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This guy tried to hit on my girlfriend at the bodega. What was he thinking?
It’s not rare to encounter disrespect in the hood! I walked into the bodega with my then girlfriend. Not for nothing, but she truly was one of the most beautiful women that you could ever set eyes upon. Even after all these years, she still looks amazing.
As we gathered our food items, this guy comes over and says, “No disrespect brother, but your lady is beautiful.” Okay, I know what this guy is trying, but it’s cool, we’re not going to start beefing over a compliment. “Thanks man, appreciate that.”
Had that been it, we’d have been all good, but I think something about my energy told this guy that he should try and push a bit harder. By that point I had already sensed that he was looking to push the limits, and my energy was shifting from being cool with the sneaky compliment to getting heated really quickly.
We all know he was trying to be sly, and I let that go with the initial compliment. But to try and push it any further than that, that’s just a bold faced “I don’t respect your presence,” and that’s not going to fly.
He extended his hand and asked her for her name and where she was from. This guy was trying to make conversation with my girl while I was standing right there. She was confused and glanced my direction. She’s not from the hood, so she doesn’t know how men interact out there or what that kind of move means.
At that point I was feeling extremely disrespected, and all bets were off. No more tempered cordial responses. I stepped forward and moved his hand away from her. “My man, I thanked you for the compliment, but you don’t get to talk to my girl. That’s not going to happen. What are you thinking?” He looked at me, sizing me up, and meanwhile everyone in the bodega went quiet. The tension built fast. “Hey man, I meant no disrespect, she’s just so beautiful and I was trying to start a conversation.”
“Yeah, I get it, and I know she’s beautiful, but like I said, she’s with me and you don’t get to have a conversation with her. Feel me?” He nodded and backed off saying “No disrespect man.” As if saying “No disrespect” makes the disrespectful action any less disrespectful. I think at that point he realized I wasn’t some sort of pushover after all.
I paid for our items, excused myself to the owner in Spanish, and he said not to worry and to send my mom his regards. Much to this guy’s surprise, he clearly did not realize that I grew up on that block. We walked out.
I apologized to my lady for the disrespect and the scene. I explained that I had no choice, because otherwise that guy was going to cross the line even more. I really do not like to expose anyone to that type of situation, but when cornered, you have to do what you have to do. She expressed her shock that this guy had the nerve to try and pick her up right in front of me. I had to tell her that in the streets, some guys have no sense. They will always test another man to see if he is weak, and if he shows weakness, they will strike.
I told her that people have been seriously hurt in my old neighborhood for lesser offenses. Some of these guys just don’t learn. This guy obviously thought that I was soft and was just going to let him swoop my girlfriend right from my arms. Maybe he thought his baggy pants, fitted cap, or the gold chain would intimidate the guy in the Ricky Martin shirt? Well, not on that day. Not a chance.
That wasn’t the first time something like that happened, though one of the other times I was a bit more