The Hopeful Romantic

Chapter 1: Valentine's Fever

I'm having one of those moments where I really question if I'm supposed to be doing whatever it is I'm doing or if I'm supposed to be somewhere else sipping a mimosa in a veranda of a private beach home. 

Given that I am lacking a mimosa in my possession and a private beach house, I think it's the universe letting me know that sitting in my desk, writing another article about the booming industry of copper and nickel for foreign investors, is what I am meant to do. 

 A blurred chorus of "Awwws" and some squeals came from the hallway just outside of my office, prompting me to pop open yet another bottle of wine from the mini fridge behind me. 

I hate Valentine's Day. 

Why spend a full day celebrating love, the colors red and pink, and chocolates, when you can spend a whole 8-12 hours working and earning more money? Seriously, I don't understand the concept of it. I honestly don't plan to figure it out either. 

Besides, you can eat chocolate without associating it with a date. Although I have to admit, the only think I love about this day is the dropped prices for the tempting sweets. Which reminds me...

*rip* 

Yes, that is right. My way of enjoying this lovely holiday--as some would put it, is with cheap wine and chocolates. To me, it's the only way I could get through the day without barfing at everyone. 

Even louder squeals came from the scene outside. Oh great. Another proposal.

Seriously, how cliche is it that they are proposing on Valentine's Day? I'm even more surprised that the people being asked are saying yes to being proposed to in an office. Which by the way, is the least romantic place to get proposed to since the company is all about finance and industry investment where everyone's focus should be in. 

I rolled my eyes at my employees unprofessionalism. Are there grounds to fire them for having leisure at their downtime? I sighed heavily accepting defeat. Probably not. 

I only have 20 more minutes of squeals and loveliness from the people outside to endure before lunchtime ends and people can finally go back to work and do whatever it is they need to do. For another 4 hours, people will slightly forget about Valentine's Day, just the way I like it. 

But I won't. Not when the only reason I hate it is because I don't have someone to spend it with. 

Not a friend, not a family member, and especially not a partner. 

My hand unconsciously moved the mouse connected to my computer and clicked on the minimize button, making the current window about marketing plans for this year disappear temporarily. 

I can't believe I'm even thinking about this. 

It's honestly ridiculous, I'm well aware of that fact. But wines, chocolates, romance, and Valentine's Day really make people -- me in particular, delirious. 

The blinking pink button with the heart on the lower right side of the window kept enticing me to click on it, incidentally will make me "swipe right" on an attractive guy who wore a pair glasses and is carrying a backpack with a charming smile on his face for his dating profile picture. 

He was attractive, that's true. But I feel stupid for even being on this website at all.

Feeling sorry for myself, I immediately went to my dating profile's settings and deleted my account, for the seventh time today. Why should I even be embarrassed? What should I be embarrassed about? 

I'm an independent woman, who happens to be the Chief of Marketing for a company that belongs to the top 100 companies all over the globe, I have my own successful clothing business, I have my master's degree, I speak seven languages, I do martial arts twice a week, I even know how to play piano, I know how to cook, my finances and taxes are organized (you can verify this with my accountant), and I live by myself in a well-built condo.