Randoming

The bully

This is just one of the many experience that I got when I was in high school. I am a friendly person. I got a lot of good friends and stronger friends that I earned because I respect them and they respect me. I could not say I never got in to a fight back then because I am vulnerable of picking a fight because of my circle of tough friends. I am a sweet guy. Never a nerd, because you are supposed to ace every subject's exams if you were but i never did, but just an average-weak-looking guy when I was in high school. A bullies first pick I would say.

On my second year of high school, first week as far as I can remember, I was with a classmate whom I only knew for a week, before the class starts we went to the canteen to grab something to drink since its our first break. When we are half way walking towards the classroom from where we got the drinks, a big tall and fit guy approached us and tried to grab my cup of coke (or I believe it was sarsi (rootbeer) since i was never a fan of coke but I drink it), I was able to move it away from him like I was dodging people from "palengke". Then suddenly he stopped and yelled at us "Hoy!". I did not think my classmate knew this guy but he looks angry with me about what I did, said "Painom nga!" then tried to grab it again and so I dodged his hand again away from my cup. He stared at me like an angy gorilla that did not get what he wanted. Trying to really pin me down with his stare but I never let him. But he is determined to get what he want so he said "kapag hindi mo ako pinainom, aabangan kita sa labas." I remained calm and maintained composure. These type of people never stop until they get to scare their victims or just doesn't stop at all if they know your afraid of them, but I never were. But that guy really stared at me violently with fire in his eyes. The situation, i must admit, was scary as hell, but there was just one question that made him stop for good. And this words came out of me sponteneously. And the question was; "Hindi ka ba binibigyan ng baon ng nanay mo?"

I swear to God, the fire in his eyes died and he looked down and they walked away. But still did retain his angry looks but not like how he looked like when he approached us and tried to grab my cup. That was a relief but the way he looked at me while walking away was different and probably trying to figure out who I am and why I stood up like that without any fear for him. Then my classmate said, "Kilala mo ba kung sino yon?" I said, " Hindi." he added; " Si Pedro yon, tropang *******. Mag ingat ka baka balikan ka non." The fear caught me for a minute. Back in high school where I studied, you can determine how strong a gang is depending on what barangay they reside. And as he mentiond "tropang *******" my fear was triggered. It caught me for a little while but then my calm thinking told me that I did the right thing. Hell, I feel bad about what I said to the bully guy because what if he is doing that because his parent truly doesn't give him allowance. I do hope not, but one thing I still got in the back of my head was that the guy was known to be a violent person and that he had been on lots of fights outside school. So I was uneasy when its time to go home from school. But no one showed up. The worst never happened.

The day next day it was sunny and I feel great about coming to school. While having my class 5 minutes before our first break, I saw a friend outside the window waving at me. This friend of mine we met two years back when I got transferred. We call each other "Insan" "pinsan" minus the "p" meaning cousin, but we are not. That friend was one of the tough friends I knew back in elementary. He waited until we are done.

Then first break came. Outside, "Insan" is smiling like a salesman who just sold a property and wanting to give me half of his money for being a friend. I came to him and he, like he always do, puts his arm on my shoulders and shook me. Then said, "Balita ko nakaharap mo daw si Pedro?" then laugh. I asked "Baket?" He answered " Eh kilala ko yun at kinausap nya ako kahapon. Tropang ******* yun. Hanep ka!" I innocently replied, "Oh ano naman? E sinubukan nya kunin yung inumin ko eh ng walang dahilan. Kung gusto nya edi sana kinaibigan nya ako tapos humingi sya sa akin ng maayos." Insan laughed and told me "Kahapon nung tinuro ka nya sa akin hindi ko sinabing kilala kita dahil di ako sigurado kung sino yung sinasabi nyang aabangan nya sa labas." "Pero nung nakita kong ikaw, ang sabi ko sa kanya 'E insan ko yan eh.' " Then I asked "Oh ano sabi nya?" Insan replied "Sabi ko na lang pinsang buo kita para matapos na yung usapan." "Wag ka mag-alala, sagot kita jan." he confidently said. Though I never even ask for any help, Insan did that. For a fact that I never told anyone about it, and only my classmate knew about what happened, it got me surprise about why would Insan do that but he did protected me that day. I always thought I can handle myself and that these bullies are still going to pick on me but I was never afraid to face them, but its a good to know that these friends I know and I have earned trust with still has my back the whole time.

Well the point of this story is not much about the victim's perspective but both the bully and the victimm. All though it may seem that I got lucky because I got friends that protect me. Its still about how you handle the situation. As a victim, dont be afraid nor be angry about it. Just stay calm and hit them with a clear message that cuts their emotion, specifically, their dominance. But thats the whole point. Do not blame the bullies for being like that. Because somewhere in their past experiences, there might be events in their lives that scarred them and made them do these things. Buttom line is, stay equal. In my story, I never ask some of my friends to hurt the guy even if I can with all my tougher friends around. Its just the right thing to do. At the end of the day, we are all just human beings capable of doing crazy stuff. It is all part of our childhood. Just make sure to stay equal regardless of the religion, race, ages, gender, rich, poor, etc. Revenge is never a solution.

That leaves us with the saying; "Huwag mong gawin sa iba ang ayaw mong gawin sa iyo."

Credits to my mom and titas who always say that to me when I was little.