Maybe it has something to do with how you make me feel during judo training.
I never once believed that a woman would need a man to function completely. To be honest, once I find out that a seemingly independent woman is in a relationship, especially if she's someone I look up to, immediately I would not find her as... appealing? It isn't that I think less of them; it's just that I find single successful women stronger. You could call me a feminist, then. Don't get me wrong. I'm not a man-hater. I still appreciate the few gentlemen in my vicinity. But you know what? You were the only one, and still are the only one, who showed me that those two do not always clash.
During an immersion of my judo class in varsity training, I cluelessly chose you as a sparring partner. Well, yes. I could clearly see your black belt, but we were only from a PE class so I thought you would go a little bit easy on me. And boy, was I wrong. After each 3-minute sparring session, I was left breathless. My body felt like dying but I had never felt so alive.
Once you grabbed my sleeve and gave that little smile of yours, I knew I wasn't prepared for it.
No mercy, yes, that was you. Your teasing words would bait me and served to keep making me try to off-balance you. Gracefully, you would dodge my attempts. And adding to that is the fact that I could sense that you were not holding yourself back. Through how you handled me, it was obvious that you believed us to be equals. To you, I wasn't a girl to be shielded or to go easy on. I knew you believed me to be someone who could do as much as you could. And of course, it helped raise my stamina when you threw in a little comment with amused eyes and a smirk on your lips, "a feisty one, you are".
However, while you would swiftly throw me down without hesitation, you were also quick to pull me back up. Your gentle whispers asking if I was alright and how I was holding up made me feel warm all over. As tough as our sparring seemed, only I could see your concerned eyes and feel the stable reassurance of your hands. I also appreciate how, when I would tumble back and pull you down with me, you were quick to brace your arms so as not to fall on me in a compromising position. All in all, it was exhilarating.
Looking back on that, you showed me how someone can be a gentleman without forgetting that a woman is strong and independent. That day, I realized that while I can fight my own battles, it is still a wonderful feeling to have a man looking after me.
