Tsimilefy isn’t good with words and can barely read. While the latter would only become an issue for him in his later occupation (as a courier), he has always used his skill as an athlete to cover up his shame at being unable to handle even the most basic traditional speeches that all men are expected to know.

Fehizoro has below-average dexterity. He went from being a notoriously clumsy kid to being the teenager who got bruised and injured more often than anyone else during the athletic activities expected from boys his age.

As teenagers, Tsimilefy and Fehizoro initially bonded over a shared interest in the game of fanorona and playing the sodina flute. Their friendship was quickly cemented when they realized they could coach each other to deal with their respective weaknesses.

Like many young people his age, Fehizoro has had a couple of sexual experiences before, all of them with girls who quickly moved on to more enthusiastic partners. It would be a few years before he realized that his sexual orientation is basically “Tsimilefy”.

As a semi-popular athlete, Tsimilefy has been pursued by more than a few—women mostly, but also a few men. But while he gladly indulged in most of these trysts, he never quite “clicked” with them, either because of his insecurities or because of theirs.

Fehizoro initially hid his budding attraction to Tsimilefy out of embarrassment, but given all the time they spent around each other, it really didn’t take long for Tsimilefy to catch on to what was happening. A first sexual tryst followed (very) quickly.

Exactly one year after that, they became each other’s first romantic partners.