Everybody kept telling me I’d be scared, paralyzed, if ever I found myself in a situation. I’ve had two encounters, and I can very well say that there was absolutely nothing scary about them.

Completely disgusting, yes. But scary? Please. Each time, I just found myself a lot more aware, doing what I had to do. Thank God I was born this way.

The first instance happened on a jeepney on my way to school. This nice looking man got on with his son and sat beside me. It took me a short while to notice his arm was partly on my chest since the jeep was crowded. I simply adjusted myself and thought nothing of it. Nice man, his kid son, crowded jeep –I gave him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he didn’t even notice.

He moved a little and suddenly, though my arm was still in the way, I felt vulnerable again. So I adjusted myself once more.

But he just kept on moving. He was oh-so-subtle, his shifting miniscule, but I was already wondering why I had to keep moving my arm to get in the way of his elbow. I kept at it, though my suspicions weren’t completely confirmed yet. But at one point, I was sure, especially when he glanced down at what he was trying to get at.

Whenever someone got down and I moved away, he always moved closer. And as if things couldn’t get any worse, I could smell his body odor. Thankfully, it didn’t stick to my shirt. I wondered if the boy knew what his spit-worthy father was doing. I wondered if he had a future.

Then the man looked at my face. I was partially facing him, but not being the confrontational type, I couldn’t return his look. My gaze was about 45 degrees from his face. But though I made no direct contact, I put on this aura, like spraying on half a bottle of strong perfume. Something that was so meant for him.

I can’t remember exactly what mixture I shot at him through that indirect look of mine, probably tons of the don’t-you-dare-come-near-me kind of awareness. All I know is, it had zero fear, and he didn’t come near me for the rest of the ride ‘til he got down.

Situation number two happened on the MRT on my way home from helping my friend with her group project. Again, it was very crowded, a place where you wouldn’t really mind being pushed against someone else’s butt. An acquaintance and I found a pole to hold on to. Almost immediately after the ride had begun, I felt bothered. Having people all over me was nothing unusual.

"But just what is that bump?" I wondered suspiciously.

Right away, I had a feeling I already knew what it was. Through peripheral view, I knew there was this man behind me, also holding on to my pole. What really got my attention was the fact that the "bump" could be felt on the same level as his zipper. I was right. "Oh s**t, an erect -!"

So I tried to move away several times, but, as I now know, manyaks will always adjust to you in a very subtle manner.

I stepped on his foot, pretending it wasn’t intentional. Hardly any change. I could still feel that bump I wanted so much to whack with a hammer. Still I tried to move away. I was getting irritated and contemplated on confronting him. Instead, I pushed him away with my elbow. After that, he kept his distance for a while. I thought he’d no longer bother.

But after some time, he got closer again. Reaching the edge of my poise, I once again thought of confronting him, "Manong, lumayu-layo kayo sa’kin, ah!" But then again, it just wasn’t my style; I still couldn’t get myself to do it.

Suddenly, I got tired of being mild. Using my elbow on him again, I quickly jabbed at his chest. Still I didn’t bother to turn and look at him. I think people get more nervous that way, when you send them something undoubtedly intentional but still show zero expression, like absolutely nothing’s going on.

After that I was completely sure of his intentions, because if he had been an innocent stranger, he would have scolded me for the hit, "Miss, ano ba!?" But the guilty pervert didn’t say a word. Just so you know, he stayed away from me for the remainder of the ride, and thankfully, got down before I did.

Often the game on the streets is really about who freaks who first, or who gets freaked first, whichever way you want to look at it. Golpe de gulat, as my lola calls it.

Once while my friend’s mom was stuck in traffic and sitting next to an open car window, someone snatched off the gold necklace she was wearing on her neck.

Unfortunately for the guy, who proceeded to walk nonchalantly so as not to attract attention, the woman he just messed with happened to be born with too much bravery and katarayan (think barangay captain). She got out of the car, ran towards him and started raining punches. And although he was the man, supposedly the one with more physical strength in the situation, he couldn’t even think of defending himself.

Eventually others came and were raining punches on him as well. To cut the long story short, she got her necklace back.

I know you probably can’t understand my guts, just as much as I don’t understand why you get petrified. And I can’t change you. The least I can do is to tell you what I know, how I think you should handle such situations.

Again, manyaks will always adjust to your every move. They’re so good at it because they’re both subtle and desperate; it would seem like they’re all over the place. Simple and mild attempts to avoid them will only lengthen the game.

Maybe it wouldn’t be that simple, for some not even possible, but I’ll say it anyway. As soon as you’re sure, gather your guts and cut it short.

It would probably help if you concentrated on your despise for them in your head. Looking down on someone is the direct opposite of feeling intimidated, and therefore just might cause you to do the opposite thing.

Lastly, don’t worry too much. I know this might seem unreasonable to many of you. I mean, having a stranger try to take advantage of you is a big deal.

But the truth is, manyaks, or at least those I’ve encountered and heard of, are scared people. They know they’re doing wrong; they know they’re disgusting perverts; they probably even know that they’re psycho.

They also know that at anytime, if they happen to mess with the wrong person, and worse, get exposed to the people around while they’re at it, their heads just might get cut off.