Status: Single But Not Available

"Lahat single...", was how you described the people in your upcoming trip.

I felt my brows rise. 

"Huh?", I was surprised.

"Single pala ko?", I continued.

You laughed. I did too.

"Akala ko pa naman hindi na ko single...", I said in the cutest voice I could muster.

You laughed again. I could imagine you blushing. 

"Hindi ganun..."

"Kasi di pa naman official right, sabi mo?", you tried to explain.

"Huh? Pwede bang bawiin ko na lang?"

You laughed.

"Nagtanong ako di ba? Ang sabi mo hindi..."

I was still laughing.

"Ok fine!", I was starting to get pissed.

"Single pa pala ko, kala ko hindi na...", I muttered.

"MU?", you replied.

"MU?!?, ayaw ko.", I was annoyed.

"Tayo pero hindi pa official...", you suggested.

"Fine... so ano ba ang triggers nito para maging official?", I asked as if I was back at work analyzing a project's success indicator.

That started the long discussion on labels and how important they really are.

"Di ba sabi mo hindi naman lahat kelangan ng label?"

"Oo nga, pero this time, I think we need to define this.", I explained.

So how does one begin to label a relationship based on mutual trust and admiration, some sort of love, constant communication (with occasional hard ons) using our dedicated lines and an extreme desire to make it work? Several labels come to mind: MU (Mag-Un?); Exclusively dating?; In-a-relationship-but-not-quite?, It's complicated? The search for the proper label is tiring but it appears that this may really be necessary after all.

"So pag may nagtanong, ano sasabihin natin?", I asked.

"Uhmm... single...", you replied.

Then you paused as if trying to figure out what would work best for what we have.

"...but not available?", I suggested.

"Tama, single but not available.", you confirmed.

I nodded. We agreed to the terms and conditions of the new label.

"Fair enough, we are single but not available."

I rest my case: Tristan Tan is single but not available. Oh and so is Bad Boy.