The A(cad)emy goes to...

     What is it about the playboy type that keeps women off their A-game? You know the guys I'm talking about. They are charming and their words are smoother than silk. They're wolves in gentleman's clothing.

     I have always believed that gentlemen still exist. Unfortunately, their number is in shorter supply. The cad is a breed of man unto himself. Even the most self assured woman becomes giddy like a schoolgirl around him and can't hide her insecurities. He dangles the promise of a relationship in front of each woman knowing full well it is never going to happen. I had a male friend in college who was quite the Casanova. He and his girlfriend broke up several times. Even while they were together, he'd go on "sprees". He is charming, attractive and comes from a good family. He never promised the other girls a relationship. Honestly, he let them assume whatever they wanted, which is worse than if he'd led them on. He and his girlfriend would always get back together and it would work... for a while. The second they had another fight, he was back to his old ways. Sometimes she knew and sometimes she didn't. I and his other friends always knew. I found myself shaking my head often. I find that I don't have the tolerance for games. If I get a whiff of game playing, I wave goodbye and tell them never to call again.

     When I was younger (and a ton more naive), I was pursued by one such type of guy. We'd grown up together and our mothers were even friends. I'd had a crush on him since we were children. It was as though he always seemed to call or text when my boyfriend and I were on the outs. During one of my break ups, he texted me saying that I should give him a chance. I did. The first couple of days were blissful, then my calls were not returned and my texts unanswered. Girls had always chased him, so he figured I'd be no different. That was his mistake. I stopped bothering and I was done with him altogether. He called a month later asking why I'd stopped talking to him. I told him I wasn't going to chase him and he could play games with someone else. From time to time he still messages me on Facebook. I ignore him. I know what he's all about. I don't have time for it.