Hey everyone, I'm Monica. It's great to meet you all! Today, we'll be chatting about intimate relationships, which, as I understand it, involve deep romantic connections between two people. As a young adult, I'm excited to explore this topic, and I'm grateful to Darling and Coline for giving me the chance to introduce it. First, let's do a quick poll. Is anyone here currently not in a romantic relationship? Yes? —— Alright, got it. No dating for us then. No? —— Ah, I see. Welcome to the singles' club! Now, back to the topic at hand. Want to hear a little secret of mine? Sure, why not. About a year ago, I re-entered the dating scene. At the time, I thought I'd never find my perfect match. But then, I developed a crush on someone who seemed to like me back. We went out for a fancy lunch, and I couldn't help but daydream about falling head over heels in love, getting married, and having a bunch of beautiful kids together. Boy, was I wrong. As we chatted about intimate relationships, my date shared that they weren't interested in marriage or kids. They had some pretty compelling reasons—like how it's better to be single than in a toxic relationship, raising a child isn't the most economically sound decision, and that marriage is essentially a financial contract. The idea of forgoing kids and marriage was a revelation for me. It made me wonder—did they really like me? Were they looking for a serious relationship? It led me to ask broader questions, like what kind of relationships do people really want? And do we even need an intimate relationship? For some, marriage and children aren't essential life goals, and they're happier on their own. For others, finding a soulmate and enjoying an intimate relationship is what they desire. Ultimately, it's a fascinating question for us to dive into: do we need intimate relationships?