The More Ancient Form of Smoke-belching
This is a true story, told from my perspective. It's also a little bit of an essay. And just a little warning...I'm kind of criticizing smokers on this one.
I was most grateful to God for that moment. A rare opportunity had presented itself to me and I wasted no second thoughts in grabbing it. For the first time in my life, I was first in line for the Binangoonan jeep stationed at the Robinsons Metro East terminal. That meant I could sit anywhere I wanted. So I abused the chance to take the front seat of the vehicle, which I would have to share with at most only ONE other passenger. The jeep wasn't going to leave the terminal until it was full of passengers. And since I was its first passenger, it was going to take a while before it leaves. So, for a couple of glorious minutes, I had the front seat all to myself.
Enter the man whose destiny it was to share the front seat with me that day. He was about to sit near the door but I figured that making things easier would be the polite thing to do. I asked him where his stop was, so I would know which one between the two of us was going down first. He asnwered "Tayuman", and I had no idea where that was. I asked him if the jeep would pass by it before Valley Golf (my stop) and he said that the jeep would pass Tayuman after passing Valley Golf. My thoughts were that he should sit next to the driver while I seat near the door since we would come by my stop first. It would be easier for the both of us.
As I exited the jeep, I couldn't help but notice the slight annoyance visible on his facial expression. For whatever reason he made that face, I did not know until he finally decided to get into the jeep. Before doing so, he dropped something on the ground and I saw that it was a newly-lit cigarette. Apparently, he was planning to sit near the door so that he could smoke without having to bother either me or the driver (who, as I later found out, also smoked anyway).
As if I wouldn't be affected had I chosen to sit next to the driver and the other passenger continued smoking. I would even be sandwiched between two smokers if that was the case! It wouldn't matter if they blew their smoke outside the windows. The smoke would always find techniques of making its way to my asthmatic respiratory system - It always does. And what was with that look? As if that passenger was the one who had the right to be annoyed. I still remember all the times I covered my nose and mouth with a handkerchief whenever smokers were nearby. The smokers would look at me as though offended...as if they have the right to be offended. They were making my life miserable for the sake of their temporary highs...and they are the ones offended? I mean, come on! If they have the right to scratch that itch for nicotine in public places (which I strongly disapprove of, by the way), then what about my right to not compromise my health? Especially for an act in which I am not even the performer!
I was most grateful to God for that moment. A rare opportunity had presented itself to me and I wasted no second thoughts in grabbing it. For the first time in my life, I was first in line for the Binangoonan jeep stationed at the Robinsons Metro East terminal. That meant I could sit anywhere I wanted. So I abused the chance to take the front seat of the vehicle, which I would have to share with at most only ONE other passenger. The jeep wasn't going to leave the terminal until it was full of passengers. And since I was its first passenger, it was going to take a while before it leaves. So, for a couple of glorious minutes, I had the front seat all to myself.
Enter the man whose destiny it was to share the front seat with me that day. He was about to sit near the door but I figured that making things easier would be the polite thing to do. I asked him where his stop was, so I would know which one between the two of us was going down first. He asnwered "Tayuman", and I had no idea where that was. I asked him if the jeep would pass by it before Valley Golf (my stop) and he said that the jeep would pass Tayuman after passing Valley Golf. My thoughts were that he should sit next to the driver while I seat near the door since we would come by my stop first. It would be easier for the both of us.
As I exited the jeep, I couldn't help but notice the slight annoyance visible on his facial expression. For whatever reason he made that face, I did not know until he finally decided to get into the jeep. Before doing so, he dropped something on the ground and I saw that it was a newly-lit cigarette. Apparently, he was planning to sit near the door so that he could smoke without having to bother either me or the driver (who, as I later found out, also smoked anyway).
As if I wouldn't be affected had I chosen to sit next to the driver and the other passenger continued smoking. I would even be sandwiched between two smokers if that was the case! It wouldn't matter if they blew their smoke outside the windows. The smoke would always find techniques of making its way to my asthmatic respiratory system - It always does. And what was with that look? As if that passenger was the one who had the right to be annoyed. I still remember all the times I covered my nose and mouth with a handkerchief whenever smokers were nearby. The smokers would look at me as though offended...as if they have the right to be offended. They were making my life miserable for the sake of their temporary highs...and they are the ones offended? I mean, come on! If they have the right to scratch that itch for nicotine in public places (which I strongly disapprove of, by the way), then what about my right to not compromise my health? Especially for an act in which I am not even the performer!
posted by Andre' Betita @ 11:41 PM
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