It took me almost a minute to calm myself down to acceptable levels again. This definitely was a concerning thing. I let out a long sigh, trying to relieve at least some of that mental fatigue that crushed down on my mind like a tidal wave.

Even though my body's natural testosterone levels were a blessing through my life, the added extra of aggression and high libido levels were as much of a curse. And my younger self ability to control it was truly atrocious.

In the next two-and-a-half decades, my older self naturally managed to do so, somewhat, yet the majority of that was thanks to the aging process. And now, in the once again young body, the balance was slowly tipping. Ugh.

Curse upon what, or who, ever gave me this second chance. Without either giving me a memory refresh, and, it seemed so, even adjusting my hormonal levels.

I let out another labored sigh, and took out the phone out of my pocket. If I had to wait like this for fifteen more minutes, there was a high chance that I would lose it.

I quickly typed and sent two short messages to the Counter Girl.

Me: [I’m here]

Me: [waiting]

No response followed. Maybe Claire was busy with some last-minute preparations?

Ah, my optimism truly knew no bounds. I shook my head, chasing the grim thoughts away. There was no reason to overthink things… Why in the seven hells did I so easily let myself become emotionally involved as of late?

Because it was new and interesting, the depths of my brain returned an answer. To my surprise, this was indeed the case.

As my inner monologue threatened to continue, my phone pinged, receiving a new message.

Counter Girl: [Almost done.]

Counter Girl: [Be there in five.]

I looked at the words on the phone screen, feeling oddly relieved. So, my optimism was spot on, what a nice surprise for a change.

Me: [take your time]

This whole ‘thinking for yourself’ shtick really was fun yet exhausting. This made me wonder if I could ever get used to doing so. My ready-made behavioral templates were much more optimal, though.

***

Five minutes later, my date finally decided to grace my poor self with her presence.

“Tian!” Claire’s voice brought me back from another round of contemplation about everything and anything.

The Counter Girl looked as if she sprinted here at the top of her speed, judging by the light fluster on her cheeks and a few drops of sweet on her temples.

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“Sorry for being late.” Even her breath was a bit ragged.

“And whatever happened to taking your time?” I asked with a deliberate shake of my head.

“Well, I couldn't make you wait even longer, right?” Claire replied with her own question.

“Traffic was better than I thought, so I got here too early.” I said, making another deliberate gesture - rolling my eyes. “Can’t say that I particularly enjoy it, but waiting for the woman is a part of a date as well.”

“Oh… I see,” she replied, clearly failing to see my point.

With another shake of my head, I gave a girl standing in front of me another good look. From the styling of her hair, to the makeup that was a tad heavier than usual, to the dress she chose for the occasion. All of that told me that Claire did put extra effort into dolling up.

Not going to lie, this fact felt nice, as it meant she thought about this date as something important.

Hm, speaking of the dress, a frilly white one piece that somehow felt very familiar. Even though, for the life of me, I couldn’t put my finger on where or when.

I gave Counter Girl, who grew more and more flustered under my appraising gaze, another once over. I definitely had seen this piece of clothing before, though it was shorter. Or the person wearing it was much taller than the not-so-tall date of mine.

My mind’s eye pictured a certain tall girl dressed in a frilly white dress.

Then again, Claire had a ‘pretty friend’ who ‘laughed at young master Smith’. Nah, no way such a coincidence was possible… Or was it?

“So, um, how do I look?” I heard a question that brought me back from another mental trip.

“Like someone worth waiting for,” I opted for the good old flattery.

It was the truth anyway.

“For some reason, it feels like you are the kind of person to tell those exact words to every girl you date,” Counter Girl said all of a sudden.

Well, this was the truth as well.

“That’s because I only date those who are worthy of those words.” I gave a girl who was now blushing a corny wink.

“Oh, um, thank you?” Followed a flustered response.

I still had a hard time wrapping my head around the fact of how low her compliment tolerance was. For someone that attractive, that is.

Deciding that this was a moot point, I gave her another, just as cheesy, wink, and, feeling extra mischievous, offered her my elbow.

Which somehow made Counter Girl even more flustered. And here I thought she was getting used to my advances. Considering how much advantage she had been letting me get away with, something on this level shouldn’t get this much of a reaction from her.

A brief moment of hesitation later, Claire actually closed her eyes and took the offered arm. My evil scheme succeeded, since the said appendage now was buried deeply in her generous cleavage. Ah, the perks of being a gentleman.

Shortly afterward, the Counter Girl opened her eyes and, after noticing my amused gaze, finally managed to realize the current situation. In the best tradition of the koala girl, my date's blush deepened even more, and she buried her face into my shoulder. Hugging my arm even tighter in the process.

“Claire, how about we continue our little flirting session on the way?” I asked after glancing at the watch on my free hand. “I really hate being late.”

The young woman in question muttered something unintelligible and buried her face even more into my side.

I tilted my face upward, looking somewhere into the distant skies. Unfortunately, heavens failed to provide me with an answer, so I had to think about one myself.

“I will take it as a ‘yes’,” I came to a conclusion.

After finishing my words, I took a first step towards the car. Since Claire followed, still latching onto my arm, it seemed like my interpretation was right.