Ikinuwento ni Lily Bron ang kanyang karanasan bilang bahagi ng “non-sexual threesome” kapiling ang kanyang boyfriend na si Alistair Moss at ang best friend nito na si Tom Doherty.
Lahat sila ay 23 years old.
Apat na taon na ang relasyon nina Lily at Alistair, na nagsimula nang magkakilala sila sa University of Lincoln noong 2018.
Nang maka-graduate at magdesisyong mag-live in na sila, isinama nila sa nilipatang flat si Tom para makatipid sila sa renta.
Bagamat ang ganitong set-up ay hindi na entirely uncommon para sa young people, si Tom ay naging higit pa sa pagiging flatmate sa buhay nina Lily at Alistair.
Simula kasi noon, hindi nagpapakita si Tom ng sign na gusto nitong humiwalay sa couple.
Gayundin naman sina Lily at Alistair sa kanya.
Kasama pa nga siya ng mag-dyowa kapag nagbibiyahe sa ibang bansa at sa romantic meals nila.
24/7 SILANG MAGKAKASAMA
Para kay Lily, ayaw na niya ng sariling space para sa kanila ni Alistair. Mas gusto niyang kasama nila si Tom.
Tagapamagitan daw kasi ito pag may away ang mag-boyfriend-girlfiend.
Ani Lily, "Life would be so different without Tom, he's so funny and makes us laugh so much. We are all best friends, and we trust each other with everything.
"As a trio, we spend pretty much 24/7 together as we not only live together but work together too. As best friends we also love to go out and have fun together."
Kaya nasanay na rin ang kanilang mga kakilala na lagi silang magkakasamang tatlo.
Paliwanag ni Lily, "All our friends and family love our friendship as it's so rare and wholesome at the same time. When one of us isn't at an occasion, someone is bound to ask where the third one is."
NAGBIBIGAY NG “SPACE” SI TOM
Pero hindi maiiwasan na may magtanong kung gaano ba ka-harmonious ang buhay na magkasintahan kasama sa tirahan ang best friend.
Ayon kay Lily, marespeto si Tom at binibigyan sila ni Alistair ng space kapag kinakailangan.
Aniya, "People ask if I get fed up having Tom around all the time, but I love it, and it doesn't feel as though we're living in each other's pockets.
"We've been out together as a trio on New Year's Eve; even though Alistair and I will want to have our moment as the clock strikes 12, it won't be awkward because we're not a big PDA couple.
"Tom knows when to make himself scarce."
Magkakasosyo rin sila sa dalawang negosyo.
May paraan din sila kung paano sosolusyunan ang kanilang palaging magkakasama.
Paliwanag ni Lily, "We're all quite forthright people and don't beat about the bush. So, if any of us is annoyed with the other, we just come out and say it.
"I have no problems telling Alistair he has annoyed me in front of Tom.
"Usually, we end up asking Tom who's in the right. He usually tries to keep out of it, but he does sometimes take one of our sides just to wind the other one up.
"Luckily, we don't argue often, and if we are having a real couple's argument, Tom always knows the right time to disappear to another room."
KANYA-KANYANG BONDING
Siyempre, may time din sina Lily at Alistair para masolo ang isa’t isa.
Minsan naman ay sina Alistair at Tom ang lumalabas. May sarili ring chika time sina Lily at Tom.
Ani Lily, magkasundo sila ni Alistair sa paglalaro ng tennis, pero magkaiba sila ng gustong panoorin na TV shows. Mas gusto niyang si Tom ang kasamang manood ng TV.
Aminado naman si Alistair na ang kanyang best friend ay essential part ng kanilang trio.
Sabi niya, "Tom was my closest friend at university, we clicked straight away during a group activity and just instantly became best mates.
"I love living with him, he's definitely the funniest one out of the three of us, and living together like this saves us a lot of money."
Happy rin naman si Tom sa kanilang set-up.
Aniya, "I don't even feel like I live with a couple, I don't see them as that—they're just my best friends. It never feels too much being around each other 24/7—we know each other so well and have a great time always.
"It also saves us a lot of money living together as we split rent and bills three ways. With the cost of living right now, I couldn't afford to live on my own, so it works out for me."
NAGKAKAROON DIN NG ARGUMENTO
Gayunpaman, aminado silang hindi perfect ang kanilang sitwasyon.
Ani Lily, "Like any business partner, and especially if you’re living together, you will have the odd arguments over irrelevant things such as cleaning.
"It can be difficult living with two boys, but it always gets resolved within a matter of hours!
"We are lucky enough to have an office where we run the businesses from, so if one of us wants to escape, we can head there as we have a minibar, sofas, and TV—it’s basically like another living room but a five-minute drive from the house."
Handa rin si Lily na anumang oras ay magdedesisyon si Tom na magkaroon ng sariling tirahan.
Wish lang daw nila ni Alistair na sakali mang mangyari ito, sana ay sa malapit lang sa kanila.
“We know it won’t be forever, because Alistair and I will look for our own place when we get married—but even when the day does come that we move out, we don't want it to be any further than next door."