MP Sage doesn't care about Zoey
I see what you're saying, and it's perhaps true in a 100 foot view of humans interacting. But no, Zoey isn't a threat. According to Sage, it's about her previous relationship with Chad.
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She doesn't see Zoey as an ex-best friend, but an ex-lover, which to MC isn't the case, even if he has described her as such. She's simply scared of her having another cheating-boyfriend experience.
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To the MC, Zoey was his best and only friend, and a lover. But not to Zoey. Zoey never saw it as a real relationship, even if the MC felt that way.
Sage didn't know he felt like this, because he didn't describe it to her at the time after meeting Neil.
"I don't want you to worry about me and Zoey. We're just talking... In fact, it's been hard to do so since she returned."
And then the conversation later goes to asking for Chad's contact info and the DIK's conflict. And that's that. Conflict resolved. Zoey is a non-issue between Sage and the MC.
No Zoey isn't a threat in the way you've described one. Sage simply doesn't know or trust Zoey. If the MC gives into Zoey's advances (if there are any), Sage would just break it off. Since she trusts the MC, it doesn't matter how many relationships she's had before. In regards to her past, it's about her being worried since Chad cheated on her, and she doesn't want to go through that again.
Again, Zoey was never a threat. How can Sage be threatened by some girl she's never really met? (And who the heck can compete with Sage? Especially since
she knows how MC feels about Zoey.) This is no different than the fear of the unknown, and the story that it's an ex. The only conflict in Sage's head is
Sage's feelings about being cheated on. She simply didn't understand Zoey or at least
how the MC thought of Zoey. The same way she didn't understand the MC viz a vis Chad. So in a sense, in reality, she actually wasn't 100% sure about the MC, even though
she said she trusts the MC, and not Zoey. *Yay women logic.* She doesn't know and doesn't care about Zoey.
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That's just Sage's general opinion on ex's or what have you, as we hear with Jill's nail talk. Zoey could've gotten different advice and not confessed, or just been an old friend saying hi again. But because she's such a wrecking ball to BAD and hence the title "Paradigm Shift". (Which I hope is just a narrative nod, and not DPK changing the entire game to match a Zoey path.)
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And if she kept talking to the MC, then the issue would have been resolved. Luckily that happens over the phone later.
He's had plenty of time. Regardless, he's absolved.
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After the rejection (again, auto or chosen), not only has he had a lot of time to think, the MC admits
he's not in love with Zoey. He's so clear that he messaged her about how she's feeling, because
he's completely resolved on the issue, and concerned about her
as a friend.
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There's no reason to bring any of this up again to Sage. Or anyone for that matter.
This whole idea of whether the MC should tell Sage about Zoey confessing is irrelevant nonsense some of you guys are hung up on for some reason. There is no conflict to or with Sage. There is no conflict with the MC. There is no emotional hang up. There is no worry or doubt or guilt or...anything. There is no mystery. No cause. There is no "oh, should I tell Sage or no? I wonder what I should do? Sage likes honesty! I should tell her everything about every female I meet who likes me!"
If you want to contemplate something along those lines, think what a DIK MC would do with the Jade reveal or how. But even that is "so what?" Because DIK MC wouldn't care, and nor should he as he didn't do anything wrong, but the narrative wants to paint it as such that he's on a guilt trip. You could argue that DIK MC isn't necessary, or is slowly becoming Neutral with Sage, etc. But that at least has a cause for concern in the narrative.
Why? Zoey's out of the picture. MC made his Sage choice in what, Episode 8: Crossroads? Zoey is no different than any girl who wants to make out with him, or get it on with the MC. The MC's response is always "Nope." Or "I'm with Sage. If you're into a threesome, let me pass that by my Other's Queen..."
He already chose Sage, and vice versa. Minus Jade, he can say ILY, and she can reply in kind. Zoey's friendship or relationship of any kind is irrelevant and has been resolved as
per the phone call. The MC is also of the same mind, having rejected Zoey's love declaration.
In your "threat" idea, there's no reason to embarrass Zoey as she is the victim, and Sage is the victor. And I can't see the MC as being petty for the sake of telling Sage "the truth" when it doesn't matter.
If DPC brings this up, he's a melodramatic hack. Look at how this was resolved with the Bella/Jill scenario. If Bella was chosen, Jill has what, one talk? And then Jill's fine. (Seriously Jill?) With choosing Jill, Bella, literally closes the matter over the phone in the same rejection, and does absolutely nothing afterward.
