The fact that Tate is leaving to go to college underscores why it was wise of him to suggest that he and Kya wait to have sex. After all, sex is something that often intensifies a couple’s emotional bonds, meaning that it would be even harder for Kya to say farewell to Tate if they had actually had intercourse. To add to this dynamic, Kya has been abandoned by loved ones in the past, and Tate’s departure most likely threatens to recall this heartache. Accordingly, he is right to stop their physical relationship from advancing too far, though it’s worth noting that he utterly fails to do anything to slow down their emotional relationship. In turn, it seems likely that Kya will be just as upset about his departure as she would have been if they actually
did have sex (though this is certainly not to say that they should have done so).