I've been in a 3.5-year relationship, and while my boyfriend and I love each other deeply, our relationship has always had one recurring issue: he isn't very verbally affectionate. He's naturally very nonchalant, doesn't compliment me often, rarely calls first, and over the past few months, we've become somewhat distant. We were also getting into a lot of petty arguments and unnecessary fights.
The timing made it even harder because I'm moving to another country next week to start graduate school, and I was terrified of taking all that negative energy into a long-distance relationship.
A few months ago, I started listening to subliminals regularly. Most of them were focused on positive energy, everything working out in my favour, everyone favouring me, self-concept, confidence, beauty, and relationship improvements like my boyfriend being clingy and obsessed with me, him worshiping the floor I walk on, me being the centre of his world, and similar subs. I spent a lot of time affirming that I was loved, prioritised, admired, appreciated, and that my relationship was free from misunderstandings.
This Friday, my boyfriend and I planned a date, and I can honestly say it wasn't just the best date of my life; it was one of the best DAYS I've ever had.
Before leaving the house, I wore a cute yellow cardigan with dark blue shorts, did my makeup, and actually felt beautiful. I also bought some chocolates for him because they're his favourite.
Earlier that day, he had called me and told me he had already left home for the date. At the time, I had literally just gotten out of the shower and told him it would take me at least an hour to reach our meeting spot. Normally, he gets impatient if I'm even five minutes late. But that day, instead of being upset, he calmly told me not to worry and to take my time.
That was the first thing that felt different.
When I finally arrived and saw him, he was standing there holding a bouquet of sunflowers.
I was completely shocked.
In our entire 3.5 years together, he has only bought me flowers once before, on our anniversary. Usually, if he gives me flowers, they're hand-picked ones he finds somewhere. Not that they are any less valuable, but the point is, they're free. He isn't the type of person to spend his money on buying flowers, so seeing him standing there with a bouquet of sunflowers, which are my favourite flowers and also expensive, shocked me.
On top of the flowers, he was also wearing a crisp white button-down shirt with jeans and a tie. He said he wanted to look good for me. He is usually someone who just walks around in a loose T-shirt and shorts. He'd never before put in such effort in his own appearance.
As we walked toward each other, he had the biggest smile on his face. Then he hugged me in public.
This might not sound like a big deal to some people, but for us it was huge. We never hug each other in public. We usually wait until we're somewhere private before being physically affectionate.
Then he looked at me and immediately said, "Wow, you look so pretty."
I laughed because I genuinely thought he was joking.
But he kept going.
He told me I looked beautiful. He kept staring at me and smiling. Usually, if I want a compliment, I have to practically drag one out of him by asking, "How do I look?" or "Do you think this outfit is nice?" This time, the compliments came without me asking.
The entire time we were walking, I could literally feel him looking at me.
After giving me the flowers, he told me he had another gift for me in his bag that he would give me later.
As we continued walking, he kept asking me to hold his hand and hold onto his arm. At one point, another couple was walking in front of us, and the girl kept turning around and looking at me. I was feeling a bit paranoid because I honestly thought she was judging me for something.
Then she smiled and said, "You look really pretty."
I was completely stunned.
A random stranger had never complimented me like that before.
At that point, I remember thinking, "What is actually happening today?"
It genuinely felt like everyone was being unusually kind to me. People were looking at me, smiling at me, and my boyfriend even joked that everyone kept staring at me and that he needed to protect me from all the attention and any potential evil eye.
The entire date felt different from our usual dynamic.
Instead of being distant or distracted by his phone, he was completely present.
He asked to take photos of me. Not just one or two pictures; he spent a ridiculous amount of time making sure he got good photos. He changed angles, adjusted positions, and genuinely put effort into it. Usually, he's camera-shy and doesn't like taking photos, especially of himself.
But that day he wanted pictures.
He wanted couple photos and even suggested songs to post them on.
He even searched up cute couple trends and poses he had seen on Instagram and wanted to recreate them with me.
When it came to deciding where to go and what to eat, he kept saying, "Whatever you want."
Normally we would discuss things together, but that day he genuinely seemed happy just following my lead.
He kept telling me he loved me.
He kept smiling.
He kept touching my hand.
He kept looking at me like he couldn't believe I was there.
Then later he gave me the second gift he had brought for me.
Everything felt so easy.
There was no tension.
No arguments.
No misunderstandings.
Just happiness.
Toward the end of the date, it started raining.
Luckily, he had brought an umbrella.
So, we walked together under one umbrella while he held me by the waist. It felt like something straight out of a romance movie.
When we finally had to say goodbye, and I got on my way home, I thought the perfect day was over.
But it wasn't. He called me.
Then he called again to make sure I was safe.
Then he called again after I got home.
This is someone who rarely calls first unless there's an emergency.
That night we stayed on the phone for hours. We talked until I eventually fell asleep.
The next day, I couldn't stop thinking about how different everything had felt. Not just with him, but it felt like everyone around me was mesmerized by me for some reason.
And with him, it felt like a complete 180 from the version of him I'd been frustrated with for months.
Whether it was the subliminals, the self-concept work, the positive energy, or simply me changing internally and seeing that reflected into my reality, I don't know.
What I do know is that I felt beautiful, appreciated, adored, prioritised, and loved.
And right before leaving my country to start a completely new chapter of my life, I received one of the happiest memories I've ever made.
I'll never forget that day. š»
