hanging-out

this was getting to be an all too familiar scenario...

again there were the four of us, hanging out in the bar area of our favorite friday night hang-out. we were half-sitting on high stools with our backs against the bar looking out into the stage area where a very cool and hip band was playing r&b and dance music.

but right in front of us are ladies, dancing to the tune of the band music, some even going as far as gyrating seductively. they were all there in the railing that separates the elevated bar area into the main sitting area and the stage.

as we are all just boys, we enjoyed the view... and the music of course (lest i forget to mention). and like the last time (2 weeks ago), one by one, my friends left the high stools and interacted until i was the only one left.

no, i didn't look like a lone pathetic thing out there. as the bar area was really packed, i was actually dancing a bit while exchanging smiles and bottle toasts to almost everybody around.

i was the only one though who didn't make any concerted effort to interact. i was just happy moving to the beat of the music with a bottle of san mig light on one hand and a cigarette on the other.

my friends sometimes would wisk me to meet their new and/or old friends: my doctor friend introduced me to this tall chic who was with 2 other attractive ladies; and my other friend ushered in a lady friend we knew just a month ago. i would wave and say hi, offer small talk, or sometimes give the usual beso-beso. but other than that, i was cool on my own.

then all of the sudden, a couple of ladies went from the railings and on their way to the loo. as the railing suddenly became open, my other friend went there to get a better view of the band and all of the other people dancing on the main area. i nudged my way next to him and we both scanned the area for other acquaintances.

then i saw somebody i haven't seen in about a year or so. this was a familiar scenario up until now .

she was with a couple of friends whom i also knew. but i knew her more, she knew me more.

i whispered to my friend who was with me in the railing and pointed to the lady i haven't seen in ages. as my friend asked about her and i answered, the memories came back.

once upon a time, we were also identified with one another. though not romantically committed, we used fridays as a day we could always meet on this same bar and enjoy the night dancing and drinking.

the reminiscing stopped as she raised her eyes towards the elevated bar area and saw me. she smiled and mouthed the word "hi". i just smiled back. they kept on dancing and we kept on drinking and moving to the music.

in between the stolen glances from her, my friend noticed and tried to push me into doing something about it. i just said "too much history." then after a while, i was back in my element; drinking and dancing to the music.

this has been an ongoing discovery on myself. i was actually in this bar to be with my friends and to unwind, nothing more. no more trying to get cozy with ladies, no more exchanging mobile phone numbers, and more importantly, no more going home with anybody except with all of us when we call it a day.

it even is a stretch remembering the last time i did all of those things. and while this may sound boring as compared to the activities my other friends are doing at the same time, im happy on how this turned out.

im hanging-out with my friends and enjoying the night!