I'm not being mean.

I'm a person who easily gets irritated. Especially if it's more than 25C outside and I'm wearing a jacket because it seemed cold in our place (where the sun is a myth) and when I took a cab and arrived in town, the sun is trying to bake me alive (at 25C, I'm spoiled). I have almost non-existent tolerance to the following people:

1. Chatty cab drivers. I absolutely hate chatty cab drivers. What do they think they are, drop-out therapists who have opinions about absolutely everything? I pay you to get me where I'm supposed to be in under 10 minutes, not to hear your litany about how unfair life (I have friends to do that) or the recent election (I have my tibak friends for that) is. I leave giving advices to bartenders who never got enough money for a psychology degree. Plus, this is what happens when you connect to cab drivers.

2. That person in the review hall/classroom who keeps on shouting the wrong answers. You know that theory that people supposedly learn quickly by hearing and retains memory better, rather than using the sight? I am about to take the biggest and most important exam in my life (again, I passed the first time) and if that stupid, loud-mouthed bitch sitting behind me won't shut up, I may be in trouble. Imagine if in the actual exam, because of escalating anxiety number after number, all you can hear is her voice, clouding your better judgment?

3. People walking slowly in Session Road or that person who stops (even for a second) at the end of the escalator for nothing. Mataray that I am, I say "Excuse me" or "Let's move, people" loud enough for these people to realize they are blocking my way and I don't like it. When I'm really pissed off, I may even say "Hindi ito Sta. Cruzan!"

4. People under the bystander effect. There was a time when I was crossing the overpass with a friend when I saw that the man trailing behind a foreigner was fidgeting through the latter's bag. Of course the foreigner wasn't able to feel this as it seemed the man was such an expert. The people who were following them were just looking at what was happening, whispering to each other but doing nothing. It took me three seconds to realize what was happening and then I grabbed the foreigner's arm, swirled him around, pointed at the thief and blatantly announced "This guy is trying to rob you! He's opening your bag!" The world stopped for a millisecond and resumed again when the thief ran for his dignity. The people looked at me with weird expressions as I told them "Wala man lang kayong ginawa." And before I could even lecture them, my friend dragged me away from the scene.

5. People who cut lines. Need I say more?

6. The person who think his/her problem is any bigger than the rest of ours. Grow the fuck up, and suck it in. The only reason people appear to you as not having "big" or "heavy" problems is that these people deal with it and are actually trying their best not to be consumed by it. Unlike you, sulking around getting emo and putting on heavy eyeliners to tell the world that you're one messed-up pathetic excuse for a human being.

7. Incompetent people working in the restaurant industry. This movie does not scare me. If a *hungry* customer's needs are not met for unacceptable reasons, I go ballistic. Do not irritate a hungry customer, especially if that is me. :)

8. People who say mean things to you in your face because they know you don't understand their language. This is just plain disrespectful. I have plenty of experience in this particular scenario, being that I was a teacher to Korean kids before. And also because of my short teaching stint, I learned a few Korean phrases. This includes all possible swear words and occasional polite/kind words. So when a Korean stepped on my slippers and blurted the Korean term for "Fuck you", I turned to him and said Burago?!, which just basically means "What did you say?!" He was a bit shocked and repeated bowing of his head came along with him saying Miyanhamnida in between.