Do you consider this cheating or not? I'd like your view on this.
Two people, one is poly the other is mono (going to refer to them like this) have "a thing" going on, but aren't officially together because they want to work on themselves first..
Poly clearly states "I'm not ready to date anyone right now, but if I did, the logical choice would be you", and both are trying to plan a life together.
There is a deep bond between them, and there is trust, a planned future, care and supposedly exclusivity.
Poly is also afraid of hurting and losing Mono, but, here's where things get tricky...
When Mono tries to set boundaries, Poly TRIES to follow them, but has to rely on remembering.
Poly also complains to their friends how "exhausting" it is "trying to remember what normal people are fine with". On top of this, Poly calls Mono's jealousy a red flag that has to be worked on and needs therapy for.
Poly says "even if there's feelings, if they aren't together but are sleeping with someone else, it's not cheating", but Mono disagrees with it as to them that is emotional cheating, as Poly kept saying and planning things with Mono, to then do things with someone else, hurting and ignoring Mono's feelings.