MANILA, Philippines – DEAR CHICO AND DELAMAR... I am one of those girls who fell in love with their guy best friend. But I think our story is way different.

I have this diary which he calls “dictionary’’ and I let him read it freely. He knows everything. He knows when I’m sad, mad, or upset because of him. He knows when I’m jealous of those girls he keeps flirting with. And he knows when he does something that makes my knees grow weak and my heart beat faster.

But my problem is he would rather comment on my misspelled words rather than on the feelings I have for him. I was assuming he doesn’t feel the same.

But one time I told him “Hindi naman ako mahal nung isang tao diyan.” He replied “Mali ang interpretasyon mo.” And he also seems to be a jealous boyfriend who keeps asking about every guy I know.

I am really confused cause I can’t identify the feelings he has for me. I don’t want to be manhid but I also don’t want to assume anything. –Bangs

CHICO SAYS...Seriously, you guys need to cut the crap. Seriously.

Being far away from the situation, allow me to furnish a clearer view of the bigger picture. Obviously, something’s going on. What exactly, I have no idea. Maybe he likes you, maybe he doesn’t, maybe he likes you but not enough, maybe he likes you all the way but he doesn’t know how to break it to you, whatever. But you’ll forever be guessing if you keep up with this emotional tango you both are playing.

Aren’t you tired of doing this dance for this long?

This is the longest pasakalye I’ve seen! Wouldn’t you both like to get to the bottom of things? And the only way to do this is to drop all pretenses, sit yourselves down, and lay down both your cards on the table. Anything other than a full disclosure would only bring you back to where you are now, which is nowhere.

I’m sure you have your reasons why you’d rather fence around with your feelings, but if you really want some closure on this, please talk about it, minus the smokescreens. If it turns out you both like each other, then at least you know the next steps to take.

Same thing if it turns out he doesn’t like you back, then at least you can move on. It’s like a roller coaster, then been going up forever. You’ve been waiting for an eternity for the drop, but it never seems to come.

Parang awa niyo na, come clean about your real feelings for each other so we can all move on. If you do, you’ll breathe a sigh of relief, whether love is in the offing or not.

DELAMAR SAYS… If you both have tried dancing around the issue and nothing’s happening --- why not try the direct approach?

Look, nothing’s happening. You’re still writing on your diary and he still have to even insinuate his feelings for you. Both of you are trapped in this not-knowing-on-limbo stage. And neither of you is getting to the main event.

So, my advice is short and sweet. Just ask him. JUST ASK HIM!!!!! I don’t know if you have any qualms about you being the girl and therefore should be asked. But it is true that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line.

So, get direct and just ask him. What have you got to lose anyway? Nothing but the uncertainty or the does-he-love-me-or-doesn’t-he baggage. Ask him. At least at the end of it you would know whether boy likes you or not. You will finally know whether it’s time to get to the main event of having a relationship or if you need to look for another boy to write about. JUST ASK HIM.

(Chico and Delle welcome your letters. Write to: youth@mb.com.ph or fax through 527-7511. Listen to the Dynamic Duo Monday to Saturday, 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. over Monster Radio RX 93.1)