Of Friendships and Sexes

When I was in school...(this is a long story so you all better grab a drink/snacks or something) we were asked to do our law school internship at a law firm (surprising right?). We weren't too thrilled about this additional step to graduation particularly as we weren't permitted to be assigned to a law firm of our choice with our friends. The school handled the assignments at random. You could work your way through this assignment but I tried and failed and just succumbed to random nothingness hoping the chips would fall where they will. And did they?! 

Upon my assignment after the initial awkwardness of being the new girl who just got her assignment a few weeks after the rest of the class, I eventually became good friends with this guy and girl because we found ourselves always sitting at the same table together everyday. What's so ironic about this discovery is that in school we could hardly stand each other. The guy had a girlfriend who wasn't assigned to our law firm (duh!), and the lady, of course, had a boyfriend who also wasn’t with us and there was little ole' me - who happened to be in love with a guy who just happened to be the guy's roommate back in school. We were just 3 people picked at random and plucked into this law firm for 3 months of internship. 

Everyday we came together and talked, chatted about everything, about our love lives (or lack thereof), our families, what we would do upon graduation, everything. We got so close that when it was weekend time we wanted to keep up the tempo so we would agree to meet up somewhere to have drinks together, mostly this lovely exquisite over-priced restaurant with a water view. We wouldn't have any money but of course, the guy (the gentleman) would pay for us girls. We would as much as dress up to make it seem like a dinner arrangement. It was a nice sight at those get-togethers to see two gorgeous (ahem) women with this guy, he felt so honored. He got to share our exact tastes in music, (we used to go to jazz clubs and listen to afro-jazz) movies, and then, fine wine and cuisine. We would go to choice places that served peculiar food just for the fun of the adventure. The funny thing is that his girlfriend never knew, at least he never told her about us and our escapades and then he never knew I had a crush (feel free to insert "obsession" here) with his roommate back in school but I think he guessed at some point. he knew his girlfriend wouldn't understand that all this hanging out was simply platonic that's why he didn't tell her. It was conveniently planned and working too.

In summary, there was this one day we went to see this mutual friend of ours (also in Law school) and when he saw how close we had all become, (two girls and a guy) he was forced to ask the inevitable question: 

"Can a man and a woman be close friends without that element of sex?"

I immediately answered, "Yes", because look at us. We're good. We don't even discuss sex. 

But it got me thinking, that maybe. 

The guy classmate responded emphatically with a resounding, "NO,"...

Okay, but who asked you. 

He continued, "Because at some point the man may be in love with the girl or at some point the girl may be in love with the guy and try to hide it under the guise of friendship..."

That is true, but look at us. We made it. 

But it still got me thinking, and that’s why I started fantasizing about perfect friendships somewhat like we had that summer. It was one of the most memorable friendship experiences of my life. I still look back on it with nostalgia. Obviously! 

When we graduated we went our separate ways. The lady is married now (and is in government and has a proverbial schtick up her arse but let's not go there) and the guy is supposedly working abroad (his father was an ambassador to Nigeria so it's understandable).

Basically all I wanted to illustrate was that platonic friendships between opposite sexes do happen, and sometimes they work and sometimes they don't...but I hope when they do happen and work out, you would learn to treasure and savor those times, because indeed they would undoubtedly be the most memorable, fun filled times of your life. 

Overall.