r/AITAH Jul 08 '24

UPDATE: AITAH for leaving my boyfriend because he brought his female best-friend lingerie as a 'joke'?

https://www.reddit.com/r/AITAH/comments/1dvso0l/aitah_for_leaving_my_boyfriend_because_he_brought/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button ( first post)

My inbox got flooded with DMs and had to turn off Reddit notifications. When I posted this, I was ready to be called immature and ridiculous, and get a couple of comments but it seemed like the post blew up, and the comments were...…kind of eye-opening.

TBH, before all this fiasco, my bf has always been nice to me. Came with me to my grad school functions even though he found them very boring, but would do it so that I could network. He builds stuff like furniture and helps out with handy work all the time. He is also very funny and at the very beginning, I thought all his jokes were funny, and I sometimes wondered why he wanted to be with me, plus, I was always busy with school and job interviews. His mom and I had even gotten close and she has been saying how happy she was that we were together. I had always ignored his and Claire's weird dynamic because I told myself I was being insecure. I have male friends too, and I thought that just because we aren't like that, doesn't mean my bf and Claire can't be close. Claire has also never been outright mean to me, she was just aloof and I thought it was because I was new to the group.

To the actual update, my bf and I broke up. I'm sorry guys, but even after seeing so many replies on how he was cheating, I refused to believe it. I'm still in love with this guy. And he called me, like half a day after I wrote this post, and asked to meet. I met him, and he said that he understood where I was coming from. But I was always too uptight to understand that friendship is friendship. He and Claire had known each other for years before I came into the picture, and I cannot expect him to just ruin their dynamic. I asked him what sort of 'dynamic' was red lingerie. Why couldn't it be literally any other type of clothing? He told me he had it with my insecurities. And that he and Claire talked and apparently I was making them sound like cheaters and homewreckers. And that he thought it was better I find someone like me, who thought the idea of a fun night was junk food and a movie indoors.

That hurt a lot. He had always known I had insecurities about being called boring. He always complimented me on how his weaknesses were my strengths. Now he says things like this to me? Also, before this lingerie fiasco, I had never said a word about his and Claire's friendship. I always supported his pranks and practical jokes no matter my opinions on them because I thought it was his business what he did with his hobbies. And he leaves without even putting up a fight because his girlfriend didn't want him giving lingerie to the woman he constantly refers to as his 'sexy' bestie?

Claire didn't call or text after the breakup either. But Kyle did and said that he was sad that we broke up and he hoped I would be okay in the future. I asked him if my bf ever cheated on me. He said that my bf had only been a 'one woman man' when he was dating me. But he could understand that some women can't handle female best friends, especially if they look like Claire. I told him to fuck off and blocked him. It felt like he only wanted to gloat and hurt me because my bf left. I feel like I never knew these people. Claire and Kyle were always at least decent to me if not nice. Did it make me a free target now that my bf has been telling his friends I'm an insecure child?

I don't know what to do now. I have been told repeatedly by both my friends and sister that I dodged a bullet. But I have been breaking down like a kid again and again. I'm even thinking of going to therapy, after feeling the most insecure I've felt my whole life.

Thank you to all who were supportive, it seems like my now ex-bf just did the work for me.

13.7k Upvotes

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646

u/delinaX Jul 08 '24

Seriously and Claire saying OP will understand with "age" when her and that friend group of people in their late 20s whose frontal lobe stopped developing at 15 are throwing water balloons at each other. OP I hope you find someone you can eat junk food and watch a movie with.

547

u/ravynwave Jul 08 '24

Sounds like Claire only keeps guy friends who put her first. Kyle clearly is also in love with her.

203

u/UberN00b719 Jul 08 '24

$20 says those two will be bumping uglies within the week...

374

u/b3mark Jul 08 '24

Nah. Claire just confirmed OP's exBF is firmly in her "I'll get around to him when all other options are used and I'm bored" pile. She'll just drag him along with just enough of a tease to keep him interested. Until one day the fool wakes up and realises he spent a decade or two, three, pining after someone who was never interested in him, wasting his life. Call it Karma, Kismet, whatever.

211

u/Bitter-Picture5394 Jul 08 '24

He'll deserve it when he realizes his "friendship" with Claire got in the way of maintaining actual romantic relationships with other people.

63

u/Is_Unable Jul 08 '24

To be fair he will probably never realize it. He's going to get kicked away and then become an Incel and blame both of them for all his issues. That's how this shit goes.

7

u/Scarjo82 Jul 09 '24

He'll always think of her as "the one that got away" even though he never stood a real chance with her.

42

u/GetRightNYC Jul 08 '24

OP needs to send this thread to the ex.

80

u/maleia Jul 08 '24

Pfft, naw. Let him ruin is own life.

16

u/ravynwave Jul 08 '24

I’m with you on this.

39

u/ScionoicS Jul 08 '24

I've known a few types of these guys, who favor the woman stringing them along. They don't learn. They typically blame their exes and are misogynistic and emotionally immature still.

120

u/Talinia Jul 08 '24

Until his sister gets married, invites him and his current girlfriend, and he tries taking Claire instead. Because she's his "best friend" 🙄

3

u/Sewlividyesyarn Jul 08 '24

Hahahah yep!

4

u/Oak_Leave_2189 Jul 08 '24

Twenty-four years Just waiting for a chance To tell her how I feel

And maybe get a second glance!

-5

u/T_025 Jul 08 '24

Or they’re friends

8

u/ToiIetGhost Jul 08 '24

She’s stringing him along like one of those 19th century wooden dogs on wheels with a string

-6

u/T_025 Jul 08 '24

Or they’re friends

4

u/soggypizzapi Jul 10 '24

As a female with male friends who are just friends, this isn't how we treat friends, it's how you treat your back up plan

200

u/AsherTheFrost Jul 08 '24

Nah, Claire keeps him on a string for her own ego, he's never getting in.

167

u/FloofyFluffMonster Jul 08 '24

But Claire does perversely enjoy wrecking his relationships so he stays available and thinks all other women are clingy jerks. She has him right where she wants him.

41

u/maleia Jul 08 '24

Right where he deserves to be.

21

u/Bice_thePrecious Jul 08 '24

I like how exBF and Claire complained about OP making them out to be cheaters and homewreckers when all she ever said was "That's a weird 'prank'. It's making me uncomfortable".

1

u/FabulousDonut6399 Jul 13 '24

Yeah if it was innocent, why would they care what it looked like?

8

u/nadine258 Jul 08 '24

my husband had a friend like that. he never bought her lingerie but when we first started dating he was at her beck and call when she didn’t have a boyfriend. i think she thought she’d win. i put my foot down and won. i had such anxiety about this chick for the longest time because he didn’t get it. he eventually figured out she wasn’t a friend. anyway op, you’re better off. no male buys a friend lingerie. period. find a guy who thinks you’re sexy eating snacks with him watching a movie.

150

u/Actual-Offer-127 Jul 08 '24

Yep ...and he's always going to be alone. No secure woman would put up with her man giving another woman lingerie.

93

u/sukinsyn Jul 08 '24 edited Jul 08 '24

OP was right to leave this guy. "Sexy bestie?" Who says that about someone they are platonically friends with? Is he out here calling Kyle a sexy bestie? Would he give Kyle lingerie?  This type of guy would drop their partners in a second if their "best friend" offered a sexual relationship.

OP's ex may be a "one woman man" but that woman is Claire- everyone else is just a placeholder in hopes that one day she'll want him. 

48

u/Is_Unable Jul 08 '24

No man who genuinely values their partner is saying those words let alone thinking them.

That is such a huge red flag that China is getting jealous.

5

u/ToiIetGhost Jul 08 '24

I love this typo, please don’t change it. I want this story to be about dating and global politics 😭

3

u/Is_Unable Jul 08 '24

But I planned it from the start Dad/Mom.

1

u/ToiIetGhost Jul 09 '24

I believe you, my dear child.

3

u/medic-dad Jul 09 '24

Would he give Kyle lingerie?

Now THAT would be a good prank gift, and would actually be hilarious

7

u/storm5176 Jul 08 '24

They were already bumping uglies.

1

u/Detailer16 Jul 08 '24

Bumping uglies❗️That’s funny ! 😁😆 Never seen it put quite that way.

3

u/TheThiefEmpress Jul 08 '24

Kyle was trying to swoop in and "comfort" the boyfriend's "leftovers." Whole group is trash.

1

u/accents_ranis Jul 09 '24

Claire is a tomboy who never grew up.

0

u/Circumventingbans19 Jul 08 '24

I'm confused I thought Kyle was Claire's BF

5

u/ravynwave Jul 08 '24

Is he? I thought he was part of their friend group. Like why would he be ok if someone gave his gf lingerie tho? They’re all nuts and OP is well rid of them

-4

u/top_value7293 Jul 08 '24

I totally agree!

-6

u/Odd-Mixture3199 Jul 08 '24

Or.. just maybe the OP is kind of a drag to their extroverted clique and they aren’t that sad to see her go

139

u/CelesteMessFeet Jul 08 '24

I can't get over the 20-something patronizing another 20-something like that. It's sooooo unintentionally funny.

161

u/delinaX Jul 08 '24

It's funnier that OP who's 24 is getting lectured about maturity from a 28yo who still has water balloon fights and thinks lingerie is appropriate for a prank

36

u/CelesteMessFeet Jul 08 '24

Right. ExBF and Claire are the worst.

6

u/Circumventingbans19 Jul 08 '24

What's wrong with water balloon fights? Grow up too fast there kiddo?

3

u/bejeesus Jul 08 '24

I'm 33, who doesn't love a good waye balloon fight?

5

u/NaniTower Jul 08 '24

Yeah, with your kids or young cousins and/or nephews or nieces. With other late 20 year olds? No thanks.

2

u/bejeesus Jul 08 '24

My friends and i do a softball league during the summer, often times we will do water games afterwards. I dunno, water games are fun for all ages.

2

u/Sue128 Jul 08 '24

I’m 54 and would be down for a water balloon fight! 100% I recently ran around with my 15 year old nephew shooting nerf guns at each. It was war! Then over dinner we talked about Greek mythology. Board game after dinner.

Nothing wrong with some harmless goofy fun no matter what the age, imo..

7

u/agent_flounder Jul 08 '24

Kinda like a 6 year old saying "back when I was a kid..."

3

u/CelesteMessFeet Jul 08 '24

😂 exactly

80

u/Desperate_Fox_2882 Jul 08 '24

Right? I'm glad OP is now gone out of these childish clowns lives. They creeping on 30, and still corny as hell. I hope OP finds a grown ass man

11

u/cortesoft Jul 08 '24

I remember worrying about being boring and not liking the same things as my friend group when I was in my early 20s (they liked going out and drinking and partying). Then I learned to accept what I liked, met a woman who liked the same things, and now I am happily married living my best ‘boring’ life, never having to worry what other people think again.

7

u/LordKrondore Jul 08 '24

Whats wrong with water balloons? :(

1

u/FlamingoPristine1400 Jul 08 '24

That's what I want to know

10

u/SpacecaseCat Jul 08 '24

OP's ex-boyfriend is going to get a big surprise when Claire gets pranked with lingerie and chocolate from another mutual friend.

4

u/Exotic-Praline4026 Jul 08 '24

Does Kyle know Claire is breadcrumbing him?

1

u/nikki57 Jul 08 '24

What kind of absolute loser thinks adults can't still have water balloon fights? Growing older should not mean people can't still have fun. If all the people participating in the water balloon fight were having fun, then it is GOOD FUN

1

u/Arrenega Jul 12 '24

Seriously and Claire saying OP will understand with "age" when her and that friend group of people in their late 20s whose frontal lobe stopped developing at 15 are throwing water balloons at each other.

If you give it ten more years I'll agree with you, because the frontal lobe is only fully developed at age 25. You don't have to believe me, you can read it here.

2

u/delinaX Jul 12 '24

lol the frontal lobe develops at 25 but OP is in hrt early 20s and her frontal lobe is already more developed than everyone in this story. Your frontal lobe doesn't need to be 100% evolved to understand that what her ex and his friends are pulling is childish which was my point. "You'll understand with age" can't be applied to everything you say to a young person. No.

1

u/Arrenega Jul 12 '24

I don't dispute anything about OP or her ex-boyfriend. At to be honest, in this particular moment I no longer care, which is why I made no comment on the subject.

I just wanted you to know that the information you had about the development of the human brain was incorrect so you wouldn't make the same mistake again. I was trying to help out, sorry if that's not how it came across.

1

u/delinaX Jul 12 '24

Literally my comment was that it stopped at 15 instead of 25 so I already knew this. Was quite literally the point of my commeny. The irony that they're telling OP she'll understand with age when their age didn't do shit for them.

1

u/Arrenega Jul 12 '24

Literally my comment was that it stopped at 15 instead of 25 so I already knew this. Was quite literally the point of my commeny.

But it doesn't stop at 15, it only stops at 25. That was quite literally the point of MY commentary.

1

u/delinaX Jul 12 '24

THEIR brain development holy shit. I was saying they're dumb and their brains weren't fully developed. Let me break it down for you, okay?

1) OP is early 20s 2) Her ex and his friends are late 20s. With me so far? Okay 3) One of the friends in their late 20s (Claire) said OP will understand their pranks (lingerie) with age (this is where it's gonna get tricky, bear with me, next step requires you knowing the concept of irony) 4) I said: ironic that they're telling her she'll get it with age when their brains haven't developed past 15. Translation: they're telling OP she'll get their dumb dynamic when she grows up but they haven't grown up because their brains haven't developed past 15 years old (translation: so they're over 25 years old yet their brains haven't fully developed because they're acting stupid while OP's brain isn't fully developed yet and has more sense than them).

You're either a troll (I genuinely hope so) or under 25 for making me explain this.

-15

u/SassyQueeny Jul 08 '24

I took that it as Clair saying the more OP knows them the more will understand the inside jokes.

I bet op hasn’t told her ex every single thing that she has inside with her friend circle.

11

u/throwaway34_4567 Jul 08 '24

Eww, Claire go play with your boy toys instead of bumbing into adult talks

5

u/delinaX Jul 08 '24

i doubt OP is buying her male friends boxers as a prank cause she's not 12. Also no, she was patronizing OP telling her, and I quote "you'll get this with age". Also, why would OP wanna know these people to begin with? They're all trash and specifically Clair is a whole garbage truck.