Serenades become extra-special when you're an LDR, married couple

I have been lonely ever since my husband left for his one-year stint abroad. Every night has been characterized by crying and countless messages that say "I miss you" and "Uwi ka na please" (please come home) when my husband and I chat on Facebook messenger. And a few days before Valentine's Day, I felt really down because we'd be celebrating our first Valentine's as a married couple apart.

But I couldn't stay miserable, right? So on Valentine's Day, my husband and I just made the most of whatever resources we had. Instead of a romantic dinner date, we went online for a video chat to greet each other a happy Valentine's. He asked me how I was doing (I've been since last week) and he told me about his day. There was nothing Valentine-y with our chat, but I was thankful because the universe cooperated and gave us good internet connection at that time. Our video chat lasted for two hours.

It was 11:00 p.m. when we both said good night. I went to our dining area to have late-night snacks while watching gymnastics videos on my laptop. Then, someone knocked on our gate. My dad went to out to check who it was. I heard bits of their conversation. The guys outside had something for me but my dad couldn't simply receive it. I had to go out. I was already in my pajamas! So I got dressed and went outside.

I saw three young men in front of our house. They're my husband's fraternity brods (who are still in school). One of them was holding a guitar, one of them was taking a video of everything on his phone, and one of them handed me a bouquet of flowers, a teddy bear, and a small cake. He also read a message from my husband, who was just as as sad as I was to be away from me on this special day. After reading the message, the trio went on with their serenade.

I've never been serenaded before. I know that every year, my husband's fraternity serenade people on Valentine's Day. Last year, I even asked him boldly to serenade me. But he didn't want to because he had done so with his exes. I never thought that he would still serenade me--and that he would do so on our first Valentine's Day as a married couple. His serenade was for me not as his girlfriend but as his wife.

I cried while his brods sang Parokya Ni Edgar's "Harana," Ed Sheeran's "Perfect," and Michael Buble's "My Everything" for me. I cried out of joy and appreciation for what my husband did. I cried because even if he's away, he made sure that I would be happy on Valentine's Day. That I wouldn't simply cry because he's away and just settle for a video chat. He gave me this sweet surprise, and I couldn't thank him enough.

Being in a long-distance relationship is tough, but that's the card we're dealt with right now. Thanks to technology, my husband and I can chat every day. Even if he's away, I know that he loves me so much. And with or without serenades, Valentine's Day or not, he never fails to make me feel his love.