Knowing a person loves you and that person not telling anyone about you are two different things. They tend to go hand in hand most of the time. Jack will say he loves you, but is too embarrassed to tell his family about you or let you meet them, therefore making Laura his secret.
If you have to be someone's secret in a relationship, then it's not a relationship. Period. When someone loves you, they want everyone to know and meet the person they are in love with and hopefully share that same love with them. If you're going on eight months of being together and still haven't met even his parents, then you need to get out. Believe me, the toxicity will build up to the point you feel you can't trust the person anymore. If you have to beg to even meet her friends, then you need to get out. Seriously, it will only hurt you worse than you already are.
Considering the circumstances, I got out of a relationship where my partner's parents knew who I was, but they were oblivious that we were in a relationship. I ended the relationship because my partner at the time would not listen to me whenever I shared my thoughts. I knew i deserved better, and you do too. I'm still hurting from this, but I'm healing. The healing process takes a lot of time and energy, but I am getting there.
Don't you ever think your current relationship will be your last. You deserve better than to be treated as "just a friend". You deserve better than only joining your boyfriend's parents at the dinner table as just a study buddy. You deserve better than coming over to Sarah's house and being told to stay quiet the entire time in her room.
You deserve someone who will take you out to dinner and them not being afraid to be seen in public with you. You deserve someone who will treat you as more than a friend in front of their parents. You deserve someone who will not only study with you but who will tell his parents to "get over it" if they don't like your relationship.
When the relationship is ended, trust me when I say you will feel hurt. But that's good because you're starting to heal. Healing is a process, and your grief will be with you from the relationship, not your actual partner. If you invest so much into it but she doesn't, then what's the point of staying together?
Staying in this kind of relationship will only hurt you. It is not going to get better if he disregards your thoughts and keeps treating you like this. He obviously doesn't care, so why should you? Remember, you deserve better.
