The Other Side of the Story

Life has a habit of tapping you on the shoulder with a quiet twist of irony. One careless comment, one moment of arrogance, and suddenly the universe hands you a mirror — the kind that reflects you back from a completely different angle. That was the spark in this family’s little revolution.

“Your mother tried to set you straight, get you out of the house, make you drop those video games you’re glued to. And now I find you here doing the same thing, but with a phone. Let me guess… another silly game?”

The son let out a soft breath and rolled the phone between his fingers.
“Dad, it wasn’t just about the video games. It was also about the… comments I made. The sexist ones. I know. I deserved the wake-up call. And I’m actually trying to fix it. I’m diving into the female perspective, trying to understand the world I criticized without ever experiencing.”

The father raised an eyebrow, the universal sign of parental doubt.
“And this ‘research’ of yours happens where, exactly? Instagram reels?”

“Dating apps,” the son replied, almost proud of the confession. “And here’s the thing: when I was just a guy, I never got a single message back. Not one. Now? My inbox is overflowing. It’s a whole different reality. A different rhythm. A different way of being seen. I’m finally understanding a world I judged from the outside.”

The father blinked slowly, connecting the dots.
“So what you’re telling me is… switching sides helped you see the whole game?”

A small smile curled on the son’s face.
“Pretty much.”