B1-10 / CEFR B1 / EPISODE 10

The Ex Saga

Setting a boundary about friendships

SceneFrank and Tina are taking a study break in Tina's room. Their books are still open on the table.

The friends talking over a notebook at home.
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STORY English with optional Japanese translations

Narrator

Frank and Tina are taking a study break in Tina's room. Their books are still open on the table.

フランクとティナは、ティナの部屋で勉強の休憩をしている。テーブルには本が開いたまま置かれている。

Tina01

My ex was jealous of you, you know.

元カレ、あなたに嫉妬してたのよ。

Frank02

Me? Why?

僕に?どうして?

Tina03

We'd been studying together. He called it a date.

私たち、一緒に勉強してたでしょ。彼はあれをデートだって言ってたの。

Frank04

We spent two hours on one page.

1ページに2時間かけてたのに。

Tina05

I told him we were just friends. He still wanted me to stop seeing you.

ただの友達だって伝えたわ。それでも、あなたに会うのをやめてほしいって。

Frank06

Even after you explained?

説明しても?

Tina07

Yes. He said, "It's him or me."

うん。「あいつか、俺か」って。

Frank08

What did you say?

何て答えたの?

Tina09

"You don't get to choose my friends." That's when we broke up.

「私の友達をあなたが決めるのは違うでしょ」って。それで別れたの。

Frank10

I'm sorry. I didn't know.

つらかったね。知らなかったよ。

Tina11

You didn't do anything wrong, Frank.

あなたは何も悪くないのよ、フランク。

Frank12

Still... two hours on one page. I'm hardly exciting company.

それにしても……1ページに2時間だよ。僕といても、そんなに楽しくないと思うけど。

Tina13

Exactly. On a date, I'd leave after ten minutes of that.

そうよ。デートであんな調子なら、10分で帰るわ。

WORDS & CONTEXT

Words & context

“He still wanted me to stop seeing you.”

Here see means to meet or spend time with someone. Although see someone can mean to date them in American English, here the boyfriend wanted Tina to stop meeting Frank. It does not mean merely looking at him.

“It's him or me.”

It's A or B. can force a choice between two alternatives. Tina's ex-boyfriend demanded that she choose Frank or him.

“You don't get to choose my friends.”

Don't get to … denies someone the right to decide, more explicitly challenging their authority than can't. Tina firmly says that choosing her friends is her decision, rather than his.