went on a cruise and met a really cute guy my age. He approached me, wanted to dance, though out the week we played chess, talked about books, flirtedHe also attempted to put all his socials into my phone and on the last day of the cruise, found out he's in a relationship.

I had a friend whom I deeply cared for, and we were in a FWB (Friends with Benefits) relationship for almost two years. I had pursued him for the same duration. Initially, I was content with our FWB arrangement because I genuinely liked him. He was kind, considerate, and even my travel companion. However, I decided to end it because I began to believe he was primarily interested in the physical aspect of our relationship. He would often send mixed signals – being affectionate one day and distant the next. I was willing to be patient and wait for him, hoping for assurance that our relationship could evolve into a committed one. But as time passed, and with no clear commitment from his side, I grew tired of chasing him. Consequently, I ventured into a dating app, where I found someone who was caring and considerate. After some time, we decided to become boyfriend and girlfriend. During this period, I convinced myself that I had moved on from my previous love, especially since we hadn't been in touch for several days. However, recently, he invited me and my cousin to a get-together. While we were eating, he accidentally noticed my messages on my phone but didn't comment on them at the time. Later, when I got home, he messaged me, saying, "You should have told me you had a boyfriend. I wanted to court you, but someone beat me to it." This revelation stirred up all the emotions I had been attempting to suppress. It's been a week since then, and I am still in a relationship with my current boyfriend. However, I am feeling confused, uneasy, guilty, and uncertain about the situation.

• October 1, 2023