Once a Wife [English Version]

Epilogue

DOMINIC

People often ask me how I manage to be happy for Maricar... even when I'm no longer the reason behind her smile. Some say I'm just pretending. Others call me a masochist.

I won't lie—I'm still hurting. Of course I am.

Come on. I know I'm an idiot, but how do they expect me to move on so easily?

I've known her since high school. Back then, I didn't even have the guts to talk to her. She was the smartest girl in her class—and I was a graduating senior barely passing.

Then I saw her again in college. This time, I didn't let the moment slip away. I knew... she was the woman I wanted to love for the rest of my life.

So when she told me she was pregnant with our first child, I felt nothing but joy. Yes, we were both still studying. No, it wasn't planned. But we didn't stop it either.

We got married at the wrong time, for all the wrong reasons. And maybe I did rob her of her youth. But I promised her I'd love her for the rest of her life.

I took the beatings, the curses, from both our fathers—and I took them all. Because I loved her.

She and our children became the reason I worked so hard. And the moment I finally proved myself to the world—I failed her.

I was too consumed by the need to prove everyone wrong, by the desire to be worthy of her... that I left her behind.

I neglected her. I neglected our family. I was building solid houses for other people while the home I shared with her crumbled.

And when life got hard, instead of running to her—I ran away. I pushed her away. I thought I was sparing her from shame, but in doing so... I committed a greater sin.

I got another woman pregnant.

I broke my wife. I hurt my children. I lied to someone else.

One mistake. Just one. And it wrecked my whole life.

So yes, I thought about ending it all. I thought dying would be the easiest way out. But it would've only been easy for me. Not for those I left behind. Not for the weight of all the pain I caused.

"Where did you come from, Dad?" Gryffin sat beside me, unaware I had just come from visiting Tristan.

"You okay?" he asked.

I nodded. "Yeah, son. I just talked to your Uncle Tristan."

"Why?" he asked, genuinely curious.

"There was something I had to say."

He nodded in understanding. "Will you be okay, Dad?"

His question... soothed me. Yes, anak. I'll be okay.

I'll be okay knowing your mom finally gets another chance at happiness. I'll be okay knowing you and your siblings are safe, protected, and loved.

"Yes, son," I whispered again, smiling.

So back to the question people keep asking me:
How do I manage to be happy for Maricar when I'm no longer the one who makes her happy?

Yes, I still hurt. Yes, I still bleed. But when I saw her walk down that aisle—when I saw that smile on her face...

That's when I found my answer.

I can be happy for her because... I love her.

And because I love her, I want her to be happy—even if I'm no longer part of that happiness.