The oldest game of love

Flirting is almost like a ritual that people do before going into relationships. It's usually harmless, on the right people at the right times. But when this is done with people getting hurt, it becomes something else entirely.

CASE 1: The Free-Agents Mix-in

When a single person, aka "The Free Agent", mingles with others who are the same, romantic possibilities are way off the roof. This is the right time to say that "All's fair in love and war" because other singles may take the other person as well. Fight fairly, friends, because in this part, everyone who has the first dibs on the goods does not necessarily win the goods.

CASE 2: The Outsider

In this situation, the free agent falls for a person in a relationship. Now, you may say that in the event that something goes infinitely wrong with the relationship, the one to blame would be the free agent. According to very reliable sources, my friends, it's oftentimes the wrong way around. Usually, in situations like these, the free agent would show motives and it's up to whomever is the receiver of such would react. There is only two takes on the outcome of this mess: the free agent's amorous intents crash and burn or the couple breaks up and the free agent gets the goal.

However, a word to the wise, if you experience this situation and you are "the exclusive" (in a relationship), think things thoroughly if "the free agent" is worth the trouble of breaking up with your partner or otherwise. If you, on the other hand, are "the free agent", give the other person time to think things through. Whether or not your feelings are received is not the point. At the very least, you have made your feelings known clear and sound to the person. Better that than leaving them thinking, wondering, where you are truly standing or coming from.

CASE 3: The Inside Job

These days, there are those who fall in love, far too easily. From that group, there are those who are already "exclusives". Unfortunately for them, there is no way around this except to clear things with their partners and then, after that, start pursuing the "free agent". Because nothing messes with the mind of a single more than an "exclusive" flirting with them. It's because they never know where to stand... They are usually at a stand still, especially if they happen to have mutual feelings for that person.

Advice for the free agents caught up in this type of situation: let them clear things up with whomever they are involved with. It would not be good to start your relationship with the person by letting them two-time their partners, nor would it be fine to suffer while they could not decide what to do. For the "exclusive": decide what you truly want. Reality is that there are those among "free agents" who are willing to wait for you, there are also those who aren't willing. If ever they decide to go with someone else, you have noone to blame but yourself.

All in all, tread carefully in the uncharted territories of love... you never know when you will fall...