Hello Ex, We Meet Again

Chapter 5: Father and Son

When Karl came home, Mrs. Veluz reminded him to give Lexy a call. He just looked at her mother with a blank expression. He opened his mouth to say something but decided against it and pursed his lips again. Mrs. Veluz looked at her son with worry. "Are you okay? You seem troubled since this morning. Did anything happen to you and Lexy?"

Karl stared at his mother's worried face and decided not to bother her with his love problem anymore. "Don't think to much about us Mom. It's just a misunderstanding. We'll be okay." But even he, is not sure if they're really going to be okay. He has done a big mistake, a line that Lexy warned him to never cross if he doesn't want them to fall apart.

When they were just starting out as a couple, Lexy told him about her concerns in having a relationship with someone. "I'm scared to commit and love someone just for him to cheat on me in the end. My parent's relationship has given me so much trauma that it made me so untrusting. It takes time for me to open up to people even more so in letting them enter my life. Babe, I can tolerate so many things in a relationship, but not infidelity. I will never forgive you if you cheat on me."

"Babe, there'll be no one else in my life except you." Karl was so sure of this. Lexy is the only woman he'll ever love for the rest of his life. She may not be the first woman whom he have had an official relationship with but she is his first love and definitely his last. Yet he has failed to protect himself from others. He put down his guard and that is why someone has easily taken advantage of him. Although what has happened was not his intention, the consequences are grave. He got someone else pregnant!

Karl saw his father watching news on the television on his way to his bedroom. He wanted to pour his heart out to his mother a while ago but he knew their conversation would turn emotional. He badly needs someone to talk to and now he thinks that it is best to open up with his father. He'll understand him better since they're both men. Mr. Veluz nodded at him when he took notice of his presence. Karl sat down quietly on the armchair across him. He stared blankly on the TV, his mind is drifting away.

"Are you okay?" Mr. Veluz asked after some time. He has been secretly observing his son since he arrived and knew immediately that something is disturbing him. Karl was pulled back from his wandering thoughts but remained speechless. Even to his father, he doesn't know how begin explaining the situation. "Did you go see Lexy?"

"Did Mom tell you anything?"

"Not exactly. She just mentioned in passing that she feels as if something is wrong between you two. We're your parents, we took care of you ever since you were young. We know you better than anyone else. Even if you don't say anything, we would still sense if you have a problem. If you don't want to share it with us, we won't force you, but know that we are here for you no matter what it is that concerns you." His parents have always been very thoughtful. They are very attentive to all of their children. They also have a good relationship. Mr Veluz dotted on his wife, that is why she loves and respects him in return.

"Dad, I know that you dot on Mom so much. But have you ever cheated on her?"

Mr. Veluz was stunned with his question but answered him truthfully anyway. "We never told you this, but back when your sister was young and your Mom was still pregnant with you, she caught me having an affair with an officemate. We almost had a divorce." Thankfully, Mrs. Veluz took the children into consideration and decided to forgive their father and start anew. Mr. Veluz learned his lesson because he realized how much he loves his wife. He also didn't want to see their family fall apart just because of his unfaithfulness. He never cheated on his wife again and dotted on her instead.

"Was your affair with the woman intentional? Did you have feelings for her?"

"I wanted the feeling of being cared for, but I would only love your mother in this lifetime. So no, I did not develop any feeling for the woman. When your mother gave birth to your sister, she suffered from post-partum depression. She got mad at me so easily over the most trivial of things. And when she got pregnant with you just shortly after, her condition worsened. She turned violent. She would hit or throw things at me when she's angry. All of her attention was also shifted to taking care of your sister. I felt like I lost the warm and loving woman I have married. I didn't understand her."

Because he missed the affection and attention that his wife used to give him, his interest wandered around for someone else. He had an officemate who had a huge crush on him and hinted on him every day, so when he asked her out one day, she immediately jumped into his lap. Their affair went on for months before Mrs. Veluz caught them in flagrante. "Your Mom went back to her parent's home with your sister and drafted our divorce paper, which I refused to sign. I went to beg on her everyday until she gave birth to you. You saved us, you know. Because when she finally held you in her arms, she also realized she didn't want a broken home for you and your sister."

They had a good talk and decided to give their marriage another chance. They agreed to see a counsellor together which helped them a lot in rebuilding their relationship. His mother also seeked for professional help in dealing with her depression and overcome it. They have made a happy home since then and had another child again after succeeding over such test in their marriage.

Karl felt silent after hearing his father's confession. He did not expect for his parents to have gone through such things.

"Why are you asking all these things, son?" Mr. Veluz studied his face, "did you, by any chance, cheat on Lexy? Is that what's been troubling you?" He continued.

Karl can no longer hide the truth from his father. "But I did not mean it, Dad. I was so drunk, I can't even remember all the details."

"Intentional or not, you are still responsible for what happened. You know, when you are in a relationship with someone, you can't be too complacent. Even if you vow to not be tempted with anyone else, there will still be someone who is shameless and bold enough to make a trick to lure you. You should never put your guards down against anyone."

"I have now learned that the hard way, Dad. But evenso, I guess it has become too late."

"How do you know? The future's not ours to tell. When you own up to your mistake and take responsibility for it, who knows what happens next? In the end, all that matters is how you rise above it and how you make up for it."

He somehow felt hopeful. Maybe, if he explains it to her clearly, Lexy would also forgive him. Maybe, her love for him will overpower her anger. Yet he crushed his own hope thinking that their situation is different from his parents'. They were already married and had children to consider when it happened to them, while he and Lexy were not even engaged, aside from the fact that Valerie is now pregnant with their child. Also, Lexy had warned him before.

"Dad, the woman is pregnant with our child."

"WHAT?!"