Risky Romance in Late Classical New Zealand

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John was an intuitive young man who was attuned to the most subtle effects of an environment. Whether it was the murmurs of students in the hallway or the peculiar rat-a-tat-tat of conversation emanating from the teachers’ lounge across the school courtyard, John had a keener and more refined sense of his moods, senses, and energies than his peers. Today’s lunch was no different. Though the conversations of peers served as background noise, John spoke with a fluency far beyond that of his peers when talking about his passions and his aspirations. It wasn’t until Emilia, a reserved and timid girl yet with a sarcastic wit and considerable practical skills, chimed in from the table to their left. She brought with her a different kind of energy into the lunchroom that day. After several minutes of talking with John about their classes and life in general, Emilia decided to take a daring approach. Without warning, she reached out and grabbed his hand, startling him. “John,” she said, her face so close to his that he could feel her warm breath on his skin, “I want you to do something for me.” John was taken back, a mix of exhilaration and fear filling his every thought. “Um, what do you want me to do?” he asked. “Well,” she said, her voice taking on a mischievous tone, “I want you to explore something with me. As long as you keep it between us, I’ll do the same. Can you handle that?” John still wasn’t sure what what was going on, but he nodded quickly. Whatever she was asking of him – and he had a few ideas – could only be a good thing. Without hesitation, John sunk deeper into his chair and felt Emilia’s tiny hands begin to slowly unbutton his khakis. He felt himself melting into pure pleasure – a pleasure that he knew was really wrong but really good too.

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John had learned early on that pleasure was meant to be savored and explored, not yelled. From that moment forward, he remained quiet and let Emilia take the lead in exploring the greater depths of their clandestine relationship. At first it was just stories and old photos, non-romantic tales of adventure and exploration. But it wasn’t long before they moved to examining each other more intimately, clothes sliding off and giving way to caresses and skin-to-skin contact. Accompanied by their secret language of glances and the occasional whispered SMS messages, they were two people exploring a new and unexplored type of space together. And then one day, during a school outing along the waterfront, Emilia propositioned John for something greater. With a scene framed by a New Zealand landscape, a long since forgotten history rooted in the soil of the area, and a wind coming from the south, Emilia asked him, “ John, do you want to forge our own little piece of history?” John thought for a minute about what this gesture meant and what such a journey implied. Before he could answer, though, Emilia began to answer his questions without him even having to ask. “Come with me, John” she said. “Whatever our answer may be, it already exists in the very fabric of our being.”

-

The following days and weeks Emilia and John remained tense, wondering if anyone had uncovered their secret. At night, they found solace in their own arms. They embraced each other with firm grasps and frantic, despairing kisses. Though they tried to keep their escapades within the dark cocoon of secrecy, it was only a matter of time before news of their forbidden trysts and stolen affections came to light. Having heard rumors of their interactions, teachers and authorities burst into their classroom with a fundamentalist’s recklessness. Without warning or mercy, they confiscated every item that potentially carried any physical reminder of the crime of peddling pleasure. “We’re performing an unannounced inspection,” sternly declared one of the authoritative figures. “We’re looking for signs of carnal relations between students of two different genders. Do you two understand?” They looked at each other, fully aware that every painted lily on their skin could be the very mementos being searched. Yet they stayed resolute, never wavering in their desire to follow their hearts and protect the sanctity of their twine-like souls.

-

John and Emilia were prosecuted and brought to the court for their act. The prosecution and the punishments requested seemed grossly disproportional to the crime itself and the cries for softening the sentencing were tempered by the demand for existing supremacy to be preserved. In a twist that even the defendant could have never predicted, it was a surprise witness at his side, an old man, who rose to make a plea that ultimately saved the day. “Your Honor” he said. “This boy and this girl, in spite of their escapades, are simply discovering and exploring the fables of love given to them by the gods. Who among us can say that their act is more heinous than any of our own faults and misdeeds?” The old man’s words shook the courtroom and its guests to silence. No one increased nor objected. When the judge cleared his throat he looked upon the boy and the girl, his gaze a combination of wonder and admiration, and said, “This court recognizes your courage and verdicts in favor of the defendants.” John and Emilia looked into each other eyes and embraced for a second, happy and relieved at the turn of events. After that, their fists and bodies rose in victory, claiming the triumphant moment as their own.