What’s your definition of romantic?

Teaser:

Romance means different things to different people. For me, it’s never been about the textbook gestures. It’s about the connection, the presence, and the understanding shared with that one person who truly sees you. This is my personal reflection on what romance means to me—beyond roses and candlelight.

Hmmmm… this is a very good question.

For someone who never really understood the concept of having a boyfriend while growing up, it took me time to grasp the idea of love—before I could even begin to define what romantic truly means to me.

For many, romance depends on who it’s with. But for me, it’s all about the him. Romantic is what I want from him—the kind of connection that makes my toes curl and my body shiver—not just in a physical sense, but deep within my soul.

Needless to say, there has only been one “him” who ever made me feel that way—who truly showed me what romantic feels like. And it was never just about grand gestures. It was the little things that felt big because they were real.

Being romantic isn’t only about candlelit dinners or sweet words—it’s emotional, spiritual, and mental. It’s him understanding me without me needing to say a word. It’s him asking the right questions that unlock parts of me I didn’t even know I needed to share. It’s emotional safety—where my vulnerability isn’t seen as weakness, but as intimacy.

Romantic is remembering that I love mangoes and rum & raisin ice cream—and surprising me with it when I least expect it. It’s embracing the emotions I carry, without judgment. It’s hearing me say, “You hurt my feelings,” and not becoming defensive, but responding with care and making amends. It’s being mindful that words leave scars, and choosing to speak with tenderness.

Romantic is him telling me I look beautiful today, not out of habit, but because he sees me. It’s the tone in his voice when he calls me by my name, the way he protects my heart even in silence, and the moments he chooses presence over perfection.

Being romantic is giving me the feeling of love all over again—not just once, but every time we reconnect. It’s him loving me for who I am—no masks, no edits, no performance. Just me. And him. Showing up in the most intimate, honest ways.

That, to me, is romantic.