Tactless Tales

Last night, I met with good friends at Chateau in Greenbelt 5. It was one of those dinners over good food, good company and good conversation. For purposes of anonymity, let's call my friends B1, B2 and B3. I haven't seen B1 for a couple of years now. He's funny without him even knowing it and he's always been known to be tactless. B2 on the other hand is a friend who is beginning to see the light while B3 is one of my spiritual friends who has seen the light.

Haven't we all been caught saying something we should not have said? For the most part, you just want to cringe or you want the earth to open up and zap you out of oblivion. Well last night was not a case of wanting to disappear. It was more of tactlessly rubbing it in. Well, B1 is at it again. He was just hilarious.

Tactless Case #1
B1: O Melissa, kamusta ka na? Bakit di ka na nagwo work?

So I went on to tell him why I decided to change jobs in a nutshell then came B2 who joined in our conversation.

B1: Eh ikaw B2, kamusta ka na?

At this point, B2 updates B1 with his work.

B1: Alam mo yung nangyari sa yo Melissa ok lang eh pero etong kay B2, unfair.

As it were not enough, B1 kept rubbing it in.

B1: Kasi Melissa yung nangyari sa yo ok lang pero etong kay B2, bakit naman ganun. Sana man lang ... (he continued on how the case should have been handled.)

And as if it weren't enough still B1 continued.

B1: Yung kay B2 maraming mas magaling na puedeng gumawa nung pinapagawa sa kanya di ba?

Tactless Case #2
One of the most awkward moments is to confront someone about past issues. Some things are better left unsaid most especially if it does not involve you but for B1, it was just an innocent question and he wanted to put the rumor to rest. As I was enjoying my Pasta Chorizo and B2 was having his Butterflied Prawns, B1 threw a question that would make you think you were watching The Buzz.

B1: B2, totoo ba naging kayo ni (name withheld upon request) dati?
B2: Hindi noh!
B1: Eh kasi yun ang balita na naging girlfriend mo raw tapos nakita ko pa kayong magkasama dati. Magkayakap pa nga kayo nun.
me: Hahaha!!!
B2: Hindi!!!

The rumors were far from the truth and I for one know it. People love to put color into things. They love to be creative about events and they can sure twist the facts. I would never ever have the guts to confront anyone about personal matters not unless it was my immediate family.

Tactless Case #3
B3: B1, ok ba sa (name of company where B1 works)?
B1: Oo happy. Maganda ang culture nila. May pressure pero masaya naman.
B3: Dati nag apply ako for (name of another company) kaso ang offer nila magkano lang. Magkano salary mo?
B1: Malaki. Syempre ako senior officer na. Yung sa yo lower position.

I can never hate B1 for being downright honest about his take on this and that. His positive outlook is a lighthouse for those of us who are only beginning to see the good in things. I don't blame B1 for being tactless. I remember getting reprimanded by my mom when I was younger. I think I was younger than 10. I was tactless.

me: Ma, bakit ganun ang itsura nya?

me: Tignan mo Ma yung suot nya! Bakit ganun?

me: Ma, nakita mo yung nasa mukha nya?

Each and every time, I'd say these things out loud. So loud that the person I was referring to would hear it and it left my mom embarrassed. Needless to say, I often got a scolding for being T-A-C-T-L-E-S-S. "Meh, puede ba? Matuto kang mag hold ng comment." This went on for so many years till I finally learned to hold my tongue ... at times.