Yesterday, in Festival mall, I was lazily walking alone when I saw a guy in gray shirt and shorts running towards me. Then, farther away, a woman was shouting, begging for someone to stop the runner.
In a split-second, I made a round-house sweep kick hitting the runner’s feet as he ran by me. With this van dame move, the runner stumbled hard. After falling and seeing stars, he just lay there embracing the black bag he's carrying. Other people surrounded us, all eye on the guy.
But that never really happened. Even though I had foreseen that at sometime I may actually use this move which I saw on TV, I was lazy enough to perform it. Was it laziness, poise conscious, or was I just shocked and overwhelmed?
One thing I learned, I seldom make the right decision from just 1 or 2 seconds of case assessment. My mind doesn’t work that fast so I just do… I don’t think.
Seriously, If I am to stop someone from passing me, that hard sweep is ideal. I can even make a simple trip and yet be effective. I can block the guy and tackle him. If I can be hard on him, I can push him off the rails and let him fall three festival floors. But, you know what I did? I just grabbed hold of the black bag he’s carrying – the most effortless move.
Because of that, I accidentally managed to slightly open the bag. Several things fell from it. The guy looked back at the things that fell, and then he looked at me. He seemed cheerful, like he’s playing. No feeling of remorse, anger or fear. I didn’t know what came over me but I instinctively ran after him. Unfortunately, I think it was just for show. I knew I can run faster than him but I didn’t. Thinking back, I still wonder why.
As I was running, I can see the people we're passing. They’re just there… watching. I shouted at a big man in front of the runner but he just looked at us. No one is doing a thing. Soon, I got tired, and stopped pursuing the guy when I saw another man running after him.
Even though I did something, I’m not satisfied with how I acted. I feel miserable. I guess I’m just like those apathetic people I used to hate. Maybe even worse, I’m an I-don’t-care man who does things half-heartedly – probably just for show. No heart, just for show.
Later, I overheard from guards with walkie-talkies that the guy was caught. I asked dad if he also knew about the snatcher. He said that the black bag may have been really his, that the guy may not be a snatcher after all. Apparently, a lady who showed up never really took the bag but tried to hit the guy in fury instead.
It is a good thing I didn’t stop the guy using a more violent means. If I did, I may regret it.
***
Kung isnatcher yun at may kasama, malamang sinaksak ako kapag pinatid ko. Kung pinatid ko naman at nabagok ang ulo’t namatay o kaya itinulak para mahulog nang tatlong palapag, baka ma-guilty ako kung malamang nanghipo lang pala sha nang babae. Haay, anghirap talagang magpakabayani.
