"Just Friends"

It was a clear sunny Monday and November was deep in the autumn season. All the high schoolers were heading to school if not already heading to their first class for the day.

While this was going on, 18-year-old Motomiya Daisuke, affectionately called "Davis," was sitting in class at his desk by himself. He arrived in class ten minutes early and while there he was giving a lot thought to a matter that had been on his mind for quite some time, it was a topic he discussed with his father a week ago. It was a topic his father talk to him about after Davis decided to confide in him about his feelings for Kari and how she had treated him and repeatedly friend-zoned. After talking seriously with his father about the matter and going into details about his situation, his father related to him his own experiences in life and with the opposite gender.

What Davis learned from his father surprised him and opened his eyes to realities that he had failed to see because of his lack of experience, wisdom and understanding. His father explained to him his past mistakes with females and the misunderstandings he had with them before he finally found and married the woman who become his (Davis') and Jun's mother.

Davis explained to his father how he felt awkward being around Kari knowing how much he deeply liked her and that despite the fact she and everyone else knew that, she saw him as nothing more than as a copy of her older brother. And to add butter to the burn, she repeatedly flirted with TK in front of him, which only served to make him jealous and angry and he grew to resent TK as result.

His father asked him how long he had been friends with Kari and Davis told him since they were 7 years old and now they were 18 years ago. It had been for a little more than a whole decade he told his father. On hearing that, his father explained to him how during the course of time as he got to know Kari and spend such a long amount of time with her over the years, he in effect, grew a bond with her that naturally turned into a romantic love that unfortunately wasn't reciprocated. He went on to explain how many men had their hearts broken by females who fundamentally misunderstood and misinterpreted guys' signals of sexual interest as friendliness.

His father added that it had been found that men are actually more likely to be sexually attracted to their female friends than their female friends were to them and that males were more likely to think that their female friends were sexually attracted to them when they weren't. He went on to add how many females were also blind to the outlook of their opposite-sex friends; because females generally weren't attracted to their male friends they presumed that this lack of attraction was reciprocal.

He explained how that kind of flawed ideology on occasions happened in reverse with the gender switching roles, the girl wanting more out of the friendship and the guy not wanting that. He stated how that led to arguments, jealous fits and fights when another person appears and show romantic interest in the friend that didn't return the romantic love interest in the other friend. His father told him that people, in extreme cases, were even killed out of envy and jealous rage.

"Emotions could run high and cloud one's thinking and judgment," his father warned, "Flirting with someone with the purpose of toying with the feelings of another with the intentions of making that person jealous is cruel and not only is it cruel, it's dangerous. If Kari flirts with others and gives no regards to your feelings knowing you like her a lot, then you're wasting your time trying to pursue any romantic relationship with her because Kari doesn't value or respect your feelings. Be careful in whom you set your heart and love on my son, because your first choice may not be the best one for you."

Davis was so absorbed in his thoughts and on his father's counsel that he didn't pay attention to the fact that TK and Kari, followed by the rest of the class, entered the classroom and took their seats. Kari was surprised to see Davis in class so early and on time, which was rather unusual since he was known for always being the last to arrive for class.

"Never thought I would ever see Davis so early for class," TK remarked, "It must be one signs of the apocalypse."

"TK behave!" Kari said with a small giggle. Davis saw and heard them but decided to ignore them and act like he didn't see or hear them. Kari went over and to Davis and greeted, "Hey, earth to Davis."

"Oh, hi Kari," Davis replied pretending to now notice her and TK, "I didn't notice you and T-Virus over there showed up."

"Davis!" Kari scolded, "That wasn't nice!"

"Sorry," Davis said pointblank, "I just have a lot on my mind right now and I don't need TK trying to take crack shots at me."

"Is it that serious?" Kari asked.

"It's rather personal," Davis answered, "Something I've been working through for days with some helpful advice."

"Well I hope everything works out for you in the end," Kari encouraged with one of her famous smiles that would have melted Davis' heart on any given day. But in this case, it had no such affect.

"Don't worry about me," Davis said frankly before briefly looking up at her from his desk, "I'll get through this by today I assure you," Davis gestured his head in TK's direction and remarked, "Now I'm sure TK over there is waiting for you to return."

Kari was taken aback by how Davis just so bluntly dismissed her and indirectly told her to go back to TK.

"…O-K," Kari said, sounding unsure, "I guess I'll talk to you later then."

Davis only shrugged wordlessly before she walked off from him. Kari went back to the other side of the class where TK was and sat down at her desk with his desk next to hers.

"That was weird," Kari remarked with a confused tone, "Normally Davis would be happy and ecstatic to see me. He just said a few things and then dismissed me like I was unwanted stale bread."

"Pay his sour attitude no mind," TK suggested, "If he wants to be jerk to you, then it's best to just let him be by himself."

"I don't know," Kari replied with uncertainty and concern as she took another glance at Davis whose demeanor hadn't changed, "When I was speaking to him he said he had a lot on his mind and that it was rather personal. Whatever it is that's bothering him that he's trying to sort out must have put him in a temperamental state."

"This is Davis we're talking about Kari," TK remarked, "When isn't he hasty and temperamental? Give him time and he'll come to realize how he acted towards you and look for ways to get you to forgive him. After all, he still has that silly crush on you even now."

"I suppose you're right," Kari said. Soon the teacher walked into class and began the topic for discussion. The teacher was a very attractive slender built 25-year-old woman with long dark brown straight sleek hair that reached down to her lower back.

"Good morning everyone," Ms. Konami Asashi greeted. Everyone took this as the signal to stop talking and sit at their desk. When everyone was ready, the teacher started the class.

"Today for health class, we'll be delving into a controversial topic regarding friendships and relationships," Ms. Konami stated.

"Super," Davis the Bearer of Courage, Friendship and Miracles said cynically under his breath.

"Now class let's start with main topic: Is it possible for a man and woman to just be friends?" Ms. Konami asked, "Let's start with the girls first."

One girl raised her hand and answered, "Yes they can. I have plenty of guy friends I'm cool with."

"You do now?" Ms. Konami asked.

"I think they can be friends too," another girl said, "All of us have needs for friends, be it males or females."

"I agree," Kari spoke up, "I have plenty of male friends I hang with besides girlfriends and I get along with all of them. Sure we have our differences and misunderstandings sometimes, but in the end we all are still friends."

Other girls in the class were answering in similar ways like Kari and a few others in class. After a while all of the girls gave their point of views believing that men and women can be just friends.

"I see that all of you girls honestly believe it's possible," Ms. Konami said, "Now let's go to the boys now and ask them the same question: Do you believe men and women, or even teen boys and teen girls, can be just friends?"

Ms. Konami looked at around and her eyes landed on a particular student whose demeanor grabbed her attention.

"Let's start with you Daisuke," Ms. Konami invited, "What do you believe?"

Daisuke looked back at the teacher and answered, "In theory, males and females can just be friends. But in practice, it doesn't last long or end well, therefore the answer is No!"

Kari was the first to look at Davis with a baffled and shocked expression; TK also. The other girls in the class look ready debate with Davis until…

'What do you mean Davis?' Kari thought with disbelieving expression, 'You and I have been friends for years, since elementary school!'

Kari held back from voicing her thoughts to Davis, fearing that doing so would open a can of worms she'd later regret.

"Well Daisuke," Mr. Konami asked, "Would you care to elaborate on why you believe it's not possible for cross-gender friendships?"

"The irrefutable fact is that between the sexes, there will always be sexual tension," Davis explained, "The line between what makes you a friend versus what makes you a boyfriend or girlfriend is blurry. Such friendships from what I've learned from the experiences of others can either turn into romantic relationships, or end when it becomes awkward because the girl showed no romantic interest in the guy.

"In my case, things got complicated when I started seeing my female friend differently and romantically as I grew older. And things got awkward and unbearably frustrating for me when not only were my feelings not reciprocated but I was teased, ridiculed and made of by others because of it."

Kari, TK and the rest of the class knew that Davis was indirectly talking about Kari and his feelings for her. Kari and TK saw that Davis was taking this opportunity to vent his pent up anger and disappointments though they felt guilty that they were the main reasons for him being teased, ridiculed and made fun of by others.

"We as males choose women for companions because you listen, provide empathy, support and affection, and in time we hope that it blossoms into love and a relationship, and I know females, in some cases, hope for the same thing," Davis said, "Men and women can try to be "just friends," but it's truly not a smart move."

"Is that right?" one girl retorted. Davis turned the girl and replied, "Since you said earlier that you have plenty of guy friends, tell me, how many of them wanted to become your friend because they like you or have a crush on you because you look attractive? And if given the chance, how many of them would date you?"

The girl was about to answer when she stopped and thought about it. After giving the questions some thought, she backed down and chose not answer the questions.

"That's my point," Davis said vehemently, "The problem is that defining the line between a platonic relationship and a romantic relationship between the sexes is difficult. As males, we're naturally going to be attracted to our female counterparts based not only on their looks but also their characteristics and personalities. Bonds through friendships are formed when we spend so much time with the females we call "friends" and as we continue to get to know them, in given time we're going to desire more out of our association with them than just platonic friendship as we're going to see them as our potential girlfriends, not as our "one of the guys"."

Ms. Komani looked at Davis with fascination and wondered what might have happened in his past.

"Davis!" Kari argued, "Not all guys think that way! I have guy friends also and not all of them show romantic attraction and interest in me."

Davis knew that when she said "not all of them," she was indirectly referring to TK.

"That's because many females, from what I've learned, frequently misinterpret our signs of romantic interests for friendship, or in some cases, they may see it but friend-zone us and make things very awkward for both themselves and the guys," Davis retorted.

"That isn't true," Kari denied.

"I'm sorry Kari but I agree with Davis' reasons and the logic behind his explanation," TK confessed, much to her and Davis' surprise. All of the other boys in the classroom quietly agreed with Davis and secretly Asashi the teacher agreed with Davis' reasons also.

'Daisuke is quite outspoken and clearly knowledgeable about this sensitive topic of cross-gender friendship,' Asashi privately thought, 'Given how he's expressing himself, he must have been counseled by someone with much experience and understanding of his feelings. Whoever this girl was or is, Daisuke must have had strong affections for her. Shoot, it would be a lie if I said I wasn't interested in hearing his story.'

"What?" Kari asked after hearing TK agreeing with Davis' speech.

"If a guy is making an effort to hang out with you, it's probably not just "as friends." He's merely accepting friendship, in hopes of dating you, because it beats the alternative," TK the Bearer of Hope elaborated.

"And what's the alternative?" Kari inquired.

"Not having a girlfriend and therefore, no one to confide in," TK replied. When Kari contemplated on TK's words, she looked at TK with a shocked expression, fully understanding the underlying meaning to what he was saying. A can of worms was just opened…

I had to get this off my chest and I chose to use the characters of Digimon 02 to vent my personal frustrations with this subject that I experienced myself more than once. Being friend-zoned sucks! Well what do you all think of this story and the compromising situation Kari found herself in with Davis and TK?