"Mommy!" I'm running downstairs hugging myself, only wearing a towel while calling for mom. "S..si Uncle Kito, I saw him peeping on me while I'm in the shower. I s...saw him mommy, h.. he's touching himself.." sumbong ko sa kanya nang magharap kami.
She just sigh and gesture me to come closer. She stops admiring her pearl jewelry and give all her attention to me. Nakaupo siya habang nakatayo ako kaya napayuko pa ako bahagya.
My knees ar trembling, unsure if it's because I feel cold or scared.
"Let him, Paris. It's just a small favor."
Napakunot ang noo ko. I am only 11 but I already understand what Uncle Kito did was not right.
It made me uncomfortable. Auntie Elena once told me I shouldn't let other people touch my body, or sneak on me because it's so wrong. She said there's always time for everything, and I should be ready first.
And I wasn't ready. I don't like someone seeing my body or touching me without asking permission. I always want personal space, but Uncle Kito, he invaded it.
I'm confused but I listen to mom. I let Uncle Kito watch me when I take a bath, change with my underwear or even when I'm sleeping. I thought it's like saying thank you to him dahil sa tinanggap niya ako sa kanila.
I thought it was alright, not until he started touching my legs, my tummy, my back. He started insisting he will apply lotion all over my body.
"Paris, hayaan mo ang Uncle Kito mo. He will buy us whatever we want basta pagbigyan mo lang siya," that's what Mommy always says everytime I told her that I am feeling disturb.
1 week, 2 weeks until I felt so done.
"Mommy can I borrow my passport?" I politely asked mom nang paalis na ako papunta sa school. I started going to school here in Kyoto, where Uncle Kito's mansion is.
"Why?" kunot noong tanong ni Mommy sa akin habang abala siya sa paglilinis ng signature bag niya. She gives so much attention to her things more than me.
"Umm kasi po my classmates doesn't believe that I'm a Filipina. I just want to show them po," I said while crossing my fingers at my back.
She didn't ask further questions. Binigay niya lang sa akin ang passport ko. She didn't even realize I took her phone and some money.
I took the bus but I didn't go to school. I went to the train station going to Tokyo. I book a flight on mom's phone. I want to go home to the Philippines. I am scared here and I feel so alone. Suffocated.
I cried while I'm riding the train. I am so lost. I don't know if I can make it. I just depend on the internet, searching things I have to do, where should I stop and everything.
It is more difficult for me because I don't speak Japanese language. I only know basic greetings.
"I'm with my mom. She just went to the bathroom for a quick pee," I lied again to the flight attendant when I checked in to the airport. She looks at me suspiciously but I didn't back down.
I already changed from my uniform. I only have my backpack, mom's phone and a pack of candy I bought along the way.
I am determined to go home. I am hopeful to escape Uncle Kito. Natatakot ako kasi he told me last night that he will take my flower anytime soon, he's just waiting for it to bloom. I don't want that to happen. Cali, my favorite cousin once told me before I went here in Japan that if someone pick my flower I will get pregnant. I don't want that, a baby inside my tummy. It will hurt me.
