My ex-girlfriend smashed her VALENTINE GIFT

A girl on Valentine's day

Has anyone rejected your gift? How did you feel?!

Gifts can serve as a symbolic representation; also, they can be given as succour to another person. The gifts mostly shared amongst people on Valentine's Day are symbolic. Nonetheless, some people take to a poverty alleviation programme every year during a day that's supposed to be celebrated in every possible simple way. My ex-girlfriend wasn't someone who wanted something extravagant, but I was bent on buying her a gift much higher than expectations. Her intimate friend advised me to get her a colourful bracelet because it'd appear seeing it on her wrist every time she's in school. The guy recommended a vendor who offered cheap bracelets that are affordable for high school students like me. Still, I was obstinate. I wanted something sophisticated for her because it's my Valentine with her. I wanted to make it special. I wasn't one of those boys who come from a well-to-do family. What do they say about poor ignorant individuals who are crazy about impressing others with the little they have? I was one. I planned to starve myself during recess, so I could use the accumulated money to buy her the gift I wanted. I saved my meagre feeding allowance for two weeks or so. 

I bought the gift a day before Valentine's day. It's a frame. I handpicked a frame that had the most beautiful inscription, too. On Valentine's Day, I pretended as though I'd no gift even when she's given me hers. What I wanted was serenity for the presentation of my gift. I waited upon the closing. And, when it came, I got the most surprising comment of my life. 

“Ife, why did you buy a frame? I can't take this home? How do I hide it?” That's her comment, although it's not verbatim. 

It hurt me. I am sure you know the pain of being rejected after putting out tremendous efforts. I could remember I trekked to the supermarket where I purchased the frame because I wanted to minimize my cost of spending. To save myself from disappointment, I begged her to collect the gift and find a way to keep it. 

Unfortunately, my ex-girlfriend came to school the next day to tell a different story. She told me her mother scrutinized her bag, found the frame and ordered she smashed it. The word pierced my heart like a needle pierced a fabric. I didn't believe her story, it's not convincing enough. I concluded she smashed the frame herself because it's not pleasing. It led to a conflict, that almost broke our relationship.

It's been five years now, and we have gone our separate ways. Late last year, she messaged me on WhatsApp. When I opened the message, it was the picture of the frame I gave her. I don't know why she lied, but it excited me that she kept the frame as I begged to do. 

You see, gifts are meant to create a feeling of excitement in the receiver's mind. The gift could be something that fills a void. It could be something that reflects their interest. The bottom line is that your gift must serve a purpose. Assess a person's life before you give him or her a gift. Know what (s)he wants or desires, not what you want.

What do you think??

Read: Meet Mahatma Gandhi

About the Author

Ifenaike Ifedapo Ayomipo is a Nigerian writer whose works have been published or are forthcoming on The Quills, The Transit Lit Magazine, Naija Mad Hotstars, Kalahari Review, IceFloe Press, CovidHQ Africa, Shallow Tales Review, Institutionalized Review, Whetstone Magazine and elsewhere. Also, he's a promising Educationist and public speaker.