Seeing my ex-mother-in-law washing dishes for hire, out of pity, I took out my wallet and gave her 5,000 pesos, telling her to keep it for herself. But my mother-in-law’s subsequent reaction shocked me and my new wife…
That day, I was shocked when I saw Aling Rosa, my ex-mother-in-law, in a crowded restaurant in Quezon City. She was thin, her hair was messy, and she was hunched over the sink in the corner of the kitchen.

The hot sun of Sunday afternoon, customers coming and going busily, the sound of dishes clanging. I sat across from Marites, my new wife, quietly sipping black coffee. Five years had passed since my ex-wife Luz and I divorced, and I had tried to rebuild my life. But the image of my ex-mother-in-law, Aling Rosa, still haunted me. When I was still a son-in-law, I loved her and sent her 4,000 pesos every month for her to spend. After the divorce and losing contact, I always felt guilty.

Yet today, she appeared before me in this situation.

“Nanay Rosa?” – I called softly.

She looked up, was stunned for a moment, then smiled faintly:

“Ah, ikaw pala… So it’s you.”

Marites sat next to me, frowning, not saying anything.

I didn’t think much, quickly took out my wallet, took out 5,000 pesos and put it in her hand:

“Nanay, take this, for protection. I’m sorry for not being able to help you for so long.”

Her eyes were filled with tears, but she didn’t refuse.

At that moment, Marites suddenly pouted, her voice bitter…

“Ang yaman mo naman. You eat at my house, stay in my house, and yet you generously give someone 5,000 pesos. Are you generous?”

The sentence rang out loudly, causing the surrounding guests to turn around and look, some people sneered. I was hot-faced, about to explain, when suddenly, Aling Rosa spoke up, her voice cold:

“You’re right, my ex-son-in-law is generous. But do you know? I don’t need this money.”

She straightened her back, her eyes determined, completely different from her haggard appearance just now. From her pocket, she pulled out a thick stack of money, and slammed it down on the table.

“Ito ang limampung libo. This is 50,000 pesos. In the past years, he sent me 4,000 pesos every month, I kept it, not spending a single cent. Now I’m paying it back, principal and interest.”

Marites and I were stunned.

Marites stammered:
“You… where did you get so much money?”

Mrs. Rosa curled her lips and sneered:
“Do you think I’m just a poor old lady who collects scrap metal? I do that to make a living, but that doesn’t mean I have nothing.”

She spoke, her voice calm but cutting like a knife. After Luz and I divorced, she discovered that Luz had a lover before, and that guy was the one who broke up the family. Heartbroken, she cut off contact with her daughter, living alone, not relying on anyone. The money I sent, she kept as a debt of gratitude. In addition, after many years of selling scrap, she had also saved quite a bit, even buying a small piece of land in Bulacan.

“I don’t need your money. But I appreciate your kindness. As for you,” she looked straight at Marites, “don’t be so quick to judge. He used to be my son-in-law, and he’s still a good person.”

Marites blushed and lowered her head, not saying another word.

As for me, I was shocked not only by the secret about Mrs. Rosa, but also by the truth about Luz. It turned out that the divorce back then wasn’t just because of “incompatibility”, but because of betrayal. I used to be tormented, blaming myself for not being good enough, only now did I understand the more painful truth.

Đã tạo hình ảnh

That night, when we got home, the atmosphere between Marites and I was heavy. She was silent, no longer nagging, but her eyes were full of guilt. I didn’t blame her – because she didn’t know the story behind it. But my heart was in turmoil.

I gathered all my courage to call Luz. For the first time in 5 years, I heard her voice again – cold:

“Ano? What happened?”

I told her about her mother, about the money, about what Mrs. Rosa said. The other side was silent for a long time, then burst into tears:

“Don’t blame your mother. She just wanted to protect you. Years ago, she begged me not to tell the truth, afraid that you would collapse. She kept all the money you sent, not spending it, because she wanted to pay you back one day, as a way to make amends for me. She always said… you were the best son-in-law she ever had.”

I hung up, tears rolling down my face. Marites came over, hugged me from behind and whispered:

“I’m sorry… I didn’t know.”

I held her hand and softly replied, “It’s okay. But from now on, I want us to be honest with each other.”

A few days later, I received a text message from Aling Rosa:

“I’m doing well. Don’t worry about me.”

Along with it was a photo of her standing in front of a piece of land in Bulacan, her face beaming.

I smiled, feeling relieved. There are conflicts that seem impossible to resolve, but sometimes, truth and kindness are the keys to healing.

A few months later, I went to Bulacan with Marites to attend a family reunion of a friend. In the noisy atmosphere, I suddenly saw a familiar figure.

In the corner of the yard, Aling Rosa was chatting with her neighbors, her face brighter than ever. Next to her… was Luz. She was wearing a simple dress, her hair tied up, her eyes briefly touching mine.

No longer cold like last time, this time in those eyes was shyness, mixed with regret that was hard to hide.

At that moment, I stood still. Marites squeezed my hand, nodded slightly, as if to say: “Let the past be closed.”

I walked towards them. Aling Rosa saw me first, she smiled gently:

“You’re here…”

Luz lowered her head, whispering:

“Are you… still well?”

Before I could answer, the bell of a nearby church rang, erasing the heavy silence between us.

In that moment, I suddenly understood — there are relationships that cannot return to the way they were, but can still exist in a quiet place, like a memory, like a scar.

I smiled, softly replied:

“Yeah… we are all fine.”

The story has no ending. But I know, life sometimes does not need a full stop — just a pause, enough for each person to find their own ending.