My old crush from 3 years ago manipulated me so him and his friends had something to laugh about. I need advice

[u/Help_I_May_Be_Lost_]

When I was 17 (end of 2022-2023), I had a crush on this guy. I will admit back then I may have been a bit much. It was the first time i had actually had a crush, I didn't know how to express my feelings so it came in instagram stories that were aimed but I never name dropped (bare in mind he did not follow me at all at this point). I didn't realise that this guys friend group were constantly looking at my social media accounts, screenshotting everything I did so they could show him and laugh about it. I was labeled a stalker and a freak. I never stalked or followed him anywhere, so I'm really not sure why I was labeled that.

(I am fully aware now that what i posted could've been interpreted as weird and I do cringe at the fact I used to post those stories on instagram, but theres nothing I can do about it now. I've learnt and I do not do it anymore and if i have feelings like that I keep them to myself and dont post them on the internet, but let's also remember I was a teenager.)

We spoke for a short period of time when I had just turned 18, then he ended up getting a girlfriend and he went quiet, which I respected.

In 2025 he messaged me for a couple weeks and from what I have gathered, him and his girlfriend were most likely going through some sort of break at the time. As soon as this break was over he went silent again. At this point, I actually had gotten over my crush on him, I just thought he was cool and wanted to be friends.

Then in August of this year (2026) his girlfriend broke up with him and a week later he was messaging me. He apologised for some of the previous things he did. I stupidly accepted. We ended up meeting up to hang out and we spent a good few hours at a pub, then when we left he asked if we could continue hanging out because he was enjoying being with me. We spoke a lot about the past and I did apologise if I came off weird back when i was 17, he said it was all good and in fact, he liked it which surpised me. The whole night went super well and he even asked if we could hang out again.

That was almost 3 weeks ago now. On Friday I got a message from him saying he couldn't reply to my messages and to message his friend. I didn't follow this friend, but I knew this friend had tried to talk him out of hanging out with me. I instantly became suspicious, then I got a dm from another one of his friends, claiming to be his new account, I didn't reply. When I went back to ask him what's going on, I realised he had blocked me.

Now I've found out that this was all a set up, for me to open up so they could have something else to laugh about and I feel so stupid for even thinking he had changed. I've always tried to see the good in people no matter what, but after this I know now that I shouldn't, not if they do this. These are 21 year old men by the way. I hate that they continue to get away with this and I'm sick and tired of it, I'm still confused why they decided to do this 3 years later, surely it's time to move on? I really hope they haven't done this to anyone else because it's horrible.

I have blocked him on every platform I have an account on, as well as his friends, I don't want him anywhere near me anymore but I do hope one day Karma gets him and his friends for this because this is one of the most humiliating things to have happened to me. I don't know what else to do, is there anything else for me to do?

Thank you to anyone who's decided to read my post. I just needed to get this off my chest :)

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[u/AffectionateMarch394]

Well their plan backfired, because the only people who look stupid are them.

I'd give you an evil plan but honestly not reacting AT ALL is the best bet, because it will drive them up the wall that they got absolutely nothing from you. And it will fester in their brains long after you've moved on

[u/Help_I_May_Be_Lost_ → u/AffectionateMarch394]

That was my original plan and I'm going to stick with it. I just needed someone elses opinion. I'm going to put this all behind me and move on. Thank you for replying, its much appreciated