I Never Experienced This Before — Turns Out It’s Just Basic Effort | by Meenaland | Oct, 2025

After spending almost a month with my partner — the man I hadn’t seen for half a year — I realized something: maybe this is what peace feels like. Not fireworks, not chaos, just that quiet comfort of “ah, I’m actually safe here.”

I’ve been in a relationship before, a long one too, nearly five years. And if you ask me what I learned from it… well, probably how low the “bare minimum” can go.

You know how people online talk about princess treatment?

Like, “He opens the car door for you,” or “He takes care of you when you’re sick”?

Yeah, I thought those things only existed in movies — until this man came along and did them for real.

Every time we take a taxi, he opens the door for me first. When we arrive, he waits for me to get out before closing it. He doesn’t rush, doesn’t sigh, doesn’t make me feel like I’m asking for too much. It’s such a simple thing, but when you’ve never had it before, it feels like royal service. 👑

And no, I’m not saying my ex never took care of me — he did, in his own way. When I was sick, he gave me Panadol and helped wipe me with a cold towel when I asked because my body was burning up. He tried, and I appreciated that.

But this man? He doesn’t wait for me to ask. He’ll ask what my symptoms are, run to the pharmacy, and already know what to do before I even open my mouth. It’s the kind of care that makes you feel seen — not pitied, not like a burden, but genuinely looked after.

He’s the kind of man who’ll keep asking what’s wrong until I actually tell him. Not in the annoying way, but in the “I actually give a damn” kind of way. When I say “I’m fine,” he knows I’m absolutely not fine — and he stays until I stop pretending.

He’ll carry all the shopping bags, take random photos of me, post me without me asking, and introduce me to his whole family like I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to him. Honestly, it’s giving main character energy.

And listen — the man eats everything.

Street food? Love it. Spicy noodles from a stall at midnight? He’s there. Gets sick? He just shrugs, buys medicine, and says, “It’s normal.”

Meanwhile, I once dated someone who was a little scared to eat street food — it always had to be an actual restaurant. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but let’s be honest… the best food doesn’t always come with air conditioning.

Oh, and haunted houses? This man walks in first. Laughs. Enjoys it.

Not like someone I knew who couldn’t even sit through a horror movie trailer. (If you’re reading this, yes, I said what I said. 🫶🏻)

He smells good too — like expensive good. Which makes sense, because he owns over 40 bottles of perfume. I swear he probably has one scent per mood.

But the thing I love most? He’s mature — emotionally, mentally, spiritually.

When I spiral into my depressive episodes and start overthinking everything, he doesn’t lecture me. He grounds me. Talks me through it. Reminds me of what’s real.

And that’s the thing — I don’t need a prince. I just needed peace.

But somehow, I got both.