I Just Want To Eat in Peace

This happened many months ago. I’ve just been to the nearby drugstore and had some spare change enough to buy me a chicken meal at Mang Inasal.

It was around the off-peak hours of the day, so the place wasn’t as packed and there were many vacant seats. After ordering, I sat on a table at the back with wide windows facing a not-so-busy street. I thought that since I’m far from the entrance and the counter, no one will bother me there.

While waiting for my order, I was approached by a well-dressed man carrying eco bags and offered me pastillas and other sweets.

I usually don’t buy from vendors who approach you inside fast-food restaurants and food courts. Not only that I find this rather annoying (usually they even join you at your table), but also because I know for a fact that most of these vendors are handled by syndicates. They sell everything from candies to ballpens and are usually priced higher. I was once duped by a teenage boy selling three generic pens with pull-out calendars for 100 pesos. He said he’s doing this because he’s supporting himself in school. When I got home, two of the pens are no good. 

Since then when approached by these peddlers I usually shake my head and politely decline, hoping that would be enough for them to go away.

So, this is exactly what I did to the man. I think I even said, “Hindi po.”

“Kahit isa lang, wala pa kasi akong benta.” (Just buy one. I haven’t sold any yet.) He said.

“Pasensiya na, wala po akong extrang money na dala.” (I’m sorry but I didn’t bring extra money.) I answered.

I wasn’t lying. I remember I only brought my coin purse that day because I was only running a quick errand. So even if I wanted to, I know I won’t have enough to buy whatever it was he’s peddling.

“Kahit magkano lang.” (Any amount will do.) The man insisted, his persistence ticked me slightly.

My order came and he was still standing by my table. “Hindi po. Sorry pero wala po.” I gestured.

I think these vendors deliberately approach people who are eating because for most of us, it’s when we are at our most vulnerable. It adds to the “guilt trip”, as if telling us we’re there eating food while they are here making a living.

“Kahit bente pesos?” (Not even twenty pesos?) The vendor asked.

I shook my head.

“Kahit sampung piso?” (Not even ten pesos?) He says again.

Obviously, the man is no longer there to make a sale or ask for any donation, but more to rile me up. He was enjoying my discomfiture. I called the crew who was standing a few feet away cleaning the trays (who I think knows what’s happening and yet wasn’t doing anything). 

“Sir..." I called out to the crew, '“Please naman po. Kakain po ako eh.” I appealed to him. Still, the employee didn’t even say anything. Aren’t establishments like this have a “No Solicitation” policy?

“Kahit piso?” (Not even a peso?) The vendor continued.

Defeated, I took out a five-peso coin from my purse and tried handing it to him.

“Huwag na po. Salamat na lang.” (Never mind. Thank you.) He said, smugly.

“Kunin mo na!”  (Take it!) I said, with a hint of exasperation as I placed the coin on the table.

He dramatically pushes back the coin towards me using his index finger and snickered, “Huwag po. Salamat na lang po.” 

The peddler went to the next table where other customers were seated, and I was left there trying to make sense of what happened. After all that asking for any amount, I only gave him a chance to show me up in order to make me look like a schmuck.

And if that wasn’t enough, when the vendor was about to leave, he looked right back at me and said: “Ma’m salamat na lang ha? Salamat. Salamat.” 

Was he trying to make me feel guilty from what has transpired? Maybe. Was I pissed? Very.

People are strange. I just want to eat my chicken in peace.