"Hey! Why did you undress?" I said without glancing at him, only to perceive his genuine and humorous laugh. "What happened to you? Why do you look so scared? Oh come on, don't you dare think nasty of me". Again, with his joyful and teasing laughter. I just shut my mouth and ignored him. I focused my glare on the floor, shivering cold in my sopping wet dress. "Didn’t you say you wanted to stay for a while, and that you don't want to go home yet? It's not good for you to stay in your soaked dress for very long. I'm serious, and I don't want you to get hypothermia. So, you better slip off that gown and hang it on the railing to dry a little. Doesn't it feel heavy?" He looks serious, delivering his point. He's probably right, but that seems uncomfortable. Disrobing in front of Ziggy while ogling over his naked body, it feels so awkward to me. He is my best friend, my hero and if there is something that is most important in my life, it is to not lose him. I tried hard not to fall in love with him because they say relationships are complicated, and being in love with your best friend and failing hurts double time. What if it's too late for me to realize that he is more than just a best friend, but really my first and only true love? DISCLAIMER: THIS STORY MAY CONTAINS ADULT LANGUAGE AND CONTENT, IT IS NOT SUITABLE FOR ANYONE UNDER THE AGE OF 18 AND MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL ADULT READERS. VIEW AT YOUR DISCRETION. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Ned: "If you hate me, then tell me, say it to my face. Why? If I hurt you, then slap me, retaliate. I'm willing to take everything 'coz you're my friend."
Bujoy: "Yes, I'm your friend. I'm JUST your friend. And I'm so stupid to make the biggest mistake of falling in love with my best friend."
A few years ago. Summertime, in our living room, I joined my mom while she's watching one of her favorite movies starred by the actress Jolina Magdangal and Marvin Agustin's "Labs Kita! Okay ka Lang" which means "I love you! Are you okay?"
That time was supposed to be the usual movie time with my best friend, Ziggy, and we were supposed to continue binge-watching the series "The 100". But he did not show up, and I didn't want to finish the series without him. I already prepared our usual favorite munch, some fries, and popcorn, ready to be glued in front of the TV, but it had been an hour since I had been expecting him to knock on my front door.
Mom, looking at my excited turned unpleasant mood, suggested watching with me. Watching with mom, may not be as exciting to be with Ziggy but at least, it would distract me.
Since I'm undecided what else to feast our eyes on, I asked her to choose instead. Not expecting that an old-school movie that used to give my mom a butterfly in her belly is actually fascinating.
The story of two childhood friends, Ned (Marvin) and Bujoy (Jolina), whose bond was tested when Bujoy tried to break free from the friend zone, only to create conflict throughout the story. The story starts funny, but as I began to relate it to my own story, I suddenly lose my appetite to continue watching until the end. And it leaves me one lesson to ponder upon,
'To never fall in love with your best friend; it will hurt you double time.'