For a considerable period, I was deeply infatuated with a particular guy, but regrettably, he was in a relationship. Eventually, he and his girlfriend parted ways, and he initiated a romantic relationship with me. Initially, I believed that fate had worked in my favor, but as it turns out, I was merely a tool in his manipulative plan.

1. He told me that he was the one who dumped his girlfriend but it was actually the other way around

At first, he claimed that he ended things with his girlfriend because they had been drifting apart, and he developed feelings for me. I trusted him initially, but later a mutual friend informed me that his girlfriend was the one who dumped him. Although it was strange that he lied, I dismissed it, assuming that he was ashamed of the truth.

2. He moved way too quickly and seemed to be in a hurry to get serious

Although I had a genuine fondness for this guy, I wasn't eager to rush into a committed relationship with him. I simply wanted to spend time with him and get to know him better. However, he quickly announced to our acquaintances that we were a couple and started sharing photos of me on social media, referring to me as his "perfect girlfriend." It was an uncomfortable and overly hasty move.

3. He never wanted to stay in

I enjoy both going out and staying in, but sometimes, I just want to relax at home and watch some Netflix, you know? Unfortunately, that wasn't an option in our relationship. He insisted on going out to bars, restaurants, and parties every night, almost always with friends. When I asked him why we couldn't just stay in and take it easy, he would dismissively laugh and say something like he wanted to show me off, which I knew was just a BS excuse.

4. When we were out, he always seemed distracted

At gatherings where our friends were present, I noticed that he seemed preoccupied and frequently scanned the area. It didn't take me long to realize that he was searching for someone, specifically his ex-girlfriend. He was always eager to bump into her while we were out or attend the same parties, hoping for a chance encounter.

5. We never had meaningful conversations

During the few weeks that we were together, I sensed that he wasn't interested in getting to know me on a profound emotional level. Despite being eager to establish a committed relationship, he didn't show any interest in my life beyond our relationship, such as my family, friends, or hobbies. Our relationship felt superficial, and I grew tired of it quickly.

6. He talked about his ex-girlfriend nonstop

Initially, he would casually mention her in conversation, but it was just minor details. At first, I didn't think much of it, assuming it was unintentional. However, as our relationship progressed, he began talking about her more and more until it became a daily occurrence. It got to a point where I couldn't stand hearing her name anymore, so I asked him why he kept bringing her up. To my surprise, he became incredibly defensive and accused me of overreacting, which was quite bizarre.

7. We ran into her once and it was so bad

During a night out at a bar, we coincidentally encountered his ex-girlfriend and her friends. It was a complete mess. He began showering me with public displays of affection, flaunting me around the bar while gradually inching closer to her and her friends. It became apparent that his only objective that night was to make her envious, but I didn't realize at the time that it was the whole purpose of our relationship for him.

8. When he found out that she'd started dating someone else, it was explosive

After discovering that his ex-girlfriend was in a new relationship through social media, he became furious and visibly jealous. I confronted him directly and asked if he still had feelings for her, but he simply denied it, growing increasingly defensive. It was then that I finally realized the truth: I wasn't just his rebound, which was bad enough, but rather a tool he was using to attempt to win back his ex-girlfriend's affection.

9. I broke up with him right then and there

During his jealous outburst, I knew I had to leave the relationship immediately. I couldn't continue to be with someone who was using me selfishly, knowing my feelings towards him. I told him that he needed to work on his issues alone and I wasn't going to wait around for him. Despite his attempts to persuade me to stay, telling me he truly cared about me and wasn't using me, I knew it was all a lie. My feelings for him vanished in an instant.

10. It felt good to be so secure in my worth

Leaving that relationship was a liberating experience. Although I briefly mourned the idea of who he pretended to be, as soon as his true nature was revealed, I felt disgusted. I'd rather be single than waste my time with someone like him, and I look forward to finding someone who will value and treat me the way I deserve in a relationship.