Jumping into the love boat

At the moment: happy. oh-so-sodding happy.


I received this message just a few moments ago:

Why do most people seem to fall for their friend at one point or another?

It's because we see a great person. Someone who knows us inside and out, someone who has been there when we're down, someone who knows what makes us laugh and what makes us cry. Someone who cares.

We see the perfect someone in our friend but what we don't see is that as soon as we take that next step, they will turn into someone we never knew at all.

It's true though, isn't it? I know a lot of people who are quick to jump to the gun as soon as they get a little too attached to their opposite-sex friends. I have a LOT of guy friends.. at least I used to before I got serious with Julian and it's not a weird thing for friends to jump into the love boat.

I remember Ragnarok. You know, the online game that was a humongous hit during its time? Yeah Ragnarok. In Ragnarok, you get to upgrade your character to a higher class called "transcendent class" after leveling it up to maximum 99. After which, you go through Rebirth. All your skills goes back to nothing... you start as a noob and have to work your way up again.

It's tiresome but people go through that because they want to reach the top again but now as another character. You've experienced how it is being friends.. now you have to forget all about that and then start again, this time as lovers. That's probably why some people find it so awkward to date their friends. They don't go through "Rebirth" so they feel completely lost and helpless when taking the next step.

EDIT: because a lot think that this post misses something, I've decided to extend the topic a bit. haha! Actually, I could've written more about it but I was just too lazy so here's the full version!

Have I experienced falling for a friend? I'm not sure. I might have but you see, I'm not exactly the do or die type of person (though I can be given just the right signals). I might drop subtle hints that I like the guy just a little bit more than slap-on-the-back friends but once I get the feeling that it would lead me completely nowhere except maybe total and utter destruction, I'd stop those feelings with a screeching halt and find another one to set my eyes on. I don't know why but I never had a hard time doing that. I don't think it's because I'm a tough overconfident chick... it's probably because I'm afraid of getting myself hurt. It's stupid to force someone to like you.

For the past several relationships I've been in, we never really got to the "close friends level" first before taking the plunge. It's always "acquaintance-friends-lovers" for me. In the friend stage, if I feel that I might like him as something more than best buddies, I drop hints right away. Aggressive? Yeah, maybe. But in this way, I don't get hurt.

In the end, it's all about protecting yourself from unnecessary pain and despair.

So if you're stuck in that kind of situation, (falling for your good friend I mean) test the waters first. You don't have to take a blind jump, humans unconsciously give signs to each other. Learn to read those signs and give up wholeheartedly when you see that it just wouldn't work. (especially if you're a girl) Set aside your feelings and maybe someday.. (maybe) they'll feel just like you do and then you'd live happily ever after with lots of babies and a house in the suburbs.

Okay, maybe that was a tad too cheesy but hey, when it comes to the big L-word, everybody's a rookie.