Chapter 6

  POV: Nobody

  What did a person need to move on? There were a million answers to that question, but after mulling over it in my spare time, I realized exactly what I needed. It wasn’t a huge revelation, more like a quiet shift in my mind. The kind of clarity you get when you stop looking for the answer and just let it come to you.

  With a new sense of determination, I set my sights on Chet’s café—a dimly lit hole-in-the-wall that served as his base of operations. I didn’t come here for coffee or a meal. I came here for a favor.

  I walked in, the familiar scent of brewing coffee and old wood filling the air. Chet was behind the counter, wiping down glasses with a rag, his eyes flicking up as I approached.

  “Chet, set me up on a blind date,” I said, leaning casually against the counter, my tone nonchalant as if I was asking for the weather.

  Chet froze mid-wipe, his eyes widening as if I’d 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 voice firm. There was no mistaking what I was asking.

  Chet blinked a few times, his surprise slowly morphing into laughter. "Seriously? I’m not that kind of information broker! I’m a member of the criminal underbelly, not some matchmaking service!" He threw his hands up in mock exasperation. "Dating isn’t part of my skill set, okay?!"

  I didn’t flinch, keeping my gaze steady. "I think you can do it if you put your mind to it. I trust you like a blood brother, Chet."

  Chet sighed deeply, rubbing the back of his neck, looking like he was about to refuse, but then hesitated. He met my gaze again, as if weighing the situation.

  "I believe in you," I added, throwing in a little encouragement to nudge him in the right direction.

  He stared at me for a long moment, and then, with a groan, he slumped in defeat. "Fuck you, man... blind date my ass…"

  "You can do it," I pressed, watching as his resolve weakened. "And no, I can’t date your ass. I don’t swing that way."

  Chet shot me a weary look, but his shoulders sagged, giving in. "Alright, fine. What’s your type?"

  I thought about it for a long moment. Five minutes. Ten minutes. Fifteen minutes. I had no clue what I was doing. Picking a date? I didn’t know the first thing about dating, let alone setting up a blind date. I looked to Chet for guidance, feeling a bit uncomfortable under the pressure of his impatient stare.

  "Oh god, just answer the damn question!" Chet finally exploded, breaking the silence with a voice that made a few heads turn.

  I held up my hands in surrender. "Alright, alright," I said, mentally scrambling for a decent answer. "Someone humble, faithful, and knows how to do chores."

  Chet raised an eyebrow. "That’s it? Humble and faithful? I don’t know about that, but good luck."

  "Also knows how to massage, preferably an introvert like me," I continued, ignoring his skepticism. "And, of course, female." I paused, eyeing him sharply. "Forget crossdressers, Chet. Don’t pull one on me or I’ll be really mad."

  Chet stared at me, his face blank for a moment before he blinked. "Are you sure it’s not a maid you’re looking for?"

  I deadpanned, "Maids have a salary…" I shrugged. "Besides, getting married young has its perks. If I’m responsible, I should be fine, right?"

  Chet sighed again, rubbing his temples as if I were giving him a migraine. "You’re impossible, you know that?"

  I chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "I’m just messing with you, calm down."

  Six weeks later, I was no longer a virgin, and to my surprise, I found myself in a relationship I never saw coming.

  I walked side by side with Lois, my girlfriend, as we strolled along the bay. We held hands, swinging them back and forth, enjoying the cool breeze that carried the scent of the sea. The rhythmic sound of the waves was calming, a gentle reminder of how peaceful things could be.

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

  I took a deep breath, looking at her with a slight frown. "Let’s take a break from the hanky-panky."

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

  I hesitated. "It’s... unhealthy?" I said, uncertain.

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

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

  Love stories weren’t like the dramas I used to watch. No complicated buildup, no obstacles in the way. Sometimes, people just clicked. Like me and Lois. In the beginning, we started with simple dinner dates, moved to movies, and then—well, then things just happened.

  One day, I told Lois I liked her. She said she liked me too. A little later, I told her I loved her, and she said she loved me too. The next thing we knew, we were making out in the elevator—thankfully, no CCTV. I couldn’t help but blush, recalling that embarrassing memory. Even if I wanted to erase it, 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."

  And for the first time in a long while, I felt like I was finally where I needed to be.

  The bay stretched before us, its waters shimmering in the fading light of the day. The cool breeze kissed my skin, and I felt an overwhelming sense of contentment. Sometimes, love was simple. Sometimes, it didn’t require grand gestures or complicated emotions—it just existed, quietly and steadily, like the ebb and flow of the tides.

  Lois, or Eloise Dee as she was officially known, was the kind of person who made everything feel effortless. She had this way of drawing attention without even trying, her presence so magnetic that it felt like she commanded the space around her. She stood at an average height, but somehow, she always seemed taller, as if her spirit was larger than life itself. Her chestnut, wavy hair framed a face that was both striking and warm. Her eyes, deep brown with specks of gold, sparkled whenever she laughed, making it impossible for anyone not to be drawn in.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  And then there were her freckles. Dotting her nose and cheeks, they gave her an almost whimsical appearance, adding a touch of youthfulness to her beauty. Despite being in her early 20s, there was a wisdom to her, a quiet maturity that made her seem older than her years. She wasn’t just beautiful—she was smart, quick-witted, and had an empathy that made everyone feel seen and heard. Lois had a way of making people comfortable in her presence, and I found myself doing the same.

  I loved her. It was simple. It was easy. And I was head over heels.

  When I was with Lois, I forgot about everything else—about my old world, my past, the things that used to haunt me. She was everything I needed, and it felt like a miracle that I had found her. Maybe it was the universe’s way of making up for the years of loneliness and longing. Whatever it was, I was grateful.

  We walked in silence for a while, the sound of the waves filling the space between us. Then Lois turned to me, her playful smile lighting up her face.

  “Hey, do you remember our first encounter back in the pharmacy?” she asked, her voice teasing.

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

  She laughed, the sound light and melodious, like music to my ears. “Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me. Be proud, my knight in shining armor!”

  I shook my head, a chuckle escaping me as I remembered the chaos of that day. “Sure, I’m proud. If there’s 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, I thought, could be a strange thing. What were the chances that we’d end up together? Six weeks ago, I had been in the middle of a routine trip to the pharmacy when a robbery broke out, and Lois had nearly lost her life in the chaos. I had used my power to erase the memories of the other pharmacists who had witnessed the event, but for some reason, Lois had resisted my spell. She remembered everything. Most people would have run, terrified of the bizarre turn of events, but Lois—she didn’t flinch. Instead, she embraced it with an openness that I hadn’t expected. And in that moment, something in me had shifted.

  “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 found a bench by the bay and sat down, the rhythmic sound of the waves a soothing backdrop to our conversation. The world felt like it was in perfect balance. But as much as I wanted to relax, my mind was still tangled in thoughts.

  Back when I had first started dating Lois, my motives had been less than pure. I had been intrigued by how she had resisted my power. I thought she might be some sort of super-powered person, or maybe she had an iron will. Over time, I had come to realize that it was the latter—Lois was just stubborn, and I loved her for it.

  I had originally planned to study her, to figure out what made her tick. But somewhere along the way, things had changed. I’d fallen in love. And now, here I was, trying to make sense of it all.

  “Hey, I’m serious,” I said, my voice turning more serious. “We shouldn’t do any more hanky-panky…”

  Lois looked at me, her eyes narrowing with a dangerous glint. “What is it now? I thought we were done with this topic. I’ve been extra considerate with your delicate ass, but you’re being a hassle now. How about you be a man and just take it?”

  I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “What if you get pregnant? I live off selling hotdogs, Lois. I don’t want to raise our kids on hotdog money. I feel terrible about it.”

  Lois rolled her eyes, but there was a smile playing at the corner of her lips. “Hey, stop getting on your high horse! Children already? We’re not even married yet! And don’t get all dramatic—what’s wrong with hotdog money? It’s honest work.”

  I blinked, surprised by her reaction. She wasn’t upset—just teasing me, as usual. I sighed, feeling both relieved and a little ridiculous. Lois had a way of keeping things in perspective, even when I was overthinking everything.

  Was it just me, or was I getting a mother vibe from Lois? No. I was being mothered. No, scratch that—I was being scolded. If I could still remember my granny or mom, would they have treated me like Lois was treating me right now?

  I sighed, feeling a mix of relief and frustration. "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 feels abnormal." I turned my face away, embarrassed by the vulnerability that had slipped out.

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

  I didn’t know. I had no experience. To me, everything felt so unreal, like I was watching someone else’s life unfold.

  Lois patted my shoulder, pulling me from my thoughts. When I looked up, she pressed her index finger against my cheek, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "Stop the childish antics already. We are adults, remember? And we’ve already tasted the forbidden fruit, so there’s no going back anymore."

  My heart raced. "No! What if the condom tore—"

  She flicked my forehead with an exasperated look. "You silly fool, that’s not how condoms work!"

  Passersby started glancing at us, their curiosity piqued by our animated exchange. I lowered my voice, trying to rein in the embarrassment creeping up my neck. "Lois... lower your voice."

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

  I tried to salvage my dignity, speaking 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..." My words stumbled out, each one more awkward than the last.

  Lois’s eyes narrowed, suspicion flashing across her face. "Let me guess, they are animated."

  I froze, heat rising to my cheeks. She knew. She knew what I was talking about.

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

  "Y-yeah," I mumbled, faking a cough. "I noticed."

  I couldn’t help but glance at Lois again. Her figure, her presence... My mind went on autopilot, and before I could stop myself, I found my gaze lingering. I felt a weird mix of wrongness and permission in my head—wasn’t she my girlfriend? Shouldn’t I be allowed to look? Just a little?

  "S-sorry!" My stammer felt pathetic.

  I felt a chill run down my spine. Oh, great. I’d really done it now. Why was I so stupid?

  The truth hit me then: memories of my past life—everything from the game "Versus" and everything I’d learned about life—had been erased. My knowledge of the world, of puberty, of common sense—it was like I was starting from scratch. I was worse than a clueless kid. No, worse than an elementary schooler. And all this studying to catch up with cultural norms? It was going to take time.

  I took a deep breath, trying to regain my composure. I had to shift the conversation. "I’m scared, Lois."

  I immediately realized I wasn’t in the right headspace. I had jumped straight into negativity, confessing my fears without warning. I regretted it instantly.

  "I’m so scared, Lois," I repeated, my voice quiet but heavy with uncertainty.

  She looked at me with genuine concern, her eyes softening. "Why? I don’t—"

  "What if I don’t make it? What if I can’t be a good dad?" I swallowed, feeling a lump in my throat. "I’m afraid if we had kids, they’d grow up wrong. This city... it’s so troublesome, and then there’s you. I’m scared that maybe... what I’m feeling for you is a lie." I couldn’t help but think of the convoluted plot of the game I knew from "Versus," the way things had been manipulated in my past. Maybe this was just another illusion.

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

  "I don’t know," I whispered, feeling lost.

  "What do you feel?" she pressed gently.

  I paused, trying to find the right words. "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 much happiness shouldn’t be monopolized, right? How about you share it with me?"

  I blinked, confused. "How?" I asked, not sure how to respond to something so... metaphysical. How could I share happiness? What did that even mean?

  "You silly big guy," she said, her tone affectionate. She patted my cheek. "Let’s make a family."

  Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. Make a family? Could I? Should I? My heart raced, and for the first time, I realized how much I wanted to say yes. How much I wanted to build something real with her.

  "Lois…" I murmured, still unsure but feeling a pull toward something new, something meaningful.

  She gave me that smile again, the one that always made everything feel like it was going to be okay.

  "Let’s make a family," she repeated, and for the first time in weeks, I allowed myself to believe that maybe, just maybe, everything would work out.