What did he do for your birthday? Did y’all spend time together or do something special? People have different love languages that they use to express affection as their way of showing love even if it’s not the way you want them to be. I understand the hurt you’re feeling though - getting a gift from this person means that they were out shopping one day and came across something they think you’d like.

Giving gifts may not be his love language but it may be yours to some extent. Having different love languages is okay though. When I learned that my love languages are physical touch and quality time, I remember the time when one of my exes put together an indoor picnic for me on my birthday (blanket, basket and made the food himself) despite us being broke up at the time. I was immature and ungrateful and didn’t fully appreciate it because I thought about how nice it would be if he made the same effort into spending more time with me.

I say this for you to investigate your love language as well as his so you can identify when he is expressing his love before thinking he doesn’t care about you. That can help shift your perspective if he has been reciprocating, even if it means a lack of physical objects.

That said, what I’ve done in the past for gift giving occasions like Christmas or valentines was to ask what they wanted as a present and tell them what I wanted as a present. Call it an exchange or whatever but isn’t that just a practical and direct way for both parties to meet each other’s needs/wants?