The classroom was treated like a movie theater. The brilliant lights were dimmed, and the curtains instantly dropped.
But there was no popcorn nor plush seats. There was a whiteboard, a desk and over 30 chairs lined up.
This is no fun viewing experience. This is serious business.
At 2:43 p.m., the film production professor arrived. Wearing a rolled-up green shirt and denims, he looked more casual that pleasant afternoon.
However, casual was an understatement as the professor's familiar face convincingly showed a serious demeanor. He was about to play a film for this class.
The main story of the movie was of a poor 15-year-old adolescent woman who became an exotic dancer then turned into a sex toy by her customers. In the beginning, she was born to an impoverished family who could only feed her vegetables and rice.
Because of the dire conditions her family experienced, the unfortunate lady dropped out after fourth grade and stayed at home tending to their daily needs. Over the next few years, she worked odd jobs just to support her family.
The young girl became a street vendor, peddling cigarettes and candies to passersby in Manila. The earnings were meager and only good enough for some fish, vegetables and rice.
However, it was clear the woman wanted a lot more. One night, she saw an advertisement at a bar looking for talented and sexy dancers.
Unfortunately, the night club only allowed women 18 years old and above to apply. The girl was only 15 and felt extremely distraught by the post.
"I can't believe what was happening," my soft voice harshly commenting on the film.
Nevertheless, the poor lady was determined to enter the club. A young man arrived at the flimsy door and saw her crying on the obscure street.
"Lady, what's wrong?" the man eagerly questioned.
"I'm only 15," the helpless girl responded. "I don't have any more money and the only way to earn is through this club."
His eyes fraught with concern, the man convinced the poor lad to stand up and gave her an offer she could not refuse.
"Why don't you come to this place?" he asked. "I'll provide some new clothes and hire you immediately. What can you say?"
"I'm in," the girl enthusiastically responded. "Thank you for this opportunity sir."
It turned out that the girl had just spoken to the owner of the establishment. He had given her an exception considering her desperate need to make money.
Unknown to the lady, however, the night club turned out to be a strip club. Upon bathing and changing to some new clothes, she saw a plethora of women who were dressed scantily.
"This is getting ugly," Ella wondered as she watched the film.
It was already 9:00 p.m. and the club opened to customers. The girl watched intently as her fellows began stripping to their underwear and eventually to their birthday suits.
The customers danced along and smooched with them. Along the way, they gave the dancers money as a tip.
Then it was the young girl's turn. Upon heading on stage, she danced provocatively in hopes of impressing the customers.
The lady gradually unbuttoned her shirt to reveal a pink top. She then unzipped her pants and unveiled pink panties.
As the customers gave her a few tips, the young girl slowly stripped down in the nude. They gave her a shot of whisky, but unknown to the lady, it was laced with a tranquilizer pill.
She drank the whole glass and slowly unraveled to the point that the hapless girl fell unconscious. It was there that the men hauled her upstairs and enjoyed some stimulating sex with the girl.
At that moment I ran off the classroom and concealed my face. Michelle and Ella followed shortly after.
"What's wrong?" Michelle questioned anxiously. "Why were you covering your face?"
"The movie is so disgusting," I commented afterwards. "The sight of that teenage girl getting raped is very humiliating. It may be the first time I ever saw a film with that amount of nudity, but this is ridiculous. I don't think my mind is ready for that kind of thing."
"Christine, you're 22 already," Ella answered. "It is okay to watch something very mature. And besides this is a necessary school activity."
"But girls I don't feel like watching," my tight voice fearfully reverberating through Michelle and Ella's ears. "How could they do that to her?"
"Christine, stop worrying about it," Michelle advised me. "It's just a movie. Then again, that scene could also happen in real life. It's a matter of learning from this terrible experience."
In the end I was escorted back to the classroom where the scene shifted to the girl in tears after her unexpected erotic encounters. To make the long story short, she was berated by her upset parents for engaging in some underage sexual activity and summoned her to the social welfare department for personal counseling.
As the credits rolled, the professor gently opened the lights and stood at ease in front of us.
"Students, this is quite an engaging film," the professor spoke passionately. "It was an 80-minute movie produced by one of my former students a few years ago. And this film favorably received a 4.0."
"Amazing," a nearby student commented positively.
"On our next class, we'll watch a different film submitted by another of my former students for their thesis," the professor announced. "But don't worry, this one isn't as raunchy as the one you saw today. Then I'll give you the week's assignment. Are we clear on that?"
"Crystal," the entire class shouted gleefully in unison.
"Class dismissed," the professor closed.
Upon exiting the classroom, Michelle, Ella and I promptly returned to the condominium. But just as we gently opened the door, my eyes started leaking tears.
At that point, an extremely concerned Charissa approached me.
"What's the matter?" Charissa asked anxiously. "Why are you crying?"
"Mother I just witnessed a gory film in class and it was so humiliating," my tearful voice responding critically to Charissa's question. "Witnessing a helpless adolescent lady getting laid by some guys while unconscious is just as awful as receiving a heavy beat-down."
Continuing to cry uncontrollably, Michelle stroked my back in hopes of consoling me. It was apparent the film mentally affected me in so many ways and that deep show of emotion was more than I could take.
"I can't take these horrible scenes," my hoarse screams of agony pounded through their ears.
"It's okay Christine," Michelle tried to soothe my pain. "If you're so affected then let it all out. But in the end you must learn to accept reality. Not all events are in a pleasing way, shape or form. Your mind should be critical of all the things surrounding you."
"Stop worrying about it," Ella responded enthusiastically. "Like Michelle said it's just a movie that could be applicable in real life. Always be aware of it."
After I had nodded, Charissa gently stroked my wet cheeks and generously offered an encouraging smile. The four of us then hugged on the table.
Just then, the clock struck 4:00 in the afternoon. It was time to head home.
After bidding some proper goodbyes, Michelle and I accompanied Charissa to the parking lot. She instantly started her engine and drove us home.
Arriving at Michelle's grand house, Charissa gently opened the window of her car and waved triumphantly at Karina.
"Thanks for taking care of my beloved daughter," Karina cordially greeted her.
Then it was off to my home. Upon arrival, Charissa hurriedly prepared for dinner while I watched some television.
But as dinner was served, some shocking news on television alarmed me. It was as if the day could not come any worse.