He doesn't like Valentine's Day — a made up Hallmark holiday, a consumerism day that forces people to buy flowers, chocolates, cards for their significant others. It is a brilliant scheme created by marketers to sway consumers into spending more. A day that requires one big gesture to show their feelings. And sometimes, it gives the impression that you need to spend more to prove that you love someone. A day that puts people into two separate sides of the coin — in love, or not in love. 

Valentine's Day or Single Awareness Day, as to what I, among all other singles, used to call it before. And now it seems, I cared about Valentine's Day much more when I was single, than now that I'm in a happy relationship.

On Valentine's Day, couples should have a good meal together, but we always eat good meals together, even fancy ones without any occasion. On Valentine's Day, couples will tell how much they care about each other, but every day, even in the most mundane instances, we tell how much we care for each other. On Valentine's Day, couples will spend some quality time together, but we always love to spend time together.

Relationships are not about grand gestures that have to be shared in social media, it's the little moments that counts the most. Why want the expected gesture on Valentine's Day when little, random surprises that shows affections are much better? Getting flowers randomly because you were stressed about work, starting your day with a little note on your table, getting a massage, or preparing a nice dinner at home. Valentine's Day is not at all as it is hype to be; it is not like those rom-com movies. Truth is, if you're in a healthy relationship, everyday could be as special as Valentine' Day. It can be just a movie in bed with a bottle of wine, or a simple nature walk outside, or doing an activity that you both enjoy together as a couple.

I remember last year Valentine's Day, we spent the whole day at the amusement park, and he's not even aware that it was Valentine's Day. It was really a good day, but by the end of it, I remember how lonely I felt. He was leaving, and no matter how nice the day was, it did not outweigh how despondent I felt. But nevertheless, a day well spent.

I, perhaps, had the wrong notion about Valentine's Day all these years. And if you are single during Valentine's Day, it doesn't have to suck. Love comes in all forms and packages.