive a court summons.

“You’re suing me?” I said incredulously.
“You abandoned our daughters.”

“Yoshio, I need what’s mine,” she snapped back in a chilling tone. It doesn’t matter if she had once loved me; the woman she had become was only interested in what I could give her.

And then, on a regular delivery day, I had to deliver parcels to a client in Nalu's subdivision. Despite my status, I liked making deliveries myself. It gave me a sense of connection, an affirmation that I was still grounded.

While I was busy arranging my boxes in my delivery van, the sounds of the neighborhood surrounded me—a symphony of chatter, laughter, and the occasional honk of a car. Yet, amidst the usual noise, I heard a whisper that made me pause. “Nalu.”

I wouldn’t have thought much of it had I not caught that name. Out of curiosity, I casually turned around and listened attentively to the gossiping women nearby.

"Did our neighbor come home already?" a woman asked, her tone filled with intrigue.

"Is it Nalu? Yes. They came home the other day. Did you know that…" another replied, her voice almost conspiratorial.

Parang isang kidlat ang pumasok sa isip ko. Si Nalu. I knew her well—she was a bright girl with ambitions beyond our small community. Her laughter used to fill the air, but now it appears that whispers and shadows have painted her life.

"Do you know that Mareng Raya's daughter is pregnant? Oh, Diyos ko, she didn’t even finish her education. What a waste for her future."

The words hung in the air like a thick fog. It was a harsh judgment, one that stung like cold water on my skin.

I turned to look, and to my surprise, there was Nalu just across the street. She stood there, her head slightly bowed, and my heart sank at the sight.

What happened to the girl who had such ambition? My mind raced with questions, confusion clouding my thoughts.

Why didn’t her mother do more to support her?
What had led her down this path?

As I continued to listen to the gossip, I couldn’t shake off the ache inside me. Nalu had so much potential; she was supposed to be studying at university by now, chasing her dreams and living her life. But now, the shadows of decision-making loomed over her future.

"Sayang, talaga," the first woman muttered. "I bet her dreams are lost for good."

It was heartbreaking to think that Nalu might never get the chance she deserved. As I stood there in the van, the reality of her situation began to sink in.

“Nalu!” I whispered, a flicker of hope igniting in me.

But as I approached, excitement turned to dread. I noticed her, a round belly protruding, the telltale sign of pregnancy. Everything seemed to slow as the boxes I was holding slipped from my hands, crashing to the ground below me.

Her husband, a burly man, wrapped his arm around her waist, and I felt bile rise in my throat. Nalu looked different—her clothes sagged, her hair was a mess, and her eyes, once sparkling, now reflected an unbearable sadness. Ang sakit sa puso.

Why did it have to be like this?

Suddenly, Nalu pushed her husband's hand away as if she were fighting off a venomous snake. It was a powerful gesture—rejecting a life she never wanted.

“It hurts me to see you like this, Nalu. I would risk everything to take you away from your husband,” I thought, my heart screaming, “When you returned, I had hoped we could start over. But it seems fate has other plans. I will never let you hurt, Nalu. I promise.”

Maling ipilit na ibigin ka, ngunit mahirap pigilan ang nadarama. Panalangin ko'y sana pagbigyan, maging akin ka kahit sa maling paraan.

Maling panahon ang maging ikaw at ako, pero mananalig sa susunod na pagkakataon. Pagkakamali na kahit kailan ma'y hindi ko pinagsisihan, ang mahalin ka kahit na bawal. 

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