What would you do in my position?

@zralte (4178)
India
May 14, 2010 1:38am CST
I need an advice quickly on what I should do. I will try to be short, but I need to tell you the whole story so it might be long winded. Please bear with me. My friend, well, let's just call her X, is working abroad. She has a boyfriend(let's call him Y) in India and they were together for the last 2/3 years. X has a friend, let's call her Z, I know her and she is sort of a friend too, not close, but she asked me for a loan from time to time. The story is that Z could never keep a job, and X is always trying to help her. X just called me and said she is coming home for a holiday and she is landing in Kolkata in a few days time and she asked me to book a ticket to go to where her boyfriend is, which I did. I have just been informed by one of my employees, who talks to Z regularly, that Z is carrying on with Y and Y has broken off with X, but X cannot accept it,etc,etc. I have no reason to doubt my employee. My question is, should I tell X all these or should I just keep quiet? Considering the fact that she is right now spending $300 or so, just to see him and taking the time out from her leave, which she could spend with her family and friends.... What would you do if you were in my position?
5 people like this
28 responses
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
15 May 10
zralte, What is really the truth here? I mean the truth with X where she is rushing back to see her boyfriend. If you are really her best friend, I hope that you would hear her out completely before opening your mouth. She should be the most important concern above anything, so don't be too fast with what you are about to reveal. I am saying this because there are still something you might not or do not know about your friend X and her thoughts. Unbeknown to you, she may know and that this trip could be for her to talk with her boyfriend and see if there's a way to save their relationship. Besides, I feel that hearing what is between Y and Z may not be enough ground to take it as the actual truth. How well do you know this person who told you this, to take the account at face value? Did he/she witness it personally or got it as a hear say from another source? From experience, I would never breathe a word if I do not personally witness it or hear from the relevant parties directly. Since, you are X's best friend, I suggest that you prepare to want and do the best for her. There's just so much one can do and as such you should be mindful for her and support her. It is her life that she wants and decides on how to live and as friends we should always look ahead for her. So, just hear her out before you say anything and when she has decided her course then be prepared to catch her when she collapse from exhaustion and defeat. Take care and have a nice day.
1 person likes this
• Singapore
15 May 10
zralte, On this note, then all the more to keep quiet as you are only having the account from Z and you can never be certain that Z is playing a different game here. You need to remember that people can be cunning and may play a different game. I am not saying that your employee is bad, but unbeknown he/she could have been used by Z. I hope that you will not take offense at my seemingly preposterous assumptions but I can tell you people can be very scheming and cunning some times. So, I really hope that you will be careful and do the needful. Take care and have a great day.
@zralte (4178)
• India
15 May 10
No offense taken. New development on the saga. I would like to update that I now have confirmation from another source and from Z herself. Probably better to start a new discussion as I want everyone, who are kind enough to give me advices, to be updated.
@zralte (4178)
• India
15 May 10
Thank you for your advice. To clear up something, I trust the person who has told me this. She will not lie and she is somewhat close to Z. She has been specifically told not to tell me, but she thinks I should know because she feels it's the right thing to do, not because she wants to badmouth Z. I cannot confirm the story from Z because of that, and I cannot confirm from Mr. Y or any of his friends because I don't know him that well, and I certainly don't know any of his friends.
• India
15 May 10
If you are sure that Y is with Z and not interested in X anymore than yes, you should tell X about Y story so that she is not broken after coming to India and knowing all the story. Another thing is taht if X is your very good friend she might share about Y with you, another chance may be that she will misunderstand you. Get the trith and help her knowing the facts.
1 person likes this
@zralte (4178)
• India
15 May 10
I have a confirmation now which I have mentioned in a new discussion as I want to update everyone who has been kind enough to give me advice.
@grace24 (1050)
• Philippines
15 May 10
Well, after reading this story, I think you should clarify these things first. I mean you should confirm this before getting into action. You must be sure first if the rumor is real. If this is real, you should tell your friend. She will suffer if you will not tell her. She has the right to know what is really happening. She will be hurt by the fact but at least you did your best to help her.
1 person likes this
@zralte (4178)
• India
15 May 10
Hi grace24, I posted another discussion with the new development. Please take a look at it for updation on the story. Thanks for your comment.
• United States
15 May 10
Butt out and let X, Y, and Z get their personal relationships straightened out on their own. They are adults and should be quite capable of handling their own lives. Often when well-meaning friends get in the middle, that friend is the one tossed to the side when things turn out different than what they thought would happen. They get blamed for everything.
1 person likes this
@zralte (4178)
• India
15 May 10
Thanks for your advice. Do you really think it is interfering if I tell her?
@Ladyslipper (1327)
• Philippines
15 May 10
If I would be you I'd tell the truth. She would eventually find out. If I'd tell the truth she'd be hurt but even if I'd not tell the truth she would eventually find out and she would be hurt more. She might even hate me for not telling her the truth.
1 person likes this
@zralte (4178)
• India
15 May 10
Thank you for your opinion. I have the update on the situation on the new discussion.
@manojt2 (179)
• India
15 May 10
You should absolutely go ahead and keep the facts open for X. It will surely break her heart, but you know, truth is always sour. I would prefer to be painful in truth rather than happy in sweet lies. Also these type of instances give us lessons of how life is and how to be neutral in life whatever things come up. I would request you to inform X the reality and save her from that cunning Y. Maybe later he may also break up with Z and try for another A, B or C.
1 person likes this
@zralte (4178)
• India
15 May 10
Thank you for your advice. I agree with that. I just wish it's not me to do it.
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
19 May 10
Stay out of it. Let her know the truth because otherwise she will be hurt that you didn't tell her when you knew about it. Tell her what you know then step back. She has to experience this for herself with no help so she can decide what is true and learn her lesson. Some things are not meant to be and this is one of those things. Her bf and her gf are both cheaters and have little or no regard for her. She is better off without them...better to find out and finish with it and move on than to get more involved and find out too late. A liar and a cheat will always be a liar and a cheat. That's the truth.
@zralte (4178)
• India
20 May 10
Thank you MsTickle. I told her now and she is sooo mad at her so called 'friend'. Suffice to say that their friendship is over, not that that's a bad thing. With friends like her, who need enemies - sort of thing. I do think that she is much better off without them.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
2 Jun 10
You have to tell your friend x. X is madly inlove with Y and as you said she had spend a money just to see him. you need to tell her to stop this foolishness. you are a friend of X you must be loyal to her. You are not ruining her life, try to tell her.If her reaction is not good and she hates you after that, then she is blindded by her love to Y.anyway she will thank you when the right time comes. If she talked to Y and Z then leave it all up to her. Your only concern is telling what you know.
• Philippines
3 Jun 10
How could he do that? He's crazy!
@zralte (4178)
• India
2 Jun 10
Thank you for your response. I told her, and she confirmed it from another source that it really is true. I told her after I got a confirmation from Z herself and also from another friend. X is fine, well, as good as she can be considering the situation. Obviously she is more hurt about Z's betrayal than Y's betrayal. She cancelled her trip to see Y and she is now staying with me before going on home to her family. I am glad I told her. And she thanked me for it. Apparently Y thinks he could hide that from her and pretend nothing happened!!! He is worse than I thought.
@zralte (4178)
• India
5 Jun 10
That was my first thought. There are some strange people out there. I am glad that she finds out what kind of a person he is. Imagine if they got married!!! He will go on cheating her right and left.
• China
15 May 10
Hi, friend. It can be a tough thing to make a right decision in such a situation since what you will do may have a strong effect on X who may not be ready to take the blow. Nevertheless, you still need to take the step for the sake of her because you are good friends. Friendship means you'll always be with her whatever happens. If you just keep silent even if you know you should tell her everything about it, you'll sure to lose her friendship before long. So what you need to do is to reveal the truth to her, even though it may hurt her a lot. But you do it for the good of her. I believe she'll be grateful to you when she finds out the hypocrisy of both her so-call boyfriend and Z.
@zralte (4178)
• India
15 May 10
Thanks Rysonia, that is what I planned to do if or when I decide to tell her - that someone mentioned it and I'm not sure if it's true. I do hope I can spare her the heartbreak. Mind you, eventhough I met Y only for 2 or 3 times, I never did like him.
@Rysonia (310)
• United States
15 May 10
Keep in mind that simply because Z told this to your employee does not in fact make it true. Don't add to the gossip by telling X that Z is defiantly having an affair with Y, there is no evidence other then the word of Z passed through a third party to you. My advice to you would be to tell X that there is a rumor going around that Z has been seeing her boyfriend behind her back, but make it clear that the rumor appears to have started with Z. Trust X to clear up the situation on her own and in her own way. Be supportive and let her know that irregardless of what is going on that you are her friend and shall remain there for her anytime she needs you.
@ladym33 (10979)
• United States
7 Jun 10
Well she already purchased the ticket. I would let her go to see him and wait a day or so to see if he comes clean with her and tells her the truth about what is going on. He might possibly break it off her and having her be there in person when he does it will give her the closure she needs. Also you don't really know if he is really cheating on her or not. I am thinking if she sees him and he is cheating on her then hopefully the truth will come out one way or the other, hopefully she will find the clues she needs and you will not have to get involved. However, if a few days go by and everything seems all fine and everythign you might want to call him up and confront him about what you heard and see how he reacts and try to get him to do the right thing.
@zralte (4178)
• India
7 Jun 10
She hadn't bought the ticket at that point. And also, I knew for sure he was cheating on her and not just cheating, cheating with her friend. I told her after I got it confirmed from the girl that he is cheating with. Any way, it has all been sorted out now. She didn't go and visit him, and she is mad at her friend for betraying her. She told me that the boyfriend cheating on her was not what hurts, it was the betrayal of her friend that she finds it more hurtful. She thanked me for telling her, and well, she didn't really believe me, but she got it confirmed from her own sources.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
22 Dec 10
That would really be a difficult situation to be in and it really stinks that you ended up in the middle of everything. Though you feel like you really have no reason to doubt your employee, everything that you hear is only hearsay until you have the story confirmed with one of the parties involved in the situation. So your two choices would be to either confirm it with one of the people involved in the situation or to try to stay out of it. What would I do in this kind of a situation? I honestly don't know.
@zralte (4178)
• India
30 Jan 11
It was very difficult being in the middle. I confirmed it from different sources and also with the girl (with whom he is cheating). Then I told her. It was not a pretty situation. I was there when my friend confronted her. Needless to say, she was more hurt by her betrayal than the boyfriend's betrayal. They have known each other since they were little, and she was shocked(obviously) by her actions.
• United States
16 May 10
well i think that i would be quiet because people that chet will hang there self sooner or later
@zralte (4178)
• India
16 May 10
Hmmm....that's true, but I don't want my friend to waste her time and money for nothing. Anyway, there has been new development on the saga and I have posted a new discussion titled the Continuing Saga of the Love triangle.
1 person likes this
14 May 10
I think X deserves to be happy and if her ex boyfriend has a new partner please the truth could hurt but at least she will save herself money
@zralte (4178)
• India
14 May 10
That's what my husband says. And wasting her time which she could spend with her family who love her.
@zralte (4178)
• India
14 May 10
How can she start having relationship with her friend's bf is beyond me. I would never have thought it's alright, even an ex of a friend. It's unwritten rule for me. If she is as mature as I think she is, she'll probably thank me once the dust settles down. At least I hope.
14 May 10
from experience, truth is always known sooner or later take your time and find the best moment to tell bluntly the truth to X, whatever she may thinks she has no right to blame you for the hurt of the truth your friendship has nothing to with Y and Z being as..... and i would not want those as friends cos they can lie so overtly to x its gross
@Aitrita (145)
• Switzerland
14 May 10
so how is your relationship with Y? you could ask him if he can talk to X about the problem...or in case X's aware of what's going on between Z 'n Y, Maybe X's just coming because it's the only way to accept the truth? otherwise it'd be better if Y talks to her
@zralte (4178)
• India
14 May 10
I just know Y as X's boyfriend. Met him once or twice, that's about it. I don't think X is aware of anything between Z and Y. And she treats Z as a sister!!
@Aitrita (145)
• Switzerland
14 May 10
if I were you I'd play it cool 'n make no change. you're not the Z after all. watching relationships breaking down is painful though..
@zralte (4178)
• India
14 May 10
I know, especially when the relationship has been going on for sometime. Thanks for the advice.
@mssnow (9484)
• United States
15 May 10
Since you really dont know for sure if its true or not. You need to get more information before telling x. Or you can tell x that one of the people you work with told you this. and tell her you dont know if its true. . Either way you shouldn't just blurt out to X Z is having an affair with y. because you only heard a rumor.
@zralte (4178)
• India
15 May 10
Thanks for your advice. I would never have dreamt off passing the rumour as the absolute truth.
@bdugas (3578)
• United States
15 May 10
Well if I was X and I knew that you knew Y was cheating or even thought or heard it, and you didn't tell me that he is seeing Z, then I would be mad at you, for letting me go on and spend money to see someone that is using me or cheating on me. It is hard to keep a long distance relationship going with trust unless you really know this person. But I would think it would be better coming from you than her hearing it from someone else. If he is seeing or messing with Z then he is a dog and she needs to know that, it will hurt yes and she maybe mad for a time, but in the end she will be glad that you at least had the guts to tell her what is happening with these 2 people. Z is a dog because she is hurting the one that helps her when she needs it. Both are losers in my book and they deserve each other, she probably is a nice person and could do better than what she is getting out of these 2.
@zralte (4178)
• India
15 May 10
Thank you. I do think Z is an ungrateful cow and Z is equally bad, I never did like him, well, I met him only 2 or 3 times. And now this.....
@clocks123 (1225)
• United States
15 May 10
it appears that x already knows about z and as you stated, she can't accept it. i think he should tell her instead of you. it is better that it is between them.
@zralte (4178)
• India
15 May 10
Well, X does not know, that I am sure. Z is saying that they broke up, but that X cannot accept it.
@jugsjugs (12967)
15 May 10
If they are a true friend then i would tell them what i would tell them aswell as i would want them to tell me if someone was doing the same to me.It would hurt less if you were to tell them rather than they find out the hard way.
@zralte (4178)
• India
16 May 10
Thank you for your response. I have confirmation that the rumour is true. So I sent her an email telling her all about it and advising her not to waste money and time on him.
• Iran
14 May 10
hi I think you should tell X the story but make sure she handle this by make her see if she lost a friend is not the end of story she have you and her other friends like you that they care about her. good luck my friend !!!mylotting!!!
@zralte (4178)
• India
14 May 10
Thanks. I just wish I could be her friend without having to tell her the bad news.
@LotRowena (158)
• Philippines
14 May 10
If I were you, I will tell X the truth, that there is no reason for her to come back and look after Y because Y is having an affair with Z already. There can be no better things than honesty. The truth is, there are no secret lies....nah... Also, Y and Z should realize the fact that X will be more than hurt to know that his boyfriend is having an affair.
@zralte (4178)
• India
14 May 10
Not just an affair, but an affair with her friend who she treats like a little sister! It just makes my blood boil just thinking about it.