The Favor to Ask

John's phone rang, shrill in the morning silence. He groggily picked it up, hoping it wasn't another female colleague or acquaintance calling to flirt or ask for a favor. But when he heard his best friend Mike's voice on the other end, he felt a wave of relief wash over him. "Hey, man, need a favor," Mike said, sounding more desperate than John had ever heard him before. John sat up in bed, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "What's up?" he asked, already knowing that he wouldn't be able to say no to Mike. "It's Sophia," Mike said, mentioning the name of a woman he had been crushing on for months. "I've been trying to get her to go out with me, but she just won't give me the time of day. I was wondering if you could help me out." John sighed inwardly. He knew that Sophia was a beautiful and charming woman, and he had met her a few times at social gatherings. He also knew that she had a reputation for being a bit of a tease, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to get involved in Mike's pursuit of her. "What did you have in mind?" John asked warily. "I was thinking maybe you could talk to her, put in a good word for me," Mike said, his voice full of hope. John hesitated. He didn't want to get involved in Mike's love life, but at the same time, he didn't want to hurt his friend's feelings. "I'll try," he said finally. "But no promises, okay?" Mike sounded relieved. "Thanks, man. I owe you one." John agreed to meet Sophia and Mike for coffee, hoping that he could help his friend out without getting too entangled in the situation himself. When they arrived at the coffee shop, Sophia was already there, sipping on a latte and looking stunning in a yellow sundress. As John introduced Mike to Sophia, he couldn't help but feel a little awkward. Sophia seemed friendly and interested in talking to Mike, but John could tell that she was also flirting shamelessly with him. As they chatted, John found himself getting increasingly uncomfortable. Sophia was making it clear that she was interested in him, and Mike seemed oblivious to the fact that his friend was being pulled into the conversation. John tried to steer the conversation towards Mike, but Sophia kept finding ways to steer it back to himself. She asked him about his job, his hobbies, and his interests, and John found himself feeling like he was being interviewed for a date. As the coffee date drew to a close, John realized that he had to think fast. He couldn't let Sophia continue to flirt with him, not when Mike was standing right there, hoping to get a chance with her. "Hey, Sophia, it was great talking to you," John said, trying to sound friendly but firm. "But I think Mike and I should let you get back to your day. We don't want to take up too much of your time." Sophia smiled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "It was great talking to you too, John," she said. "Maybe we can catch up again sometime?" John felt a surge of panic. He didn't want to encourage Sophia's flirting, but at the same time, he didn't want to hurt her feelings. "I'd like that," he said finally, trying to sound noncommittal. As they parted ways, John turned to Mike and said, "Well, I think it's safe to say that Sophia is interested in me." Mike looked crestfallen. "Really? I thought she was into me too." John sighed. "I think she's into both of us, to be honest. But I think we should just leave it alone. She's not worth the hassle." Mike nodded, looking dejected. "You're right. I guess I'll just have to move on." John clapped his friend on the back. "Don't worry, man. There are plenty of other fish in the sea. You'll find someone who's right for you." But as they walked out of the coffee shop, John couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. He had just gotten himself into a complicated situation, and he wasn't sure how he was going to get out of it.