My closest experience of an "in-your-face” moment

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I don’t have work today (Saturday) but the neighborhood bustle would not let me sleep in so I thought I’d get some breakfast at the corner karinderya. I was trying my best to blend in, unnoticed among the loud, hyper, working youth having breakfast before going to work. 
Blending in was fairly easy...until I opened my mouth to order. I was born and bred in Manila, so Tagalog is my mother tongue. That tongue twists, turns, softens, and hardens, depending on where I am and the accent of the people around me, which I assimilate at times. But I’ve only been here in Southern Philippines for less than three days. 
When a young man (early 20s) imitated the way I ordered, and I heard the words “You’re so conyo,” I was transformed into my arrogant middle-aged self. Oh, well. I tried. To hell with that. I was quietly minding my business, ordering softly. When that young man raised his voice for more people to hear him speak the way I do, that was it.
I looked inward, quieting myself to keep from ripping his head off.
Slowly, I opened my bag for this young gentleman to see and gawk at my aero press (thanks Ate Gie!). I happily made and had my coffee, there at the karinderya.


"I am an X in an indeterminate equation. And that X is the rock upon which I stand." - Mario Puzo

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