Chapter 6: Unreal Romance

What was it that a person needed so that they could move on? There were plenty of answers to this question, but after contemplating so much in my free time, I realized exactly what I needed. With a new determination, I headed my way to Chet’s café, a dimly lit spot that doubled as his base of operations.

When I walked in, Chet was behind the counter, wiping down glasses.

“Chet, set me up on a blind date,” I said, leaning casually against the counter.

He froze mid-wipe, staring at me like I had just asked him to rob a bank. “W-what?” he stammered, clearly taken aback. “Come again?”

“Set me up on a blind date,” I repeated, my tone leaving no room for argument. There was no way he didn’t hear me. If I had to shout at his earhole, I would.

Chet blinked, then laughed nervously. “Seriously? I am not that kind of information broker! I am a member of the criminal underbelly, and dating wasn’t one of my purviews, okay!? Okay!?”

“No.” I met his incredulous gaze with a steady one of my own. “I think you can do it if you put your mind to it. I trust you like a blood brother to me.”

He sighed deeply, rubbing the back of his neck.

“I believe in you,” I added, hoping a bit of encouragement would sway him.

Chet looked at me, clearly debating whether to throw me out or take on the challenge. There was a long pause before he finally groaned in resignation. “Fuck you, man… blind date my ass…”

“You can do it,” I pressed, seeing his resolve weaken. “And no, I can’t date your ass. I don’t swing that way.”

He gave me a weary look as his shoulders slumped in defeat. “Alright, fine. What’s your type?”

I thought for five minutes, and then ten minutes, and then fifteen minutes more, mulling over what kind of woman I wanted to meet. I didn’t know shit about picking up ladies, and I felt more comfortable with Chet’s advice. The silence stretched on, and I could feel Chet’s impatience growing.

“Oh god, just answer the damn question!” Chet finally exploded, his voice breaking the tense quiet.

“Alright, alright,” I said, holding up my hands in surrender. “Someone humble, faithful, and knows how to do chores.”

Chet raised an eyebrow. “That’s it? I don’t know about being humble and faithful, but good luck.”

“Also knows how to massage, preferably an introvert like me, and of course female,” I continued, ignoring his skepticism. “You heard me right, Chet? Female. Forget crossdressers! Don’t pull one on me, or I’d be really mad.”

Chet stared at me. “Are you sure it isn’t a maid you are looking for?”

“But maids have a salary…” I replied with a deadpan tone. “Moreover, getting married at an early age had lots of benefits… well, as long as I am responsible and know what I am dealing with, I should be fine, right?”

Chet sighed, rubbing his temples as if dealing with a headache. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

I chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. “I’m just joking, calm down.”

Six weeks later, I was no longer a virgin and was pretty much too invested in a relationship I never saw coming. I walked side by side with my girlfriend, Lois, as we held hands, swinging them back and forth while we viewed the bay. The cool breeze carried the scent of the sea, and the rhythmic sound of the waves was calming.

"So, any plans for next weekend?" Lois asked, her voice light and curious.

I took a deep breath and looked at her. "Let's take a break from the hanky-panky."

She tilted her head, a playful smile dancing on her lips. "Why?"

"It is… unhealthy?" I replied, uncertain.

Her smile faded slightly, and she looked at me with concern. "Is it about my freckles? Are you getting cold feet now at all times? I feel terrible."

"No," I said quickly, squeezing her hand reassuringly. "It's not that at all."

Love stories weren’t like most dramas, where there would be buildups, complications, troublesome courting, and all sorts of tribulations. Sometimes, people just clicked… like me and Lois. In the beginning, we just ate out on our dates, eventually moving to movie dates, and then all sorts of variations of it.

But then one day, I told Lois I liked her, and she told me she liked me too. Next, I changed my wording and told her I loved her, and she replied she loved me too. The next thing we knew, we were making out in the elevator, which thankfully didn’t have any CCTV. I blushed in embarrassment at recalling that memory. Even if I was tempted to erase the memory, my subconscious wouldn’t let me.

Lois squeezed my hand, bringing me back to the present. "Hey," she said softly, "we don't have to do anything you're not comfortable with. We can just enjoy each other's company."

I smiled at her, grateful for her understanding. "Thanks, Lois. I just want to make sure we're not rushing things."

She nodded, her eyes sparkling with affection. "We'll take it at our own pace. No pressure."

As we continued our walk along the bay, I felt a sense of contentment. Sometimes, love was simple and easy, and that was exactly what I needed.

Eloise Dee, or Lois as she preferred to be called, was the kind of person who effortlessly drew attention without trying. She stood at an average height, but her presence made her seem taller. Her chestnut, wavy hair cascaded down to her shoulders, framing a face that was both striking and warm. Her eyes were a deep, inviting brown, flecked with hints of gold that seemed to sparkle when she laughed. Freckles dotted her nose and cheeks, giving her a youthful, almost whimsical appearance.

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While she was only in her early 20s, she had that spark of wisdom in her that made her feel older.

Her style was a blend of casual and chic, often favoring comfortable jeans paired with stylish tops that highlighted her slim yet athletic build. She had a penchant for vintage accessories, which added a unique touch to her look. Despite her laid-back fashion sense, she always managed to appear effortlessly put together.

Lois had a way of making people feel at ease. Her laugh was infectious, and her smile could light up a room. She was intelligent and quick-witted, with a sharp sense of humor that often caught people off guard. Yet, she was also deeply empathetic, always ready to listen and offer support to those who needed it.

In moments of quiet, Lois revealed a contemplative side. She loved the ocean in a different way I would as she’d often finding solace in the rhythmic ebb and flow of the tides, when I instead felt longing. There was a depth to her that went beyond her cheerful exterior, a complexity that hinted at experiences and thoughts she kept mostly to herself.

I loved her. I cherished her. I was head over heels for her.

When I was with her, I’d stop thinking of my old world.

I realized it was so easy to fall in love when you had no one to love. In a way, I’ve been starved of affection since coming to this world. But now? Not anymore.

As we walked along the bay, Lois turned to me with a teasing smile. “Hey, do you remember our first encounter back in the pharmacy?”

I groaned, knowing exactly where this was going. “Come on, you won’t let that die down, will you?”

She laughed with a light and melodious sound that never failed to make me smile. “Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me. Be proud, my knight in shining armor!”

I shook my head, remembering the chaos of that day. I shouted ‘duck’ at that time, and then aimlessly threw bottles. I was surprised I wasn’t killed. “Sure, I am proud. If there is another thug ready to mess with you, just call me and I’ll deal with them with my mighty throwing skills."

Lois giggled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “Yeah, they panicked because of that. Unfortunately, they haven’t been found even now… Kind of scary if you think about it. Will you protect me, my knight?”

“Of course I would, my princess,” I replied, squeezing her hand reassuringly.

Fate could be a very strange thing. What were the chances we’d end up together? Six weeks ago, a robbery suddenly occurred out of nowhere while I was buying medicine. Lois was almost killed in the ensuing chaos. I remembered using my power to make her forget things after the incident had been resolved, but for some reason, she had resisted my spell.

I had checked the other pharmacists who I had hypnotized into forgetting me along with Lois. Even now, the said pharmacists remained oblivious. But Lois was different. She remembered everything, and instead of running away or being frightened, she embraced the bizarre turn of events with an openness that both surprised and endeared her to me.

“Do you ever think about that day?” I asked, my voice softening.

“All the time,” she admitted, her expression thoughtful. “It’s strange how something so terrifying led to something so wonderful.”

We sat on a bench by the bay, the gentle lapping of waves providing a soothing backdrop to our conversation. It was a peaceful evening, the kind where the world felt like it was in perfect balance. But my thoughts were anything but serene. Back when I had just started dating Lois, my initial motive had been far from pure. I was doing it to study her, intrigued by the strangeness of how she had resisted my power. It was either she had powerful willpower or she was super-abled. Over time, I discovered it was the former. As proof, she could be very headstrong too.

Yes, I did have plans of falling in love, and that was why I had Chet hook me up with a blind date. Unfortunately, it turned out like this— the way Lois squealed during our first meeting had been very disturbing.

I turned to her, hesitating before voicing my concerns. "I am serious. We shouldn’t do any more hanky-panky—" My insistence about the topic had been unmanly, but I couldn’t help but continue to worry over this.

Lois looked at me with her eyes narrowing dangerously. "What is it? I thought we were already done with this topic. I am being extra considerate with your delicate ass, but you are being a hassle now… How about be a man and just take it?”

I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "What if you get pregnant? I live off selling hotdogs, Lois… I don’t want to raise our children with hotdog money. I feel terrible!" I knew it sounded bad like I was disparaging my fellow hotdog vendors.

She rolled her eyes with a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "Hey, stop getting on your high horse! Children already? When we aren’t married yet? And you don’t make sense, we use contraceptives, don’t we? Moreover, what’s wrong with hotdog money?"

Was it just me, or was I getting a mother vibe already from Lois? No. I was being mothered. If translated more directly, I was being scolded. If I could still remember my granny or mom, would they have treated me like she was treating me now?

I sighed, feeling relieved yet frustrated. "I just want to make sure we're doing things right, Lois. I want us to have a future that's stable and secure. Everything’s going so fast it is abnormal…" I turned to look away feeling embarrassed—

Wasn’t six weeks into a relationship and then marriage too fast?

I didn’t know, because I had no experience. To me, everything felt so unreal.

Lois patted my shoulder, drawing my attention. When I looked at her, she pressed her index finger against my cheek with a playful smirk on her face. "Stop the childish antics already. We are adults, remember? And we’ve already tasted the forbidden fruit, so there’s no going back anymore."

I felt a surge of panic. "No! What if the condom tore—"

She flicked my forehead, her expression exasperated. "You silly fool, that’s not how condoms work!"

Passersby started looking at us weirdly, their curiosity piqued by our animated exchange. I lowered my voice, trying to contain the embarrassment that was creeping up on me. "Lower your voice, Lois…"

She rolled her eyes, clearly annoyed. "Stop being so silly! If you want, I’ll just take a pill."

I tried to defend myself, my voice barely above a whisper. "Uuuhhh… Aren’t pills unhealthy? And… uhm… I mean the… er… educational videos I saw online, sometimes they’d break… the condom, so…” I was stuttering messily like an uneducated fool.

Lois’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Let me guess, they are animated."

I remained silent, my face heating up in embarrassment. She knew. She knew what I was talking about.

"The ‘educational videos’ as you put it are animated," she stated, her tone dripping with incredulity. “You should know, they aren’t as accurate as the real thing.”

“Y-yeah,” I faked a cough. “I noticed.”

I glanced at Lois, at her chest, and then at my hand. Ogling her felt wrong at the back of my head, but she was my girlfriend, so I should be half-allowed, right? How about quarter-allowed?

“S-sorry,” damn it! Why was I stuttering?

I felt a cold chill down my spine. I’d really done it this time. Why was I so stupid!? Memories of my past life, except for the game ‘Versus,’ had been erased, including the knowledge I’d accumulated through puberty. I might be worse than an elementary schooler now when it comes to basic knowledge. My common sense and cultural values were nearly reset to zero— I’d been studying hard to level up my cultural knowledge, but it would still take time.

I took a more somber tone, thinking of a different topic. "I am scared, Lois."

I shortly realized I wasn’t in the right headspace, and that I had just jumped into more negativity as I honestly confessed to Lois my fears. "I am so scared, Lois."

She looked at me with concern. "Why? I don’t."

"What if I don’t make it? What if I couldn’t be a good dad? I’m afraid if we had babies, they’d grow up wrong—this city is troublesome enough as it is. Then there's you... I’m scared that maybe, what I’m feeling for you is a lie." And then there was the convoluted plot of the game I knew from Versus.

"Why can’t it be the truth?" she asked, her voice steady and comforting.

"I don’t know."

"What do you feel?" she pressed gently.

"I mean, all of this feels too unreal, too good to be true—I don’t know what to do with so much happiness."

Lois smiled softly, her eyes filled with warmth. "I have an idea of what to do with it. This so much happiness shouldn’t be monopolized, right? How about you share it with me?"

"How?" I asked, unable to think how such a metaphysical emotion could even be shared.

"You silly big guy," she said, patting my cheek. "Let’s make a family."