Encounter (Onze Series #1)

14

tw: mention of rape and sexual assault, sexual harassment

"Gelo," I whispered.

Kailan pa siya bumalik?

Kinakabahan ako, I wasn't expecting this. Hindi ako makagalaw, tila napako ang mga paa ko sa buhangin kahit na imposible 'yon.

"Hi Valerie!" He joyfully greeted.

Ang kapal ng mukha ne'to para ngumiti siya ng ganyan ngayon! He.ghosted me! I was so serious with our relationship back then! I can tell that he was my first love. Sadly, he broke my heart. Basically, he cheated. Umalis siya ng bansa para sa sumama sa tatay niyang rapist. Nakakadiri sila.

Kaya hindi ako naniniwala roon sa quotation na 'First Love Never Dies', dahil simula pa lang noong makita ko siyang may kahalikang iba, pinatay ko na siya sa isipan ko!

But I let him explain, mahal ko 'e. And he explained wholeheartedly. Akala things would went smoothly after, not until he starts to sexually harass me. At first, it was fine with me since he's, of course, my boyfriend! But he became so unlike him. One night, sinundo ko siya galing sa isang club, he was so drunk. Inuwi ko siya sa condo niya and he suddenly asked me to have sex with him, akala ko ay dahil lang sa kalasingan iyon kaya tumanggi ako. I told him it's not yet the right time. I know he's my boyfriend, but I was still too young!

He got mad. Bakit raw ang ibang babae ay pumapayag na makipag-sex sa kanya. I was shocked. I can't even move that time. 'So he had sex with other girls?' I asked myself. I wanted to confirm it from him but nothing would come out my mouth, I was processing everything. Doon na niya sinumulang hawak-hawakan ako sa iba't-ibang parte ng katawan ko. I was so scared of him. I was scared of being raped by my own boyfriend.

He was already using violence so I just cried, natakot ako sa kanya noong gabing iyon. Pero hindi niya itinuloy. Walang nangyari noong gabing iyon. Nasabi ko na lang sa sarili ko na, 'Ah, baka mahal niya ako kaya hindi niya itinuloy,'. Nahiga nalang siya at natulog na. Tumayo na rin ako no'n at aalis na sana nang magsalita siya. 'Tsk, you're no fun,' he said.

Hindi ko na lang pinansin ang sinabi niya at umuwi na. Bumalik ako kinaumagahan pero wala siya sa condo niya. I went to his sister to ask about him pero hindi niya raw alam. I went to UST to ask his friends pero wala raw silang alam! Umiyak ako ng umiyak nang makauwi ako sa condo. I wanted someone to hug me pero wala roon si Claire. I can't go home kasi my parents aren't home that time. I can't even ask my friends to come over. They're overloaded already.

I was alone. I am so lost. My friends and family found out right after I told Claire. Mom and Dad became so strict. Kuya and I got a bit closer because of it, he was so overprotective. One day, the news of the former Mayor, his Dad, was abusing women, including rape. It says that they were looking for him already.

Days after, it is stated that they left the country. The former Mayor left with his first son. It was Gelo. He left the country three years ago together with his rapist father. I was so disgusted of him, of them. Paano niya nagawang sumama sa tatay niyang ganon ang pag-uugali?

And I was so disgusted of my self too! Doon na akong nagsimulang pumunta ng clubs gabi-gabi. Triny kong sumama kila Zoe and I enjoyed it. I started having a relationship with guys and I would break up with them after a day.

I didn't trust guys anymore. I even loathed Ian of being a Thomasian. I hated all Thomasian guys! I only trusted my Dad and my Kuya who was with me through the process.