I believe it is more than a Hollywood trend that relationships between men in our cosmopolitan society have reached the next level of intimacy, but in a questionably non-sexual context of late. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck previously put it on Broadway. Matthew McConaughey and Lance Armstrong frequently sport in it. If you think metrosexual, or even ubersexual, is already a groundbreaking new male breed, be prepared to up the dosage, seeing double is believing - welcome to the Bromance era!

As you might have observed from the puzzle of the world's hottest combo-couples - like Brangelina and Bennifer - Bromance is combination of the words *brother' and *romance'. It's a close relationship between two bros to the point where they start to seem like a couple. It's also describes the complicated love and affection shared by two straight males, in a way no woman could ever realize. But the term has gained currency in describing such relationships when one of the men is suspiciously, well, gay.

My gal friend couldn't be more questioning when we were at the gym and saw so many male couples sharing intimate moments exercising together. They look straight, but are a bit too softie to be considered butch. Their lips are shinier than the latest lush lip-gloss from Body Shop, their armpits are smoother than whatever female celebrity is on the latest life-sized Rexona poster, and they speak gently while supporting each other's weightlifting. The question is: are those dumbbells the only thing they lift together, or do they also support each other's balls in a blooming bromance?

"Are the gay?" my gal friend questioned me with her nose up, sniffing the air like an investigative detective dog.

"No, they are not, but I don't think your tight hot pants would be in their interest either. They're of the new asexual generation, they love themselves more than anything. Look at how groomed they are, despite the fact that they're sweating." Being a cosmopolitan psychic I tried to calm her curiosity down. "But somehow they find more safety in same sex companionship rather than experiencing fringe elements from relationships with the opposite sex."

"What the hell are fringe elements from an opposite sex relationship?" she asked.

It's a riddle that requires deeper understanding, but it's quite interesting matter why many modern men, especially good looking ones, find more comfort with other good looking fellow men, rather than being with girls. Has hetero-cosmopolitos sexual attraction fallen and been replaced by new bond of brotherhood?

One thing that we can say for sure about the modern mans' way of thinking is that it can be quite complicated when it comes to the idea of a man-woman relationship. Many of them suffer from "urban trauma", leaving them less than convinced regarding commitment. And to have one night stands is so 5-minutes-ago. Many guys would rather play it safe, avoid gonorrhea as well as the *fatal attraction' effect, when the girl is so clingy and expects more than just simple fun.

While women demand more of a commitment, men go for freedom. Perhaps it's a trait from childhood that men like to go play with their buddies without wanting to ever hear mum screaming for lunch or dinner? It's also very sporty that they don't feel uncomfortable splitting every bill from their bro-outing activities, so they always have sufficient funds to indulge themselves more. Plus the entire supply of narcissist, egocentric men's magazines detailing successful careers, silky skin, toned bodies and a flair for fashion results in what we are seeing: the metrosexual population is multiplying.

Will it be just a short trend? Is it a hidden desire? Is it lust? Is it fashion? Or simply confusion? Well, be a stranger no more to the new stylish guy bonds. They can be totally inseparable genuine bffs, in a mixed gay-straight relationship (hobromance), or simply just a teaser, giving us a vision of *double trouble,' rather than being single and a grumble. But hold your drool ladies; it won't be that easy to step in between their hot bromance, as they are probably suppressing their sexual confusion.

As they say, all's fair in love and war. The love between two bros is a bond of mutual respect and deep understanding of essential manliness. So get ready to witness bromance on lots of sweaty exercise machines at your gym, at football games, in salon and beauty centers, shopping malls and bar brawls. They even share their emotional breakdowns without necessarily sticking their noses in each others' crotch. Ah, isn't it bromantic, don't you think?

-Diaz

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