CHAPTER 11

                                    

                                          
TRIGGER WARNING: Rape
"Happy 15th birthday, anak. You're all grown up now. Don't get a boyfriend yet, okay? Make a wish first, then blow out the candles," 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.
"Where's my gift?" She wiggled her fingers. Her dad just laughed.
"Later," he said. The girl pouted and went to her brother who was arranging the food. She held out her hands.
"Where's my gift, 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.
"You're the best, Kuya!" She hugged her brother. Her brother laughed and hugged her back.
"May kapalit 'yan, Grace." 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, where are you going? It's my birthday, and you're leaving?" the girl said, frowning because she saw her mother leaving.
"Mom will just work for a while. I'll make it up to you when I get home. You're with Papa and Kuya for now. When I get home, you'll have a present from me," she said. The girl just nodded and continued eating.
What's happening? Where am I? Why can't I move my body?
"Grace, where's Mom?" Her brother went downstairs and looked for their mother.
"Nag trabaho, Kuya. Bakit?" 
"Let's go to my room. Get your gift from me," 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.
"Where is it, Kuya?" She looked around for her brother's gift. She noticed that her brother had locked the door, and she was confused.
"Why did you lock the door, Kuya? Nasaan 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.