[WARNING: This is a LONG story.]

For context, this was around September last year (2024), and I'm in highschool, so I have no clue wtf I'm doing.

Now, I'd been talking to this guy (I'll label him as "A") - with whom was in my class - for a few weeks, and we spoke a lot during and outside of class. "A" was kind, sweet, a little awkward and shy, liked cars and motorbikes just like I do, and I found myself developing a little crush on him. However, before I met him, and before I started to have feelings for him, I was in love with another guy (I'll label him as "W"). I'd known W since I started highschool, back at a previous school that we both went to. It was a coincidence that W and I both moved to the same school shortly after each other, so, at this point, I'd known him for several years. Ever since I met him, I'd had the fattest crush on him. Leading up to the time I became friends with A, W and I didn't talk as much, so our friendship was sort of wavering. This is what lead me to believe that I was over him (finally), and I went a month or so believing I was free in a way.

Eventually, A asked me to be his girlfriend, I was overjoyed and said yes, and so we started dating. Our relationship started out great, with A treating me sweetly, and with us both being happy. (Here's where it gets messy).

After about a week or so, W starts messaging me and talking to me again during class and on socials. It was out of the blue, but I was happy to be talking to a friend after so long. So, he and I rekindle our friendship, us mainly hanging out in our shared mechanics class.

After a few days, I realised that maybe I wasn't over the guy. Shit. I had no clue what to do. So, I consulted my parents and my wise and emotionally intelligent friend. They both said the same thing: "Break up with A, it's not right to stay in the relationship if you like someone else." I agreed and broke up with A shortly after. He took it well, thankfully, and that was that. Me, being the nervous, awkward wreck that I am, sort of avoided A after that, not knowing how to act after a break up.

It went on like that for about a month, with me avoiding eye contact and conversations with A and he eventually gave up trying to interact with me. I guess after some time had passed, A got sick of it, so, he messaged me on Instagram one day during class, his tone sounding very passive aggressive and angry, saying things like "I can't deal with your behaviour anymore," and, "I know you broke up with me to get with W." (Just to clarify, I did NOT break up with him to start dating W, I did it to not cause any unfair complications with A and to save him from further heartbreak.) I tried explaining that to him, but he didn't hear a word of it, ending off the conversation quite rudely, calling me a bitch and labelling me inappropriately. I removed him after that.

After all these months, the topic of this has recently been brought up, and a friend of mine has labelled my actions as "emotionally cheating," a few times, and now I'm starting to believe that maybe I really am the problem in this situation, so, AITAH?

Feel free to ask questions for clarification if needed. Thanks.