The Hubby's Best

     We have friends and we have friends.  Not all are loved equally but just the same, we know we can count on most of them when push comes to shove. 

     The Hubby is one person who forms long lasting friendships.  With his simple, low-key personality, The Hubby professes to be a pure-blooded “promdi” (from the province), which is part of his endearing qualities.  He has friends from way back childhood and friends from the time we married.  I have plenty of opinions about his friends and, naturally, some of my views are not positive but he remains steadfast in his loyalty and trust for them.  One friend of his that I truly value is BF because of his unwavering support for our family’s welfare; and, best of all, I just really like him!  

     In respect for his privacy, I shall simply call this friend BF.

     BF is a good-looking, charming fellow.  He graduated from one of the best exclusive colleges in the country, and has a high paying job.  He even has the right family background to boast of; but, remains simple, soft-spoken and humble.   

     With all his good qualities, BF has forever found it difficult to land himself a girlfriend.  Thus, at the ripe old age of fifty-two, BF is now a confirmed old bachelor.  Such a loss to women because I always felt that he would have made a good family man. 

     I remember that when we were younger, The Hubby and I would always be on the look-out for potential dates for BF.  We were manipulating, cajoling and pushing for possible liaisons – all to no avail.  The time came when we were just content to spend time with him on Friday and Saturday nights. 

     The Hubby and his friends had a favorite hangout where they could play billiards and darts and drink till the wee hours of the morning.  This, they normally did and I was only too glad to let The Hubby have his boys’ night-out. 

     Some nights, I would tag along when he and BF planned to go somewhere to listen to music; and most of these excursions turned out more exciting than planned. 

     There was this time when we went to a bar to listen to their band play. 

     The set up inside was theater style, meaning there were several levels for better viewing of the show.  Tables were lined on each level and the next higher level was maybe four to six inches in elevation.  It was not so high, but high enough to make a difference in the view. 

     We chose a table at the highest level so as to see the entire show area.  Drinking and chatting, we observed the goings on in the bar and noticed a group of young people coming up to the level immediately lower to ours.  This group was comprised mostly of pretty ladies with a couple of guys as escorts. 

     When the band started playing, lights were dimmed even darker.  At some point, BF rose to go to the toilet.  He may have been drunk by then because BF forgot that there was this short step downward as he moved forward.  Losing his balance, BF grabbed at the first thing he could get his hands on – the table cloth of the table in front of us.  Drinks spilled, appetizers landed on the floor and the pretty ladies got drenched!

     Profusely apologetic, BF offered to pay for the group’s food and drinks which was readily and sportingly accepted by the group.  When he came back from the restroom, BF embarrassingly apologized to The Hubby and me as well.  We just laughed it off but The Hubby whispered that BF should have grabbed at one of the skirts instead of the tablecloth! 

     To add to the embarrassment of the evening, the bar manager chased after us when we left the place to demand for damages for what he claimed to be broken glasses and wet carpet.  BF was already reaching for his wallet but The Hubby immediately got in front of him and told the manager to file a case at the police precinct because we shall do likewise against their establishment for lack of safety measures for patrons.   Apparently, The Hubby noticed that the bar had no footlights to caution patrons of the difference in elevations of the floor.    Maybe realizing that The Hubby meant it and knew what he was saying, the bar manager backed down and apologized. 

     Another time, we had to go to a disco located on the second floor of a building. My attendance was a must at this fund-raising event so I roped in other friends to make it more enjoyable. 

     The Hubby and another friend went out of town that particular day and rushed home only because we had this event.  The other friend came along and offered to drive because he claimed that The Hubby drove going and coming and must be quite tired by nightfall.   Nearing the area of the event, this other friend started running down the cones at the center of the street and we never became aware of it until the fourth or the fifth bump.  Luckily, no policeman was around (hello, it was dinner time!) 

     We met up with BF and some other friends at the lobby of the building and proceeded to the party.  The guys being non-dancers, just sat around chatting and drinking while I was happily salsa-ing with those who had dancing feet. 

     By night’s end, we all decided to leave together.  As I was going down the steps of the carpeted stairs, I heard bumps from above me.  Once again, BF chose to fall down the stairs and kiss the carpet!  The wonder of it all was how he was always able to get home safely with himself driving!   

     On one of his birthdays, BF had the celebration of a lifetime!  The Hubby threw him a party at the café we managed and invited all the single girls we could summon.  At the point when they sang him the birthday song, the guests requested a toast.  The ladies were all given tequila shots and BF was given “body shots!”  That is, before the ladies took the tequila, they sprinkled salt on whatever body part of BF they chose and licked the salt from there.   Needless to say, BF was tickled pink to be so salivated upon!  Unfortunately for me, I was home with flu then and missed all the fun.

     These days, BF still remains top of my list among Hubby’s friends even though we don’t see each other much.  He moved to the southern part of the metro while we moved to the eastern part.  He and The Hubby keep in touch through Facebook and email.   They constantly text and exchange jokes.  Sometimes, BF would call The Hubby over the cellphone just to say hello.  One good development that I appreciate is that BF has now developed a firm agreement with his “suki” cab driver who brings him home whenever he gets too drunk on his nights out.   Obviously, even old dogs can be taught new tricks.