When a girl gives a guy a gift for Valentines, she is encapsulating her feelings for him! It's a bold and outright statement, after all, for friendship or love or some other type of affection, riiight? The delay gives the guy time to consider his own answer, and thus reply in turn. Besides, it wouldn't be fair if they both couldn't express themselves with a token of appreciation.

[He says with a little grin and a chuckle]