Submitted by Throwaway_23254345 t3_11a2yme in tifu
So, today I(M22) really messed up. I've been dating this amazing girl for a few months (let's call her J(F21)), and things have been going great. I and J talked about taking things to the next level and becoming exclusive, which was something I was definitely down for.
But here's the thing: I was still using a few dating apps. I wasn't actively seeking out anyone new, but I was still browsing and messaging people from time to time. I knew it wasn't fair to J, but I just couldn't seem to stop myself.
Finally, I decided to take the plunge and delete all the dating apps from my phone. I wanted to show my girlfriend that I was serious about our relationship and that I was ready to take things to the next level.
For a few days, everything was going great. J and I were getting even closer, and I felt like we were really building something special. But then, disaster struck.
I was sitting at my desk working when I heard my phone buzz. I glanced over and saw that it was a notification from one of the dating apps I thought I had deleted. My heart sank.
I tried to ignore it and go back to work, but I just couldn't stop thinking about it. Who had messaged me? Was it someone I talked to or a new match? I couldn't resist and I opened the app and saw that it was a message from a girl I had matched with a few weeks prior.
At this point, I was really torn. I knew I shouldn't respond, but I also didn't want to leave her hanging. So, I decided to send a quick message back, just to let her know that I wasn't interested anymore.
But before I could hit send, J walked into the room. She saw me from the back... asked me what was that and pointed to my phone.
I tried to play it cool and say it was just an old message I had forgotten about, but she wasn't buying it. She demanded to know why I still had the dating app on my phone, and that's when I knew I was screwed.
I came clean and told her that I had missed one of the apps when I deleted them all and that I had received a message from someone I had matched with before. I tried to explain that it didn't mean anything and that I was committed to her, but it was too late.
She was really upset. Even told me that she couldn't trust me and that she didn't want to be with someone who was still using dating apps. And just like that I lost her..
I feel like a complete idiot. I betrayed her and ruined something that could have been really special. I know I messed up big time, and I'm not sure if there's something I can do to regain her trust.
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TL;DR: Tried to become exclusive with my girlfriend by deleting dating apps, but missed one. Got a message and girlfriend found out and dumped me. I feel like a complete idiot for betraying her.