The days that followed Tej's confrontation with his father were filled with an oppressive silence. The once warm and loving home felt cold, burdened by the weight of unspoken words and hidden truths. Tej avoided both of his parents, retreating to his room, where he tried to make sense of his shattered reality. He was caught between his love for Ms. Ruth and his anger towards Mr. Ruth, who had upended his world with a single, unforgivable act.
The system had been eerily silent since that fateful night, but Tej knew it wouldn't remain that way for long. He had chosen Truth, and the game had not yet finished its task. There was still one more thing to be done, one more truth that needed to be revealed.
One evening, as Tej sat on the edge of his bed, lost in thought, the console screen flickered to life. The familiar words appeared on the screen: Truth or Dare?
Tej's heart skipped a beat. He knew what was coming, and he knew there was no avoiding it. Taking a deep breath, he selected Truth.
The screen flickered before displaying a new message: Urge your father to tell the truth. The truth must be shared with your mother.
Tej's heart sank. He had feared this moment. The thought of his father confessing to Ms. Ruth—of her learning the dark truth about her son—filled him with dread. But he knew the system was right. This secret couldn't remain buried any longer. Ms. Ruth deserved to know the truth, no matter how painful it might be.
That night, after dinner, Tej found Mr. Ruth sitting alone in the living room, staring blankly at the television. The lines on his father's face seemed deeper, his eyes haunted by the guilt he carried. Tej approached him slowly, his footsteps barely making a sound.
"Dad," Tej said softly, breaking the silence.
Mr. Ruth looked up, his eyes weary. "Tej… what is it?"
Tej hesitated, the words heavy on his tongue. "I… I think it's time you told Mom the truth. She deserves to know."
Mr. Ruth's face paled, and he looked away, his hands trembling. "Tej, I… I don't know if I can. I don't want to hurt her. She's been through so much already."
"I know," Tej replied, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "But keeping this from her is only going to make things worse. She has a right to know, and… and maybe it's the only way we can all move forward. Together."
Mr. Ruth's shoulders slumped as he let out a shaky breath. "You're right. I've been a coward, Tej. I've been hiding behind this lie for so long, convincing myself that I was doing the right thing. But I know I was wrong. I know I hurt you, and I'll never be able to forgive myself for that."
Tej felt a lump form in his throat, but he forced himself to keep going. "Dad, I'm trying to understand why you did what you did. I don't think I'll ever fully forgive you, but… I'm trying. And I think Mom will try too. But we can't keep living like this. We need to be honest with each other."
Mr. Ruth nodded, tears welling up in his eyes. "You're right, son. I'll tell her. I owe her that much."
The next morning, as Tej sat at the breakfast table, he felt the tension in the air. Ms. Ruth, oblivious to the storm brewing around her, chatted about her plans for the day, her voice light and cheerful. But Tej could see the strain in his father's expression, the way he avoided her gaze.
After breakfast, Mr. Ruth took Ms. Ruth's hand, his voice soft but firm. "Marie, there's something we need to talk about. Something I should have told you a long time ago."
Ms. Ruth frowned, her brow furrowing in concern. "What is it, John? You're scaring me."
Tej watched as his father led Ms. Ruth to the living room, where they sat down on the couch. He stood in the doorway, unsure if he should stay or leave, but Mr. Ruth gestured for him to join them. He wanted Tej to be there, to be a part of this difficult conversation.
With a deep breath, Mr. Ruth began to speak, his voice trembling as he recounted the events that had led to Tej's adoption. He told Ms. Ruth about the miscarriage, about how he had watched her spiral into depression, how he had felt powerless to help her. And then he told her about Maria, the homeless woman with the baby, and how he had taken Tej in a moment of desperation, believing that he was giving them both a second chance.
Ms. Ruth listened in stunned silence, her face growing paler with each word. When Mr. Ruth finished, tears streaming down his face, she stared at him in disbelief.
"John… how could you?" Ms. Ruth's voice was barely a whisper, filled with pain and betrayal. "How could you do this to me? To Tej? To that poor woman?"
"I'm so sorry, Marie," Mr. Ruth sobbed, his voice choked with emotion. "I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought I was saving us. But I see now how wrong I was. I can't ask for your forgiveness, but I needed to tell you the truth. You deserve that much."
Ms. Ruth covered her face with her hands, her shoulders shaking as she wept. Tej felt his own heart breaking as he watched her, the pain of the truth cutting through them all like a knife. He wanted to comfort her, to tell her that everything would be okay, but he knew that words would do little to ease her pain.
Finally, Ms. Ruth looked up, her eyes red and filled with tears. She reached out to Tej, pulling him into a tight embrace.
"Oh, Tej… my sweet boy," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I'm so sorry you had to go through this. I love you so much, no matter what."
Tej clung to her, his own tears falling freely. "I love you too, Mom. I'm so sorry."
As they held each other, the weight of the truth pressing down on them, Tej felt a sense of closure beginning to form. The truth had been revealed, and while it had brought pain, it had also opened the door to healing. It would take time—time to forgive, time to understand, time to rebuild the trust that had been shattered. But for the first time in a long while, Tej felt a glimmer of hope.
As the day wore on, the Ruth family sat together, talking through the pain, the regrets, and the possibilities of moving forward. Tej listened as Ms. Ruth spoke of her love for him, her desire to be a good mother despite the circumstances. And while he still struggled with his feelings towards Mr. Ruth, he could see the genuine remorse in his father's eyes, the desperate hope for redemption.
It would be a long journey, Tej knew, but at least now they were walking it together. The truth had been set free, and with it, the possibility of a new beginning.