16-year-old high school student stands her ground against persistent guy asking her out, he attempts to flirt that she’s “playing hard to get”: “I told him that he was delusional”

Author image for Briana Viser
Briana Viser • Writer and Editor
Apr 11, 2025 4:00 PM EDT

Being a teenager can be so inflated in movies. Red cups at parties, mean girls giving you a hard time, and everyone on their train of egoism and disrespect, it can be too much to handle. Not everyone has a "stereotypical" experience in high school. Some people have really safe and normal experiences, where they have their friends, they go to class, and there aren't strange expectations for groups of people, such as jocks, cheerleaders, or theater kids. Some high schools are less frantic than others, but the aspect of dating is something that all high schools share. No matter where you grow up, teenagers will date each other. It's extremely natural for kids to try their luck at love from a young age, though it's not for everyone. When I was growing up, I knew that 16 or so is way too young to be in a serious relationship. It was laughable to me, and I felt hyper aware of my immaturity. But not everyone feels like that. 

In the story below, the protagonist is a teenage girl who's not interested in dating. That doesn't stop a certain man from persistently asking her out though. You'll have to read the full story below for all the juicy details. 

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  • 01

    AITA for ripping into a guy when he thought I was "playing hard to get"?

    . கம் 34
    via manley099 from Getty Images Signature / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    I'm 16f, the guy is 17. I'll call him "J". We don't go to the same school but we have a mutual friend which is how we met.
    via u/Agreeable-Table4622
  • 03
    I'm not interested in dating, I've never really been, but it's obviously normal for people my age. So when J was initially showing interest | wasn't r de or anything, I politely said "no, I'm sorry" when he asked me out on a date the first time. He seemed to take it fine, which was expected as we didn't really know each other beyond small interactions, and I thought that was it.
    via u/Agreeable-Table4622
  • 04
    The problem I have with J is he just keeps going. He flirts and is overly insistent on staying by my side every time he sees me, and about every other time or so he'll ask me out again. It creeped me out, I try to avoid him or tell him to stop, and he joked that I was "playing hard to get" once. I told him that was only a thing in movies and I'm absolutely not doing that.
    via u/Agreeable-Table4622
  • 05
    Yesterday he did it again. I hadn't seen him in a little while because my friends know I'm not comfortable with him and let me know if he'll be joining us to hang out, though most of them also don't like him and avoid him. I only saw him yesterday because he came across me and a few other girl friends and just stuck around.
    via u/Agreeable-Table4622
  • 06
    It was the same as always. He was complimenting me, being kind of awkwardly flirtatious, and just wasn't getting it when I ignored him or shut him down. I made up an excuse to go home and my friends went along with it because they knew I wanted to get away from him. He started FOLLOWING US BACK TO MY HOUSE.
    via u/Agreeable-Table4622
  • 07
    He joked that I was going to stop playing hard to get "one of these days" and I just snapped. I told him that he was delusional, that no girl wanted a creepy weirdo like him, and that he needed to get a ☐ grip and just leave me alone. He was visibly pred but just said "fine" and stomped off.
    via u/Agreeable-Table4622
  • 08
    Did I go too far? My friends are telling me that I was justified and that they'll stand up for me too the next time he tries to tag along uninvited. But I want to know if I was too cruel to him. I know we're still young and he has a lot of time to change as a person, but I'm scared this'll make it really awkward
    via u/Agreeable-Table4622
  • 09
    with that mutual friend (he's a really nice guy) and about what'll happen if we walk by him again since we live in a small town.
    via u/Agreeable-Table4622
  • 10
    LingonberryNo2455 • 14h ago Nta. You told him repeatedly that you weren't interested and he ignored you. And then he starts following you home? Ohh I no. You had every right to shout at him.
    via u/LingonberryNo2455

  • Have you ever had an experience like this? I think it's pretty common for women, and unfortunately, some women think it can be romantic. As women (and men) we need to retrain men to pursue women in a respectful way. It's not romantic to think no means yes. 

  • 11
    HIGH SCHOOL
    via sshepard from Getty Images Signature / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 12
    If your mutual friend is a nice guy, he'll know this guy was out of line.
    via u/LingonberryNo2455
  • 13
    LucianaBerries • 14h ago He crossed every line and kept pushing like you weren't saying no. You're allowed to snap when someone refuses to respect your boundaries, and "playing hard to get" is just his excuse to be creepy.
    via u/LucianaBerries
  • 14
    Defiant Maybe_9788 13h ago NTA. You told him nicely the first billion times. Some men require force to get the message unfortunately. Hopefully he'll learn no means no, but if he doesn't (or anyone else) I'd recommend some self defense work (Judo
    via u/Defiant Maybe_9788
  • 15
    or JuJitsu). I'm proud of you @ 16 being able to be clear with your feelings and emotions. NEVER change.
    via u/Defiant Maybe_9788
  • 16
    Yagyukakita 13h ago Any ground you give this man will be confirmation that his delusion is correct and will embolden him. You were right to let him down easy the first time and maybe even the second time. Anything else is always a red flag and should be dealt with sternly.
    via u/Yagyukakita
  • 17
    NA
    via Prostock-Studio from Getty Images / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 18
    khairus •13h ago Who ever coined the phrase "playing hard to get" has a lot to answer for
    via u/khairus
  • 19
    ebayusrladiesman2... 13h ago Learning lesson for bro. If a girl is actually "playing hard to get" (which I've only heard of maybe 1 girl doing IRL) then they aren't worth anyone's time. He needed to be told the harsh truth. You didn't like him the first time, you didn't like him now.
    via u/ebayusrladiesman217
  • 20
    AVeryBrownGirlNerd 13h ago NTA. He was being a creep and gross. I would tell a trusted adult, for example, your parents and the school what is happening to you. This is harassment.
    via u/AVeryBrownGirlNerd
  • 21
    As a 32 woman, never say sorry for not being interested. As long as you're polite (and firm), it's fine. We are raised to be nice and cater to feelings. Feelings are valid, within reason. It does not mean that he should stomp over your boundaries and escalate.
    via u/AVeryBrownGirlNerd
  • 22
    Personally, never be alone with him. Be safe.
    via u/AVeryBrownGirlNerd
  • 23
    Jack_of_Spades • 11h ago (male perspective) Nah, f this guy. We ask for clear communication, he got clear communication. Hard to get doesn't give clear boundaries, it dances around the topic with maybes and is evasive. He's pushing
    via u/Jack_of_Spades
  • 24
    boundaries and trying to wear you down like a predator trying to tire out its kill. It's gross. It's fed up. It's not okay. He deserves every harsh word spoken to him. NTA, he also deserved a kick in the b lls to top it off.
    via u/Jack_of_Spades
  • 25
    relentlessly! Good on you for standing your ground. Folks that need to "wear us down" or "prove their worth" usually require more work than they're worth. Trust in yourself, the worth of your own time. You're a queen, and a fine one at that.
    via u/Jack_of_Spades

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