There's a certain point of our lives that teaches us to become a better version of ourselves. And sometimes, we find this point in place of desperation. When you have to improvise and innovate actions to trigger a certain reaction.
Well I had that moment. In the second semester of my second year in college I made a decision that will forever make me understand the need for allies. Way back in high school, even though the school I went to were crowded with local gang group and wannabes, I felt protected and therefore lack the need for allies. Why? Because the school is walking distance to my house. Unless you quit school you wouldn't dare raise your voice or hands to local residents. As everybody knows anybody and those who dare will be beaten to a pulp. Protection was something I barely notice in high-school but I badly needed in college.
You see, bullies are everywhere. It's not just in the cheap local elementary school. It's again, everywhere and sometimes when you're cornered you gotta man up. But most of the times when you're alone you will look like a fresh sweet plum ready for the taking.
It was in my PE Class that I had to man up. I had this classmate who's constantly annoying the ladies even the gays in the room. I remember it was Tuesday, I know for sure because we only had PE Class once a week every Tuesday morning. We were having a Samba dancing lecture. This guy Donald is on his tricks again. Donald, yes it's his real name, I don't have much care to put on a pseudo names these days besides he wouldn't be reading this article anyways for sure. In case he does, well I'm just reliving exactly what happened.
So going back to the audio visual hall where we usually conduct our Physical Education class, Donald was touching one of my classmate a girl in the butt. And he also demonstrate to bump one of the weaker boy from behind with his front as if having a dogie style coitus. Coitus such as demure way of saying fuck. I am usually calm, but that day was different. I had all the pressure in me that day, from the remaining balance to pay rent to the boarding house I'm staying, to the unpaid dues for project that needs tending and many more. My logic went blank and tap Donald in the back and said something I somehow regret to say at that certain moment. Regret because there could be some other way to handle it calmly. And I said it in local dialect of course which can only be translated as, "Stop the f*ck man, you sick f*cking bastard".
And in no time the attention went to me. The room temperature went from normal, to cold and into a heated exchange of rants and curses. There was no physical exchanges. No, not yet. I'd like you to imagine a small young man against a lean muscled man. Of course I was the smaller one. There was threat while Donald pointed his finger to me. I know I'm gonna be beaten. Now this is not a story of gore and blood. It's a story of how a bad day could get you to point of deciding to careful choose options. Option one, coming mano y mano with someone I knew I have no match for. Or look for other options.
A week before that incident I was recruited to join a fraternity. It's called the Philippine Organization of Students, one of the seven original and old frat in the PH. And certainly it came to me, the immediate solution to avoid a bloody beating.Which was literally just another form of beating that was simple called initiation rites. Well, I certainly need protection and allies. And so the next day I bravely accepted the terms, to pledge my loyalty to symbol.
And just like that, the threat of having to deal with Donald disappeared. I was untouchable. And that I considered a life changing decision. If I didn't join the fraternity, one thing is certain and I'm very sure of it. I would have given Donald a hell of fight and I would have broken my ribs and nose too.
The brotherhood I joined do not tolerate disturbances and fights. Luckily I was with the right folks, people who value peace more than anarchy which was written to the fraternities by laws, unless given no other choice. To my surprise, few months later Donald joined our fraternity. I saw how it changed him. He was still the same Donald with tricks but in way more respectful.
Far from my very intentions of joining the fraternity.Funny, we now call each other brother.
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Lesson Learned
I've learned that our human nature will always prevail at times when we have little to no viable options available. We go back to our basic instinct of self preservation. If I had chosen a more brutal fraternity to join I would have injured Donald for a petty revenge and being hot headed. Or if I hadn't decided to join the fraternity, what could have happened? Life is an everyday decision. When we choose to decide, I only hope we choose wisely.
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Original Content
@PajeeBear at Cent.co is one and the same @PajeeBear at Publish0x
