My boyfriend and I have a dumb tradition and it finally went too far.
By @noelkay · Relationships
We have this stupid, long-running 'war' where we try to make each other flinch. It started with little things, but his latest move has me questioning everything.
The full story
My boyfriend and I have been together for three years, and for probably two and a half of those years we've had this ongoing, dumb 'war' to see who can make the other person flinch or jump the most. It started out harmlessly, like hiding behind a door or grabbing the other's ankle from under the bed. Just stupid, harmless stuff. But it's escalated. Last month, I put a very realistic-looking fake spider in his car, and he almost crashed. they said that was too far, but I argued it was fair game. So he said 'okay, bet.' Fast forward to last night. I'm getting ready for bed, and I walk into our bedroom... and he's lying perfectly still on the floor in the dark. I didn't see him at first and I almost tripped. I scream, and he doesn't move. I turn on the light, and he's just... lying there. Face down. Not moving. I start to panic for real, thinking he fell and hit his head. I'm shaking him, yelling his name, about to call 911. And THEN he jumps up and yells 'GOTCHA!' I was so relieved but also so mad. He thought it was the funniest thing ever, the grand finale of the flinch war. they says he 'won' and it's over now. Part of me thinks it's hilarious but the other part of me is like, you can't just play dead!
How people voted
- Totally Cooked — 52% (11 votes)
- It’s Complicated — 29% (6 votes)
- You’re Fine — 19% (4 votes)
Readers say “Totally Cooked” (52%) — 21 votes and 5 comments so far.
What people are saying
@nathanok — Grand finale. Respect.
@hollyish — nah he won fair and square
@mildlyobsessed — This is a classic case of escalating behavior that ignores emotional impact for the sake of 'winning'.
@oscarforsure — Marriage material right there.
@remyee — Oh sweetie, that would have given me a heart attack. It's okay to be upset even if he didn't mean to cause real panic.
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