All because I liked a boy.

Hey everyone, this is my first time posting, and I really need some perspective on this situation. Deep down, I know what I probably need to do, but I need to hear it from others.

So, I (17F) started talking to this guy (19M) about three weeks ago. We met because he randomly added me on Snapchat. One night, I jokingly told him he should come say hi (it was 2 AM), and to my surprise, he actually showed up. We had a really fun time together, and after that, we decided to keep seeing each other.

Early on, he told me that he had just ended things with his ex but that he really liked me and could see us having a relationship in the future. I thought that sounded promising, so I kept seeing him. We quickly started spending time together almost every day. After about a week, we kissed, and a week later, we slept together.

Yesterday, we had plans to go to the Christmas market together, but he texted me saying he’d be late because he was helping a friend fix his car. I decided to grab some coffee while I waited. But while I was walking around, I saw him with his friend buying supplies for the car. At that moment, I felt reassured because I’d been a little paranoid he might be seeing someone else, and this confirmed he wasn’t lying—at least, so I thought.

Fast forward: I waited for him in the cold for three hours. I called and texted him multiple times, but he didn’t respond and had even turned off his location. Eventually, I gave up and texted him that I was heading home. He later replied, apologizing, which was nice, but I was still upset.

After dinner, I decided to meet some friends at a café, but they ended up being at a friend’s house instead. On my way there, guess who I saw? The guy I’ve been seeing—walking with his arm around another girl. I was shocked. This was the same guy who told me he was “fixing a car.” I didn’t see them kiss or anything, but I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

I panicked and called him again. No answer. So I left him a very calm and understanding voicemail (just kidding, it was not calm). I went to my friends’ house, crying, and told them everything. In the heat of the moment, I drank half a bottle of wine in about five minutes and called him again. This time, he picked up. I said, “Should I tell her, or are you going to?” He started apologizing, but I demanded he come over and explain everything to me in person.

When he showed up, he admitted that the girl I saw him with was his ex. He said they had broken up two weeks ago and that being with me was his way of trying to move on from her. He apologized and said it’s been hard for him to let go. Despite everything, I told him I still wanted to see him (yes, I know how dumb this sounds now) but warned him that if he lied to me again, I’d be done.

Later that night, I found his ex’s Instagram and decided to DM her. She told me that they had actually broken up just two days ago because she caught him texting me and other girls. I told her that he and I had slept together the day before. She was furious and immediately called him.

He then called me, begging me not to tell her we’d slept together. I panicked and lied to her, saying I made it up just to get a reaction out of her. I apologized to her, but I feel horrible about it.

Somehow, after all this, I ended up at his house again. We talked and decided we were going to keep seeing each other, but I told him that I’m done if I catch him lying again.

I know how ridiculous this sounds. I know I deserve better. Tomorrow, I plan to set firm boundaries with him, but honestly, I need to hear from you all—please don’t hold back. I need to know why I shouldn’t keep seeing him and why I need to move on for good. Be brutally honest.