Jenessa

The preditors picked their target well, a jeepney full of women. One climbed into the front seat, two in the back and they systematically started relieving the passengers of all their jewellery and bags. For any who resisted, there was the threat of death or serious injury. They showed the women they meant business. When the girl sitting between the thief and driver held on to her necklace, she was stabbed. She fainted. As the jeepney stopped at a red light, two of the robbers alighted while the remaining one approached the last passenger seated behind the driver, just another frightened girl to be bullied and robbed. Raising his knife to intimidate her, he reached out and grabbed her bag with his left hand. He would just take it and follow his friends. Nobody challenged them, the other women sat flat against their seats in terror, it had been like taking candy from babies.

But this last passenger was different. The stakes were high for her, she carried a large amount of hard-earned cash, that was to pay for her brother’s college fees. She also had some martial arts training and had no tolerance for bullshit. The thief realized his mistake too late. Instead of releasing the bag, the woman pulled him toward her. Then as he lost his balance, she lashed out and kicked him in the groin. The thief released the bag, dropped the knife and collapsed between the seats. He desperately tried to get away, crawling, scurrying backwards toward the rear door, but it was too late. The other passengers found their courage and began kicking him as he passed. Then the lights changed and the jeepney began moving, forcing the robber to choose between being kicked to death or falling out of a moving vehicle. He chose to escape and fell in a crumpled heap on the road.

That brave woman in the jeepney was Jenessa.