The Unseen Cost of Unrequited Love

In the bustling halls of our college, there was a boy I was madly in love with. He was my senior, and his presence was magnetic. I found myself doing everything I could to be close to him. Whether it was helping him with his studies, doing every bit of group work, assisting him in exams, or even treating him to meals at restaurants, I was always there. I even started wearing his favorite outfits, hoping he would notice my efforts and realize my feelings.

But he was always a taker. He gladly accepted all the privileges and attention I showered on him, but he never reciprocated. Our bond grew stronger when I started wearing Western clothes. He began to act like he had some sort of claim over me, demanding my time and attention as if he were my boyfriend. Yet, he never introduced me as his friend, let alone anything more.

Despite this, I continued to give him far more than he deserved. Our graduation day arrived, and he left town, promising he would come back to meet me. But he never did. I threw myself into an internship while he remained jobless. My days were packed, and I was exhausted by night, leaving little time to talk. This upset him, so I pushed myself to stay awake just to keep him company.

After a month, I managed to get him an opportunity at my office. I praised him in front of the HR, ensuring he got hired easily. I was thrilled. We had made countless plans—trying new restaurants, visiting parks, even bunking office together. But gradually, he started acting like a typical corporate worker. He barely had a minute for me, lost interest in our conversations, and pretended to be perpetually busy.

His attitude changed drastically. He misbehaved, broke promises, and my heart shattered. It became clear that I had invested all my efforts in a lost cause. He claimed that spending time together and creating memories was pointless since we had no future. After fighting for two months, I gave up on him. Our internship ended, and he was free again. Suddenly, he started showing his possessiveness once more, acting like my boyfriend.

It was a painful realization. When he was busy, he didn’t want me. He only saw the reality of our situation. But when he had nothing to do, he needed me. I fell for a selfish, inconsiderate guy. After warning him multiple times that I had no feelings left for him, he continued to force himself into my life. Finally, I blocked him.

Blocking him was the hardest yet the best decision I ever made. I had spent so much time and energy on someone who didn’t value me. I learned that love is not about what you give but also about what you receive. It’s about mutual respect and care. I deserved someone who saw me for who I was, who appreciated my efforts, and who would love me back just as fiercely.

Moving on was tough, but it was necessary. I began to focus on myself, my career, and my happiness. I surrounded myself with people who genuinely cared for me. Slowly, I healed and grew stronger. I realized that sometimes, letting go is the only way to move forward. And in doing so, I found a sense of peace and self-worth that I had forgotten existed.