THE ENCOUNTER...

Just a few days ago, a very close friend of mine told me a harrowing and unbelievable story that makes anyone who hears it wonder why a person can do that to another. I had goose bumps when I heard it. Let us call this story “THE ENCOUNTER” an experience that changed my friend’s outlook about life and relationships completely. 

She belongs to a brood of nine, all professionals except one. Years before this, she and an older brother had been very close until one day just a year ago something happened that changed their relationship forever.

They are not a rich lineage. Why am I telling this is because it has something to do with the story. They had good parents both professionals too and they were brought up with Roman Catholic teachings. 

Let us call the brother – Ito and my friend as Deegee. They were just a few years apart and grew together. In their adult life, at some points, Ito got himself in difficult situations and guess what? It was always Deegee who was there for him. When life was not fair to Ito, Deegee had to take care of even the smallest things that Ito needed to the point that Deegee’s kids felt bad that their mom seem to be obligated to take care of him. Helping your brother or sister I believe, is the essence of kinship. No one will help your kin but you. NO ONE WILL TAKE A BULLET FOR YOUR BROTHER OR SISTER BUT YOU.

There were numerous instances that Deegee had to sacrifice only to help Ito financially since Ito was jobless and had no source of income. Deegee being compassionate that she is, was always ready to extend a helping hand. In fact she had been supporting him for small things for years. These acts may not be huge but are nevertheless assistance that Ito cannot get anywhere else.

Deegee’s mindset is that, if she will not handhold her brother who will? No one will voluntarily take the responsibility to help other people. Why would they? Life is difficult and they have families and relatives to tend to. They would rather help their kin than helping other people. I am not saying that there are no people willing to help but there is always a limit to it. They can only help so much.

So the story goes… One day, Ito who was in another place doing some business called Deegee soliciting her support for the business he is trying to build. It was a buy and sell thing. Ito told Deegee that he needs cash to buy an item and sell it within a week unfortunately, Deegee did not have the cash that time. Ito told her to find a way to remedy the cash needed anyway Ito will sell the item immediately and pay back. 

To cut the story short, Deegee got a loan at an interest that makes the skin crawl. She thought that anyway it is just for a week but the weeks became months and the months became years until Deegee was forced to carry the load. The loan quadrupled and Deegee was left with no other recourse but to borrow from someone to pay the loan that became so huge.

Fortunately, someone lend her but because of some misfortunes, Deegee was not able to return the money that was borrowed. She was harassed time and again. The worst thing is that Ito knew the woman from whom Deegee borrowed the cash and started to harass Deegee. He even went to the extent of telling Deegee that she is a “cheat”, that she intended to swindle the money from the start. Don’t you think the swindler is Ito? She made Deegee believed that there is truly a business that was in fact not there. 

Deegee told him that if the intention was to cheat, she would not have signed any document relative to the loan. One thing more, Degee never cheated on anyone. Ito had the nerve to tell her something like that when it was him who spent the money. He was the reason why Deegee borrowed money in the first place. Had he not swindled her sister, would this thing have happened? I think not. She has the documents to show that the money was indeed sent to Ito. 

I saw the pain in Deegee’s eyes, the pain of betrayal. She cried her heart out not caring whether she is being observed or not. I felt her pain too and I wanted to slap his brother for all the heartache he caused Deegee, I was seated just across her when the news reached her. She was trying her best to maintain her composure but her emotions cannot be held back. How I wish I can wipe away her pain that very moment but I cannot. It is only her who can heal the pain… and only time can tell if it is healed. 

She looked at me like a wounded soldier, mirroring the pain that she is going through. I can see sorrow in her eyes. If only you saw what I did, you will understand why I am so pained too. She has been a good friend to me and I know when she is hurt deeply or not and when she is crying inside even without the tears. I am sure that her wound will heal with time but the scar will remain. 

She called her younger brother and while talking to him unrestrained pearls of tears kept rolling down her cheeks… the tears of SORROW, that your own blood can betray you for the wrong reasons. I can only empathize with her. The grief was too deep that her voice trembled and her body shook as she tried to release her pain. There is nothing more hurting than a loved one betraying his own…. I do not want to be in Deegee’s place at any point in my life. Probably, I will not survive it.

If I were in her shoes I will feel the same. I cannot imagine a brother doing harm to a younger sister for a fault not of her doing. The fault emanated from the acts of her brother Ito. May be she has a hand in it but not entirely her fault – this is a case of too much love for a brother. You do anything to help him.

The painful part is that, when you are the one in need will he be there for you? In this case, he was even the one who is pushing his sister to the edge. I was more of the thought that Ito should be the one to help resolve the issue since the woman is a friend of his.

Deegee made a mistake of taking the cudgels for someone who cannot be trusted. Someone, who will betray her when convenient. 

Other people in our lives come and go but your brethren are fixtures in your life whom you will always run to no matter what. I tell you this, time will come that you will need Deegee again. Do you think she will still be there for you after this? 

Deegee felt so bad that her brother, her own blood and whom he had helped for years can do that to her. He sided with the woman and threatened her sister. A BETRAYAL at its peak. Choosing someone over your own sister? Was that person there with you when you were having a difficult time? I doubt. Will she be there forever? – that’s a dream. 

Deegee is one person who has a compassionate heart and this can be affirmed by the people who know her. She has a ready hand so long as it is within her capacity to help and does it with passion especially so if she believes in what she is doing. 

I am reminded of what a friend said “You are too trusting ma’am” and I say now yes KCDY, I was but I think I will not anymore”. I will even close my eyes so I will not see any difficulties and teach my heart not to be compassionate. I might end up like Deegee. 

Lesson: Be careful, do not be too trusting. Even your brother can be your best enemy.

My lesson? Do not trust your brother… hehehe