I was shocked. This is the story.

I needed to get some batteries for my week-long camping trip and he needed some chips for the movie that night, so we headed over to the nearby mart to get our stuff. On the way out, Jay noticed a fastlane counter for only buyers with 5 items or less. He went straight to the counter to pay but I stopped by the grooming aisle to get myself a bottle of a shampoo. He was next in line to pay for his 4 packets of chips so he quickly signaled to me to rush over to the line. When I reached the line, there was already a woman in front of me. I chose to stay behind her in the line and wait for my turn but Jay insisted that I join him in the line. Again, I refused because I didn't find it appropriate to just cut her queue. Furthermore all our items combined would total 6. I told him I won't mind waiting- come on, the woman only had like 2 items with her! But then Jay began to insist that I join him so we could pay up and leave quick. I gave in.

Then it started.

Woman: Hey, you can't just cut the line.
Kay: Sorry, I just wanna pass these for him to pay together.
Woman: But you now have more than 5 items. This is an express lane.
Jay: Hey, no need to argue ok?
Woman: You're not following the rules.
Jay: Shut up idiot!
Woman: You know you're wrong doing this. I'm not an idiot.
Jay: So let it be ok? Don't complain.
Woman: I'm complaining because you have more than 5 items with you.
Jay: I don't care. Just let me pay and leave, idiot!
Woman to cashier: Are you gonna just let him do this?
Jay: Hey, don't involve her. This is just me and not her fault.
Woman: Then later I''ll complain to the management. She just let you in like that knowing that you have more than 5 items.
Jay: This has nothing to do with her. Just let me pay and go, bitch.
Woman to other two behind her: Then this lane serves no purpose. You might as well grab a few more items to buy and pay here.

What ensued was another few minutes of argument and name calling between Jay and the woman. I remembered only speaking once and apologizing to her when I went to join Jay in the queue and then got stuck standing between them and their verbal disagreement.

I knew that what he did wasn't right but I just stood there not doing anything. Totally against my principle. I felt ashamed, of myself and him of course. We finally paid our stuff, to my relief as I really wanted to leave the place quickly. When it got to the woman's turn, she was still complaining to the cashier. I walked away so fast I didn't know what happen after that.

We got into the car. I remained silent throughout the ride back. Shocked and speechless. How could the person I love so much can have so much anger in him? When we reached home he took my hands and held it tight.

I put the incident behind and smiled at him.