Man doesn't realize how much he misses celebrating birthdays until his girlfriend throws him a party

Every individual needs loved ones by their side to celebrate special days. Whether it is a graduation ceremony, wedding or a birthday, we all deserve someone to shower us with love during these moments. A man named Arnold O. Walkin—who goes by @theotherajay on TikTok—shared a touching moment from his life with the online community. In a video that garnered nearly five million views since being posted, Walkin captured his birthday celebration with his girlfriend Tai. However, there was one special thing about this little birthday bash.

In the clip, as Walkin sits with his eyes closed and hands folded in front of his 24th birthday cake, his girlfriend enters the frame. After he blows out the candles with a smile, she gives him a kiss and a warm hug. However, he soon becomes emotional and starts to cry. "I haven't celebrated my birthday since I was 13, but my girlfriend wanted to surprise me even after I told her I didn't want to do anything for my birthday," the text overlay on the video revealed.

"It got really emotional for me, seeing that I haven't celebrated my birthday in such a long time. I brushed my birthdays aside for many years because I kinda lost the joy in celebrating it after a while, but she reignited that spark and made me whole again. It was last minute, so don't judge the cake. She put a lot of effort into it and I couldn't be more grateful for such a caring and loving person to be my partner," Walkin captioned the video.

The comment section was equally emotional, as viewers witnessed the beautiful moment between the couple and left words of appreciation for Tai. @hona_xo commented, "This deserves a million and then a million more likes. Seeing him cry breaks my soul. Everyone deserves to be loved and seen like this." @itsoktomakeamistake wrote, "It seems like you really were long overdue to be celebrated, mate. Happy birthday!! Here's to another year of growth and obviously a good lady by your side. Be good to each other and you'll celebrate many more years together, with love." @melaninsunflowa added, "Sometimes you have to allow people to love on you to restore your faith in love."

In a follow-up video, Walkin is seen opening a gift box he received for his birthday. "My girlfriend put so much effort and thought into everything she did for me," the text overlays on the second video read. "Look at that child. That is not a 24-year-old me. That is a 5-year-old me. Relationships aren't perfect because if they were, everyone would be in one. But when you find that special person, treat them right, love them correctly and most of all, heal each other. So don't stop being you and love that special person in your life the right way." Walkin became emotional for the second time after opening a photo collage gift that Tai had thoughtfully prepared, featuring pictures of the couple from various moments in their lives. He melted into yet another hug as his girlfriend smiled at the camera.

You can follow Arnold O. Walkin (@theotherajay) on TikTok for more videos on lifestyle.