This Guy Opened the Relationship to Chase a Younger Colleague, but Got Rejected While His Girlfriend Became the Most Popular Woman in Town

There is a specific genre of internet schadenfreude that hits sweeter than any dessert. It is the story of the arrogant partner who demands an open relationship, assuming they will be drowning in attention, only to realize the market value for their audacity is exactly zero. It happens constantly. A bored boyfriend thinks the grass is greener, opens the gate, and then watches in horror as his girlfriend is invited to a dozen picnics while he is standing alone in a pile of dirt. One boyfriend on Reddit just learned this lesson the hard way, and his humiliation is absolute gold.

The Original Poster (OP) and her boyfriend, both thirty-seven, had been together for three years. It was a standard, healthy relationship until six months ago when the boyfriend dropped a bombshell. He wanted to open the relationship up. He framed it as a mutual opportunity to date and sleep with other people. The OP was skeptical. She had been single for eight years prior to this relationship and wasn’t exactly itching to get back onto the apps.

After doing some research and thinking it over, she agreed to his request. They set some ground rules, the most important being a strict “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. If at any point it became uncomfortable, they could close it up. It seemed fair enough on paper. The boyfriend probably thought he had just won the lottery, envisioning a parade of women waiting to date him. He clearly forgot how dating apps actually work for men in their late thirties versus women.

Here is the reality check. The OP signed up and immediately got over five hundred likes within a few days. She started going on one or two dates a month and found herself actually enjoying the non-committal fun. She was thriving in this new dynamic that her boyfriend pushed for. She was respectful of the rules and didn’t rub it in his face. She just quietly enjoyed her newfound popularity.

But while the OP was living her best life, her boyfriend was apparently struggling. He couldn’t handle the mystery. While at his house, he violated her privacy by grabbing her phone off the kitchen counter. He scrolled through her dating apps and messages, and what he saw sent him into a jealous rage. To say he was angry is an understatement. But his anger revealed a pathetic truth that he had been hiding for six months.

Then came the confession that makes him the ultimate villain. He didn’t want an open relationship to explore his s*xuality or spice things up. He wanted a hall pass to pursue a younger colleague at work. He literally admitted he wanted to “test drive” this other woman to see if he could leave the OP for her. It was a classic monkey-branching attempt. He wanted to make sure he had a secure grip on the new girl before letting go of the OP.

But the universe has a wicked sense of humor. The younger colleague didn’t even know it was a date; she thought it was just a work lunch. She didn’t want him. In fact, it seems nobody wanted him. In six months, he has had zero action while the OP has a roster. He played a stupid game and lost in spectacular fashion. Now that his ego is bruised and his plan to upgrade failed, he is demanding they close the relationship immediately.

He wants to put the genie back in the bottle because he realized he is the only one losing. But the OP isn’t having it. She suggested ending things entirely or taking a break. He responded by calling her names, which is just the final tantrum of a man who realized he isn’t the prize he thought he was.

So is she the ahole? Absolutely not. NTA. This man tried to cheat with permission. He wanted to secure a backup plan before dumping you, but he slipped and fell flat on his face. He doesn’t love you; he just doesn’t want to be alone. You responded perfectly. Walk away, OP, and maybe take one of those nice dating app matches out to celebrate your freedom.