Esquire: LOL...Ditto

I've never been much of a Trey Songz fan. I mean, aside from sounding like R-Kelly, I really don't get his "appeal". I actually preferred him with his braids. He was much more humble. I always thought him to be a homo and honestly, I never could relate to his music until...5 days ago.

So here's the deal, for about 4 or 5 months, i've been dating this dancer. Yeah--I know. This dancer is very notorious around the city for having their fair share of "experiences" but hey, I was not one to judge. I mean, you can never judge a book by it's cover right? Yeah---you can. Anyway, about a year ago, Brandz and I were traveling to ATL when Trey Songz new single just dropped. It was called "We can't be friends" and instantly we all fell in love. Not because of the message but because of the musical production and for 11 months, that's the ONLY reason why I liked the song.. well, until 5 days ago.

"I wish we never fell so deep in love and now there aint no way we could be friends"

I know..I know, I hear the crowd screaming "YOU CAN"T BE FRIENDS WITH YOUR EX" by who says? Who made that rule?! My roommate is friends w/ all her ex's, so why can't I?

There's obviously a thin line between love and hate but when does that line get erased? The scenario never fails...You cry, you breakup, you wanna stay friends because obviously you were friends first--It doesn't work out and now your enemies. Your best-friend now becomes your worst enemy. Deep shit...Neway, back to the story

We'll just call the dancer "Notorious". So, Notorious and I decide to meet after WW3, hatch things out and and just "kick it", as friends naturally do. It was cool, for 2 whole days, we played the friend game, but does the rules still apply?

Does the relationship rules still apply in the "friend" world?

Do you answer your new prospects phone call in front your "friend"? Can you flirt with the bartender? Can you pluck in the club when you and your "friend" are just kicking it?

Obviously, we're two different people and we have two different expectations so, it's inevitable that someone's hurt right? right...right!

So, I get this call from Notorious and they tell me about this new job prospect and I can't help but have "Ring the Alarm" playing in my head but again, we're friends. So, we're talking about a good 10 mins and the awkward "friend" moment approaches and there's silence..then an "I love you". Shocked, i reply, "what did you say?" and Notorious doesn't repeat. For a good second, i stare at the phone. Do i follow the "friend" rule and never mention those four words again. I mean, just 4 days ago, we said it so smoothly and now, I can't share those feelings? I really did love Notorious and now that we're friends, I can't express it? It got all too confusing!

I tell Brandz, I love her. I tell my nephews, i love them, So, why not Notorious? I take the plunge--i text " I love you too" and await the reply. Silence....1,2,10 minutes pass and then a response

"LOL..Ditto"------WTF?!?!?!?