CHAPTER 302: Thousands Of Questions

'Do you think I am being stupid at this moment?'

Nixon allowed the lady to order whatever she wants while he seated and spoke with Black Tortoise.

'If you are but a weakling who can't even fight properly then I will call you stupid and curse your ancestors for giving birth to someone like you. The saying don't talk to strangers does not apply to you at all,' Black Tortoise replied.

It was broad daylight and so many people are around them.

At the same time, he was there on guard that he was not worried even if this woman was actually Flora in disguise.

Black tortoise could still feel his connection with the others.

Right now, Nixon was simply in turmoil that Black Tortoise was letting him do as he please.

The woman returned with two cups of black coffee with milk and some chocolate cakes.

"By the way, I am Francine," she introduced herself extending her hand towards him.

Nixon looked at her hand before frowning, he couldn't reach and accept it.

Francine smiled and didn't take any offense.

Frome the get go, she noticed this young man standing on the side with his brows furrowing every time a woman would get close, but if it was a man, he didn't care one bit.

As she watched him contemplate on his own, she couldn't help but to approach him.

She had been in this line of work for so long. And reading other's, especially those who buys their accompaniment, was what she became good at.

She was already mid thirties but she still looked like she was in her mid twenties. With that she met a lot of young men with different problems.

She didn't know why she intiated to approach this young man but when she noticed that he was in complete turmoil, where a weight was pushing him down, she just couldn't help herself.

It must be because of Nixon's look, a look that makes one think a smile is better on his face rather than a frown.

Quite shallow of a reason but Francine just couldn't help it.

And when she started talking to him, she realized that he was actually one of the heroes they saw in the boadcast from a few months or so ago.

Thinking about the burden he was carrying, the more reason Francine wanted to speak to him and lift his spirit up.

After all, she can still continue her work and still have a peaceful day to day life because these young ones are doing their best to protect the world.

"And so mister hero what is it that burdens you?" she asked after their drinks were served.

Nixon stared blankly at her not expecting to hear such a straightforward question from her.

"Let me guess, and you see I am quite good at these kinds of guessing. Is it a problem regarding women?"

He frowned, could it be that this person is really an enemy?

Francine raised both her hands, "I am guessing that you see me as an enemy at this moment."

His frown deepened and his aura turned oppressive.

Francine felt herself having difficulties in breathing, she finally looked at him with only one hand raised.

"I have an ability, a mind readinng ability. The reason I am quite good in my line of work."

Seeing in her eyes that she was telling the truth he retracted his aura.

Francine coughed for a bit.

"It is indeed a problem with women, you didn't even hold back."

"..."

She finally sat properly before sipping through her cup.

"I have watched your expression and read what you were thinking It was difficult of course, I must add that. You have quite a strong mind fortitude but since you are in a state of confusion, I was still able to do it."

Nixon looked away before drinking on his cup as well.

But he focused his mind to strengthen it not allowing her to read more of what he may think.

Of course, Francine noticed it but she simply smiled.

She talked to him to help him even just for a bit not to force him.

"I can tell without using my ability that you are a jolly young man. Yet now a frown is in your handsome face. What nakes you confuse? The gender? The character? The face? Everything?"

Nixon blinked, "I don't know."

An answer finally left his lips.

He knew he was the one who has a problem. That he felt he was not worthy enough of other women. But he also felt that there was something more.

"Looking at you now, I think you already have the answer to that. It's just that subconsciously you were stopping yourself to arrive to that answer, just to justify what was already in front of you. To say that what you have now is the only answer."

He looked at her as he listened more.

"Even if the question can be answered with a simple yes or no, if you are to dig deeper, you will see that beneath that yes or no, strands of thousands of questions were present. Let's say a question, 'Am I beautiful?'. One could answer with a yes but then that beauty, was it my face? My heart? My mind?"

Nixon fell into deep thought.

"Just like, 'Do you avoid women because of a matter about you?'. You can answer yes, but then does this apply to every woman? If you answer no then, who among these women does not make you want to avoid them?"

Francine leaned back, "We sometimes arrive at an answer that will end all questions. Because we just don't want to think more, to think deeper. But if you are to look much closer, to allow yourself to question more, then surely you will arrive at the answer that you really wanted. Why do I avoid women? Do I really think it was all because of me? But then what about her? What about them? Why her? Why not her? All you have to do is have the courage to question more, the courage to allow yourself to nderstand your own emotions more."

As Francine kept questioning him, Nixon started understanding the confusion in his head.