Batch '81 Page #4

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Hesitation and resistance

I can't drop out at this point. It's embarrassing.

- Just bear with me. It'll soon be done.

- When?

Sid, what's the purpose of that frat?

Can't you see it's all going to be brawls?

What do you want me to do? Quit?

Sid, never have I ever interfered with

your decisions.

Just this once.

I think this is important for you.

For the both of us.

You asking me to choose between you and the frat?

- The frat has nothing to do with us.

- What do you mean nothing?

My only brother died in a frat initiation.

Two years ago.

It's still not clear what happened but...

we found out someone beat him up.

On the head.

He had a brain concussion.

They said it was just an accident.

That no one should be blamed for it.

We don't have such an initiation at AKO.

We have discipline.

That was also my brother's frat.

- It's different now.

- Yes, sure.

Yes, not that many beatings anymore.

But now they mess up with your minds.

You underestimate me too much.

Look, I know what I'm doing.

- You know me. I have my own mind.

- That was before. Now, you don't.

The day will come when all of you will think alike.

One command, and you'll all jump.

- Here's your cheque.

- Thank you.

Your dad? Did he give one to you?

For last week.

Why do you have cigarettes here?

I thought you quit.

And you're a Isidro medical student.

What the heck do they teach you here?

Do you want to die of lung cancer?

Ma.

I'm leaving for the States tomorrow.

It's hopeless with your dad. I'm getting a divorce.

I want you to finish school there.

Nothing's going to happen to you here.

- But, ma, that's impractical.

- Impractical!? You mean you can't do it?

It's better to have a degree in the States.

Okay, whatever happens.

Tell me when you want to leave.

And don't mention it to your dad.

He might force you to stay here.

It's up to you. You'll just rot in here.

Alright, I have to go.

- Be good.

- Yeah.

Oh, ma, what time's your flight?

3 o' clock in the afternoon. Why?

- I've an afternoon class. I might not be able...

- Okay, okay, I understand.

You're going to the States?

What States?

That was just bullshit.

Where were you?

- At Vince's house.

- Why?

I quit.

Sorry, man.

I know it was such a big thing for you.

But I thought there are other more important things.

My scholarship's at risk.

That's not good for my parents.

And Tina too.

- If ever I quit the frat...

- B*tch.

You keep making a lot of excuses.

Just say that you just can't take it.

Only now, huh!?

I don't know.

- I'm still quitting.

- Motherf***er!

It's because of the likes of you that

the batch can never be complete.

Hiding under a woman's skirt! What?

- You can't fight back, can you?

- The problem with you is...

...that you only think about yourself.

Arni's quitting too. Do you already know about that?

How many of us are left then?

Five.

It's only the five of us now.

Perhaps, there's still someone who's

thinking of quitting on us?

Ronnie.

F***.

All of the guys in his family were in a frat.

Only he's breaking the tradition.

For what reason?

Just because he was asked to drink

the saliva of his batchmates?

What's so bad about that?

We all went through that, right?

Relax, man. Anyway, we're still here, right, Pete?

You should! F***!

After we've been treated like slaves and monkeys...

...that's when you'll quit?

But what's going to happen?

Until now, our group's still crumbling.

I can't understand.

This is not how the batch should be.

They keep preaching about unity to us.

Do you understand what unity means at all?

Arni, my friend. He wanted to join the frat.

But what the heck was he doing?

If not late, he's absent.

Now he has quit.

What is this? Fooling around?

We're one group, one batch.

Each of us has a different

reason for joining the frat.

What's your reason?

All your reasons are not important.

The only important thing is the

completion of the batch.

Where is he going anyway?

- Never mind him. He's always like that anyway.

- I find him weird.

- Why don't you just dump him?

- No, I won't.

- Where did you meet him anyway?

- Do I have to tell you that again?

- I really don't want to join the frat anymore.

- No, let's talk about it first.

Here, let's stay here. Man...

Arni... you have to go back.

The batch should be complete.

We're all in this together.

- You guys here in my canteen again!? You're just going to make a riot.

- Does this have glowing mass?

- Just leave. There are other customers waiting.

- What the hell is this food you're serving?

Man, the vinegar's old. Your soy sauce is

expired. That was since last year.

Barako coffee! Taster's Choice...

Just leave, okay.

That's just barako coffee. You're really feisty, huh?

I'm getting agitated by the lot of you.

Agitated... what big terms.

- Shitheads! Go to another canteen next time.

- Barako coffee!

Dude, let's sit beside Blockhead over there.

- Master.

- Man, it's okay. Sit down.

Do you still have classes?

No, I'm done for the day, master.

Why are you still here then?

I'm studying later in the library.

- What a genius!

- Studying, huh?

Hey, Enteng.

Do you know that they're going to sing an original song?

I've known about it since the other day.

- Are you already in good terms with each other?

- Why do you ask?

- I thought that...

- Of course, since when have

we not been in good terms?

What are we to do now?

- What do you mean?

- They even got the finale number.

They have great influences.

They won't overshadow us.

Just on the sets, they're already no match.

Dude, keep eating.

You want us to feed you too?

Ketchup?

Dude. Eat.

Is it good?

Tastes good, master.

Hey, what the hell?

Sorry, man.

What the hell, man? You just added more to my workload.

- Sorry, sir.

- It's okay.

This is Dick.

He's also an AKO member.

Dick, this is Ledesma.

Oh, so this is Ledesma?

They say your session with Jenny was okay.

They say, at first you were just groping

but pretty soon...

...you gave it your all.

- Man.

Brother, if you're watching a live show

next time, tell me about it.

Brother, what the hell?

Was it a secret?

Sorry. I thought they already told you about it.

You motherfuckers!

You joined them while they tricked me.

What kind of friends are you?

Sorry, sorry, we just did what they

asked us to do.

Pacoy.

Pacoy.

You're such an a**hole, Sid.

I had trust in you.

What the hell?

Have a little faith, man.

Do you think we enjoyed it?

I give up.

- The initiation's almost done.

- And I'm about to go insane.

I didn't want this anyway.

- They just kept forcing me.

- Who's "they"?

My mom.

And the doctor.

For therapy reasons.

They said, I needed friends.

That's why my cousin sponsored me.

So I'd learn to meet friends here.

I have hard time making friends, that's why.

Especially with women.

I haven't had a girlfriend since ever.

My brothers...

We're five of us. All brothers.

I'm the youngest.

My mom always had to have a daughter.

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