In a quiet town in Batangas, there lived a couple whose life seemed perfect in the eyes of others. Sherna, 40 years old, was a teacher who had a deep love for teaching and big dreams for her students. She was married to Bert, a 42-year-old engineer—quiet, responsible, and always busy with work and projects. They had been married for fifteen years.

Despite their stable income and decent lifestyle, a rift slowly formed in their relationship. Sherna began to feel the cold current of their fading connection. The lively conversations and sweet gestures of the past were replaced with silence. In their home that once offered a beautiful view of Batangas’ vibrant landscape, Sherna often found herself alone—torn between caring for their house and her commitment to teaching. She began to feel like she was losing herself. A question haunted her: Is this the life I really want?

Meanwhile, Bert seemed unaware of the changes. His days were filled with work, and though he eventually noticed Sherna growing distant, he never asked why. Perhaps he didn’t know how.

The story begins on a rainy afternoon. Sherna sat in their living room, staring at an old wedding photo album. The smiles in the photos took her back to their happy beginnings. Bert, once full of dreams and affection, now felt like a completely different person—distant, like a stranger.

“Sherna, is dinner ready?” Bert asked as he walked in carrying his laptop bag.

Sherna nodded. “Yes, it’s already prepared.”

Even though they sat at the same table, the evening was blanketed in silence. Gone were the casual conversations about their dreams or even small talk about the day. That night, while lying in bed, the question returned to Sherna’s mind: How did we end up like this?

At school, Sherna still found joy in teaching. But inside, she knew something was missing. A part of her was searching for something she couldn’t quite name. One day, a female student asked, “Ma’am, how can someone be happy while growing older?”

Sherna didn’t answer, but deep down she knew—it was the same question she wanted to ask herself.

One morning, Sherna arrived early at school. The cold breeze seemed to match the weight in her heart, but she forced a smile and prepared for class. As she walked down the corridor, the sweet smell of freshly baked pandesal filled the air. That’s when she met Rey, an 8-year-old student who sold pandesal before classes.

“Ma’am, would you like some pandesal?” Rey asked with a cheerful smile, despite the visible tiredness from waking up early.

Sherna smiled and nodded. “Of course. Your pandesal smells so good, Rey. Did you bake it yourself?”

“Yes, Ma’am,” Rey replied, handing her a bag of warm bread. “My mom is sick, so I help with the expenses. Thank you for buying.”

Sherna was surprised by the boy’s dedication. Despite his age, he was already working hard for his family. It reminded her of her younger years—her dreams, her energy, her passion, which had slowly faded over time.

From then on, Sherna regularly bought pandesal from Rey every morning. They often talked about life, family, and dreams. Rey was cheerful and full of hope—something Sherna felt had slowly vanished from her life.

One day, Rey asked her, “Ma’am, do you ever get tired of work?”

Sherna paused before answering, “Not just of work, Rey. Sometimes, I get tired of life too.”

Rey was surprised by his teacher’s honesty but smiled and said, “But Ma’am, as long as we have a reason to wake up each morning, we shouldn’t give up.”

In their simple conversations, Sherna began to feel a part of herself reawakening. Despite his young age, Rey seemed to bring light into her darkening world.

As weeks passed, Sherna and Rey’s bond deepened. Their once-simple chats about pandesal and daily life became more personal and emotional. Sherna, who had long felt trapped in her marriage with Bert, found comfort in Rey’s lively presence.

One afternoon after class, Rey handed Sherna a bag of pandesal. This time, there was a small note inside:

“Ma’am, thank you for always buying. I hope you’re always happy.”

Sherna smiled at the sweet gesture. She felt special in the smallest things Rey did—something she had been longing to feel for a long time.

It was a feeling she had long been searching for, and now it seemed to be slowly returning. One day after class, Rey invited Sherna to have coffee at a quiet diner near the school. That was where their deeper connection began.

“Rey, isn’t it tiring—studying and working at the same time?” Sherna asked while sipping her hot coffee.
“Ma’am, I’m used to it. But honestly, working feels better when you have inspiration,” Rey replied, looking directly at Sherna.

Sherna couldn’t help but feel her cheeks flush. She knew it was wrong, but part of her heart seemed to come alive again under Rey’s gaze. From that moment on, they began seeing each other in secret—after class or on Saturdays under the stars. They talked about their dreams and fears. In Rey’s presence, Sherna felt the energy and joy that had been missing from her life for a long time.

But both of them knew what they were doing was wrong. Sherna was a teacher—a married woman—and Rey was just a student with simple dreams.

“Rey, we shouldn’t be doing this,” Sherna said one night as they walked by the river.
“But Ma’am Sherna… I can’t help it. You’re the one who makes me happy. If this is wrong, then why does it feel so right?” Rey answered, holding her hand.

Sherna hesitated, but deep inside, she knew she had already fallen. That night planted a deeper emotion between the two of them—a secret they didn’t know how to end.

Things escalated quickly between Sherna and Rey. Their secret relationship grew more intense, until eventually, Sherna gave in to her desire and longing. One rainy night, in a small hut in the middle of a field where they often met, something happened that would change their lives forever.

A few weeks after that night, Sherna noticed changes in her body. She was frequently dizzy, easily tired, and certain smells made her nauseous. At first, she brushed it off—but when her monthly period didn’t come, she was forced to buy a pregnancy test.

Standing in front of the bathroom mirror, Sherna held the tiny plastic stick showing two lines. It was as if the world stopped.

“I’m pregnant,” she whispered to herself, as tears rolled down her cheeks.

Bert, still busy with his work as an engineer, had no idea about the secret that was tormenting Sherna. Every time she was with him, she tried to hide her fear and confusion. How could she explain the pregnancy to a husband who hardly spoke to her anymore—and whom she no longer felt love from?

One night over dinner, Bert asked,
“You seem distracted these past few days. Is something wrong at school?”
“Nothing,” Sherna replied quickly. “I’m just a little tired, I guess.”

But she knew she couldn’t hide the truth forever.

The next day, Sherna faced Rey. They were standing under the shade of a tree next to the hut where they often talked.

“Rey, I have something to tell you,” Sherna began, her voice trembling.
“What is it, Ma’am?” Rey asked, seemingly unaware of the weight of the situation.
“I’m pregnant.”

Rey’s eyes widened. For a moment, he couldn’t speak.
“Pregnant…? Am… Am I the father?” he asked in almost a whisper.
Sherna nodded. “You’re the father, Rey. There’s no one else.”

Despite his young age, the fear and confusion were clear on Rey’s face.
“What are we going to do, Ma’am? What about Sir Bert? Your job? My family?”
“I don’t know, Rey. I don’t know,” Sherna replied, trying to hold back her tears once again.

As the days passed, the weight of the secret grew heavier…

They both knew that the secret they were carrying would not stay hidden for long. Eventually, people would find out. Despite her fear, Sherna slowly began to think of ways to face the situation. But with every step she took, the question burned deeper inside her: How long can I keep this a secret?

After Rey found out about Sherna’s pregnancy, he gradually started to distance himself. He stopped attending school, abandoned his pandesal vending, and disappeared completely—as if vanishing into thin air.

Sherna, overwhelmed by her situation, grew increasingly anxious. The pain of possibly being exposed gnawed at her every day. As time passed, her coworkers began noticing changes in her behavior—the dizziness, frequent absences from class, and the unexplained sadness in her eyes.

“Have you noticed Ma’am Sherna? She seems different these past few weeks,” one teacher whispered to another in the faculty room.

“Yeah, and Rey hasn’t been showing up either. I heard something happened between them,” another added.

What started as whispers turned into rumors. Every corridor Sherna passed through felt like it echoed with murmurs about her. She could feel the eyes of students and fellow teachers watching her, silently judging.

Then one night, the news finally reached Bert.

He came home unusually quiet. He sat down at the dinner table without a word, but his eyes were cold and piercing.

“Sherna,” he began, “I’ve been hearing disturbing things. Is it true? Do you have a relationship with your student Rey?”

Sherna could barely breathe. She stood from her chair, hands trembling.

“Bert, let me explain—please, let me explain…”

“Explain?” Bert snapped. “How do you explain this? Everyone knows now, Sherna. My wife, a teacher, in a relationship with her student?”

“I didn’t mean for this to happen. I never wanted this,” Sherna pleaded, but she could feel Bert’s anger seething. His anger wasn’t just fury—it was a storm of shame, heartbreak, and betrayal.

“You’re pregnant, aren’t you? And I’m sure that child’s not mine,” he added.

At that moment, Sherna could no longer hold back her tears. There was nothing left to deny. Every secret had been exposed.

The next day, the rumors at school intensified. The scandal had reached the principal and even the parents of the students. Sherna was summoned to the principal’s office to explain.

“Sherna,” the principal said coldly, “Do you realize that this situation not only jeopardizes your profession, but also tarnishes the reputation of this institution?”

Ashamed, Sherna remained silent. She no longer knew how to defend herself. The quiet world she once had had completely crumbled.

One last time, she tried to reach out to Rey, but he continued to hide. She was left alone, face to face with her mistakes and the consequences of her choices.

As days passed, Sherna’s life was slowly consumed by shame, anger, and hopelessness. The love she once felt for Rey had turned into deep resentment. She couldn’t accept the burden Rey had left her with—his disappearance and seeming disregard for everything they had shared.

In the midst of her secret relationship, Sherna’s marriage with Bert grew cold. No explanation could defend what she had done. But instead of asking for forgiveness, Sherna’s anger intensified. In her mind, everything was Rey’s fault—the young man who had promised her love, only to abandon her in the middle of the storm.

One night, alone in her room, a plan slowly formed in Sherna’s mind. She knew it was wrong, but under the weight of her emotions, hatred and desperation took over. She wanted revenge on Rey. But more than that, she wanted to hide her own mistakes. And who else would be easier to blame than Bert, the husband who no longer loved her?

Using a burner phone she secretly bought, Sherna contacted Rey. At first, he refused to answer her calls, but eventually gave in after receiving Sherna’s persistent messages.

“Rey, we need to talk. Let’s fix this. I’m not chasing you for the baby—I just want closure,” she said in one text.

After a few days, Rey agreed to meet. They decided to meet at an abandoned house on the outskirts of town—a quiet, hidden place far from prying eyes. When Rey arrived, Sherna was already there, silently waiting. She had a bag with her—inside were various items, including a kitchen knife she had taken from their home.

“Ma’am, why did we have to meet here? It’s so dark and creepy,” Rey said, clearly nervous.

“I just want to understand why you left us. Me… and the baby,” Sherna replied, her voice trembling but filled with emotion.

“Ma’am… I couldn’t handle the situation. I’m still young. I didn’t know what to do. I’m sorry, but I just couldn’t face it,” Rey answered, avoiding her gaze.

At that moment, it was as if everything Sherna had been holding back exploded. Between love and anger, her sanity gave way. She suddenly pulled the knife from her bag and stabbed Rey.

“What did you do, Ma’am?!” Rey shouted as he collapsed to the floor, blood soaking his clothes.

But Sherna gave no reply. She just stared at the young man’s body, slowly realizing the weight of what she had done.

After the incident, Sherna moved quickly. She destroyed the burner phone and used gloves so she wouldn’t leave any fingerprints. Then, she hid the knife and planted fake evidence linking Bert to the crime. She even sent a message to her own phone, making it appear as if it came from Bert:

“I know about your affair with your student. I won’t let this slide.”

After that, Sherna returned home and pretended like nothing happened.

She appeared normal even though her mind was in turmoil. The next day, authorities found Rey’s body. Because of the fake evidence planted by Sherna, Bert became the prime suspect.

“Mr. Bert, you are under arrest for the murder of Rey,” said the police as they arrested him at their home.

“What are you talking about? I don’t know anything about this!” Bert shouted. But he couldn’t resist as the law took him away.

Sherna watched the scene with mixed emotions—there was both joy and sadness in her chest. Her plan had succeeded. But her conscience was slowly devouring her. Despite everything, she knew that nothing could ever erase the crime she had committed—a crime born of misguided love and hatred that led to a tragic end.

Despite the chaos she left behind in her town, Sherna managed to escape. She moved to another province where she started a new life. She used her savings from teaching to start a small business and temporarily forget the dark chapter of her life.

On the outside, she looked like a woman who had risen from hardship. But inside, she carried the heavy burden of her sins.

Meanwhile, Bert remained in prison, despite his repeated pleas of innocence. The false evidence Sherna had planted firmly tied him to the crime in the eyes of the law. No one listened to him, and eventually, he accepted his fate.

As the years passed, Sherna thought she had finally buried her past. But every night, the memory of Rey came back to haunt her—the joyful moments they shared, the rage that led her to end his life, and Bert’s innocence that she had destroyed.

One day, while walking through the market, she overheard some students talking about life lessons.

“You know, no matter how hard life gets, we must always face the truth. You can never hide a sin forever,” said one of them.

Sherna stopped in her tracks and reflected deeply. She realized that although she had escaped the law, she would never escape her own conscience. Her crime had caused immeasurable pain—not just to Rey and Bert, but also to herself.

One night, after years of hiding, Sherna wrote a letter. In it, she confessed everything—her relationship with Rey, the planning of the crime, and the false evidence planted against Bert. She sent it to the authorities, knowing it could destroy her peaceful new life.

In the end, Sherna faced the law, carrying the full weight of her sins. While in court, she whispered quietly, “Forgive me… forgive me… forgive me to everyone I have hurt.”

Though it was too late, accepting her mistakes brought a new light into her final days. She had learned the true meaning of taking responsibility—and the courage to return to the right path.