Rea had always believed in traditional values. She grew up in a conservative household where love meant loyalty, and marriage meant forever. That’s why, when she said “I do” to Baste, she promised herself she’d make it work—no matter what. But she never expected that only three months into their marriage, she would start to feel like a stranger in her own home.

Baste wasn’t a bad husband. He was kind, hardworking, and responsible. But he was also always tired, always preoccupied. Work consumed him. And little by little, their romantic spark dimmed. No date nights, no sweet surprises, not even a simple hug after a long day.

Then, just as Rea was beginning to feel invisible, a new presence entered the house.

Tatay Jake.

Baste’s father had returned from Dubai after working overseas as a fitness trainer. He looked much younger than his age—toned, charismatic, and full of life. At first, Rea was simply polite. But as the days went on, they started bonding in ways she didn’t expect. They exercised together in the mornings, laughed over protein shakes, and talked about everything—except Baste.

Rea couldn’t help but notice. While her husband barely looked at her anymore, Tatay Jake made her feel seen. Not just as a daughter-in-law—but as a woman.

And then came that night.

She had just finished taking a shower, wearing only her robe, when she walked into the kitchen to get water. There he was—Tatay Jake—standing by the stove, shirtless, steam rising from his tea. The glow from the light above made everything feel slower. More intense. Rea stopped in her tracks.

She knew it was wrong. But she couldn’t stop staring.

What made it worse was that Tatay Jake noticed. He looked at her—not like a father-in-law—but like a man who understood exactly what she was thinking. And in that moment, something unspoken passed between them.

She turned away quickly, heart pounding, guilt washing over her—but so did a strange excitement.

The days that followed were filled with awkward silences, stolen glances, and heavy tension. Rea began questioning everything. Was it just loneliness? A fleeting temptation? Or something deeper that had been missing all along?

She started to avoid Tatay Jake. But somehow, fate kept placing them in the same spaces—on the porch, in the kitchen, even passing by each other in the hallway at night.

And Baste? He still hadn’t noticed anything. He still came home, ate silently, and went to bed without a word. Rea wondered: If your husband doesn’t even see you, are you still married in the heart?

One evening, Tatay Jake finally broke the silence. “You deserve more than silence,” he said, voice low but certain. “You deserve to feel alive.”

Rea didn’t respond. She couldn’t. Her world was spinning.

Now, she faces a choice—stay in a marriage that’s slowly fading away, or step into something forbidden, uncertain, and possibly destructive.

Because sometimes, the line between right and wrong isn’t as clear when your heart feels neglected—and someone else starts offering the attention you’ve been starving for.

What would you do if you were in her shoes?