NishaExpecting to be showered with chocolates and roses, she waited for him at the usual subway station that morning. It had been the ritual since the first date they shared 9 months before. After a 20-minute wait, all she got was a SMS from her boyfriend, saying, “It’s over.”
The first thought that came to my mind when my friend shared this piece of news on Valentine’s Day afternoon was, “He must hate her so much…”
Original Photo: Deviantart
February 14 is the time when some sulk that Valentine’s Day is just a commercialised boondoggle, while others say it’s the most romantic day of the year, as people allow overpriced chocolate, roses and other fine gifts to speak the volume of their love.
The day’s value has even driven, according to Channel NewsAsia, 227 Singaporean couples to take their vows this year on Valentine’s Day. This is more than twice of last year’s 103.
The inauspicious expiry of my friend’s relationship prompted me to wonder how many of these were hasty vows taken to satisfy one’s desire of feeling loved and cared for. None, I hope.
A quick search on the Internet showed results of the growing number of unlucky individuals who end Valentine’s Day with tears and broken hearts. One example is this Yahoo! survey, which shows that lovers are twice as likely to consider breaking up at this time of the year.
Some married couples share the same woe, as a research by financial services institution Bankwest shows that there has been an increase even in married couples who break up around Valentine’s Day.
To reiterate this point, China Daily reported that a married lady exclaimed that the best Valentine’s Day gift she ever received from her soon-to-be-ex-husband is a divorce, and The Straits Times announced that the marriage between radio DJ Glenn Ong and television host Jamie Yeo is over.
This rising trend has even got an American radio station host a contest, Marriage Bailout ’09, in which the winning couple would receive free divorce, a concept that started last year.
A reason for such break ups, according to Bestsyndication, is that “people are more likely to reevaluate their relationship during this time and they generally do not want to spend Valentine’s day with just anyone”.
Thus, before going on that date, they ask themselves whether they would rather skip the date than spend it with someone they aren’t committed to.
Though most of their intention seems well, isn’t it harsh to choose Valentine’s Day to split up?
William Shakespeare said, “Love is the most beautiful of dreams and the worst of nightmares.” I feel Valentine’s Day shares the same attribute, maybe due to its overrated characteristic and high hopes on that day.