jeepney ride..

on my way home..

as usual, jeep was packed with people..

the driver was not your usual driver though, he was kind of different.

he has cleft lip. he was loud, asking for passenger's fare.

honestly, i myself barely understood him. he had to repeat everything he said twice, even thrice.

then there were these three young people. you'd know immediately that they are students.

school.. studying.. college people.. they look good.. two tall good looking boys and a fat girl.

the moment the driver started talking, was the same time they started giggling.

everyone inside knew what they were laughing at him.

but that was not enough for them, the fat lady started mimicking how the driver talked.

then the other boy talked back, talking cleft lip. they were happy, well, they looked very happy.

i hoped they would stop soon. it was not right. i don't want to make a scene.

i hoped they'd stopped soon and understand that what they were doing was wrong.

but they kept on going, they did not slow down. i still did not want to mind them, i'm tired.

then the other boy reached to hand out their fare. he said, "manong bayad, 3 estudyante.."

the driver asked, "kanino yung sikwenta? ilan to?"

the man have not even finished his sentence yet but the other two kids already laughed their hearts out.

it was rude, just them laughing was rude, but then again it was not enough for the big fat girl.

she again mimicked the cleft lip driver and laughed. the other boy answered,

"manong, tatlong estudyante po.."

i thought i had enough.. i talked to the boy "ilan daw yung 50?.."

"3 estudyante!" of course i heard them the first time he said it, i just want an opening..

then i asked, "estudyante??! sigurado kayo na estudyante kayo???"

as i speak calmly, i can feel my blood was already rushing in all veins that leads to my head..

"oo, eto id namin o!!" he lifted his jacket to show it to me..

"estudyante ba kayo?? e bakit wala kayong modo??" he was struck. the other two stopped laughing. it was funny because they were acting as if they don't know what were they doing..

"tangina! may kapansanan na nga yung tao pinagtatawanan nyo pa??!" my voice was a note higher this time.. "estudyante ba talaga kayo? e tangina! mga wala kayong modo e.. kayong tatlo!" there, i said it again. he tried to cover up and said "wala naman kaming ginagawa ah.."

that statement made me reach my boiling point. "tangina ka! wala??! rinig na rinig ng lahat ng tao dito sa jeep ang panggagago nyo sa driver tapos wala? tangina para kayong mga di tinuruan ng mga magulang nyo ah.. nakauniporme pa kayo pang eskwela tapos ganyan ugali nyo? tangina! nagaral ba talaga kayo??" i was already making a scene, but most of the passangers were also pissed. 

man, i was cussing my heart out. then this boy still won't stop answering back, "pasensya na.. sorry.." he said sarcastically to me. "tangina, sakin ka nagsosori? bakit, ako ba tinarantado nyo? ako ba ngongo? dito ka magsorry! etong ginago nyo e.." pointing to the driver.. then they stopped answering back, i calmed down.

i know i did the right thing . i thought, i taught those kids a lesson.

but the whole trip, i really felt bad. i usually feel good if i did something good.

that feeling of being a hero. superman in my own way. but during that time, it was kind a different.

i felt sad. i just thought they were all old enough to know what could hurt other people.

i just thought they were all old enough to know the meaning of "respect"..
normal lang naman magpa "cool", pero kelangan bang maging cool ka on the expense of other people? Cool magpatawa, pero cool pa ba kung magpapatawa ka ng nangiinsulto ka?

i know there are still lots of good kids out there. pero,..

nakakalungkot lang..

disclaimer: nagpapractice ako magsulat sa ingles. please forgive the grammatical errors.