Rape incidents have been occurring again and again in many parts of the world and still there are many unsolved cases of rape wherein the victims continue to suffer on their own...feeling dirty and blaming themselves for what happened to them.In some countries of the middle east,the victims are the ones to take the punishment either by stoning or imprisonment if they cannot provide enough witnesses of the incident.What's worse is the society's response of no sympathy and the unfair treatment towards the rape victims...they are doomed to a life of misery because no man will have no more interest to marry them... an outcome to a crime committed by someone and the victims got the blame,shame and pain.Such mental tortures and nonacceptance by the society could sometimes lead these victims to commit suicide.
I was once almost a victim of this kind of predators when I was still studying in college...only I was not THAT stupid to figure it out and find a way to get out of his trap.
Here's my story:When I visited my sister in Mandaue,there was this good-looking guy I noticed staring at me right after I got out of the jeepney.He followed me as I cross the street then asked me a stupid question just to catch my attention:"Miss,what time is it?" I answered,"You don't trust the time on your own watch?" He was laughing and said I'm too snob and that he did not notice his watch is visible.I said,"Yeah,yeah, you forgot to take it off before you ask me the time." He continued to talk to me and asking more questions while I was walking and him trying to make a conversation while catching his breath....I just broke up with a boyfriend at that time and was not interested to flirt on guys nor to be flirted.Although he got tired of talking to me and me answering him back with another question, he continued to act interested in me and asked if he can accompany me to my sister's house.I told him he should be scared to go with a stranger he just met in an instance because he would not know where he will be taken.He just smiled,showing off his dimple and answered,"I'm a guy,I can protect myself and in case, nothing will be taken from me." I ended up the tease saying,"Well,good for you."
I introduced this stranger to my sister joking I paid him to show off as my new boyfriend. She asked him questions and they had a little talk as well.I learned that he was working at the building where the jeepneys stop.By the end of my visit,he asked my sister's permission to visit me in my boarding house then asked for my number.
He called me every night for about a week then he ask if he can visit me in the boarding house.My housemates got thrilled seeing him in person and they giggled when I told them I potioned him with my underarm odor when I got off the jeepney.He laughed at my joke and told them that for him it was "love at first sight." Well,he played his card as a gentleman for days and got my trust to tell him where I study and where I work part-time during week-ends,holidays and vacations.For another week,we ate dinner together after my work and then escorted me home safey after that.
A day before the attempt we passed nearby the police station and told me he has an uncle who is a famous police. I told him I have never been to the police station in that area.He then said,"You should go to see him since it's just near your place."He told me stories about his family without me asking about them which made me wonder why he kept on talking about their family's close connections with politicians and some other things that he felt might impress me.I just reply repeatedly,"Really?,really? really? Wow,really?
It happened after our dinner when he told me his uncle is interested to meet me in person...he said,because he had already met my sister, to return the favor I should meet his uncle who just live nearby. I told him I'm not rushing to meet all of his family.He didn't insist.He invited me for a little walk and I could notice he's making too much effort to make a longer conversation to distract me from questioning him where "our little walk" would be heading. It seemed like he was too much in pressure at that moment that I could notice he constantly wipe off his sweat while some bizarre smiles appeared on his face.I started to sense something... When we arrived at the opposite street of the Metro Gaisano he asked me if I have some money change in my wallet.I questioned him,"Why,you're gonna rob me later on?" He was laughing out loud and said that's why he likes me so much because I'm such a joker that I made him laugh easily.As I insisted for an answer he then told me we are approaching his uncle's place so why not take the visit...but we need to pay because there's an entrance fee to go inside his uncle's apartment.Consciously,I was both shocked,scared and insulted...WHAT?Does he really think I'm THAT stupid to fall for his trap???... but I continued pretending to be still naive and stupid so I could get back my joker card at the end of his game.
We arrived at the small street at the back of the Metro where there are lots of motels,inns and lodges.We stopped near a mango vendor and asked me to take out my wallet to get the money.It was at that time that I got the courage and overcome my fear and felt now it's my turn to play my act.I looked at him with a very sour and sarcastic smile on my face and said. "This is where your uncle lives?Well,I've suddenly changed my mind.I'm no longer interested to meet your uncle nor to see your face again!You really think your plan to check me in using my own money will work by inventing a story of visiting your uncle who lives here?I still have loads of laundry to do and books to study so do me a favor and stop wasting your time and my time.Find someone else stupid enough to fool around." He was sooo blushing from embarrassment but kept on following me until I finally got into a jeepney and left him standing beside the street(maybe hoping I'll change my mind again?bwahaha). I arrived at the boarding house and told no one about what happened.
It was then when I arrived in my room (feeling finally safe)that I trembled like crazy and cried tears of relief when I realized how much I was into trouble if ever I really fall for the guy and trusted him easily and blindly.My instinct was letting me sense the danger since the very start... like a feeling that "he's too good to be true" and my suspicions on him kept me distance from feeling full trust when I'm with him.
The next day, I told my close friends about that frustrated date rape and they told me I was lucky to figure out and get out of the trap before it's too late. If ever he did not asked me if I have some money and he had not told me there would be an entrance fee I would not figure out we would check-in a room and the rest would be a sad story of a raped girl.I was glad to know that I may be naive but not stupid.After the incident the guy never called again nor show up in school or at work and I always get scared to see him accidentally somewhere someday.The memory of his face always traumatize me.
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