I first noticed the young man as he was jogging early in the morning. Young people do that these days, go jogging with no destination other than keeping their bodies fit. Nobody ever did that when I was in my youth, but it's good to see. I watched him every morning, exiting the law school's dorm building, which was just across the way from me, stretching out his muscles, and then dashing off at a brisk pace. I would continue sweeping my steps, and some time later he would re-appear from the opposite direction, having gone all the way around the block.

I liked seeing him, youth in action. And sometimes, if he saw me, he would nod politely. A very nice young man; I'm sure he did just fine in his career.

It was a little more than a month after he'd arrived that he gained a companion. I knew the second young man who'd shown up was not a student at the school, because I witnessed several times him being dropped off by a fancy black car, then waiting for the other to come out before they ran.

Imagine that; getting a ride to go jogging. People never did that in my day either.

Sometimes, after they ran, they'd both go back inside the dorm, sometimes one would go in and the other would call for his car. Many times the car would come and they'd both leave in it together. I don't know what kind of persuasion powers this man had, but they must have been pretty good to convince my young law student to go like that without even taking a shower or packing a bag, and in such a hurry.

It was some years later when I learned from the newspaper that this second youth was not only a rising star of the tennis world, but also heir to the Atobe business empire. That explained a lot.

Back then I wondered at the nature of their relationship. The times they parted at that front gate...the goodbyes were long and filled with sentiment. Then on one occasion I saw them kiss, and then I understood.

When I was young, boys didn't do that. Even if they were fey, they kept it hidden. It goes to show how times have changed, at least a little. So much, but still so little.

But I was happy for them.

I wonder where they are now. Do they still jog together every morning? Do they still kiss when they part? I have no way of knowing, but I'd like to think they do.

Perhaps I'm getting fuddy in my old age, but I'd like to believe in them.