Bamboo Shoot Confrontation

For the first meet time I’ve met Dahliawaty 22 years ago, she was kind of person that happy go lucky, witty, intelligent and I must admit I seldom seeing her crying or even see her get mad. Only for the certain time, she’ll launch back her fights against her enemy if she can’t take it anymore. I like the fact she’s strong kind of person and like she’s always said to me “Be a real strong girl if you want to fight the enemy!” From that moment, I knew Dahliawaty was born to be a free-spirited girl with the inner strength in her heart. One of her most memorable fights with other students were when we’re in primary 6, back in 1992. She was fight against the big bully in the class, Runsur. Okay, he’s big and tall bully but not a fat bully, okay. That was her last ever fight in primary school before entering form 1. Before we went on with the story, let’s talk the history of Runsur. As far as I know him, he’s not only tall but he’s also the oldest in the class. He was 11 when he’s entering primary 1 in 1987. He was the second oldest in my generation of my school after Nyipa. Nyipa was 13 when entering primary 1 in 1987. His attitude makes me little annoyed. His first ever fight with me when he mocking me by calling my dad’s name. My dad was overheard him as he’s mocking me and about my dad. Therefore he’s coming back and scolds him. My dad even asked him to stay away from me or he’ll tell his parent about him. From that moment, Runsur was never dares to come nearer or even making fun of me. Perhaps, because of that, he’s moving on by bullying my other classmates such as Ranggi, Gis, Manjan and Jemat. My dad knew his background history better than me. Well, I don’t need to know him because he is really making wanted to kick his butt.

In 1991, the class had been shifted as we’re entering primary 5. Some of us still at the ‘B’ class while some of us moving to ‘A’ class and so the otherwise as well. I was moving to ‘A’ class alongside with Sulastrie and Dahliawaty. Not mentioning, I was very happy moving with my two of my best friends to the ‘A’ class. As we’re trying to get along with the new environment and new classmates, it feels like awkward without few classmates that cheers up the class. Being the same class with Runsur was the biggest mistakes of all that I’ve ever made in my life. I’m still remembers when Dahliawaty had whispered to me once that he never likes Runsur at the first place. “Love his physical, hate him so much!”, that’s what she’d told me. I have to agree with Dahliawaty because after the incident I’m really hates him so much. A year with Runsur seems like nothing is really happening. In fact, he was the worst student in studies but he was one of the favorite students to become the head of school prefect. When we’re gone to primary 6 in 1992, we’ve been move to the old clinic. Our class is little bit far from staffroom and also other classes which this opportunity for us making a lot of noise. It feels like heaven staying in this class. First of all, we’ve got our own fan and then again, we’ve got our own toilet and washroom. We don’t need to go to the school’s canteen and plus, we don’t have to wait for a long queue to use a toilet. We can go anywhere that we want but for one thing, we’re never ever skip classes. There’s no chance to skip classes because we’ve got everything here. Therefore, we don’t have any excuse at all. Since moving to the new class, Runsur begins to show his ability to lead the class. He’s even showing off in front of the few girls that he was the one that they should afraid of. Well, not for me. If he’s trying to bully me again, I swear I’ll call my dad and kick him out.

Sulastrie and Dahliawaty had told me that both of them never afraid of the intimidation by Runsur. I guess they saw how I’m dealing him once very long time ago. They’re never afraid to call their dad to deal with Runsur. One day, we’re having an art class which we’re doing decoration of the bamboo. I like to paint my bamboo with the blue and red colors. It looks pretty to me. While Dahliawaty is decorates her bamboo with green and yellow colors. All I can say, it’s not bad at all. During decorations, Sulastrie, Dahliawaty and I were talked about the cartoons that we’re watching. On my time, we would love to talk about Jem (not the British singer Jem but Jem and The Hologram). Suddenly, Runsur came and started to make fun the way Dahliawaty decorates the bamboo. She feels annoyed but she didn’t want to confront in the middle of the class. She’s afraid that Puan Aishah will punish her. It’s worth to keep quiet rather than responding to Runsur’s stupid comment. “He’ll pay for this, you’ll see!” told Dahliawaty to both of me and Sulastrie. Not long after that, during Mr. Charles’s class, he’d done the same thing to Dahliawaty. I was wondering Runsur wanted to get some attention from her. Is it love at the first sight? Who knows for sure? But no way, I will become the first person who against the relationship before Sulastrie. Sulastrie had told me that someday and somehow, she’ll get her hands on him. During the English class with Mr. Charles, he’s mocking the way Dahliawaty writing the answer on the board. Dahliawaty had quickly told Runsur to stay away from him. As Mr. Charles saw both of them started to fight, he’d punished both of them. I feel bad for Dahliawaty. I wish I could help but I’m just don’t want to make it worst. But if the teacher is not around, I swear I get my hands on him.

The fight is isn’t over yet as Dahliawaty had a fight with Runsur during PJK with Encik Iskandar. “I don’t believe this!” said Sulastrie while I’m walking towards Dahliawaty and tries to defend her. Runsur had quickly walked away while Encik Iskandar asked me to see him personally. He warned me if I’m trying to come crossover him, I’ll pay for it. I knew I received the same fate as Dahliawaty as I’m interferes in their fight. I should’ve known that Encik Iskandar had purposely cut down my marks in PJK as I saw in report card but that’s okay, I thought. I should defending Dahliawaty but I’m strongly against Encik Iskandar decision cutting down my marks alongside with Dahliawaty. From the first day I knew Encik Iskandar, he is bias to lots of the students in the school. He picks someone that he likes. I can’t believe that I’m staying in the hell alongside with the monster for so long. Not for so long, I’m succeeded to escape from the hell as soon as I’m entering form 1, a year later. He may like Sulastrie much better than Dahliawaty and me. He didn’t like me because I know I’m fat, ugly girl. Cut that stupid thing down between me and Encik Iskandar, Justina feels the thing that happen to Dahliawaty is a little bit unfair. While Daning, Larson and William thinks that Encik Iskandar shouldn’t punished Dahliawaty alone. See, I’ve told you, everybody knows that Encik Iskandar is bias to Dahliawaty. Runsur was escape with the clean hands. He was the one who started the fight but in the end he got escape. From that moment, Dahliawaty never ever talks to Runsur. I should’ve known that the fight is just begun. But when is it? Does it happens this week, next week, and next month or continue to the next year. That will happen if we’re in the same class.

A week later, Puan Aishah had come for our art class. She’d chosen my bamboo decoration to be displayed in the class. Among others students were selected was Laura, Achau, William, Justina, Larson and Lia. It was really honored to be chosen. While for Runsur and Dahliawaty, none of them had chosen. Two weeks later after the exam, we’re left alone in the class without any teacher to sit in our class, we’re started to play some sort of game of our own. Some of us play the game – bones and knuckle and carom. Some of us tell each other stories and some of us singing to the local pop song. I’m joining the telling and listen to stories. It’s not some kind of gossiping. As we’re all doing our activities, suddenly, Runsur get up from the other group and checking out other students. Then, when he came at Dahliawaty and Sulastrie, he started the unfinished business with Dahliawaty. At first, Dahliawaty didn’t want to respond to him but after it gotten worst as he started mocking her, then, Dahliawaty started to fight back by mocking him too. They even call each other’s dad’s name. Then again, Dahliawaty mock the way Runsur talk like a duck. He fights back by mocking the way Dahliawaty walks like a duck. It’s true both of them creates the hilarious situation but who wants to interfere their fights after what I’ve done that day. Justina doesn’t want me to separate both of them and so Sulastrie had been prevented by Suda and Laura. The way she mocks Runsur is always making me smiles, not just smiles but almost laughed at both of them. Runsur was mocking her walks like a duck. Then again, he’s making fun of Dahliawaty’s dad name. Otherwise, Dahliawaty mocking him speak like a duck because his lip was almost like a duck and she’d told Runsur that she was wondering if the duck has given birth to him. Like Runsur did, she’s also calling Runsur’s dad name.

Once it reaches to the top of confrontation, Runsur began to feel very angry and started to ask Dahliawaty to stop mocking him. However, Dahliawaty never wants to listen to him. She never wants to stop because this is the only way to fight him. Well, it doesn’t really look a good idea for Dahliawaty who continues mocking him. I know something bad was happens to her soon but I don’t know how did Runsur done it. I wish he didn’t slap her face because if he did I’ll punch him back and defending for Dahliawaty. I don’t care if the entire school teacher wants me to get suspended but because I don’t like Runsur and the way he bullies others, I’ll make sure he always remember not to mess with me and my friends. As the confrontation isn’t over, suddenly, Runsur gets the decorated bamboo which is belongs to me and throw it to Dahliawaty. As he throws it over to Dahliawaty, suddenly everything turns silence. Few minutes later, I heard someone’s crying. It was Dahliawaty who cried. “Who else wants to mock me?!” he challenges us. I’m almost answered his challenge but because Justina and Lia had prevented me to make it worst, therefore, I’m decided to shut my mouth but still I’m coming for Dahliawaty to check on her. My eyes were rolling into him. Sulastrie came for the rescue as well. She’d also had been prevented and doesn’t want to make any worst. Runsur is going back to the boy hostel earlier. Nobody in the class is defending either two of them. I feel so guilty after the incident but it was the best thing to prevent even worst tragedy. I don’t know if he could do more than that but from that moment on, nobody really respect him for throwing Dahliawaty with the decorated bamboo. On the next day, William and Larson were talked about the incident that just happens yesterday in front of me. No one wants to talk with him after school or even dares to get near him. Not because they’re afraid with him but the way he bullied Dahliawaty makes them annoyed with Runsur’s attitude.

It takes one week for the entire class to ban him from all the activities that done by us. He was sitting alone watching playing and telling stories. Some girls are even done some singing. While Dahliawaty was still involved in our activities but that the entire week, everyone treat her like a princess. Sulastrie had told me that Dahliawaty did not mention the incident to their parent. Perhaps, she doesn’t wants to make it worst and therefore I must say, I’m respect to Dahliawaty for over the things that happen. But according to Sulastrie, if he dares to mock her again, she’ll take care of him like what he did to Ranggi. However, I’ve told her that was dangerous because he was far bigger and taller from Ranggi. A year later, everyone had been separated. Runsur was placed in D class while Dahliawaty at C class. I’m just entering the A class alongside with Sulastrie. I was really wondering if Dahliawaty still keep his revenge over the confrontation that she made with Runsur. Well, at least, she was defending her right. When I bringing up this story over to her about more than 10 years ago, she’d told me she was indeed never ever forgot what he’d done to her but she’d never felt sorry for it. I guess the grudge is too deep between both of them. None of them express forgiveness towards each other in front of me. But perhaps, they’re both learning to settle their own problem in mature way. If I’m going to meet Dahliawaty one day, I would like to ask this question again. I haven’t asked Sulastrie if she really forgives Ranggi over the things that he’d done to her. Me? I haven’t really forgive Sibin but in some other way why I’m still thinking that way. It’s really wasting my time. It’s time to move on to the new world of brighter future. I wish both of them luck wherever they are.