Well-meaning boyfriend gets girlfriend a cake to celebrate a promotion she never received in attempt to help her "manifest" success with "good vibes," she reacts negatively: "I had to explain [to our server] that it wasn't true"

Author image for Ely Bulnes
Ely Bulnes • Writer and Editor
Jul 29, 2025 4:00 PM EDT

We've all probably been through an intense manifestatione phase. Maybe you happened across The Secret at a garage sale, or perhaps you stumbled upon a YouTube influencer detailing how to speak your desired reality into existence. There are so many different manifesting techniques; you can try writing a journal entry from the perspective of your future self who has achieved all of your goals. You could write a list of things that you are grateful for and slip in a few things that haven't happened yet. You can try saying affirmations in the morning. I'm not here to say whether or not these things are real or effective in terms of results, but they certainly do have the power to shift your mindset for the better, at the very least.
In our story today, a young man tries to manifest his girlfriend's promotion. His technique? Acting as if it has already happened by getting her a special cake. Except that it's their anniversary and she has no idea what's going on. 

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  • 01

    AITA for refusing to leave the restaurant after my boyfriend embarrassed me on our anniversary?

    Cheezburger Image 10532492800
    via cottonbro studio from Pexels

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 02
    So yesterday was our 3-year anniversary. My boyfriend (29M) planned a dinner at a nicer
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  • 03
    restaurant (nothing crazy fancy, but nicer than our usual spots). I got dressed up, excited, thinking it'd be a romantic night.
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    Cheezburger Image 10532493312
    via andresr from Getty Images Signature

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 05
    Everything was fine until the server brought out dessert, a slice of cake that said "Congrats
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  • 06
    on your promotion!" I looked confused because... I didn't get a promotion.
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  • 07
    Turns out my boyfriend made it up to "manifest" it happening. soon. He thought it would be "a cute moment" and "good energy."
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  • 08
    I was super confused and honestly felt embarrassed. Our server asked questions and I had to awkwardly explain it wasn't true.
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  • 09
    PROMOTION
    via themacx from Getty Images Signature

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 10
    I quietly told him it wasn't funny and asked if we could just wrap up and go home. He got mad and said I was "ruining the vibe" and
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  • 11
    "taking things too seriously." I refused to leave with him, paid for my half, and stayed behind to calm down.
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  • 12
    Now he's calling me dramatic and my friends are split, some say it was harmless, others say it was weird.
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  • The act of getting her this cake isn't really break up worthy; however, his reaction to her confusion and disappointement certainly is. 

  • 13
    CatMomof2Many Toss the fun right back at him. I would have jumped up & squealed "I'm being promoted from girlfriend to wife! Yeah, we're
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  • 14
    engaged! You know, to "manifest" it happening soon. If you think about the look that would cross his face, you have to smile.
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  • 15
    sysaphiswaits I get the feeling that was exactly the way it was supposed to go down. At least in the BF's mind.
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  • 16
    Shoddy Move6054 NTA. Manifesting isn't lying in public and putting you on the spot. That's just straight-up cringe. He made your night about his bit.
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    dazzleberryblush OP I felt so awkward having to explain a fake promotion to the server. Like... how is that romantic? It was my night and he turned it into some weird joke.
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  • 18
    Fabulous-Second-7655 Is there a chance that you were in a place where he wanted to hide the anniversary/relationship?
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  • 19
    That's a very strange joke and awful excuse... All I saw was a big red flag.
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  • That is an interesting theory; perhaps he was somehow ashamed of his relationship with our protagonist. They need to have a heart-to-heart ASAP.

  • 20
    voiceofmyownsanity NTA. It was weird. Not because he was trying to manifest that for you, but because he did that during your anniversary celebration. It was supposed to be about we not me.
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    dazzleberryblush OP Yes!! That's what got to me, was our anniversary, and somehow it turned into this fake
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    solo celebration about me that I didn't even ask for. It completely missed the point.
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  • 23
    voiceofmyownsanity If this relationship is salvageable, I would say "/ appreciate that you are in my corner and want good things to come my way. Making a celebration that was about our relationship into
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    manifesting a promotion in my career was a bizarre way to show it. I showed up to celebrate us, not to focus on what might happen for me. I appreciate the sentiment but I
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    don't appreciate changing a celebration about us into a celebration of what if just for me. For the future, please keep them separate."
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  • 27
    If he is a healthy partner, he can acknowledge your feelings. If not, he will try to guilt trip you, pout, and make it about how you ruined his gesture and spoiled the mood.
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  • 28
    If it is the latter, you are better off without a partner who doesn't understand or respect your feelings and boundaries.
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  • 29
    shereadsinbed Honestly, it doesn't matter what we think. When you told him that *you* didn't like it, that's all he
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  • 30
    should need to know. Anything other than an apology is a red flag here. His defensiveness tells me he's immature, especially for a 29 yo.
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Tags

Dating-Relationships boyfriend relationship advice anniversary work manifesting relationships girlfriend couples love breakup red flag girlboss dating entitled people
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