as usual; as before; still

I prepared a cake and a present for my girlfriend's birthday and was in a great mood, but she...? If there's no reason needed to fall in love, then is there no reason needed to stay in love? A story about women in love—those who lack confidence in themselves yet hold deep and profound affection for someone important to them, those who suffer not understanding why they are loved and how to repay that love, and those whose mutual feelings subtly miss each other—a short story collection.