"Ma'am Eden, someone is looking for you.”
Bernie, their housemaid, Lita, said as she found her mother busy watering the plants in their garden in Manila.
"Who?" she asked, turning to them and quickly freezing upon recognizing him. "M-My son?" she stammered, dropping the hose and rushing towards him, embracing him tightly.
"M-Mom," he managed to say, returning the tight embrace. "I-I missed you so much," he added, tears streaming down his face.
After a few moments, Eden led her inside their house. "Lita, prepare some food," she instructed, gently caressing his face.
"What happened, honey? Why did you run away?" she asked with concern when they were finally alone in the living room.
Bernie immediately looked around their spacious home. "What about Dad? Where is he?" he asked, disappointed not to see him.
"He went grocery shopping. Since we heard about what you did, your father hasn't been at peace. So, I let him do what he wants to distract himself," her mother explained.
Her mother's words struck his heart. Perhaps it was too late. Why did he forget about his parents during those times when he was blinded by anger and jealousy upon learning about Erik and Mia?
"It's not good for your father to worry all the time. You know that, right, my child?" her mother asked again.
As Eden gazed into her eyes, Bernie's emotions quickly overwhelmed her. He was instantly embraced tightly by his mother.
"I-I'm sorry," he choked out, tears streaming down his face as he buried his head in his mother's chest.
They were in that position when they heard approaching footsteps. As the voice spoke and he recognized the familiar yet commanding tone, Bernie quickly let go of his mother and looked up at the newcomer.
"D-Dad," he managed to say, quickly standing up and rushing into Tony's arms, crying like a child seeking comfort.
Just like before, he embraced him silently, holding him tightly. His father wasn't one to speak much, but despite his reserved nature, he had a way of understanding him.
*****
"What happened, my son? Why did you run away? You only made the problem worse with your actions," his father asked, his tone devoid of reproach or blame. But because what he said was true, he couldn't help but feel a pang of pain.
"Please forgive me, Mom, Dad," he said, bowing his head in remorse.
"Ma'am, sir, the table is ready," Lita interjected, seizing the opportunity to join their conversation.
"Let's eat first," Eden said, standing up. "You haven't been eating properly, you've become so thin," she commented with a voice filled with sadness, followed by a soft sigh.
Bernie couldn't find any words to respond to his mother's statement. The truth was, all he wanted to do at that moment was to cherish the time spent with them.
"What are your plans, my child?" Tony asked him when they were all seated at the dining table, still facing each other.
Bernie kept his head lowered, shrugging his shoulders.
"We love you, your mother, and I," Tony said.
Upon hearing those words from his father, Bernie couldn't help but raise her gaze. She stared at his father's kind face, noticing the signs of aging that had become more apparent. It only intensified the pain in her heart.
"I-I want to be with both of you, Mom, and Dad," he said, his emotions welling up once again.
Why was it that during the times when everything was going well in his life, he failed to see the value of his parents? Why did he drown herself in meaningless relationships, including Mia, the woman he had dreamed of since childhood? Why couldn't she have cherished and valued Mia as she had promised before?
"It's not too late, my son," his mother said, gently stroking his head. "You can still correct all the mistakes you've made," she continued.
"But how? I don't want to end up in jail, Mom," he replied, meeting Eden's gaze and wiping away his tears.
He saw Eden's eyes cloud over at his words. Then she nodded and gave him a sweet smile.
That smile, in his opinion, was the most beautiful one among all the women who had come into his life, even Mia. But as he had mentioned earlier, he only realized it now. Because nothing else remained for him, only them.
"Do you think your father and I would do nothing?" Eden asked.
When he didn't respond, Eden continued with what else she wanted to say.
"Do you know how much I love Mia as if she were my own child?" she said to him.
It wasn't new to him. Ever since he and Mia had been together, Eden had told him that many times. And he knew his father felt the same way.
"That's why I was saddened when I learned about all the injustice you were inflicting on her," she said, sighing sadly.
"She's gone now. She won't come back to me no matter what I do."
He wasn't crying anymore. But if there was something he immediately noticed, it was the sudden and miraculous disappearance of the intense anger and jealousy in his heart whenever Mia's name was mentioned or brought up in conversation.
"Give Mia the freedom she wants, my son," it was Tony who spoke this time.
"But I love her, Dad," he insisted, truly meaning it.
His father nodded in agreement.
"But she's not meant for you, my child. That's something you need to accept in order to set yourself free," his father explained, patting his shoulder afterward.
"How can I do that when she's the only one I want to be with for the rest of my life?" he asked.
He saw meaningful glances exchanged between his parents. Then it was his mother who spoke again.
"Sometimes, my dear, love means letting go. It means wanting the best for the person you love, even if it's not with you," she said, her voice filled with wisdom.
He let those words sink in, realizing the truth in them. Love wasn't about possessiveness or selfishness. It was about selflessness and putting the happiness of the other person first.
"But it hurts, Mom. It hurts so much," he admitted, his voice filled with anguish.
Eden reached out and held his hand gently.
"I know, honey. It's painful, but with time, the pain will heal. And someday, you'll find the love that is meant for you," she reassured him, her eyes filled with compassion.
At that moment, surrounded by the love and guidance of his parents, he realized that he had to let Mia go. It was the only way for both of them to find their own happiness. It wouldn't be easy, but he knew deep in his heart that it was the right thing to do.
"If you truly love her, you will see all the wrongs you've done, Bernie. Do you know that Mia loved you? But you changed, son. I wish you had embraced her and loved her more when you lost your child. As a mother, she went through immense pain. You have had many shortcomings with Mia. I know that everything I'm saying hurts, and it may not help with what you're feeling right now. But I believe that it can set you free. It can teach you how to let go of someone you love," Eden advised him.
He didn't attempt to contradict what Eden said because everything she mentioned was true.
If only, when Mia had a miscarriage, he had comforted her and embraced her. Perhaps they would be happy now.
But he had acted differently.
He directed his blame toward Mia for the circumstances that unfolded. He blamed her for the loss of their unborn child, their firstborn. And it didn't stop there. He deceived her. He indulged in multiple affairs with various women. And when he was not satisfied, when he was bored or intoxicated, he resorted to violence against her.
But if there was one thing he truly regretted, it was not marrying her, not even once.
The weight of his mistakes burdened his heart, and he knew he had to face them. The realization of how he had hurt Mia, the woman he claimed to love, became an indelible mark on his conscience.
He took a deep breath, acknowledging the gravity of his actions. It was time to confront his past, to confront the pain he had inflicted on Mia, and to find a way to redeem himself.
Perhaps his parents were right. He needed to let Mia go. And he needed to rectify everything he had done by surrendering himself. It was only fair for him to face the consequences of his actions under the law. To atone for all the injustices Mia had experienced in his presence.
"Your father and I will not abandon you, Bernie. Just surrender, so this can end," his mother said.
Each word she uttered carried immense weight, and he understood why.
What mother would be pleased to advise her child to surrender? But she had no choice because it was the right thing to do. And through that, perhaps she saw a better resolution to all these problems, allowing him to start a more peaceful life.
He took in the gravity of his mother's words and understood their significance. Surrendering meant facing the consequences and making amends for the pain he had caused. It meant accepting the need for justice and the restoration of balance.
Though difficult and painful, he knew it was the path he needed to take. It was time to release Mia from the tangled web he had woven, to set her free from the chains of his mistakes. And in doing so, he hoped that they both could find healing and a chance for a brighter future.
With a heavy heart but newfound determination, he made the decision to do the right thing. Embracing the notion that it was the first step towards redemption and a chance to rebuild his life and the lives he had impacted.