Friendzone

Friendzone is a fictional story I wrote sometime last month. I've been getting inspired to add more parts to it. Lets see how that goes.

Have a great read!

Hunk and Pretty Girl's meeting was accidental, he bumped into her at the doorway of the office tea room as she was heading out, sending her cup of freshly made coffee crashing to the ground. It was her second day at the job, while Hunk had been there a couple of years. After several "I am sorrys," the two exchanged pleasantries and Hunk promised to make up for the mess he made by taking Pretty girl out during lunch break. This was after he made her another cup of java. That lunch date marked the beginning of something remarkable for the pair.

Three months later, Hunk and Pretty girl are inseparable, best friends, two peas in a pod, "like 5&6" as we love to call it on this side. They talk about anything and everything. He makes coffee for her every morning once she gets to the office, and they've made having lunch together a daily ritual. Every Saturday night, Pretty Girl goes to one of the town's most popular digs, The Lounge, to watch Hunk strum away at his guitar; Saturday is “music and poetry night” at the lounge. Gossip is already spreading like wildfire at the office that the two are not only an item, but soon-to-be Mr & Mrs Hunk. Their colleagues are hopeful for nuptials between the two.

Everything seems rosy and dandy till about a year after that accidental meeting when Pretty Girl is informed by Management that she's been transferred to the company's office in another city. She's bummed about it..."how will I do life without my best friend just around the corner?" her heart dampens as she tries to envision it. Two of them meet later that day for their usual “lunch-devouz” and Pretty Girl breaks the news to him. The date ended on an extreme low...as she lets it out that she'll be relocating in two weeks.

Three months later, Pretty Girl and Hunk are adjusting to life apart. They still talk every day, at least 4-5 times, and Hunk never fails to fill his Pretty Girl in on his Saturday night guitar gigs while she sighs about how she hasn't had much of a social life since moving.

Pretty Girl decides about 6 months after changing base that she'll spring a surprise visit on Hunk during her upcoming vacation. She plans everything to a T, and even gets a few of Hunk's favorite things to present as a gift. She arrives her old town a fortnight later, on a Friday and plans to surprise Hunk the next day. She's quite familiar with his daily routine, so knows what time he'll be at his apartment.
She knocks on his door late Saturday morning...Hunk opens and is totally stunned to see his Pretty Girl standing there, wide-eyed, all smiles with a tint of blush. They share deep, warm hug for about a minute. "I've missed you," "When did you get in?" "What a wonderful surprise!" "I’m elated to see you, Pretty Girl" he says and hugs her again. She enters his apartment, and marvels that the place hasn't changed much over the past months. They walk towards the living room and Pretty Girl stops suddenly in her tracks when she spots a woman sitting on one of the chairs. The lady gets up, turns towards Pretty Girl and Hunk, smiles warmly and says "it's so nice to finally meet you."
Hunk then says to Pretty Girl "please meet Doll Face" His best friend half-smiles and Doll Face gives her a side hug. Pretty Girl has dozens of questions for her bff, but she refrains from saying anything.
"I'm sure you two have a lot of catching up to do, yeah? so I think I’ll leave now," Doll Face, continues to Hunk "call me later, okay?" and leaves the apartment.
Hunk says to Pretty Girl "aren't you gonna sit down, lemme make us some good ol' coffee, yeah?" and heads off to the kitchen.

 As they talk over coffee, Hunk reminisces on how they first met...over spilled coffee. Pretty Girl tries to enjoy the moment with her best friend but her heart is still a mix-bag of emotions. She decides to speak up, "So tell me about Doll Face...who is she?"

Days later, Pretty Girl's heart still hurts when she remembers how the surprise she had so carefully crafted for her best friend turned sour and wished she had never gone to see him. She recalls the moment Hunk had told her that the lovely Doll Face was his girlfriend, how they had met a few months ago at The Lounge and had started dating a few weeks after. "She's an amazing woman, funny, artistic and intelligent. She reminds me of you a lot. I'm happy, she makes me really happy." She recalls how his eyes lit up as he gushed over his Doll Face. She remembers how taken aback Hunk was that she was less enthusiastic about his relationship...how she tried to shield her apparent hurt and jealousy by saying that Hunk shouldn't get carried away over someone he met a few months ago and hardly knows. An argument ensued thereafter and she left his apartment back to the hotel she was staying forgetting to give him the gifts she'd bought.

They settled the fight the next day over lunch after church, and Pretty Girl told Hunk how she wished him nothing but happiness. He reminded her how much he cares about her and will always be her best friend through all. Pretty Girl spent the remaining two days socializing with her colleagues at her former office before leaving town. She ofcourse gave Hunk the gifts she'd got him as they said their "goodbyes" when he dropped her off at the airport.

She hasn't been herself since she returned. She has cried her heart out almost every night. She can't understand why Hunk sought happiness in the arms of someone else when she's been keeping herself for him all along. He always told her he loved her and how she brought sanity to his life. She had always felt she was the only woman in his life and the one he wanted to be with forever. The thought of him being with someone else brought a hollow feeling inside. She started to feel something for Hunk that seemed like hate. "How could you?" she thought as she lay in bed one night "how dare you play with my heart like that?" "I’m done with you Hunk, so done." "I never want to hear from you again!" "You go be with your Doll Face and be happy...I'll be fine by myself, I don't need you. I hate you! I hate you!!!" Tears started to flow, she sobbed and sobbed until she had no more tears left.
Days and weeks passed and Pretty Girl didn't answer or return any of Hunk's phone calls. She didn't reply his messages either. As far as she was concerned, she hated Hunk and wanted nothing more to do with him.

She's lying in bed at home one evening when her doorbell rings, and to her amazement, there's Hunk standing at her doorstep. Deep down inside, Pretty girl was beyond happy to see him, but on the outside, she was cold and unaffectionate. She starred at him, blank-faced.
"I've been so worried about you over the past few weeks when I couldn't reach you. I expressed my concern to Doll Face and she suggested I come over to know what's going on...so here I am!" He hugged her and said, "I'm so glad to see you alive and well...I thought something had happened to you, I was scared to death."
Pretty Girl's heart broke at that instance. She hugged him back tightly and said "Yeah I'm fine...I'm doing fine." That was when it hit her that she didn't need to be Hunk's girlfriend in order to have a place in his life. They had real friendship...one that shouldn't be taken for granted. She understands that they needn’t throw that away because they weren't romantically involved or planning to get married. They can learn from each other and help each other grow in life.

She expressed all this to him as they talked over coffee (like they always did) a short while later. "Maybe I can even be your daughter's God mother, you know?" she joked. They both laughed.

80/20 Love.

Pat struck up a conversation with a new colleague at work a few days ago and discovered that he loves adventure trips, just like her. Over the next weeks, they became best buddies. She's always pumped about heading to the office; she looks forward to spending time with Jeff.  "It's so nice to be able to have conversation  with someone who loves travelling," she said to Jeff one day at the office. Pat's husband Donald has noticed his wife's aloofness towards him and her new enthusiasm every work day. He can't figure out what's wrong.


Susan has been perplexed lately...her husband Dave is a totally different man; he no longer complains about her lack of interest art. "It's okay if you don't want to watch me work, I understand," he told her a few days ago as he was working on a new painting. Susan is totally confused about his new attitude and sudden metamorphosis. Unknown to her, Dave has become friendly with a lady he met at an art gallery recently. Their love for art is the bridge that has connected them. It's the reason why Dave isn't bothered about his wife's disinterest in this aspect of his life.

For Pat and Dave, their new friendships are blossoming at the expense of both their marital relationships. Pat's husband Donald feels neglected while Susan cannot comprehend that she and Dave no loner argue over things like before. It's left her unsettled.

The path which both Pat and Dave are treading on is dangerous. Dangerous because the more time each spends with their "buddy," the more closer they'll bond; more so because they have something in common. It may not be long before the friendship develops into something deeper.

There are many real-life Pats and Daves in the world. People in committed relationships who leave what they have, in search of what they don't have.

Heard about The 80/20 Rule of relationships?
Well, it basically states that you only get 80 percent of what you want from a relationship and 20 percent of what you want, you don't get.

This rule is predicated on the idea that since no human being is perfect, he/she can't be 100 percent what you want them to be. Our flaws, weaknesses and idiosyncrasies will always limit how much we are able to put into a relationship. Nonetheless, the 80 we are able to give is enough for the other person and creates the breeding ground for a wholesome relationship.

Having full understanding of this rule helps us try to reason why people are unfaithful in relationships. Usually, people attach more significance to the 20 percent that isn't gotten and decide to look for it outside their relationship. Many have lost wonderful relationships in quest for the 20, only to later realize they were at their best with 80.





So here's what couples and would-be couples should take-home from this:

1. Accept that truly, no one can give you 100 percent of what you want and neither can you. What matters is that both of you give each other your best...which is good enough for your relationship to thrive.

2. Learn to appreciate your significant other. The more you appreciate one another, the more your relationship grows in value. Whatever you value, you will protect and do everything to keep.

3. If you want your partner to put in more than 80, find ways to communicate this lovingly.
Sometimes, people need to be told where they're falling short. Consciously decide to compromise and meet each other halfway. You both may not share the same interests, but you can learn to enjoy what the other likes.

It may always seem easier to find your 20 somewhere else, but the grass always looks greener on the other side...until you get to the other side! Remember that human perspective is  limited.
May it never be said that you lost a diamond while you were busy collecting stones.