TRIGGER WARNING: Rape

"Happy 15th birthday, anak. Dalaga na ang anak ko. Huwag ka muna mag boyfriend ha? Wish ka muna tsaka mo hipan ang kandila." a woman said. I saw a young woman.

She nodded with a wide smile and closed her eyes. She opened her eyes and blew out the candles.

What's happening? Where am I?

"Yay, happy birthday, anak," she said, kissing the young woman on the cheek. She was about to kiss her mom on the cheek when two men arrived.

Birthday?

"Papa, Kuya," the young woman exclaimed and ran towards the two men, hugging them.

"Happy birthday, anak," the older man said, kissing her on the cheek. The girl smiled and held out her hands.

"Nasaan regalo ko?" She wiggled her fingers. Her dad just laughed.

"Mamaya," he said. The girl pouted and went to her brother who was arranging the food. She held out her hands.

"Nasaan regalo ko, Kuya?" She looked at her brother, who I think is about 19 years old. He took out his wallet and pulled out five hundred pesos. The girl was so happy with what she received.

"The best ka talaga, Kuya!" She hugged her brother. Her brother laughed and hugged her back.

"May kapalit 'yan, Luliana." the older brother said with a smirk, but the girl didn't pay attention.

Kuya, birthday, girl, mom, dad? What's happening? What's going on?

"Ma, saan ka pupunta? Birthday ko ngayon tapos aalis ka?" the girl said, frowning because she saw her mother leaving.

"Magtatrabaho lang saglit si Mama, babalik din ako agad, pagka balik ko may pasalubong ka sa akin." she said. The girl just nodded and continued eating.

What's happening? Where am I? Why can't I move my body?

"Luliana, nasaan si Mama?" Her brother went downstairs and looked for their mother.

"Nag trabaho, Kuya. Bakit?"

"Tara sa kwarto ko, kunin mo regalo mo." her brother said. She stopped eating, turned to her brother, and gave a wide smile. She stood up and ran upstairs to her brother's room.

Once inside, she looked around, searching for her gift.

"Nasaan na, kuya?" She looked around for her brother's gift. She noticed that her brother had locked the door, and she was confused.

"Bakit mo nilock ang pinto, Kuya? Nasaan na regalo ko?" she asked curiously, but her brother opened the door. Suddenly, their father walked in and locked the door again.

Ano bang nangyayari bakit ganito?

"T-tay, K-Kuya. Bakit?" she slowly backed away as the two men approached her. She tried to run towards the bathroom, but her brother pulled her hair.

"Ahhhh—ZYLENE, SHIT!" I opened my eyes because of Mateo's loud yell. I saw Dad and Mom. They were full of worry. Dad helped me sit up, and he stepped back as Mom came closer and held my arms.

"Hey, Darling. Calm down. Mommy is here. Mommy is here. Please, breathe, love. Take a deep breath. Please, breathe." She hugged me and stroked my back. It was then that I realized my whole body was trembling. I was sweating, and my heart was pounding loudly.

"What are you waiting for, Janna? Give her the damn water!" Dad yelled at the maid, who hurried over to us and handed Mom the water.

"Here, drink this," Mom said, giving me the water, but I still couldn't calm down.

My dream was still in my head.

"Wife, can you talk? Please. Talk to us. Tell us your dream. We're here," Mateo said, sitting beside me and kissing the top of my head.

"Aren't we going to call an ambulance?" Dad asked, sitting on the bed beside Mom, who was still restless. I just shook my head.

"Our doctor will do," Mateo said, taking over because he was stroking my back. Slowly, I started to calm down.

~~~

"She's fine now, but her past is hunting her. Her memories are getting back based on our research. If she sees a part of her past that triggers her, I suggest you keep an eye on her. That's all for today. I'll send the results, Majika." I heard the doctor say. He smiled at me when he noticed I was staring at him.

After the doctor checked on me, he left right away.

"Are you okay now, Ija? Do you want us to talk about your dream?" Mom asked, but I just shook my head.

"I-I don't want to talk about it, M-Mom," I said, struggling. "Ayaw ko pong maalala." I started crying again, so Mom just nodded.

"Are you sure?" I nodded, "Mommy and Daddy are here whenever you need someone to talk to. But if you are not comfortable talking about your dream, we won't force you," Mom said, hugging me. I just nodded and hugged her back. Dad also hugged me.

"We're here. Dad is here too. Always remember that," Dad whispered to me. I started to cry. I hugged him back. There's someone I miss, but I don't know who.

I want to cry because, in a way, I have someone. I feel complete.

"We're leaving, Mateo," Dad said, looking at Mateo. He just nodded. He was still hugging me, kissing my shoulder.

Dad and Mom left. Mateo stood up for a moment to lock the door.

"Are you okay now, wife?" he asked, hugging me again. I just nodded.

"Do you want to talk about your dream?" he asked with an accent. I just shook my head.

"I don't want to talk about it," I said, leaning against the headboard and looking at my fingers.

"Okay, I won't force you. Let's sleep now. It's already 3 in the morning," he said and kissed me on the forehead.

"Mateo, about yesterday?" He furrowed his brow at what I said.

"Yesterday? What about yesterday? You were unconscious for a week. You just woke up from a bad dream," he said. I stared blankly at the blanket because of what he said. I couldn't believe it.

1 week? Isang linggo akong walang malay?

"Wala akong malay ng isang linggo?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko. tumango lang siya at hinalikan ako sa sintido.

"The doctor said it's because your head hurts too much and it affects your body too," he said, then lay down. He patted his arm.

"Don't worry about that now. Come here, lay down next to me. Whatever your dream is, I'm here, wife." I lay down next to him and hugged him. He hugged me back.

"If you need someone, we're here. Me, Mom, and Dad," he whispered while kissing my head.

"Mateo," I said as he was about to fall asleep.

I just wanted to ask something.

"Hmmm?" he murmured, stroking my head while his eyes were closed.

"Why were there guns in your room?" I asked bravely. He opened his eyes and looked at me.

"Did you touch those?" mahinahong tanong nito agaran akong umiling.

"I-I didn't, I just accidentally s-saw it, sorry, but I d-didn't touch them. Are you mad?" I asked, my voice trembling. His face softened.

"Hey, I'm not mad. Calm down, love. I just asked if you touched those. It's dangerous to touch guns," he said, hugging me. "Was that the problem why you pushed me last week? My guns scared you, didn't they?" he asked. I nodded.

"Why do you have guns? Are you doing something illegal? Are you a killer?" I asked directly, even though my heart was racing.

"I can't answer your question for now, baby. I'm sorry," he said softly and kissed me.

Hindi na ako nangulit dahil mukhang hindi pa nga siya handa mag sabi.

"Okay, why was I asleep for a week?" I asked, changing the topic.

"We'll talk about that tomorrow if you want. Just please rest for now," he said, kissing my forehead and whispering something. Honestly, I didn't want to sleep because I was afraid that dream would come back, but Mateo was whispering something that calmed me down and made me forget about my bad dream until I fell asleep.

Whatever my dream is, sana hindi na maulit, dahil sobrang nakakatakot.