A man's journey to settle down with his current girlfriend has led to a life-altering discovery, unearthing a decade-old secret and raising profound questions about truth and family.
A Sudden Disappearance and a Decade of Questions
The story begins ten years ago with a man named Rom, now 39. He met a woman during his travels, and they were in a relationship for about four months. Then, she vanished without a trace or explanation. Rom later found out she had returned to her hometown because she was afraid after learning she was pregnant. He was shocked by her abrupt departure, stating he was willing to take responsibility and marry her had she told him.
A Vacation Reveals a Stunning Twist
Now, two years into a relationship with a woman he calls Linda, Rom was ready to settle down. He accompanied her on a vacation to her family's home in Mindanao. It was there that the past collided violently with the present. In their house, Rom saw a photograph of his former girlfriend from a decade ago.
Upon asking, he was told it was Linda's older sister, who had passed away from an illness five years prior. The sister had left behind an only child, a son. The real shock came when Rom saw the boy. The child was the spitting image of him. The resemblance was unmistakable, leaving Rom stunned and questioning whether the family had ever noticed the likeness.
To Tell or Not to Tell: A Moral Dilemma
Faced with this revelation, Rom is now torn by a heavy dilemma. He is grappling with whether he should tell Linda and her family the truth—that he is likely the biological father of this boy. He wonders if it is the right or good thing to do, concerned about the potential fallout and seeking peace of mind after ten years of unanswered questions.
The advice given to Rom, from the columnist Noy Kulas, is clear: tell the truth for your own peace of mind. The counsel emphasizes that revealing the truth is different and necessary, allowing Rom to claim his role as the child's father and finally understand why his former girlfriend left so suddenly. It would provide closure to the unanswered questions from her abrupt departure a decade ago.
The advice concludes by telling Rom to accept whatever reaction the family may have. The columnist notes that while Rom's case is rare, it is not impossible, and references a similar shocking family discovery in Samar years prior where a man found his girlfriend's mother was his father's half-sister.
