By SHAUN FREEMA
The experiences in this story are true, but some of the names have been changed to protect the innocent.
@by:By SHAUN FREEMAN
@by2:Universe Staff Writer
@text:A dozen red roses, a box of chocolates and a card to melt her heart: it's the perfect formula for a perfect Valentine's Day -- or is it?
As another Valentine's Day approaches, floral shops are swamped and love is abounding -- at least for some. With every good intention comes the hard reality that what you plan isn't always the way it turns out.
For some students, Valentine's Day is not the traditional day of sweethearts that it is for most of those who hold the boyfriend or girlfriend status.
'Last year I sent my girlfriend a dozen roses on Valentine's Day, but somehow the card I sent with it fell off,' said Gary Ball, a freshman from San Jose, Calif. 'Since the roses had no card, she didn't know who they were from.
Her ex-boyfriend 'was still after her (and) he told her the roses were from him, and I had no way of convincing her otherwise. So on that beautiful Valentine's Day, I was out the $40 for the roses and a girlfriend.'
One student, who wished to remain anonymous, said because of experiences he's had in the past, he tries not to have a girlfriend around Valentine's Day because it's generally more trouble than it's really worth.
'Valentine's Day can have bittersweet memories for many, especially girls,' said Amy Johnson, a student at UVSC.
'I don't think guys understand what a disappointment it is when a girl comes home to find a dozen, beautiful, long-stem roses waiting for her, just to find out that they're from guy that you couldn't care less about,' she said.
'The thought is nice, but the guy is more important than the roses. It's not whether you get roses or not, it's who they're from that counts the most. The roses are great, I guess, but roses don't kiss back.'