The Local Bookstore

When I visit my favorite bookstore, it can be like meeting an old friend whom you're very fond of but don't see often. I would be like a crazed worshipper when they would hold book sales and pride myself at the points I'm slowly gathering from their membership card.

But the two most recent visits I made have taught me A LOT about people and for awhile, that bookstore seemed to me of alien surroundings and all I can say was "Ugh.".

On my first visit, I breezed through with confidence and lightly stepped at their red tiles and passed their detectors. Just as I was making a beeline to their most recent (and probably popular) books, I suddenly felt a discomfort. I sensed some pair of eyes boring into my skull and looking at what I was doing. Looking at my back, I saw the security guard scrutinizing me and slightly grimacing as if I was some bug or stain in his immaculate uniform. We locked eyes for a few seconds and I quickly looked at the book I was holding. It was very uncomfortable. A thought suddenly struck in my mind. He was watching me because I didn't look like a "patron of their wares". Truth be told, I wasn't going to buy anything just yet. I was scouting for my next book and wanted to milk my money's worth. Having no more patience and trust, I got out in a hurry and rushed to an eyeglass store where mom and bro were staying.

I went to that same bookstore the next day to finally buy a book. As I went to the classics, a funny conversation enticed me to listen.

Girl: Kanang, wala na man ang mga tsada na libro. Hala ka oh! Tsada lagi ni!!

Girl 2: Agto na ta ba. Pili nalang diha. Mulaag pa biya ta.

Girl: Kadyut lang. Palit sa ko ug libro para malingaw ko unya. Tindog sa ko uy. Sakit kaayo mag lingkod.

*and so on and so forth*

I was intrigued about the book the girl was talking about. Angels and Demons? Da Vinci? Don Quixote? When I glanced, it was Tagalog Love Novels. Oh. And the girl was still what, elementary? My friends and I had a laugh about those romance novels once. She read some passages about the book and it was really.....R-18ish. I'm not going to get into the details but if that's what most of the youth is gobbling out right now, consider me love sick.

I found the book I was looking for (Les Miserables) and asked Dad for some money to buy the book. As I patiently lined up the counter, a woman suddenly but in out of nowhere and cut in the line (the line by the way was only me and another woman who was paying). Imagine my irritation and surprise. Never once did I encounter that situation. I was always clear on where my line was. She was buying some comics, hurray for her. Finally it was my turn. I paid and got out of that bookstore as fast as possible clutching my book and breathing a sigh of relief.

Afterthought: I might have been paranoid when it came to the guard. It's his duty by the way. And a glance might just be a glance. Then again, a look is always different compared to what-are-you-doing complete with get-out stare. I hope the two girls got their romance novels (its summer, by the way) but I seriously hoped they were as good as reading their Science books (they were elementary pupils for the love of books!). As for the woman, I forgive her (-_-). I wasn't really in a line when I think about it.

Presumptions and paranoia all in the same day. It might just be a cruel joke of my imagination but then again, jokes are half-meant.