My Virgin Valentine Bouquet

Part of me has always believed that consumerism like Valentine's Day gifts and its significance is just a another marketing vehicle, but I must say it is rather delicious when one is at the receiving end of it.

The practicality I inherited from my mother was always that it is a waste of money and also partly that I had never been the object of anyone's affection when I was a teenager, which was probably why in many ways I had shut the door on this occasion. Now, approaching our fifth anniversary, I was thinking last night while watching the various advertisements splashing on TV whether I would ever experience this "cliche"? We didn't speak about Valentine's Day at all and the plan was to have Monday's leftovers tonight, so before I left work this morning, I cheekily whispered in John's ear if he had gotten me a card. In a nonchalant fashion, he replied "Not Yet" and when he asked me the same question, I had the same answer. Just another day I thought then ...

I had to attend a seminar in the morning and when I approached my desk in the office after, I was greeted by a tall bouquet of long stemmed roses in my colleague's office. It was still wrapped immaculately and I was still admiring it, not noticing that I had a heavy file and some food in my hands, when my friend walked out. I half asked her who it was from and half moved nearer my desk to put down the things when I realised that there was a fat bouquet sitting on it. I was dumbstruck and wondered if it was a mistake. "Did everyone receive a bunch too?" was my next mindful question and then my friend came around and said that it was from John, even before I had a chance to look at the card.

It was my beautiful virgin bouquet of roses on Valentine's and I could feel myself blushing with joy and surprise. One does not expect such romanticism and extravagance when they have been together for almost 5 years. This just doesn't happen, not even in fairytales, but it just did. My friend then proceeded to let me know that the roses were not from her boyfriend but one of her secret admirers who apparently had very bad taste to send roses to someone who was already attached.

So, I ended up being the only person and the only male in an office of about 15 females who received a true Valentine's gift because my friend refused to accept it and distributed the love around to others instead. Many of them stopped and admired and asked some questions, and I was feeling so loved and yet feeling bad that they didn't receive any as welll. It is all terribly flattering and I am still gushing, which is honestly getting a little embarassing. Ha! Ha!

Anyway, I just wanted to share this little experience and my exhilaration. Who would have thought ... love can still surprise. 爱情万岁！