Bro-zoned

And you are not even a bro

Ugh, the pain of being “sister-zoned” or “bro-zoned” is a real thing! It's like getting punched in the gut when they say, “Oh no, you are like my little sister.”

The pain, the torment, the torture!!!

Okay, I'll admit that this draft has been sitting here, collecting dust for a while. I've been starting and stopping, trying to find the right words, but then deleting everything. But I've finally decided to just let it flow. I'm going to write whatever comes to mind, no more holding back!

So, this title popped into my head while I was watching "My Life With the Walter Boys." I know you're probably thinking, "Here we go again with the movie talk," but you can't blame me. I'm on a working holiday as the head of my department had strategically said during our meeting. It's a 2 weeks holiday to go to hospitals for a research study but a little movie time wouldn't hurt and it is what the doctor would have prescribed.

And then, there's this scene! Alex tells Kylie, his best friend who's had a crush on him forever, "Oh Kyles, you're practically a dude." Those were his exact words, and he meant it! The shock on my friend's face and mine when we watched that scene... God, I felt so sorry for her because I could see the pain on her face.

He only saw her as a friend, a best buddy. Someone he can have a heart to heart with without judgement. She was one of the dudes.

Oh, the pain of liking someone, but having your feelings go unreciprocated, and not in the way you hoped. It's a familiar sting, isn't it? I'll admit, I'm pretty particular about who I like. I don't even go there with certain guys, you know? I have a whole rule about "my brother's friends" or "my friend's brothers." Because it's a slippery slope. You start catching feelings, and before you know it, you're hearing "Hey, lil sis," and I just can't handle the embarrassment. I'm just not wired for that kind of rejection.

And it's the same for girls who call their guy friends "bro." They know the minute they throw that label around, there's no chance. You've completely sidelined them in the romance department. "Bro, how?" It's like a code word for, "You're just a buddy, nothing more." I get it, sometimes you just want to be friends, but give the brother a chance na, ehn fine girl 🌚?

I'm guilty of this too!😭

Sometimes, I'll call my guy friends "bro," and they'll shout "Whaaaattt!" because they know I have a thing for using pet names. It breaks their hearts a little. But sometimes, I just can't help but try to define things properly, you know? I don't want to blur the lines. I know how it feels to have your feelings go unreciprocated. (Okay, maybe not first-hand experience, but I've seen enough movies.) So, I'd rather be upfront and avoid any potential heartbreak, for both of us. I wouldn't want to lose very nice friends.

You know what? If you like someone, tell them. Don't play games or wait for them to magically come around. If they don't feel the same way, well, you'll cry a few tears, chest it and get over it. Your heart might break for a while, but it's better than living in a world of "what ifs." If they can't give you what you want, that's okay. You can't force someone to like you or change who they are. So, be upfront, speak your truth, and avoid the unnecessary heartbreak of keeping your feelings bottled up.

Hey, brothers out there! Stop calling that girl your "little sister" when you know she's crushing on you, admiring your chest and that deep voice. And to the girls, don't be a witch! If you know a guy likes you, and you don't feel the same way, you don't need to call him "bro" to get the message across. It's painful ehn. Just be honest and tell him you're not interested. And they should understand that and leave you alone.

That will be all for now, my lovely audience!💕

Your anonymous bestie

Ree🤍