Wounded Hearts

Prologue

Trigger Warning: This chapter contains scene about rape/sexual abuse. Read at your own risk.

Man is by nature a social animal; and an unsocial person who is unsocial naturally and not accidentally is either unsatisfactory or superhuman.

"This is a quote from a famous Greek Philosopher, Aristotle who argued that man is a social animal. Can someone explain me what did he mean with that quote? Remember, our subject is group dynamics and it have something to do with it."

Napuno ng katahimikan ang klase. No one wants to answer nor look on his eyes. This professor is so hard to please and when your answer is wrong, he'll make sure he'd embarrass you.

Natatakot man ay nagtaas pa rin ako ng kamay.

"Yes Ms. Villescas" aniya at mariing nakatitig sa akin.

"We often hear the phrase “no man is an island” and most of us will agree. Man, by nature is a social animal. Why? People need others as others need them. We live in a society where social interaction is necessary and inevitable because we need others to survive. We are social animal because we are naturally born to socialize. The moment a person enter this world, they already socialized through their primary social group which is their family. Family is the first social group we belonged and nurtured our inner social animal. The moment a mother held her child and feed the child to her breast, there's already an interaction and it proved that we need others to survive. Social interaction is not just for survival but also to satisfy our different needs such as need for belongingness."

"Uhuh, you have a point there. Ms. Villescas. How about the second phrase? What's your thoughts about that?" Aniya at naroon pa rin ang mapanuri niyang mga tingin.

"For that Sir, I believe that there is no person that is naturally unsocial and if ever a person like this exists, then she or he is superhuman or cannot live fully, maybe they’re breathing, but not existing at all. Moreover, I believe that people who withdraw from their groups and resist to interact, had enough of the problems of this world. Their withdrawal is their defense mechanism and to protect their peace of mind. When they finally heal from everything, they will probably open themselves again because no man can survive alone, by himself. "

"Good point Ms. Villescas. Does anyone here in the class have an opposite views from Ms. Villescas'?" tanong niya at muli'y nagmasid sa klase.

Walang umimik kung kaya't nagpatuloy na lamang siya sa pagtuturo.

"Ms. Villescas is right. Social interaction is not just for survival but also to satisfy one's needs for belongingness. It is indicated in Maslow's Hierarchy of needs, in the third level. Humans as a social creature needs to feel loved and belonged to a certain group"

To feel loved and belonged. Paulit-ulit na nag-echo sa utak ko ang sinabing iyon ni Sir Melendrez.

What does it feel to be loved, accepted and belonged?

Muling bumalik ang alaala ko walang taon na ang nakakalipas, my 10th birthday.

"Ang haba na ng buhok mo Ara, bagay na bagay sa'yo" nakangiting sambit ni Ate Joice, ang girlfriend ng Kuya ko habang sinusuklay niya ito at inaayos.

"Ate, bagay ba sa'kin itong pulang bestida na bigay ni Nanay?" tanong ko at umikot sa harap niya.

Ngumiti lamang ito at lumuhod sa harap ko.

"Bagay na bagay Ara. Para 'kang isang munting prinsesa. Halika na sa baba, hinihintay ka na ng mga bisita mo" aniya at inayos ng bahagya ang aking sandals.

Masaya akong bumaba ng hagdan. Sinalubong naman ako ng mga kaibigan ko. Isa na roon si Lyssander.

Nilapitan niya ako at inabot ang isang pulang paperbag.