All Chapters of Her Shield in the Shadows: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

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 first day in Sitio Maligaya felt completely foreign. Everything about the place was unfamiliar to me. The distant chatter of people outside the house, the sweet chirping of birds, the faint music blasting from a neighbor's speaker, and the distinct rumble of passing tricycles, it was a sensory overload of new sounds. It was a stark contrast to the life I was used to, but this sudden change was something I would never complain about.I was finally far away from that living hell. This was my new world now.Sitting up, I stretched my arms before neatly fixing the bed. It was a small, modest bed, but it offered me a profound sense of safety. I was comfortable, and that was all that mattered. Once the bed was made, I walked straight to the bathroom located just outside the room to wash my face. I hissed a curse under my breath when water suddenly splashed all over my clothes, courtesy of my clumsy grip on the plastic dipper.After tying my hair up into a neat bun, I stepped outside. My

When I went downstairs to Lola Aida's house, I found Dominic there, drinking coffee. Lola Aida was nowhere to be seen, but when I peeked inside their house, I spotted her there. I don't know if I should continue walking. Dominic is there, busy with his coffee and still, not noticing me.He saw me cry yesterday, but he didn't ask about it. He even turned his back and pretended to be a standee just to let me cry in peace. A very considerate man, he is."Raegan?" His voice snaps me out of my thoughts. When I looked at him, I saw a smile on his lips. The wind was dancing through his hair, leaving his face completely visible. He waved at me before gesturing for me to come over, so I walked toward him."Good morning," I greeted and sat across from him.He brushed his messy hair aside. "Good morning too. Did you sleep well?" he asked, his eyes focused on me.I smiled a bit. "It was cold last night, so I slept soundly," I said, looking around at the damp surroundings."It rained last night. W

After eating, Dominic invited me to the other side of the street where I had spotted Shopwise earlier. He took my hand in his once again as we approached the crossing. I assumed we would cross at street level, but to my surprise, we headed straight toward the stairs of the overpass."W-We're going up?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly. Dominic stopped and turned back to look at me. He seemed to have sensed my nervousness. His grip on my hands tightened as he softly nodded."We need to pass through here to cross. Jaywalking is prohibited," he said, pulling me gently toward him. "Are you afraid of heights?" he asked while we were still at the base of the overpass.I gulped and slowly nodded. "Uhm, my knees shake whenever I'm in a high place. I get goosebumps sometimes," I answered.I remember when Ate Raine once made me go through an overpass with her. I could barely move because I could see the rushing vehicles right underneath us. I'm terrified to even think about what would happe

I couldn't sleep, afraid that the fucker would visit my dreams again. I stared at the ceiling and sighed. I brought a hand to my cheek as the memory of my nightmare resurfaced. Even in my dreams, he was still hurting me. My chest felt heavy as I reminisced about the old times. It was night, and I was alone.The past was flooding my mind once again. I tried to get rid of it, but his face stayed. That man's face lingered in my thoughts, and I felt shivers running down my spine. I felt terrified knowing that he could still hurt me. He could still haunt me even in my dreams."I can't do this anymore..." I whispered, casting the blanket aside and sitting up. I messed up my hair before standing up, deciding to step outside the room.The only sounds were the chirping of crickets and the rustling of leaves. The outside world was completely deserted since it was already two o'clock in the morning, but I gathered the courage to step out just to get some fresh air. I sat on a chair outside the h