Chapter 045 - A Good Strategy?

The steam from the bowl of ramen fills my senses as I slurp up a noodle. It's a bit spicy, but not enough to distract me from Suiryu's scrutinizing gaze.

"Rejected, huh?" he says finally. "That sucks."

I laugh, the bitter type of laugh. "I will be surprised if you can relate."

A smile forms on his lips. "Why would you say that?"

I grimace. This guy is really taking advantage of every opportunity to flirt. Instead, I ask, "What about you? Why are you being kind to a stranger like me?"

He eats his ramen and chews for a moment before continuing. "Because I can't leave a beautiful woman crying on the sidewalk."

I hide a wince by sipping from my bowl of ramen again.

"So? Who rejected you?" he asks, persistent.

"It's... I don't think you'd know him," I say, trying to figure out if I should really reveal Saitama's name. Besides, I am sure he doesn't know him.

"And? What did he say when he rejected you?"

"He said that he doesn't feel the same way and he never will in the future."

"That's tough."

"Uh-uh," I mutter.

"But maybe it's for the best. Sometimes the people we want aren't the people we need."

I stare at him, surprised by his words. Ain't he just a shallow man who knows nothing about these things? Or maybe it's included in his set of 'How to Flirt' and 'How to Pickup Girls' strategies.

"You know what?" I respond, looking up at him. "I think I really need to let go and move on. This time, for real."

He grins, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Glad to be of help. Want to transfer your attention to me instead?"

"But I think it's very hard not to see him for a while," I say, ignoring what he just said.

"Why not take up some hobbies? Then slowly, you can stop seeing him. For example, for one week, you only see him for six days. Next week, meet him for only five days. Next week, only four days, until it's not that hard NOT to see him anymore."

I frown at him. "Is that your strategy for forgetting all those women you've been with?"

"Yes, it works out really well for me."

"I don't believe you. I'm sure you only stay with a woman for just a single night."

"You haven't stayed with me for even a night."

I groan. "How do you even make all these women fall for you?" I ask.

He chuckles at that and says, "Walk with me and I will show you."

As we finish our ramen and pay the bill, we walk the city streets. When we stop at a park, he says, "Wait here."

I sit on a bench and watch him approach another woman. Then, I got distracted by a couple of lovebirds on my right. They look cute and happy. There are smiles on both their faces as they talk. Sometimes, they touch each other and both their faces will redden in embarrassment. First date maybe?

I sigh and think how nice it is. If only Saitama and I could be something like that, too.

I shake my head. I am really getting crazy thinking about it. I've been rejected multiple times and yet, I am still pining for him. There must be something wrong with me.

I exhale again and look for Suiryu and find him with the same woman he approached earlier. The woman is already hugging his arm to her chest. And when he smiles sweetly at the woman, she blushes under his gaze.

He's good, I think as I watch the two.

I am about to imagine myself and Saitama in that exact same position when I shake my head. It's not the time for fantasies!

I refocus on Suiryu, and this time; I find him being encircled by enormous men. What the heck happened in just a few seconds?!

Each man is twice his size, with muscles bulging underneath their fitted tank-top. Each man is also a foot taller than him.

Instead of getting alarmed, Suiryu greets them with a smile. The men didn't like it though. A punch touches his face, but his smile never vanishes.

He lets go of the woman and says something to the man. Another huge man tries to punch him, but this time, Suiryu holds his fist and pushes him.

The huge man stumbles backward. How he did it is something I won't be able to understand, but maybe Saitama can.

I groan audibly. Why the heck does my mind keep on returning to Saitama?!

I shift my attention to Suiryu again, but now they are fighting! My mouth hangs open as I watch the fight. Suiryu is fast. Each of his strikes is sure and powerful; whereas his opponents look clumsy and weak despite their outer appearance.

As the fight continues, I realize Suiryu will really be a great addition to the Blizzard group.

When the fight ended, with the huge men groaning in pain, the woman was already enamored with him.

He walks closer to me and says, "By the way, beautiful, it seems like I will be leaving now."

There is still a smile on his face and his arms are draped across the woman. The woman is gawking at me as her palm lay flat against his chest.

"Maybe next time we can have dinner again?"

I only nod and think of my sister again as Suiryu and his new girl leave the park. Maybe it's about time I call her. So, I rummage in my purse and find my phone. I dial my older sister's number and place the receiver against my ear.

"Hi, sis," I greet.

My sister groans, but then she replies, "It's about time you call!"