When we started dating, I doubted if he loved me as he claimed because it didn’t feel like it. He wouldn’t call like he used to when we were just friends. We weren’t spending time together like we used to; it was as if, once I accepted his proposal, everything moved from 100 to 5. It was strange and, even more frustrating, I started to complain.

“Did you regret proposing or something? Have you changed your mind? How dare you make me fall in love and then treat me like this?”

One night, he came over and apologized. We kissed and made up. Then, we made love and spoke about the future. I was happy that things were finally falling into place. But when he left my place that night, it turned out to be the last time I ever saw him. He broke up with me via text.

To say I was hurt would be an understatement. It was a mixture of emotions that I cannot explain. I was so hurt that I couldn’t take men seriously anymore. I couldn’t feel anything for anyone, so I said yes to anyone who proposed. That’s how I ended up with about six boyfriends. Some I had even forgotten about, but life was good with so many boyfriends. I was getting money, gifts, trips — you name it! Life was this good with so many men, and I had been crying over one? Silly me.

Some of the men left, but I didn’t care because if one left, three more would come. The best part was that I felt nothing for them — not even pity. It was all fun and games for me until I started falling for Mike. I don’t know how it happened, but it started to happen, and it scared me. My love for Mike startled me. I cut off all my boyfriends, and it was down to three men standing. They weren’t willing to back down, even after I tried my best to push them away. Mike, Eddie, and Fred still stayed. I was scared. I wanted them to go away, but they wouldn’t.

One Valentine’s Day, they decided to surprise me — at the same time. That was it. I was home when Fred came with gifts. I was happy. We were indoors chatting when Eddie also came, bearing gifts. There was an awkward silence. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Mike also arrived. I was embarrassed, but I tried to wear a smile. The good thing was that I wasn’t sleeping with any of them; otherwise, it would have been very awkward for me.

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I had a PS5, so I asked if we could play some games in an attempt to diffuse the tension in the room. I know I sounded ridiculous. They stared at me as if I was crazy, but then Fred agreed to play, and Eddie also agreed. Mike left. We had fun before they decided to go home. That night, my relationships with those two ended, and I understood. But Mike lingered. When they left, he came back.

“So, did you ever love me?” he asked.

Shamefully, I nodded.

“So, why?”

“Because when a person is hurt, they hurt other people too,” I replied.

“So, will you ever heal?”

I smiled. “I think tonight healed me. I feel better now.”

Surprisingly, Mike stayed. I don’t know why, but he did. We are still here. Sometimes we fight, and I start missing all my boyfriends, but then I love Mike, so I behave myself. But should we ever break up, I may have three boyfriends again. It was fun while it lasted.