The word “friendzone” has its roots from an episode of the American sitcom “Friends” in 1994, according to Wikipedia. The romantic spinoff of the word “friendship” refers to a situation wherein someone who feels in love with a friend is regarded and treated only as a friend by his or her object of affection.
Although friends can fall in love with each other, being friendzoned is bad as it means rejection or getting “basted” in Pinoy lingo. One helpful advice is to accept it and move on.
Sometimes, however, the hurt is traumatic, like what happened to a jilted Singaporean businessman.
K. Kawshigan met Nora Tan in 2016 and the two developed a friendship over time. In 2020, Tan decided to lie low because of the differences and incompatibilities with the chief executive officer of a drone racing company.
The limited interaction with Tan upset Kawshigan who reportedly started making aggressive advances. She tried to ease his woes by agreeing to attend counseling sessions with Kawshigan “to help him come to terms with her decision not to pursue a romantic relationship with him,” Channel News Asia reported.
Things did not work out though and the situation relapsed with her final withdrawal last summer.
In July, Kawshigan sued Tan for friendzoning him, demanding S$3 million in damages for the alleged emotional trauma and depression he suffered, plus the resulting impairment of his ability to get business contracts.
In a separate lawsuit, Kawshigan also sought S$22,000 in damages over Tan’s alleged breach of an agreement to improve their relationship. Pending decision is the first lawsuit while the second was rejected by the court deeming it an abuse of the legal process.
Tan countersued.
She is seeking damages from Kawshigan of about S$480 for installing equipment meant for her safety and another S$1,000 for expenses incurred while engaging in counselling and “healing” sessions at his request, according to CNA.
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