I'm Lovely. A young woman of the right age, with a job, dreams, and like most of us—with a heart that knows how to love.
I've had a boyfriend for a long time. He's not famous, he's not rich, but I've found true happiness in him. We never run out of reasons to laugh, talk, and dream together. He's a simple man, respectful of me and my dreams, and most of all, knows how to listen and understand. I felt a kind of love with him that I never thought was possible.
But despite all this, there is a big problem. My parents don't like him.
They don't like him not because he's a bad person, but because he's supposedly low in life. He doesn't have a permanent job, hasn't graduated from college, and comes from a poor family. To them, he's not the "right" man for me. I've heard the words, "You're too bad, son. We have high hopes for you."
It hurts. It hurts to hear that they underestimate the person I love, even though they don't know him or her very well. So for a few months, we became secret.
On ordinary days, it's like nothing happened. My boyfriend and I go out when we know it's safe and no one will see. He can't visit the house. When my parents ask where I am, I deny it—I'll say I'm with a friend, or I'm on a work trip.
But every time I go home, there's guilt. It's like something's heavy in my chest. Because no matter how much I love him, I can't show it to the people I love too—my family.
There are also nights when I cry from exhaustion and confusion. Was I wrong to fight for this love? Am I right to try to keep our relationship going even though my parents don't approve? Every time I look at my boyfriend, I see how serious he is about me. He wants to marry me one day, he wants us to move forward in life together. But what if he is never accepted?
Through many nights of thinking, I realized that standard of living is not the basis of love. A person does not have to be rich to truly love. What matters is the respect, concern, and dreams you build together.
But it's also true—we can't ignore parents. Not because they just want to control us, but because they're afraid of hurting us. Sometimes, they don't show it in the right way. Instead of supporting us, they set standards that are difficult to meet.
I realized that I couldn't hide forever. I was tired of always being nervous, always afraid. So a friend advised me: “Try to introduce him not as a boyfriend, but as a good person. Let him show his goodness himself.”
Since then, we have slowly developed the plan. It has not been easy, but little by little, we have introduced him in the right way. With a simple request to help with a task, or meeting a sibling—little by little my family is seeing the good in him.
They haven't fully accepted me yet, but I'm already feeling a sense of light.
A relationship with respect, trust, and prayer has the ability to change perspectives. I believe the day will come when we no longer need to hide our love.
For those like me who love secretly, you are not alone. Love is not something to be ashamed of. In time, when your foundation is strong and the minds of the people around you are open, your love will be open and complete.
And on that day, you will feel all the hardships of hiding have their equal comfort. Because true love, as long as it is true, can be fought for—with respect, honesty, and prayer.
