{"id":7253,"date":"2026-09-30T12:48:47","date_gmt":"2026-09-30T04:48:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bangsamororeview.com\/main\/?p=7253"},"modified":"2026-09-30T12:49:29","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T04:49:29","slug":"a-dream-in-the-dark","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bangsamororeview.com\/main\/a-dream-in-the-dark\/","title":{"rendered":"A Dream in the Dark"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lady Johainee D. Banocag<\/em><\/p>\n

The deafening chatter of people downstairs slowly vanished as I closed the door behind me. I locked it right away and gave the knob a quick twist to double-check.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s locked.\u201d <\/em>I briefly whispered to myself.<\/p>\n

I shut off the lights and rushed to drag the curtains across the windows, completely blocking the streetlights outside.<\/p>\n

With everything pitch black, I groped my way forward like a blind man, arms out and feet shuffling across the floor.<\/p>\n

\u201cAydaw<\/em>!\u201d I cried out as the pain hit me. In a split second, I was curled on the edge of my bed holding my foot, praying I hadn’t just ripped off a toenail.<\/p>\n

I smiled at the thought of what happened. And before I knew it, I was already laughing.<\/p>\n

I laughed as I rolled across the mattress. I laughed until I was completely out of breath. I laughed until I cried. Then the laughter died, and only the crying was left.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow could they do this to me?\u201d <\/em>I started speaking out loud.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow could they force me to marry him?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Tonight, I was supposed to be roaming around the busy streets of Manila.<\/p>\n

That was the plan before graduation. Working in the big city had been my dream since before I even started college.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve never been there, Hainah. But I always see it in the videos and photos sent by my Papang\u2019s sisters who lived there. They say there are a lot of opportunities, so it\u2019s always been my dream to work there after graduation.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

My cousin Hainah, who I\u2019m really close with, has probably heard me say this a thousand times.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know what, your eyes shine like stars when you talk to me about your dreams,\u201d <\/em>she said. \u201cI love it when you\u2019re giddy about the things you\u2019d love to do.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI know<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

I loved that feeling too. Just imagining myself achieving what I wanted in life gave me a rush I couldn’t even explain.<\/p>\n

And now, I\u2019ve checked that major plan off my list. I\u2019m officially a college graduate. The diploma is sitting somewhere in my room, proof that I finished what I started.<\/p>\n

Except, things have completely flipped since that night<\/em>.<\/p>\n

My perfect plans didn’t just bend. It turned a full hundred and eighty degrees in a direction I never saw coming.<\/p>\n

I can still vividly remember the day before my graduation.<\/p>\n

The weather was a bit miserable.<\/p>\n

It was gloomy, with the whole world looking washed out and gray. It was cold, too, and you could sense the heavy rain lurking just over the horizon, waiting to pour.<\/p>\n

But despite the heavy clouds, inside our house, everything was in happy chaos.<\/p>\n

It was the afternoon before my graduation kandori<\/em>, and the kitchen air was thick with the rich, savory smell of my favorite palapa, piaparan a manok<\/em>, piaren a badak<\/em>, and randang<\/em> being prepared for the guests.<\/p>\n

The constant chatter of my aunts and cousins echoed through the rooms as they helped set up for the celebration.<\/p>\n

We were right in the middle of it all when everything suddenly came to a halt.<\/p>\n

A sharp, unexpected knock rattled our front door.<\/p>\n

We were not expecting anyone. But when the door opened, an invited distant relative was standing there on the porch, silhouetted against the dark, stormy sky.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, Kaka Roy! What a surprise! I thought you weren’t coming until tomorrow,\u201d <\/em>Mamang said, her voice rising in surprise as she flicked on the lights in our sala.<\/p>\n

Kaka Roy was my late father\u2019s third cousin.<\/p>\n

According to my parents\u2019 stories, he and Papang did not know each other until they met in a college club and learned that they were distant relatives. They eventually became friends even though Papang was years older than him.<\/p>\n

Mamang told me that she had decided to invite him to my kandori after he left a congratulatory comment on one of her Facebook posts about my graduation.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had to leave before the day of the kandori because it kept on raining these days. You know how it is at inged. It would be hard to catch a ride if I had waited until tomorrow,\u201d <\/em>he explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I see. Well, thank you for traveling all the way from there. We are happy to have you here at our home.\u201d <\/em>Mamang replied while smiling ear to ear.<\/p>\n

To be perfectly honest, though, I was never fond of Kaka Roy.<\/p>\n

He rarely visited us even when Papang was alive, and after Papang died, we only saw him at occasional family gatherings.<\/p>\n

He felt like a stranger who only showed up when it suited him.<\/p>\n

So, when he said, \u201cOf course. I couldn\u2019t miss Bibi\u2019s graduation,\u201d <\/em>I didn\u2019t really know what to say, what to react, or how to feel.<\/p>\n

But I just smiled back for Mamang\u2019s sake.<\/p>\n

By nighttime, my aunts and cousins were already loading the car with things for the venue. Mamang grabbed her bag and keys, then turned to our unexpected guest.<\/p>\n

\u201cKaka Roy, we actually need to step out for a bit. We just need to head over to the function hall to finish up the decorations for tomorrow\u2019s kandori. We\u2019ll be back as soon as everything\u2019s done.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

I immediately turned to my mother after hearing that.<\/p>\n

\u201cMamang, let me come with you and help. Please.\u201d <\/em>I continuously pleaded.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, anak. Just stay here and rest. You need to relax before your big day tomorrow. Go fix your toga instead. I know you\u2019re dying to wear it,\u201d Mamang<\/em> replied with a playful tone.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I\u2019ll be alone,\u201d I whispered, keeping my voice low so Kaka Roy wouldn’t hear.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll head home the second I finish setting up the tables<\/em>,\u201d my cousin, Hainah, assured me. \u201cDon\u2019t worry. Just wait for me in your room.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Before I could argue, the rest of the family left, shouting their quick goodbyes. The front door clicked shut, leaving a sudden, suffocating silence in the house.<\/p>\n

I was left standing in the sala, alone with Kaka Roy.<\/p>\n

\u201cUhm, Kaka Roy, I think I\u2019m gonna go and sleep already. Bye.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The awkwardness of talking to someone you\u2019re not close with was too much for me to handle. So, I rushed towards the stairs to go up to my room when he suddenly yelled something in my direction.<\/p>\n

\u201cBibi, where can I find you upstairs?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

I paused for a second, wondering why he had to ask that. But I realized that maybe he just needed to know in case he needed something.<\/p>\n

\u201cUhm, the door at the end of the hallway to the left!\u201d<\/em> I yelled back, then tiptoed the rest of the way to my room.<\/p>\n

Tiptoeing was a habit in an old wooden house like ours, where the floors creaked at every single step.<\/p>\n

I actually loved those creaks, though. They always reminded me of Mamang doing her chores, or Papang coming home after a long day at work back when he was still with us.<\/p>\n

The moment I got into my room, I closed the door behind me and locked it.<\/p>\n

Mamang was right, honestly. I was so excited to wear my toga that I already had my entire outfit pressed, prepped, and hanging in my closet a full week before graduation.<\/p>\n

\u201cPerfect! Good night, toga! See you tomorrow.\u201d <\/em>And before I tucked myself to sleep, I even blew it a flying kiss.<\/p>\n

I shut my eyes, trying to sleep.<\/p>\n

A few minutes later, the familiar creak of the stairs echoed through the house.<\/p>\n

\u201cHainah must be home,\u201d <\/em>I whispered sheepishly.<\/p>\n

The footsteps were slow. Steady. They kept getting louder and closer, until suddenly, the sound stopped directly outside my door.<\/p>\n

The door slowly pushed open.<\/p>\n

It was too dark to see a face, but the dim streetlight from the window outlined a clear silhouette.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe lock must have been broken<\/em>,\u201d I whispered to myself, remembering the click of the knob from earlier.<\/p>\n

But before I could even process how the door opened, a sudden realization hit me.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t Hainah.<\/p>\n

The silhouette belonged to a man.<\/p>\n

Before I could even make a sound, a rough grip pinned me down. Another hand clamped over my mouth, shoving my head deep into the pillow.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you scream, you\u2019ll never see your Mamang again<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Those were the last words I heard before a heavy, stinging punch slammed into my chest.<\/p>\n

I gasped for air, helplessly trying to push Kaka Roy off me, but he was already pinning me to the mattress.<\/p>\n

Why would he do this? How could he do this to me?<\/p>\n

\u201cSomebody help me.\u201d<\/em> I thought, right before everything went black.<\/p>\n

A sudden rustle snapped me out of my daydream. I turned toward the noise, even though I couldn\u2019t see a thing through the pitch-blackness of my room.<\/p>\n

The dark had become my friend ever since that night.<\/p>\n

It hid the parts of my room that reminded me of that monster.<\/p>\n

It let me pretend I was just sleeping. That this was all just one long nightmare.<\/p>\n

Bang<\/em>!<\/p>\n

A heavy thud rattled the door as the knob twisted violently. Someone was trying to break in.<\/p>\n

I clamped my hands over my ears so hard that all I could hear was the frantic pounding of my heart echoing through my chest.<\/p>\n

The door flew open. I shut my eyes tight, the tears rushing down my face even faster.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow did you get in?! I locked it! I swear I heard it click! I locked the door. Please don\u2019t hurt me again!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

I shrieked my lungs out, throwing my arms around myself and squeezing tight, trying to shield my body from whatever was coming.<\/p>\n

No.<\/p>\n

He can\u2019t hurt me again. He can\u2019t hurt me anymore. How dare he hurt me more?<\/p>\n

He got what he wanted. He wanted to destroy my life, and that\u2019s exactly what my life is now.<\/p>\n

When I told my family the truth, the elders dragged my mother out of the house when she swore to get revenge. Now, the family I thought would fight for me is gathered downstairs to arrange a marriage.<\/p>\n

A marriage to the man who destroyed my dreams. A marriage meant not to protect me, but to protect the family\u2019s maratabat<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cBibi! Bibi, stop! Anak, stop!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

I was thrashing, tossing, and turning wildly on the bed. But when I heard her voice, I forced my eyes open.<\/p>\n

I saw my mother kneeling in front of my bed.<\/p>\n

My poor, widowed Mamang was crying, her face covered in sweat and tears. Her voice shook, but her hands were steady as she held me.<\/p>\n

I lay there shaking, filled with deep misery and rage.<\/p>\n

\u201cMamang<\/em>.\u201d That was all I could manage to say.<\/p>\n

I was broken, but seeing Mamang suffer was worse.<\/p>\n

She blamed herself for leaving me alone that night. She blamed herself for ever letting that monster into our home. But I wish she would finally believe me when I tell her that I never blamed her for anything.<\/p>\n

She wiped my tears and cupped my face.<\/p>\n

Forcing a weak smile through her tears, she finally uttered the exact words I\u2019d been dying to hear.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnak, it\u2019s over. You are not marrying that man. Not tonight, not tomorrow, not ever.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t know how she was going to face the elders down there, but I just hugged her tightly, trusting her words like my life depended on them.<\/p>\n

The chatter from downstairs faded away, one by one, over the next few sleepless hours. By the next morning, our home was finally calm.<\/p>\n

It was a good kind of quiet.<\/p>\n

A few hours after breakfast, Mamang let in and introduced me to a man who was about my age. I learned that he was a Shariah Counselor who helped Mamang with my case.<\/p>\n

He was standing a few meters away from where I was sitting at our sala, but I could still hear his voice loud and clear.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Bangsamoro Darul-Ifta\u2019 has declared it strictly forbidden to force a woman to marry her rapist, emphasizing that voluntary consent is a fundamental requirement for Islamic marriage. The ruling ensures that rapists face severe criminal punishments and financial liabilities without gaining the right to coerce victims into marriage.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

I stared at him for a long time and tried to replay his words.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? Can you say that again?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cNo one can ever force you to marry someone who hurt you,\u201d <\/em>he repeated in a calm but resolute way while he was lowering his gaze in my direction.<\/p>\n

Tears pricked my eyes, but this time, they weren’t from fear.<\/p>\n

Mamang quickly wrapped me in her warm arms and slowly kissed my head.<\/p>\n

This was the moment I\u2019ve been waiting for. I could finally call this a dream come true.<\/p>\n

This is my family\u2019s true maratabat<\/em>. An honor that belonged to a woman like me, reclaiming her future, not an outdated tradition seeking to silence my pain.<\/p>\n

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Lady Johainee D. Banocag The deafening chatter of people downstairs slowly vanished as I closed the door behind me. I locked it right away and gave the knob a quick twist to double-check. \u201cIt\u2019s locked.\u201d I briefly whispered to myself. … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7253","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fiction"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":false,"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bangsamororeview.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7253","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bangsamororeview.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bangsamororeview.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bangsamororeview.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bangsamororeview.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7253"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/bangsamororeview.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7253\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7257,"href":"https:\/\/bangsamororeview.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7253\/revisions\/7257"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bangsamororeview.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7253"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bangsamororeview.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7253"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bangsamororeview.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7253"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}