While I romanticized my grandmother's flirting with my grandfather in the computer lab, I couldn't imagine attending university with such a random set of goals. The individualism and freedom might have been a rush, but the anxiety of not being prepared for life made me think of those unhappy unions and poor job prospects.
The days of combustible engines and costly education were dark times and none of us wanted to go backwards.
I was happy that by Year 3 of University I had already identified my initial career goals with entrepreneurial sides so I could focus more on my relationship studies. I didn't plan on finding a partner until after I'd started my entrepreneurial path but I wanted to be prepared so I could become a valued and productive husband.
Most of my friends who'd completed their relationship studies said that the internships were eyeopening, but the reality was less interesting than their business or hobby internships. Learning to cook and fuck and nurture and communicate were simply necessities.
The old days of fumbling through relationships and marriage were roads full of dangerous potholes that were almost impossible to maneuver. That approach was fine for our teenage years but we should be properly prepared for cohabitation as adults.
My classmates and I were as equally excited to read about sharing our finances as we were our bodies.
The internships were closer to reality. True bonding without the anxiety of true commitment. The algorithm selected the dozens of Connections we'd study with in order to learn cohabitation.
Learning how to share a life as a couple or poly-unit was pretty fundamental. Perhaps my selected Connections of heterosexual pairings limited my challenges. Preparing dinner, doing laundry, shopping for homes and vacationing with friends varied only so much with my selected companions.
On a couple of projects my work was complicated by an additional Connection because I didn't deselect polyamory, but the overall stress was minimal.
The algorithm for selecting Connections at the school was so rich that there was little doubt as to the compatibility of our personalities and skills. Occasionally you'd hear about a nightmare arrangement but that was rare. This was a far better arrangement than what our ancestors referred to as dating.
I'd incorrectly guessed that the physical relationship courses would be more demanding. They were not. Whether you entered the classes as a virgin or with great experience, the education was timely and profound. I had multiple physical relationships prior to these classes, but I didn't fully understand how to please my partner consistently. And I wasn't quite sure what I liked.
Classes and projects with Connections made all of those concepts easy. Even with multiple partners I was able to satisfy them as much as they satisfied me. It turned out that with the proper techniques, trust and enthusiasm, sex could always be gratifying - especially with the right people.
I could not have imagined experiencing sex as an adult without having the knowledge I was able to practice every day with my Connections. The dozens of physical pairings I'd experienced prior to school were always clumsy and rushed.
The week of missionary was an eye opener and the week of oral sex was unforgettable. I couldn't imagine stumbling through those moments of intimacy without pretext or a guide or a shared understanding of what a successful pairing might bring. Being naked with someone you care about and hoping you'd please each other must have felt like showing up to a final exam without having taken the actual class.
On the occasions where one or both of us failed to reach climax, our talks with our instructors would offer explanations and solutions so we could remedy our activities and try again.
The data and openness saved everyone years of therapy. My Connections 3 and 11 never climaxed from penetration with me. Connections 7 and 15 never climaxed with me. Connection 10 never climaxed with any partner. These weren't viewed as failures as much as understandable lacks of chemistry. Finding and satisfying your final mate meant understanding what made everyone happy.
There was no anxiety or stress about making my future partner happy in the kitchen or the bedroom. The 5% divorce rate was a testament to the universal education and healthcare that made these schools popular in every country. And that 5% was heavily influenced by individuals that didn't trust the algorithm to drive their Connections pool.
Our education was good. Our peers were strong. Like all of my classmates I was very content with finding someone who I knew would be perfect for me.
Unfortunately that's what those 6 months of rigorous education left me with. Content was enough.
Another 18 months of this education with different groups of similar partners didn't sound magical.
My grandmother's descriptions of courting my grandfather were indeed magical. While her generation didn't openly discuss the intricacies of sex or finance, I could see the twinkle in her eye when she spoke of their adventures of moving in together for the first time. The discovery of how they would share the bathroom to when they would have children were never studied. Those decisions would all be on the fly.
While I understood their relationship was a rarity - a truly successful partnership - I wondered if they were happier because of the bumps in the road and not in spite of them.
In a futile attempt to challenge the algorithm I provided inaccurate happiness data that lead to unsuccessful pairings that only further proved the logic in Connections. I spent 6 months in unsatisfactory internships with almost all of my Connections. I didn't truly enjoy the pegging or the outdoor oral or the food play. I did a lot of apologizing that semester. I had succeeded in failing.
So I would either find a satisfactory relationship or a terrible one.
That final year didn't offer a lot of promise.
I prepared myself to go through the next six months making all of my Connections happy and equally enjoying their company.
And just when I had succumbed to the reality of my situation I discovered something new.
Or rather someone.
There were roughly 4,000 students in my year. By my final semester I found myself in a group of 150 that shared enough interests in the algorithm that any one of us could make the other happy. I had easily connected with 100 outside of this group and 100 inside of this group during actual internships with another 50 or so as what we'd refer to as 'outside study' - which was encouraged.
However, there was someone in my final group I had never spent any time with. We'd never done our taxes together. We'd never had sex. We'd shared large classes together but never had a direct conversation.
Her name was Joyen.
One day we shared a couch in the study hall between two classmates - Arielle and Ganiel - who were discussing their upcoming project - a vacation. They had agreed on a destination and travel but there was one thing on the table that they were undecided on.
Anal sex.
For 10 minutes they went back and forth about whether they should do anal on their first night or their last night.
"Do you want to get it over with or not?" Joyen interrupted.
Arielle and Ganiel paused and waited for Joyen to continue.
Joyen turns to me and begins to explain what most of our class already knew, "Ganiel has a rather large dick but he tends to come within 5 minutes, so Arielle can either get it over with and walk funny for the rest of the vacation or be anxious for the entire vacation knowing that this monster is waiting for her asshole."
I then realized all three of them were waiting on my response.
"From what I remember Arielle very much enjoys anal," I lead with as I spoke directly into Joyen's gaze. "So long as there's sufficient lube and the pace is slow I think she might be okay with letting the anticipation build for the last night."
"From what I remember," Joyen adds, "Ganiel can be quite caring and deliberate with his penetration so that the experience can be more delight than pain."
"From what I remember," I continued, "Arielle would probably quicken the pace once she's become familiar with Ganiel's girth."
"From what I remember," Joyen continued, "Ganiel would probably explode inside of her but would be quite enthusiastic about satisfying Arielle orally if that is what Arielle wishes."
For the longest 5 seconds we stared at each other while Arielle and Ganiel stared at us.
