His Unwanted Wife

Chapter 14

"Dad? Why... why are you here?"

Shock was written all over her face. Her father was standing behind the door—the father who left them years ago. The father who made her mom lose herself. The father who left her and Yumi to grow up without a father's guidance. He was the man who ruined their family. The man she loathed.

"What... what are you doing here?" she asked again. He didn't answer. She just stared at him with disgust. Ngunit napalitan ito ng awa—an emotion she shouldn't be feeling after all the years of suffering.

But 'he's still my dad,' she thought. Sobra siyang naaawa sa ama. He looked so sick. It seemed like he had suffered a lot.

"Anak..."

Tears automatically pooled in her eyes the moment she heard his voice again. She should have been angry—wanted to shout at him, make him leave—but she couldn't.

Nananaig pa rin ang pagiging anak niya. She was once a loving daughter. Gusto niyang ibaon lahat ng alaala tungkol sa ama. She promised herself that if she ever saw him again, she wouldn't stop blaming him. But at that moment, nawalan siya ng lakas para itaboy ang ama. The only thing on her mind was, 'he's my father.'

Wala siyang nagawa kundi papasukin ulit ang ama sa buhay niya. She was trying her best not to let her family, especially her mom, find out. Her mom would surely throw a fit once she knew about their connection.

"Your father has Stage III Esophageal Cancer, Mrs. Brandon," the doctor explained. "The cancer has already spread to the deepest layers of the esophageal wall and nearby tissues or lymph nodes. We will perform a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. But I must be honest, it will increase the likelihood and severity of side effects."

"Why are you crying? I'm not dying," her father said, laughing lightly.

"What... what should we do, Dad?" she asked, ignoring his attempt to lighten the mood."Are things okay between you and your husband?" he asked, causing her to cry heavily."Dad, please... answer me. You... you'll be okay, right?"

"If things go wrong with your marriage, don't hesitate to tell—"

"I'm asking if you're going to be okay, Dad!" she shouted.

She couldn't help it. She was nervous. Too nervous.

"Stop worrying, okay? I'm fine. It's already late. You should go home. Gawain ba 'yan ng babaeng may asawa na?" he joked.

"Dad..." she uttered softly.

Ngumiti lang ang ama. She hated it. She hated that there was nothing she could do to help him.

She knew he wasn't her biological father. She was aware of it. As much as her parents wanted to keep it a secret, hindi niya maiiwasang maging curious. She didn't know who her real father was. And she didn't have the guts to ask her mother. She was afraid of the truth—that was it.

"What... what do you mean by 'your father'?" her mother asked, her voice trembling.

"You need to forgive him", Eli said, staring at her seriously.

"What do you mean? He's not worth forgiving, anak. You know how much pain he brought—"

"No, Mom, listen. He didn't leave just because he cheated or what. Yes, maybe he cheated physically, but that wasn't his intention, Mom."

Her mother was still shocked, but she needed to hear the truth.

"Dad, hanggang ngayon, I'm still wondering kung ano ba talaga ang laging pinag-aawayan niyo ni Daddy. Or why does Mom hate you so much that she wanted you gone? Why did you leave us so easily just because she told you to in a moment of emotional instability?" she asked him one time.

"You know, you could've still pursued her, Dad. You could've changed her mind, pero hindi mo ginawa. Maybe Mom was waiting for you to ask for forgiveness, but you never showed up. Years and years passed. It was a long, tiring journey. Kung saan kailangan ka namin—when the business almost failed, when Mommy needed you to raise us, when Yumi needed a father to play with her and the other kids and dads. And when I needed you, Dad, during the times I was crying and hurting, big time."

She wiped her tears and smiled painfully.

"Where did you go, Dad? Bakit ganon? What was more important than us? Did you ever regret what you did? Even once?"

He smiled at her. He answered, no.

"I never regretted it. I will not regret it if it was for my family's sake. I had to marry someone else. You were both young, and there was no way the business could overcome bankruptcy. That was the only way I knew to prevent my family from starving, like I did. Ayokong matulad kayo sa akin. My mom died of depression. My younger sister died of malnutrition. My brother died trying to steal food for us. I didn't want you to experience that tragedy. It was a selfish decision, I know. But your dad was a coward. That's all I could do. When my wife died three years after we got married, I went to your mom. She was furious—exactly as I expected. That's why I just followed you and Yumi from afar. It's foolish, I know. It's funny how I was stalking my own daughters," he laughed bitterly.

"So, don't be like your dad, okay? I have nothing now, anak."

She tried her best to hide her dad from her mom. But she failed.

"For Pete's sake, Mignonette! Naiintindihan ko na kung ano ang nararamdaman mo, pero sasama ka sa kanya? Sa ama mong wala namang nagawang maganda sa buhay mo? Sa buhay natin!? Nakalimutan mo na ba kung paano niya tayo iniwan at sinaktan? Damn that sympathy! Kung naaawa ka sa ama mong manloloko, pwes, maawa ka naman sa nanay mo! Sa kapatid mo! Di ko alam kung anong pinakain sa'yo ng lalaking 'yun para kaawaan mo siya! Sige! Sumama ka sa kanya! 'Yan ba ang ikakasaya mo? Pero isaisip mo na wala ka nang babalikang pamilya."She couldn't abandon her dad. He had already suffered too much.

"You know, Mom? Sometimes, things get better when you release that heavy stone in your heart. Dad was wrong for leaving us. I may be selfish, but I want Dad to be at peace. His only wish was for you to forgive him before he passed. Now that he's gone permanently, his love and memories will remain. Mom, please... escape that pain. Live happily and be grateful. I'm still here, Yumi's still here. You may not forget, but you can move on."

Her mother cried hard while caressing her father's grave. They both suffered, but her mom still had the chance to find happiness.

"Thank you for everything. Please forgive me, too. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry," her mother said softly.

Finally, Mom, you'll be happy.

You granted my father's last wish—your forgiveness.Like Mom, I hope one day I can learn to forgive, no matter how painful it is.