My name is Ramon, 35 years old, and I just divorced my wife – Clarisse – exactly 5 months ago. Our marriage lasted 6 years, then broke down because of small conflicts that accumulated into an irreparable distance. The day I walked out of the court in Quezon City, I felt relieved, thinking that I had escaped that “suffocating” life.

Just a few weeks later, I met Marites – a girl 7 years younger than me, beautiful, and good at talking. Her appearance made me feel like I was reborn, like I was reliving my youth. And then, in a moment of impulse, I came up with the idea of taking Marites to meet Clarisse, to prove that I had a happier “new life”.

That day, the weather was cold in late autumn. I dressed neatly, drove Marites to the old house in Makati – where Clarisse was living. Marites was a bit shy, and asked quietly:
– “Sigurado ka ba, Ramon? Parang ang awkward.”
I sneered:

– “What Awkward? I just want to show her, losing me is losing the world.”

We stopped the car in front of the gate. My heart was beating fast, not because of excitement, but because of the rising joy. I rang the bell. From inside the house, familiar footsteps echoed. The door opened… and at that moment, I stood still.

The person who opened the door was not Clarisse alone. Next to her was a little girl about 4 years old, clinging to her mother’s skirt, her big round eyes looking at me in bewilderment. But what made me feel like someone had punched me in the chest was… behind them, a tall man, dressed simply but with warm eyes, was naturally placing his hand on Clarisse’s shoulder as if they had been together for a long time.

– “Anong ginagawa mo dito?” – Clarisse asked, her voice calm, without any confusion.

I stammered:

– “Ito… siya…?”

The man stepped forward, holding out his hand:

“Ako si Miguel, fiancé ni Clarisse. At ang batang ito ay anak ko, pero ngayon, tinatawag na rin niyang ‘mama’ si Clarisse.”

My face was burning. The word “fiancé” sounded like a knife cutting into my pride. I tried to force a smile, but my throat was tight, unable to say a word.

Marites stood beside me, also stunned. She gently pulled my hand to signal me to turn around, but I remained still as if nailed to the ground. I couldn’t believe it – the woman I had thought was weak, would suffer after the divorce – now looked so radiant and peaceful.

Clarisse continued, her voice soft but clear:

“Ramon, hindi mo na kailangang patunayan kahit ano. May kanya-kanya na tayong buhay, at sana maging masaya ka.”

Having said that, she turned to hold the little girl, smiling warmly at Miguel. At that moment, I realized – she had completely stepped out of the past, while I was still stuck in my ego and complacency.

I turned away, my hands clenched, an indescribable feeling rising in my heart – not jealousy, but emptiness. On the way back, Marites was silent, and I could only hear my heart beating, each beat heavy.

That night, I tossed and turned. In my mind kept replaying Clarisse’s calm eyes, her smile when standing next to Miguel. I understood one thing – happiness is not to “tease” someone, but to cherish and preserve while we still can. And I lost that, forever.