Jul 1, 2009

Pick-up

Has someone ever tried picking you up while you were standing on a sidewalk minding yourself? Well, I had that experience and the first time happened back in 2004.

It was nighttime. I was waiting then along Julia Vargas Avenue besides Megamall, waiting for my ride to fetch me. There was this one guy I noticed scoping me out. I did not think much of him because, although I sensed that he wasn’t straight, he was an ordinary-looking middle-aged guy. He disappeared after a while.

After a few more minutes, I saw him crossing back the street to my side. By then, we two were the only ones standing near the intersection. He was looking at me and I was looking at the road waiting for my ride.

He approached me and asked, “Pwede magtanong?” (Classic.) “Alam mo ba kung saan ang CoffeeLine?” (Pick-up tip #1: invent an obscure-sounding shop nobody knows so you can talk with the target person longer.)

“Sorry, di ko alam ’yon,” was my disinterested reply. I tried my best to put on my most snobby demeanor that my friends usually complain about.

“’Di ba sa may Shaw lang iyon?” he pressed.

(Eh, alam mo pala eh, ba’t ’di mo hanapin?) “Wala talaga akong alam na CoffeeLine.”

Unperturbed, he paused for a while before asking, “Anong pangalan mo?” I thought he’d never ask.

“Bakit?”

He offered his hand and introduced himself, “My name’s Eric.” Man, I don’t know if I’d admire him for being brave or pissed at him for being thick-faced. If I were in his shoes, I’d mutter a quick “sorry” and be on my way.

But since I’m not that rude a person to refuse an introduction, I shook his hand. “Vince,” came my reply.

Then comes the kicker. “Nagpapabayad ka ba?” Man! I knew I was expecting it but actually hearing it was quite a different experience. I don’t know if I should be flattered or insulted.

“Ha?! Hindi.”

With a disappointed look, he utters “sorry” then crossed back the street hailing a taxi on the other side.

But the story didn’t end there. While still waiting for my ride, another guy was scoping me out as well. He is younger but still an ordinary-looking guy. Sigh. Why can’t the semi-cute guys be the ones who approach? Probably because most of them are playing hard-to-get.

Like the first one, this second guy finally gathered enough guts to approach and ask, “Pwedeng matanong kung anong oras na?” (Pick-up tip #2: If all else fails, ask for the time.)

He asked it because I was fiddling with my cellphone. Unfortunately for him, I was tinkering with it because it was having problems. I honestly couldn’t tell what time it was so I sincerely replied, “’Di ko alam eh.” Sounds mean, I know.

Unlike the first guy, he took the hint and went away.

Up till now, I still don’t know why two guys approached me that night. I didn’t think that Julia Vargas was a popular cruising/pick-up spot nor was I dressed like a call boy. I usually have a snobby look about me so the experience was totally unexpected. I laugh at it now and now I’m just curious if you guys have ever had similar experiences as well. :-)

26 comments:

Ming Meows wrote on July 1, 2009 at 10:33 AM:

hay sana ako magka-experience. kasi ordinary lang ako.

parang ganito:

namimick-up: pre, anong oras na?

me: oras na para manghada!

 
Dats wrote on July 1, 2009 at 10:34 AM:

yes...at P.Tamo at Exportbank...A fortuner stop by, rolled down his window and giving me a hint to get inside his car, wasnt able to check how he look like coz I was wearing thick dark sun glasses. I didnt give in.
then, at Buendia near Columns a Honda car stop by rolled down his window and smiled at me asking 'is there a Mcdonalds near by?' silly question...coz He asked me to join in to point the direction...deadma.
LOL! it was a unique experience.

 
Tristan Tan wrote on July 1, 2009 at 1:56 PM:

This post reminds me of so many things including my old life. Sigh. Gone were the days of pokpok Tristan... at least for now. :)

 
Anonymous wrote on July 1, 2009 at 6:14 PM:

alam ko na why...mukha ka sigurong nota that night...lol

 
Vince (Discreet Manila) wrote on July 2, 2009 at 12:49 AM:

Ming, hehehe. Panalo ang reply!

Dats, I'm not surprised that you get such attention. You're such a hottie! :-)

Tristan, well, there's a big possibility you'll be back to your old self once you get comfortably settled in DC. The question is, do you want to?

Anon, baka nga. Hehehe.

 
Anonymous wrote on July 3, 2009 at 1:15 AM:

i was once picked-up by a red honda civic only to find out that the driver was my manager... we both caught unguarded. i know that night i am willing to be with somebody after browsing porn at the internet and quite sure that my manager is also looking for someone to be with him.

hahaizz... we ended up at my house doorstep and not talking each other for 3 days, hehehe!

 
dalumat wrote on July 3, 2009 at 2:47 AM:

of course. in this city, everyone picks everyone up. wala namang masama doon di ba? we should all be so free and active, but safe. if you liked that other guy, you should have talked to him.

 
Tony wrote on July 3, 2009 at 3:43 AM:

I would have to say to improve the chances of tip#1, don't invent an obscure sounding place, but rather ask directions to a place that everyone would know that is 10-15 minutes away from where you are. This way, once he tells you where it is, you can ask if he doesn't mind accompanying you there. Basically appealing to his good nature and gives you more time for small talk.... :P

tip#2...never ask for the time. People might think you are either scoping out their watch or their cellphone and that you are sizing him up for a possible hold-up :P Instead ask for a light. Doesn't matter if he does or doesn't have one.....

 
Vince (Discreet Manila) wrote on July 4, 2009 at 1:52 PM:

Anon, yikes! Did you have an inkling that your manager was into this lifestyle?

dalumat, I wasn't in the mood that night and I didn't find the other guy that attractive. Hehe.

Tony, hehehe. Those two tips I gave are actually sarcastic: i.e., things *not* to do.

 
tiborxia wrote on July 6, 2009 at 4:59 PM:
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.  
criswithoutanh wrote on July 8, 2009 at 1:38 PM:

I guess that comes from the territory. Maybe Julia Vargas is really cruisy, don't you think?
But I guess, it's quite fun being picked up. :-)

 
Anonymous wrote on July 10, 2009 at 1:10 AM:

i had that experience too. on my way home waiting for a jeep in Cowboy BiƱan. A car stopped and asked me if i want to come with him. he looked horny. since i was drunk it made me feel the same. he just parked few meters away and got a great mouth from him! fucking shit! it was so hot man!

 
Vince (Discreet Manila) wrote on July 10, 2009 at 2:12 AM:

Cris, if Julia Vargas is really cruisy, then I definitely don't know about it. Ang alam kong cruisy ay Quezon Memorial Circle. :-)

Anon, glad you enjoyed your encounter. ;-)

 
samtaurus wrote on July 13, 2009 at 5:34 PM:

its the "thrill" of picking up some guy on the streets, and vice versa just for a quicky release,
driving having someone bj you in the car,
dangerous? Yes,
exciting? Yes,
outcome? Yes, its great!!

and at times, you would check in at nearby motel for a long foreplay if you like the guy you see and go further that just bj

of course i have to foot the motel bills, ha ha

 
Vince (Discreet Manila) wrote on July 15, 2009 at 2:15 AM:

Samtaurus, I have actually never picked up a guy on the street and never been picked up. I'm quite familiar with the "thrill" feeling (Thriller?) but I don't crave for it as much as I used to. I guess it comes with age? :-P

 
mike wrote on July 15, 2009 at 10:47 AM:

i definitely agree with Vince in regards to the "thrill" feeling and age. at a young age, it's more of an adventure...the thrill of doing it. as you mature though, you tend to outgrow it.....BUT hey, it's always a good feeling though no matter how old you are when someone try to pick you up...yeah, ego booster.

 
Vince (Discreet Manila) wrote on July 16, 2009 at 12:07 AM:

Mike, yup, getting hit on is definitely an ego booster. :-)

 
Johnny Cursive wrote on December 4, 2009 at 1:22 AM:

it could get a little scary. Especially if a car is driving in the same pace as your walking. Sheesh this happened to me twice in Makati -- along makati avenue and in front of salcedo park. It's really scary. Then in hindsight it's pretty flattering.

One guy was sweet enough to try and pick me up while I riding in the bus, complimenting my triceps and whatnot. Di ako nagpapickup but he managed to coax my number from me. Then kept barraging me with text using Chikka. I hope not to sound mean, but sheeesh.

 
Vince (Discreet Manila) wrote on December 5, 2009 at 6:19 PM:

Johnny, you got nice triceps?May we see? :-D

 
kiko wrote on September 4, 2011 at 12:10 AM:

I had some guys who tried to pick me up in the past and i would understand maybe if im in my jeans and shirt but sometimes im in my nursing uniform already which is wierd for it is pretty obvious that im not a call boy and still they would try, i never gave in to any of that maybe because im not that kind of person who would go for an adventure sex or whatever you call it. But I may say that among these, one of it was sweet and creepy at the same time, I was about to go home at 12 midnight after a work, there was guy in Q.C. who wanted to take me home via a motorcycle, so sweet of him, but i was afraid that i just faced away from him and didnt reply, he said "away mo bang umuwi?", sa loob loob ko, "bakit di ko ba kayang umuwi mag isa?" hehe.....whenever I encounter these things, most of the time, I didnt show any interest. Im maybe attracted to men and just like an ordinary person that gets horny most of the time but maybe im not that sexually active or adventurist....

 
Vince wrote on September 24, 2013 at 9:08 AM:

This happened to me multitude times but the most memorable was when I was walking at night at Paso tamo extension. I was wearing pambahay ( Sando and hip hop shorts). I was on my way to a nearby eatery ( open 24 hours). A noticed a car following me and later opened his window. The guy asked where Don Bosco is. I said I don't know because I really dont know where it is. I continued walking but his car followed then he asked for my name and said ' pwede makipagkilala' I didn't know how to react so I just entered the nearest computershop so that he wont be able to follow me.

 
Anonymous wrote on September 27, 2013 at 2:57 PM:

I'm free tonight xD who's available?

 
Anonymous wrote on November 7, 2013 at 1:02 PM:

hi im ram if you need me call to this number 09329766138.. maputi , 5'8,nid ko lng tlaga ng money.

 
Alvin C. Alonzo wrote on April 7, 2014 at 12:39 AM:

I got the same experience. When I was walking along in roosevelt going to my friend's house there is a white honda following me and nagbusina pa siya ng maraming beses. Hahaha di ko alam na may ganyan din sa ortigas. May mga ganyan din sa bus when I was on my way to work(to Shaw in a bus) one guy wrote his number on the bus ticket.

 
Unknown wrote on April 26, 2015 at 2:49 PM:

Way back i was in college, while waiting for a jeepney dahil uwian na. Mayroon isang car na slowly moving na dumaan sa harap ko. Binaba nya yung window nya and winked at me. May kasama ako nun na cmate so hindi pinansin. 10mins after nakasakay na yung kasama ko ng jeep so tumawid ako sa kabilang side ng kalsada dahil dun ang way ko pauwi. Dumaan ulet yung car, nakababa yung window at nakangiti yung driver. Inviting me to go closer to the car. He said, "trip kita eh, tara?". So sumakay ako. We went sa isang empty parking lot, gabi na yun. Then he ate me. Hahaha. Lol

 
Anonymous wrote on October 16, 2015 at 9:50 PM:

Geo