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*People Pleaser*
*Part IV: Revealing the Truth to Parents*
The next day I hesitantly went to my college and saw a girl, Crystal getting bullied by Natasha and some of my other friends.
Crystal, a timid introverted girl who doesn't know how to speak for herself was crying hopelessly in the hallway.
It wasn't new for me because I also used to do the same with Crystal, but today I felt something different; instead of Crystal, I was seeing myself getting bullying.
I widened my eyes with shock when I realised this used to happen with me, and sadly I was doing the same with others. I dashed towards Natasha and slapped her with all my might.
"Are you gone crazy, Saffrina?," Natasha asked.
"No, but I felt an urge to give you what you deserve."
Natasha was stunned by my words.
I looked at Crystal with a smile and gave her my hand to let her hold it.
Everyone was looking at me with shock, and there was Ivan who was silently watching everything with a slight smile.
From that day onwards, Natasha and my other best friends ignored me, so did the whole class, but I didn't care much because... I had 2 people with my side and they were Ivan and Crystal.
The day I helped Crystal, we both started to talk with each other nicely, or shall I say I talked with her nicely? She was always good to me but I wasn't. I didn't know why I used to despise her but now I know it very well. Looking at her used to give me a weird feeling because she was like how I used to be before, but now instead of hating her, I will teach her how to stand for herself, not in the way where she has to please others, but in the way where she will respect herself and be strong.
Such a new attitude was built in me by Ivan. I don't know why but he always gave me the best advice on what I shall do and what I shouldn't. One day when Ivan and I were taking a walk in a garden, he asked me what I am doing this Saturday night.
I was coloured up after hearing his question. Does he want to go out with me?
Unfortunately, no.
"Huh? Why are you asking this out of a sudden?," I asked.
"Just answer it, Saffrina."
"Ye-yes! I am free."
"Good. Do you remember that you told me that you used to like to write stories and poetry? Try to write something which you feel, and show it to me in class."
"Oh.," I said with a sad tone.
"Hmm? What happened?"
"Nothing! Why do you want me to write again? No one likes my writing also I have lost my interest in it."
"I don't know about others, but I would surely love to read your writings, Saffrina. And about the interest, *we never lose interest in the things we used to love to do* you have just not written anything since ages, try it this time, I am sure you would do it."
I agreed with him with a smile.
After some days, I showed my writing to him and Crystal, as I haven't written anything in many years, I wasn't able to write anything interesting, still, Ivan and Crystal gave a satisfied smile and arose confidence within me; I happily agreed to their words and kept on writing, but there was one problem, I was losing my focus from studies, I was scared by the thoughts of getting failed and not getting loved by my parents. I tried to solve some numericals, but I failed. Instead of logical things popping into my mind, I was all filled with emotional things.
I told my friends, Ivan and Crystal about this.
Crystal said, "Don't worry, Saffrina. This is not your final exam. If you will score less-"
"This is not only about the score but the fear that my parents will neglect me if I will not do good." I interrupted.
Crystal was dumbfounded by my words as she didn't know much about my past, but Ivan understood what I was trying to tell.
He gently kept his hand on my shoulder and said, "These days Crystal and I were with you, till now we both have loved you not for how great you are in everything but because you have started to win yourself back. We are with you because you are you, not what others want you to be."
I silently looked at his deep blue eyes which were looking at me.
Ivan continued saying, "Can't you see that you are contented with the love Crystal and I give to you, it is much valuable than the fake love of your fake friends. Your parents aren't loving you for real if they only want you to score good marks and want you to be an A grader. *There's no use to chase the love which you get by doing efforts that harms you emotionally.* Though you get love from your parents, tell me, do you enjoy that love? You know that if you wouldn't have scored good in exams, you wouldn't have got loved. *It's useless to win love by doing things that take your all energy and make you neglect the things you love.* Tell your parents the truth about you and the things which you have suffered till now."
"WHAT? NO! I can't tell them anything about it."
"How will you stop pleasing others when you will not take a risk to get out from your comfort zone?," Ivan asked with a listless face.
"Means...?," I asked.
Ivan Shrugged and said, _"Scoring well to get love from your parents is still a type of pleasing others_. You are doing things for others to get what you want, that's where you keep staying in your comfort zone."
At some point he was right, but I didn't dare to talk about everything to my parents, but the continuous force of Crystal to talk with them and the serious death glare of Ivan made me talk with them.
Silence was spread all over the room when my parents heard everything which I told them. I was feeling anxious as well as a relief; anxious about how they will react and relieve because I released all the feelings and fear in front of them. Mother and father left the room without saying anything. I was stunned by their actions, but what will they even do after hearing my horrible story.
It took days for them to digest the truth but one day they came to me talked about all the things which I told them.
I thought they will scold me, beat me, but instead of that they were sorry for me and said assured me that next time they will never repeat their dull and negative actions. I never knew that my parents will turn out to be understanding ones, but no one can deny the fact that *no matter how badly a person treats their child, a time comes where they bend themselves in front of their children when they realise nothing is more important than their little ones.*
One day, my mother asked me to invite Ivan for a dinner. This happened because I told her how Ivan helped me in everything. I instantly invited him to come for a dinner, and happily, he agreed but suddenly his tone changed on the phone when he said, "I want to tell you something important."
I was questioned about what he wanted to tell me, I asked him to tell me over call but he refused to do it.
I responded, "Fine, tell me when we both will finish our dinner tonight at my home."
Soon, the moon arose, and it all became dark. Ivan arrived at my house. My parents, Ivan and I conversed a lot. Soon, the time came to say goodbye to him. I came out to drop him near his car.
"It felt nice to have you tonight for a dinner, Ivan." I looked at him with a smile.
"Me too, but I want to tell you something important."
"Yes, say?"
He looked at me silently and instantly looked aside.
"Ivan?" I said hesitantly.
"Before letting me say anything, is there anything which you want to tell me?"
I gulped when he said such a line. Does he know I have feelings for him?
I mean, yes! From some days I have started to realise that I love Ivan, he has always supported me, helped me and did a lot of things which even my parents couldn't do, no doubts that I was going to fall for me; but from his words, it looks like he already knows I love him.
"Say fast if there is anything which you want to tell to me, Saffrina."
Maybe this is the time to confess. I took a long breath and said, "Yes, I have something to tell you which I have hidden from you and that is I am in love with you, Ivan."
*To Be Continued*
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