It's a boy-girl thing

MANILA, Philippines - Guys are bound by their bromances. Girls have the sisterhood. So what do girl-and-guy friendships look like? Zac Efron sang it best: “This could be the start of something new…” If a guy and a girl spend most of their time together, people automatically think they’re a couple. More often than not, that’s really how love develops. So can guys and girls really only be friends?

From personal experience, guys and girls can remain platonic if they don’t spend too much time together. The moment they start spending too much time together, at one point, sparks will inevitably fly. I’ve only had one guy best friend in my life, and he became my first-ever boyfriend. So if you ask me, girl-guy best friendships aren’t possible. But that’s just me.

Out of curiosity, I’ve asked 10 different people if a boy and a girl can really only be best friends. Yes, no or maybe — surprisingly, everyone has their own take on the matter.

Miles Que, 20

For me, a girl and a guy can be just best friends. Although most of the time, it develops and turns into something more, but for some people, it can stay as just that. I think it really doesn’t matter if your best friend is of the same gender. As long as you get along well, liking the same things and are comfortable with each other.

Kevin Calderon, 20

Yeah, why not? Some guys are inclined to develop feelings, but I don’t think I’m one of them. Sometimes there are things I like to talk about with girls more than with guys. I’m more comfortable talking about them with girls. And that’s probably how I get around to having girl best friends.

Camilla Benipayo, 20

I think it all depends. It’s possible for two people of the opposite sex to actually just be best friends given that they’ve been in each other’s lives since childhood. I have two guy best friends whom I practically grew up with, and I have nothing but platonic love for the both of them. For me, time is a measure of how deep any friendship is.

Cyril Castro, 20

It actually depends on both parties, but if ever I’d have to choose one, then probably it’d be “no.” I have a lot of close guy friends but only one guy best friend and that’s my boyfriend. I think you could have a lot of close guy friends but that one guy will be somehow hard to keep in the friend zone. There’s a huge possibility that one or both will have feelings for each other, depending on the closeness and intimacy of both individuals.

Minerva Balazo, 21

No, because, guaranteed, one of you will fall for the other. I had a guy best friend and I was super comfortable with him. I was so carefree knowing that no matter what, nothing is going to happen between us. Then one day, he admitted that he was already falling for me. Everything just got too weird since, and I ended up distancing myself from him.

Meg Manzano, 21

Definitely. Two folks can have a purely platonic relationship and still be that close. Being attracted to him/her may be inevitable, but it’s when you decide not to act on that attraction that dispels the myth. I’m best friends with a guy I met when we were in kindergarten, and we’re both in a relationship. I guess it’s all about being mature about it, he’d save my butt any day, but I’m not going to fall for him just because of that.

Grace Palsario, 23

Yes! I have a guy best friend. We share common interests and we jive like a magkapatid (sibling). We’re comfortable with each other. We talk about anything, random things and we’re always there for each other. We’ve been best friends for six years. There’s really no spark between us. Hanggang best friends lang talaga. (We’re really only best friends.)

Bo Donato, 22

A guy and girl can be best friends as long as the two define their friend relationship. The problem of being the best friend is the initial intention that may already have malice. A guy and a girl can actually have common interests and do activities together, not necessarily being branded as a couple. There will be reactions most likely, but it’s down to the maturity of either side if they get affected by the situation.

Tricia Bucag, 20

Yes, having a platonic relationship with a guy is possible just as long as physical attraction is absent and the emotional connection is stronger. But then again, I guess it’s only possible for people who are open-minded and don’t easily put meaning into things. Like for me, I have a guy best friend. I have spur-of-the-moment lunches with him without any (hidden intentions).

Vince Marquez, 22

I want to say yes, but I think it’s a strong no. A guy and a girl can be friends, even best friends, but there will always be moments when tension will build and the level of comfort you have with one another can promise a fantastic romantic relationship. A guy and girl can only be best friends if one of them is already in love with someone else.