Looking back 8 years ago, I see myself as someone who understands relationships like fairytales. Love stories always had happy endings and 3rd parties either end up gone or happy too. But seeing things now, as an adult by age, relationships aren't anything close to being the ones I read in colorful books.

"It's challenging" according to some boys who call themselves men. So is it a game?

We all know how the cycle often goes. The guy sees the girl. He then 'falls' for her at first sight or because of something more meaningful that mere sight. Since he has 'fallen', he'd make his move through courtship. Most girls would make the guys wait before giving in but some won't care about waiting and immediately say yes. After being an official couple, there is where the game begins. The challenge is to keep the relationship as healthy and happy as it could be. But what are its rules?

Rules (I learned by bitter experience):

1. LIARS GO TO HELL. You shouldn't lie about anything your partner wishes to know. Every answer requires 100% truth in it and every single lie you make adds up to your list of mistakes that could possibly cause a break up.
2. FULL SUPPORT. You must be the 1st person to be there for your partner both in good times and bad times. Your presence in every important event makes you a part of such meaningful memory. Absence sometimes lessens the affection due to lack of attention.
3. CHEATERS NEVER WIN. You can never ever love two persons at the same time or at least not with the same amount of love. Either way, it's wrong emotionally and physically. Most cheaters that were loved by extremely serious people end up being far more broken than the ones they toyed. *You could call that karma.

Speaking of cheating, what do you call the ones who steal your partner? Yes, 3rd parties. 3rd parties aren't as cool as the sexy nights of dancing you do with your partner or friends. 3rd parties are highly confidence wrecking. He or she can be a part of a 3rd party as long he or she knows that the person they are getting involved with has already committed to someone else. They could be considered mindless, heartless, or hopeless but we mustn't judge them because anyone could make that mistake-- even I.

SITUATION: Your ex boyfriend is exclusively dating someone new. He also announced the new girlfriend's presence in his life and you are now clearly the ex girlfriend until he suddenly comes back. He came back asking for one night only. Being the stuck-in-the-past ex girlfriend, you give into his needs though you know that he's already taken by someone else.
QUESTION: Does that make you the mistress though you were part of his past, a past that you got before the new girl?

Relationships are really twisted in many different angles. My advice; learn the game you're signing up for because you might not be able to handle the loss you are about to face and more often than not, you are most likely to be alone at the end of the day.