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Last night at a coffee shop with a friend, I did not quite expect an encounter with my own people. Well, two of them.
Coming back from the men’s room I found my friend with an awkward smile, pointing at a tray of used plates and cups on our table. I asked what that tray was doing there as we only had coffee; he carefully glanced at the lady at the next table, gesturing that she put it there.
I turned to the lady and just before I could say anything, she gestured both her hands and with a face, coupled with glaring angry eyes, that screamed “WHAT?!!?” I asked if she did put that tray on our table and she vehemently shook her head, frowning at me like I’m some dirty leper from Jesus’ backyard.
Fine, I turned back to my friend and asked again if he was sure if she indeed put the tray on our table. Just then, a Japanese guy came up to me and gently explained: “Sir, nakita ko po na siya ang naglagay ng tray sa table nyo.” Yes, in very polite Tagalog. Instead of lashing back at the lady, I was impressed at his mastery of the Filipino language that I just told him how good his Filipino was, and simply thanked him for his honesty. To which he replied, “Walang anuman po.”
