Morning Rituals

I always wanted my classmates
to be the first to notice me 
and greet me with their innocent smiles,
I would have wanted them to tag me
in our game called labolabo--
 
but mornings were not what I expected.
 
Every day he would wait for me like a servant.
When I rode a jeepney
he would sit beside me,
his cold fingers creeping on my back. 
 
One day he asked me,
“Would you like to come with me?
We’ll go biking,”
and I went with him
like any child.
 
We walked along the sidewalk,
his hands on my shoulders—
I felt I was protected by my loving father
until he squeezed my arm hard
and I felt a shudder in my loins
 
we sat together,
his hands
exploring and stroking
my hips;
I wanted to run
like a rookie—
stealing home