Chapter 1

Trigger Warning: This chapter contains sensitive themes, including physical domestic abuse, violence, and attempted forced intimacy. If you find these topics triggering or uncomfortable, please proceed with caution or skip this chapter. Thank you.

Out of all the boys, he was the only one who had the courage to try and court me. I was shy with boys back then, seeing how my sister always cried about her crushes. I thought, if I attached myself to boys, I was going to be hurt just like my Ate Raine experienced.

He did everything to please me. I did not know how to act back then because I had absolutely no experience with love. I was worried and awkward, but he was so patient with me. He was determined to make me his, and after months of pursuing me, I was able to say yes to him.

He became my first boyfriend. My first kiss, my first date, my first hug, my first heartbeat, my first love... I experienced all of those for the very first time with him.

Ate Raine supported me. My sister, being my only guardian ever since our parents died, supported my relationship. I was so happy, and he never failed to make me feel loved every single day.

"Raegan, your boyfriend is looking for you!" I looked up from what I was writing when one of my classmates called out to me. I thanked her before standing up and walking toward the door.

I saw him standing there, leaning against the railings of our floor. The moment his eyes landed on me, they instantly lit up.

"Hello," he called me with his endearment. I blossomed and went near him. He planted a soft kiss on my cheek.

"What are you doing here? Don't you have a class?" I asked him. He smiled at me and hugged me, constantly kissing my head.

"The professor hasn't arrived yet, so I thought I'd come see you here," he said, making me smile as I hugged him back.

My boyfriend and I stayed outside my classroom for a while. When it was time, he finally bid farewell to return to his own class. I went back inside, my face flushing red as my classmates immediately began teasing me.

Being with him every day made me feel complete. He would take me on dates, spend time with me, and we would talk about his days and mine. There were times when we chose to just cuddle each other, and it felt incredibly comforting. Even when we weren't talking, I was completely content just being in his arms.

It was already our second year as a couple when we planned to live together. He told me that he had already saved up enough money, so he planned to buy an apartment for the two of us. Of course, I was flattered and overwhelmed by it. For me, asking me to live with him means being sure of marrying me. I didn't know why, but that was my firm belief.

"Are you sure you don't want to accept this, Raegan?" Ate Raine looked at me with worry in her eyes. She was handing me an envelope containing thousands in cash, but I turned it down.

"Thank you, ate, but we can manage. We have enough money for our needs," I answered. Ate Raine’s gaze softened, so I walked up to her and pulled her into a hug. "I promise, ate. If we ever desperately need help, you'll be the very first person I'll run to. That's a promise, ate," I told my sister.

"Alright, take care of yourselves, okay? I'll visit your apartment whenever I have the time," she said, making me smile.

He and I became busy fixing up our apartment. The playful teasing and romance never faded while we were setting up our place. It was so ideal. It was so precious when it was just the two of us.

But what people say is true. You will only truly know a person once you live under the same roof. They were right because that was exactly what happened.

As I lived with him, I saw for the first time the sides of him that I never expected. Every single day, I discovered something new about him. I found out that he loved smoking whenever he felt down. He loved to get tattoos on his body whenever his birthday came. He loved to sleep without his top and many more, but the absolute worst discovery I made was his habit whenever he felt stressed.

He sniffs and hurts me to release his stress.

It fucking hurts whenever his fist lands on my face. No matter how much I beg him to stop, he won't. He will even resort to forcing me to go with him to his bed, but I'll refuse. I know it's only because he is driven by his anger and stress that he invites me. I love him. I am willing to do it with him, but not when he is not in his right state of mind.

I looked up and saw that it was already 9:00 PM, but he wasn't home yet. The dinner I cooked had already gone cold. I was getting hungry too, but I wanted to wait for him. I wanted us to eat together.

I sighed and noticed the bruise on my hand. That was the result of him smashing things around the house. I had tried to clean up the mess, but I only ended up getting cut by the shards of glass.

I closed my eyes and tried to get rid of the heaviness in my chest, but it didn't work. No matter what I did to calm myself down, it still hurt so bad.

Whenever he hurts me, I feel like killing myself. This is not the relationship I dreamed of. This is not the ending I always wished for. The once loving boyfriend turned into an abusive partner, and I hate it. I want to speak up and report it, but he is always right there.

I am so sick and tired of being his punching bag. I am so sick of being the target of his rage when I want nothing more than to be by his side. To love him.

I opened my eyes, which were full of tears, and stood up. My body seemed to move on its own, and I found myself inside our bedroom. My eyes roamed around, searching for my belongings, and when I saw them, I didn't waste a single second.

I dialed my sister's number.

My lips were trembling with fear while I waited for her to answer. I was also incredibly terrified that he might suddenly walk through the door.

"Raegan?"

I almost cried in sheer happiness and relief when I heard my sister's voice. I tried muffling my sobs and did my absolute best to answer her in a normal voice.

"Ate..." I called out. "Ate Raine..."

"Why? Rae, are you okay? Are you crying?" She suddenly sounded panicked, and with that, my tears became completely uncontrollable. I broke down into sobs and instantly sank to the floor.

"A-ate, help. P-please come pick me up here, p-please," I cried.

"Raegan?! What on earth is happening to you?!"

"Please, ate. Just fetch me from here... I don't want to stay here anymore," I begged. I could hear my sister moving frantically on the other side of the line, and what she said next made my hopes arise.

"I'm on my way. Wait for me, Raegan."

When the phone call ended, I didn't waste any time packing my clothes. I only brought a few garments so it wouldn't be difficult for me to move. Besides, I was in a massive rush because if he arrived before I could leave, I wouldn't be able to do anything.

I received a text from my sister saying that she was already outside. I quickly rushed out of the house, and the moment I saw her car, I sprinted toward it.

"Raegan!" she exclaimed when she saw me. Her eyes traveled down my body before she gasped. "What the fuck happened to you?!"

I sighed. "Ate, please. Just drive. Let's get out of here..." I urged. "I'll explain everything to you later."

She nodded at me and started driving. I leaned back against the seat and let out a deep, shaky breath. I wanted to cry because, finally, I was far away from that place.

"Tell me if you're ready," my sister said while she was driving. I didn't know where we were heading, but I didn't bother asking either. I opened my mouth to speak, and when I did, I told her everything.

"He started abusing me, physically. Sometimes, he would force me to have sex with him whenever he wants to unleash his anger, and I... I don't want that," I confessed. "He is so entirely different from the man I loved, ate. So entirely different..."

I could see Ate Raine's grip on the steering wheel tightening. A few moments later, she finally spoke up.

"I'm glad I'm the one you first called. Fuck! Thank goodness you told me! It's a good thing we've escaped! Fuck him! Who the hell does he think he is to hurt you?!" she shouted in pure rage, and it only made me cry even harder.

"Ate, take me far away from here..." I whimpered.

Ate Raine turned to me and nodded. "I will, Raegan. I will take you far away from here, I promise you that."

And with that, I eventually found myself standing in a place that was completely unfamiliar to me. I raised my head and saw the sign written on the board.

Welcome to Sitio Maligaya.