first american title | tenya iida

twenty-two

~*~

lydia's pov

As I observed myself in the bathroom mirror, I could hear Tenya singing along to Christmas music. It brought a smile to my face to see he was so carefree and relaxed today. I wished that I could spend the entire day with him, but instead I was getting ready to shop for some Christmas gifts for him. While I did my makeup, I looked around at the counter for my lip gloss. Instead of finding what I needed, I spotted a tube of ruby red lipstick. I picked it up and observed the metallic casing. This definitely wasn't mine, so then how did it end up in my bathroom?

Whatever the case was, I didn't have a whole lot of time to worry about it. I shoved the product in my jacket pocket and left the bathroom. My purse was sitting on the coffee table next to the couch, so as I walked out the door I picked it up. I began to walk out the front door when Tenya calls out, "Wait!" I turn around and he grabs my face to kiss me. "I love you Star," he says.

I smile. "I love you too," I reply before leaving the apartment. After all this time he still gives me butterflies. I really do love him. I couldn't be happier with him. 

My headphones were in as I walked to the bus stop. Recently I had been listening to a lot of love songs from the forties to the eighties. They reminded me of Tenya. Music was such a big impact on my life. Eventually, I hoped to make my own music. Sure, I probably wouldn't play big concerts, but I'd have my own little songs for myself that I would occasionally share with Tenya. Maybe someday we'd have kids and I'd teach them how to strum along on a guitar. 

The bus ride to the local Target wasn't too far, which I was grateful for. I went up and down the linoleum aisles, looking for something good to get Tenya. A few folders and office supplies landed in my basket; things for work that I'm sure he would appreciate having. After that though, I was kind of dumbstruck as to what else he would want. What to get a man that already has everything he wants? All I could think to get him was a new computer since his current one was getting old. But to get him a new one that was the best would be upward of a thousand dollars. I just didn't have that kind of money to use. 

And then it hits me.

A Nintendo Switch. 

He had told me a few times that he liked Nintendo games and that he was so sad when his old DS broke. Tenya and I had played fighter type video games a few times, and he always way better than me. He probably had a lot of practice. I smirked to myself, imagining how happy he'll be when he sees what I got him. 

I picked out the console itself, Mario Kart, The Legend of Zelda and Mortal Kombat Two. When I checked out, the cost was far too high to mention. Nothing too outrageous, but still expensive. But it didn't matter to me because Tenya would be so excited to open his gift on Christmas morning. 

When I get home, I stay locked inside the bedroom wrapping his gifts. I know I said that it would be to much work to wrap them, but I want the Christmas tree to look fuller. I wrapped presents, satisfied with the way they looked at set them under the tree. I wanted to see Tenya rip the paper away from the cardboard boxes to reveal his gifts. To see the surprised look on his face. I left our bedroom with a couple of boxes and a few bags and put them underneath the tree. 

Tenya was focused at the kitchen counter, watching a youtube video while chopping a cucumber. He seemed to be following the video pretty well. I leaned over the kitchen counter to see what he was doing. He had fried tofu to the side, and seaweed and rice. He must have been following a vegan sushi recipe. It looked pretty good.

My eyes moved from the food to Tenya. I leaned over more and removed his glasses, giggling as I did so. "I need those to see love," he says, not raising his voice or looking up at me. He was so calm. 

I giggle. "You're so pretty. Have I told you that? You're so pretty."

Still not looking at me, focused on his work, he says, "you mentioned it last night in bed," like it's absolutely nothing. 

My eyes go wide briefly. Tenya's always so formal, so it's an odd thing to hear him slip things like that into conversation with no hesitation. "Well, you are."

A smile creeps on his face. "So are you."

I lean over and grab his face between my hands, forcing his eyes to met mine. "I know I say it a lot so maybe its lost its impact, but I fucking love you. I wish there was a stronger word than love because I would use it all the time."

He gulps. "Did you know the Greeks had eight words for love?"

Instead of letting the counter stand between us, I hop over them to the other side with Tenya. "Really?" I ask, unbuttoning the first few buttons of my shirt. "What are they?"

He gulps. "Eros, philia, storge, ludus, mania, pragma, and philautia," He lists off. 

I hum, taking my hair out of its messy bun and letting it fall down into messy waves. I brushed through it with my hands. "What do they mean?" I ask.

"Eros is erotic love, philia is affectionate love- so friendship, storge is familiar love, love that is easy and flows. Mostly used in reference to family. Ludus is playful love. Young love, the feeling of falling in love. Mania is obsessive love. Pragma is love that has developed over time, it is stronger than a simple bond and has gone beyond physical. Philautia is self-love."

My hands fall to his waist. "Pragma. That's what I feel for you," I whisper, standing on the tips of my toes to reach his face. I lean in and pull him into a kiss. 

He pulls off first, breathless and looking down at me. "You're so lovely, Star." I can't help but pull him into another kiss. "Oh! I made vegan sushi! Do you wanna try some?" He asks.

I can't help but laugh at how he quickly changes the subject. "Yes." He hands me a plate with a few rolls on it. I bite into it and smile. "Hey, these are pretty damn good! Good job Tenya," I praise him. 

He smiles. "Right? I mean they're definitely not like the ones I used to eat back home but it's still tasty!"

As the night goes on, we do the usual. Clean up a bit, watch a movie or two before falling asleep and heading to bed. While the routine is so cliche and we've done it so many times, I can't help but appreciate it. I truly wouldn't want it any other way; because I'm with Tenya. The man I love, my husband, the center of my life. Falling asleep beside him might just be the best part of my day. 

~*~