Adila saw Teru standing in the middle of the quad waiting on her. She ran and jumped into his arms, nearly knocking him to the ground. She pressed a swift, chaste kiss to his lips before unwinding herself from his body. Without a word, she shoved the printout of her grades into his hands. She rocked on her feet anxiously while he looked over her grades.

"Congratulations, I knew you could do it," he said, hugging her. "I did promise to take you out if your grades were good. Do you want to go eat now?"

"Sure! Let's go!" she exclaimed with enthusiasm. She took him by the hand and literally dragged him to the subway station in her eagerness. She was starving and her hard-won straight A's were worth a celebration.

It was the end of the day so the subway was packed with commuters on their way home from work and school. Teru put his arm around her protectively as she was pushed against him from the overabundance of bodies in the car. He smiled when she laid her cheek on his chest while holding onto the sides of his open trench coat.

Adila inhaled the masculine smell of him that she always found so alluring. She had no idea what kind of soap or cologne he used but it reminded her of walks in the pine forest surrounding her home when she was growing up. Her arms slipped around his waist while she settled in for the somewhat uncomfortable ride amongst the crushing force of humanity surrounding her. She felt fingers delicately graze her behind but did not react thinking it was Teru exercising a few liberties. Her eyes moved upwards to see that one of his hands was holding the silver ring above their heads while the other was pressed against her back. About the same moment she realized the fingers that had touched her were not his, the hand returned to her butt giving her cheek a firm squeeze.

"What the hell!" she shrieked, pushing her elbow back.

"Oh, god," an obviously male voice mumbled, sounding muffled.

Adila turned to see a man standing behind her covering his nose with his hand while blood oozed down his face. She threw the fortysomething pervert dressed in pair of coveralls a dirty look of disgust before resuming her position of being snuggled into Teru. The subway was becoming a precarious mode of transportation for them.

"Nicely done," Teru complimented, putting his arm back around her.

They had grown quite affectionate with each other but so far nothing had been discussed about a serious relationship. Teru had not stayed over again either. It seemed to be an unspoken agreement between them that it would only lead to trouble and not the kind they needed right now. The entanglement of a relationship would not fit into their plans for the next few years. They were both very regimented, following their routines daily and hardly varying. She adhered as strictly to her schedule as he did his. It was one of the things that had endeared her to him and made him think he wanted her to stick around to see what the future could hold for them.

When the doors opened at their stop, they flowed out with the rest of the people like a deluge of human water washing through a floodgate. Teru held her hand tightly so they would not be separated. He pulled her toward the exit that opened on the surface just a few yards away from their destination.

"So what culinary marvel do you plan to lay to waste today?" he asked her, receiving a kick to the shin. "Ow!"

"You're so mean," Adila muttered, hiding behind her menu so he would not see her smirk. She decided to have breakfast, dinner, and dessert by ordering the pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream and a cheeseburger and fries.

"We're going to have to find a way for you to work off those extra calories if you keep eating like that," he murmured, reaching for her hands.

Adila had a few ideas of a pleasurable way to do that as she looked at the handsome man across the table from her. Sighing noisily, she remembered the vow of self-imposed abstinence she had made to herself. College now, fun later. And he sure looked like fun to her. Clearing her throat, she pulled her hands from his and grabbed the cherry soda she had ordered to sip down half of it through the straw.

"What do you think about moving in with me?" Teru inquired with no warning.

Adila choked, swiftly grabbing her napkin to cover her face so she would not spew the red soda across his pristine white dress shirt. She hacked and coughed, attempting to force the fluid back out of her lungs from her inhale after the unexpected verbal bomb was dropped on her. Her mind reeled while she continued to get herself under control.

"What in the world would possess you to make such a suggestion?" she inquired in a voice hoarse from her fierce coughing fit.

"You make it sound like such an awful thing," he muttered, sipping his coffee.

"It's not that. It's just – "

"I know what it just is and I have the same misgivings too. But since we will continue to have classes together, it would be so much easier for studying if we're both right there. I have a two bedroom apartment. You would have your own room. I don't expect you to sleep with me," he told her matter of factly.

There was a sharp edge to his voice that grated across her nerves, but she decided to let it go. Adila knew he had the same trepidation as her about relationships so there was no reason to be offended. She was thankful for the arrival of their food while she struggled to think of an excuse for not moving in.

"My lease is paid for another five months. I don't know if I will be staying in Japan once the next semester is over," she explained, picking off the lettuce and tomatoes from her cheeseburger. If she had wanted a salad, she would have ordered one.

"You don't?" he questioned, blinking behind his glasses as if he did not comprehend. "I thought you had found a reason to stay."

Adila's eyes flew to his that were studying her face warily. She knew instantly that he wanted to be her reason for staying. They both said things with their mouths to hide what they were really feeling but their eyes betrayed those words by shouting their feelings loud and clear.

"I suppose I have," she said, giving him a feeble smile.

"Is giving in to your feelings that much of a defeat?" he inquired, reaching under the table to touch her knee.

Adila would not tell him but it was a demoralizing loss to be conquered by her feelings. She had set out to be different from other women. She endeavored to be master of her feelings and desires and not allow herself to be tossed with every fickle wave of emotion in the sea of life. It had given her a sense of pride to deny herself from giving in to emotional whims and fleshly longings. She had heard that pride goes before a fall, and she was going down fast.

"When do you want me to move in?"

~\..'../~

Adila stepped back from the tree to examine it carefully. It leaned a little to the right. She knelt down in front of the small four-foot tall tree before bending over to reach under the lower boughs to reposition it in the stand.

"Adila, where is – " Teru could no longer speak when he saw her behind raised up high the air in the skin-tight black leggings.

"Did you say something, Teru?" she asked, wiggling a bit as she screwed the bolts back into the small trunk of the real tree.

"Uh…" What the hell was he going to ask her?

"Could you help me decorate it? It's my first Christmas away from my parents. And our first Christmas together," she added with a smile.

Teru put down the book in his hand, grabbing the box of assorted decorations from the couch. He handed them to her then picked up the box of delicate and realistic glass icicles to hang. Kneeling down beside her, he placed his hand over hers as they hung the first decoration together.

Adila felt her pulse take off like an anxious racehorse let out of the gate. And it's off! She knew she was a goner from the moment he had asked her to move in. Each day he seemed to grow more charming and lovable, capturing more of her heart. In the two weeks she had been living here, he had served her breakfast in bed twice, given her another massage that melted her very bones, and taken her out to various meals, movies, and other entertainment. True to his word, she had her own room and he had not laid a finger on her other than the occasional hug or virtuous good night kiss. It was a whirlwind romance that made her feel like she was lured into a trap she had no hopes or desires to avoid.

They decorated the tree with all of the ornaments she had bought, saving the angel to go on top for last. Once again laying his hand over hers, they placed the angel on top together.

"Plug it in. I want to see," Teru begged her like an eager child.

Adila smiled; she loved it when he acted so childish because it was in such contrast to his typical stoicism. Once again, having to get on all fours to reach the plug behind the tree, she unwittingly displayed her behind nicely for him.

Teru withheld from touching her despite how badly he wanted to. He oohed with approval when the multi colored lights blinked on. It was particularly pretty how they lit up the glass icicles that took on the color of the light behind it.

"What do you think?" she asked, sitting down beside him on the floor to look at their little tree.

"It's the most gorgeous thing I've ever seen," he murmured, not taking his eyes from her.

A shy smile curled her lips while her cheeks flushed bright pink. Adila knew he was not talking about the tree, although she was not looking at him. She inhaled with a sharp gasp when his fingers brushed across her neck to push her hair back. Her skin erupted with goose bumps as his warm breath blew across her neck. Her fingers twisted into the hem of her sweater in anticipation of his soft lips pressing against her sensitive flesh. Something like a squeak forced its way from her lips when she received the touch she had been waiting for. Biting her lip to hold back any other noises, she breathed harder as his lips kissed her again but further up. Her fingers left her sweater to clutch the super soft fabric of his when he moved closer to her and pressed a kiss to her chin. Opening her eyes, they met his half-lidded cherrywood eyes before he lowered his lips to hers. The kiss was sublime to say the least and breathtaking to say the most.

Teru released her lips without deepening the kiss to hold her gaze again. His fingers combed through her hair and his hand came to rest on her jaw to draw her forward for another kiss. This time he wanted more. Pressing his lips to hers, he pulled her closer to press her body against his. His tongue tested her receptiveness by tentatively pushing through her slightly parted lips then withdrawing. When she opened her lips more, he cautiously slid his tongue into her mouth to meet hers.

Adila felt a craving growing within her. She pulled her lips from his, pushing him away gently.

"We can't," she gasped, looking into his eyes. "I-I can't do this. I'm sorry."

"But why?" he inquired, attempting to hold her but she pushed him away and stood up.

Adila went to the window, staring across the river. She had to admit he had the most wonderful view from his apartment. Her eyes followed the cargo ship as it lazily moved by on the dark river, piled high with metal crates full of merchandise.

"What are you afraid of?" Teru questioned, sliding his arms around her.

"The same thing everyone is afraid of with relationships. Losing control of my emotions… giving part of myself to someone… getting hurt by that person," she said, turning to face him.

"I can't promise I will never hurt you or disappoint you. I can assure you I will never do it on purpose. I want to love you if you will just let me," he murmured, cupping her face in his hands.

"But if we start a real relationship, won't that get in the way of our goals? We both have specific objectives we want to accomplish and set career paths. I don't know if a relationship will be in our best interests," she argued fabulously just like a real lawyer stating her case.

"Are you trying to convince me why I should not want to further our relationship?"

"Yes. I guess I am."

"We're both going in the same direction. We have parallel paths. Why shouldn't they intersect?" he inquired, kissing her forehead.

'Are we planning a road system or a relationship?' she wondered. The beginning of a smile tilted her lips, and she pressed her face into his chest while embracing him. It did feel nice to be in his arms and being held so tightly. Why should she have to be lonely and trapped in a self-exile for the next four years? Why couldn't they do this together when they held many of the same goals? The more she thought about their relationship, she came to the conclusion that they had already been dating for quite some time. Choosing to overlook this fact, she had erroneously called it friendship.

"Look, all relationships are a work in progress. Nothing definite has to be decided today," Teru said, kissing her briefly. Pulling away he returned to the spot where they had been sitting and gazing at the Christmas tree.

Adila walked over to him with a smile on her face, sitting down next to him on the floor. She leaned against him after he put his arm around her and pulled her close. They resumed staring at the beautiful sparkling decorations in the soft glow of the lights gracing the green boughs. They were both deep in thought, contemplating what the future could possibly hold for them. Plans had changed and that unnerved them both to a great degree, but they had to remind themselves that this kind of change was good. Their ideas for the future now involved each other.

~\..'../~

"What do you want for Christmas?" Teru asked as they walked down the street huddled together.

It was Christmas Eve and they had just attended her favorite ballet, The Nutcracker. Adila had been thrilled when he surprised her with the tickets for the performance. She had talked about her family's Christmas traditions which included attending a live presentation of the Christmas classic. Another tradition that enthralled him was the exchanging of presents. He never tired of giving her presents or unexpected surprises because he enjoyed that look of euphoric delight on her face.

"But I already have everything I want. You just gave me a lovely gift by taking me to the ballet. What more could I ask for?" she inquired, turning to face him. "I received a very unexpected early Christmas present this year."

"What was that?" He put his arms around her, kissing her briefly on the lips.

"You."