Relationship At Best

Considering the development of a conventional, more conservative so-to-speak, relationship, it conprises of several different stages. In general, it can be described as follow:

Stage 1: The initial encounter 邂逅

Whether you met through a friend, in a party, at a club, in school, at work or over the internet, there is always something interesting/special about that person that triggers your motivation to approach him/her. It could be love at first sight: looks, an aura that he/she gives out, or something intelluctual about it. Whatever it is, it gets you anxious in a good way - a tingly feeling, to try and create a link between the two of you.

Stage 2: Getting to know each other 認識

Once the link is established, you now have his/her contact, you then try to initiate more conversations and/or hang out. At this time, if it clicks (which I will assume it does from this point on, because otherwise there would be no story), you will both feel that there is an infinite amount of things you can talk about. Well, duh, you've just met each other, you have a lifelong history to share. When there are similarities, you're happy because you have something in common. When there are differences, you're still happy because he/she is someone "different" thus interesting/special. Everything goes smooth. Life is great.

Stage 3: Anticipation for the confession 表白

Back in the good old days, people didn't fuck on first dates, perhaps not even on the third. Fucking was not an alternative to say, "Let's be together." Or, "Would you be my boyfriend/girlfriend?" There were confessions. And so there were anticipations. You know, like those silly girls gathering around, asking, "Has he asked you yet?" That sort of thing. Like you know someone is going to ask you to the prom, but you're just waiting for it to happen. It could be dreadful, but it could be exciting, too.

Stage 4: Infatuation 熱戀

Congratualtions! You got him/her. Now it's the lovey-dovey part. It's pretty straightforward. Everything is sweet. Life is excellent!

Stage 5: Compromising 日久見真情

Now that you've slowly discovered all the good and bad sides of your significant other, and had your up's and down's. You start to realize that you have fallen in love with this one, and you want to iron things out. Compromising means, in part, sucking it up and sticking to it. But hey, you're in love! It's worth it, right?

Stage 6: The steady flow 細水長流

So the two of you have been with each other for quite some time, and your relationship has come to solidify. You no longer feel that you have infinite things to talk about, and not everything, if at all, the other does is interesting/fun. You don't yearn to see each other everyday. And you don't try very hard to make anything special anymore. But you love each other with all your hearts, and the stability brings security and comfort. You trust each other, and depend on each other in most ways. Your bond is stronger than ever.

I'm going to leave out marriage and all that because, well, I've never been married, so I wouldn't know how it is, and I can't assume. Which stage in the above would most people cherish the most? I know this is a bit romantic, but I think it's pretty practical, too. I'm rather curious, so I set up a poll. Help me out here.