Okay, let’s talk about this.
I saw this quote today—”I never liked being played wit and I don’t take it lightly”—followed by that laughing emoji. You know the one. That 🤣 isn’t actually laughing. That emoji is doing heavy lifting. That emoji is the nervous laughter of someone who is about five seconds away from burning a bridge while standing on it, looking cute.
And honestly? I felt that in my soul.
Welcome back to Stories from Tina, where we discuss the things we usually only text our best friends at 2 AM. Today, we need to have a little heart-to-heart about the absolute audacity of people who think life is a game and we are the NPCs.
The Trap of the “Chill Girl” Expectation
I think for a long time, especially as women, we’re taught that the coolest thing we can be is “chill.” You know? Don’t be too loud, don’t be too demanding, don’t ask “what are we?” too soon. Just flow like water. But here is the problem: I am not water. I am an Earth sign. I am solid ground. And if you try to dig holes in my ground, I’m not going to “flow” around you; I’m going to bury you. (Metaphorically. Mostly.)
Being “played with” usually starts small. It’s the inconsistency. It’s the text that comes three days late with a flimsy excuse. It’s the “I miss you” when they’re lonely, followed by radio silence when they’re busy.
And what do we do? We try to be the “cool girl.” We laugh it off. We send the laughing emoji. “Lol, you’re crazy.”
But deep down? We are taking notes.
My tolerance level is currently in the negatives
Here is the thing about me: I have a very specific sensor for nonsense. It’s like a superpower, but an annoying one. I can smell when someone is trying to run game on me from a mile away.
And I don’t take it lightly. Not because I’m bitter, and not because I’m “crazy.” I don’t take it lightly because I value my time. Time is the one thing you can’t get a refund on. If I spend three weeks of my life entertaining your confusion because you don’t know what you want, that is three weeks I could have spent sleeping, making money, or staring at a wall—all of which are better options than decoding mixed signals.
When Entertainment Costs You Your Peace
When you play with someone, you are basically saying, “My entertainment is more important than your peace.” And excuse me? My peace was expensive. I paid a high price for this peace. I am not letting you come in here and rearrange the furniture just because you’re bored.
The Reaction to Your New Boundaries
The funniest part is the reaction when you finally decide you’re done being played. Have you noticed this?
You can be the sweetest, most understanding person in the world. You can give second chances. You can listen to their sob stories about their exes or their “trust issues.” But the moment—the exact moment—you peep their game and shut it down? Oh, suddenly you are the villain.
Suddenly you’re “taking it too seriously.” Suddenly you “can’t take a joke.”
See, people love to play games until they realize they are playing with someone who writes the rules. I don’t argue. I don’t beg for clarity. I observe. And once I see that you’re moving sloppy? I don’t even get mad anymore. I just get distant.
To anyone feeling played right now…
If you are reading this and your stomach hurts because you’re waiting for a text, or you’re confused about where you stand with someone—friend, guy, whoever—listen to Tina: Stop.
If you have to ask if you’re being played, you probably are. Clarity doesn’t leave room for confusion. Someone who respects you doesn’t leave you hanging in the gray area.
Don’t try to out-play the player. It’s a waste of energy. The biggest power move you can make is removing yourself from the board entirely. Pick up your pieces, pack up your peace of mind, and go home.
So yeah, I don’t take it lightly. I take my life seriously, I take my heart seriously, and I take my time seriously. And if that makes me “too much” for some people?
Good. Go find less. 🤣