Have you been through something similar? Are you the friend, the ex, or the person in the middle? Let’s talk in the comments. No judgment.
The protagonist often feels guilt or anxiety over "breaking the code". The Climax:
Friendship is built on a foundation of shared struggle, inside jokes, loyalty tested by time, and, most importantly, safety. When you are friends with someone, you implicitly agree that your romantic interests exist outside the boundaries of their relationship. By dating his girlfriend (or ex-girlfriend), you aren’t just changing your relationship status. You are
—both with each other and with the friend involved—to determine if the connection is worth the potential loss of a lifelong friendship.