We had been dating for about a year and a half, and I had no idea where it was going. I wasn’t sure if Harry loved me or if I was just filling time in his life. I wanted to get married—I didn’t want to waste my youth in a relationship with no future. But how do you figure out if a man plans to marry you without coming off as desperate?

I didn’t have the confidence to confront Harry directly, so I started seeing someone else. Yes, I cheated. It wasn’t something I planned; it just... happened. My logic was simple: if Plan A didn’t work, then maybe Plan B would. That’s how I found myself in the chaotic position of dating two men at the same time.

Harry was my long-term partner, the one I shared a bed with. Laryea, on the other hand, was newer, exciting, and untouched—our relationship had never gone beyond the innocent stages of hand-holding and sweet conversations. Despite their differences, I didn’t know who truly loved me or who would stay with me in the end.

One night, overwhelmed by confusion, I confided in my best friend, Marilyn. She wasn’t exactly known for giving sage advice, but I was desperate. “I’m torn between two men,” I admitted, pacing the room. “I don’t know who loves me or who’s serious about me. How do I figure this out?”

Marilyn smirked, her face lighting up with a mischievous glint. “It’s simple. Tell them both you’re pregnant. Whoever denies responsibility is not the one for you.”

It was ridiculous. It was messy. But the more I thought about it, the more sense it made—or at least it did after I had a glass of wine and let Marilyn’s voice echo in my head. There was just one problem: I hadn’t been intimate with Laryea. He’d never even seen me undress. Still, I convinced myself to go through with it.

First, I called Laryea. My hands trembled as I dialed his number. He picked up after the first ring, his voice warm and eager.

“I’m pregnant,” I blurted out, skipping pleasantries.

Silence.

“Laryea?” I whispered, unsure if he was still on the line.

“I… I don’t understand,” he finally stammered. “We’ve never…”

“I know,” I interrupted. “I understand if this is too much for you. If you want to leave, I won’t hold it against you. Thank you for everything, but I guess this is goodbye.” My voice cracked on the last word, and I quickly hung up before he could respond.

Then came Harry. I steadied my breathing, dialed his number, and waited.

“Hey,” he answered casually.

“I’m pregnant,” I said, trying to sound composed but firm.

“What? How did that happen?”

“How do you think it happened, Harry?” I snapped. “We had sex, and now I’m pregnant. The question is, what are you going to do about it?”

There was a pause, but then he replied with certainty: “Wait for me. I’ll come over tonight.”

True to his word, he showed up that evening. He sat me down, looked me straight in the eye, and said, “I’ll go see your parents and take the dowry list. We’ll get married before anyone finds out. Are you okay with that?”

I nearly told him it was a prank right there, but his sincerity melted my heart. I nodded, tears pooling in my eyes. He kissed my forehead and left, and for a moment, I felt like I’d finally gotten what I wanted.

The next morning, my world turned upside down.

Laryea showed up at my door.

“What is the father saying?” he asked, his face etched with concern. “Did he deny responsibility?”

I hesitated. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine,” I mumbled, avoiding his gaze.

“I love you, Laura,” he said suddenly, his voice breaking. “You don’t have to do this alone. Just… just put the pregnancy on me, and I’ll take care of you. No one has to know it’s not mine.”

My mouth went dry. I stared at him, utterly speechless.

After he left, I called Marilyn again, desperate for guidance. “Marilyn, both of them stepped up. Now what?”

She laughed, completely unfazed. “What a lucky girl you are! Marry them both.”

Her joke didn’t help. I was spiraling. Harry had already started buying items from the dowry list. Laryea, meanwhile, kept pressuring me to introduce him to my family. I couldn’t take it anymore. The guilt was suffocating me.

I finally decided to come clean to Harry.

“Harry,” I said as I sat across from him, my hands trembling. “I lied. I’m not pregnant. I just wanted to know if you were serious about us, and I didn’t know how else to find out. I’m so sorry.”

He stared at me, his expression unreadable. Then, to my surprise, he burst into laughter.

“You’re unbelievable,” he said, shaking his head. “But you’re honest, and I love you for that. Let’s get married anyway.”

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Breaking things off with Laryea was harder. I told him I was marrying my “baby daddy.” He was devastated but still wished me well. “I’m happy for you,” he said, his voice heavy with sadness. I didn’t have the courage to tell him the truth.

Sometimes, I think about Laryea. He deserved better, and I pray he finds someone who can love him the way he loved me.

Getting “pregnant” for two men wasn’t easy, but in the end, it got me what I wanted. Or at least, that’s what I tell myself when I try to sleep at night.