SHARIFAH* was raped during a study date with a schoolmate she had known for years.
“He lived near my house and our families knew each other. We were friends and often went to each other’s house in groups to work on school projects or have study dates.
“On the day that it happened, he had invited me alone to go to his house and I didn’t think much of it. After he forced himself on me, I did not know what to think and pushed the incident to the back of mind.
“I just wanted to forget it ever happened,” said the 17-year-old at a safehouse for pregnant teenagers in the Klang Valley.
Having known the boy for several years and having visited his house before with friends, Sharifah had no reservations about going alone that day.
“I had no reason to think otherwise as he seemed like such a nice guy... the sort who would not even hurt a fly,” said Sharifah who is six months pregnant.
Ashamed to seek help or tell anyone about it, Sharifah had tried to erase the incident from her memory.
“I did not even realise I was pregnant until I felt out of sorts. My mother took me to a clinic and that’s when I discovered I was pregnant.”
Her parents sent her to the safehouse on the advice of the doctor.
She said she knew the consequences of unsafe sex but was forced to keep quiet out of shame.
She has not spoken to the boy since the incident.
When asked about her future plans, Sharifah seemed eager to continue her studies.
“I want to pursue a diploma in business studies and get my life back on track, but that has to wait until I deliver this baby.”
Besides bearing the weight of an impending infant, pregnant teens must also deal with how society, family and friends view them.
Another resident of the safehouse, Sasha*, 18, said she had been in a relationship with a boy for two years before she decided to break up with him when she was 17.
“I decided that he was being abusive and wanted the relationship to end to concentrate on my studies. But, he felt otherwise, and kept stalking me and wanted to continue the relationship.”
Sasha said she was forced to keep in contact with the boy as he had threatened several times to end his life if she ignored him.
“He went to the school next to mine in the small town that we lived and would wait for me at the school gate. One day, he said he would walk me home as he wanted to talk.
“As we were walking along a secluded part of the road, he beat me up and raped me.”
Now seven months along, Sasha is undecided as to what she would do after delivering her baby.
“I’m taking it one step at a time. Right now, I can’t really think about the future.”
Lia*, 18, who recently delivered a baby girl, said many young girls did not realise the reality of becoming a mother at a very young age.
“I had to grow up really fast. The carefree days are over as I now have to see to my daughter’s every need.
“Everything is about the baby now,” she said with a tinge of regret.
Lia said she knew the consequences of unprotected sex with her boyfriend, but had never thought she would get pregnant.
“I was shocked at first and, honestly, I would not have chosen for this to happen, but it did. I realise that I can’t change what has happened. I have to be mature and deal with the consequences.”
*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of respondents.