Chapter 22

Time passed.

July 31.

The day is Saturday and as usual, Edward uploaded his video.

After uploading, he spent some time reviewing the messages on Facebook.

Afterwards, he logs out, pays his bills, and leaves the Internet cafe.

Edward didn't head home or to his friend's place but made his way to Nina's apartment.

Today was the day she was going back to Manila.

Upon his arrival, the two of them spent an hour tangled in bedsheets before heading out.

Walking down the street, they strolled hand in hand, paying no mind to the strange and envious gazes of the people around them.

A while later, at the bus terminal, they settled into chairs while waiting for her bus.

Edward asked, "When will you be back?"

Nina smiled and nodded.

Edward and Nina didn't engage in much conversation, simply savoring each other's presence.

After 15 minutes of waiting, Nina's bus finally arrived.

Standing up, the couple walked over and stood in front of the bus.

As she looked at the bus, Nina said, "Take care and stay safe."

Edward replied, "You too."

The two exchanged glances.

After a few seconds, Nina wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

It was a tender and passionate kiss.

Edward encircled his arms around her slender waist, returning the affection.

They stood there, locked in a kiss, for about 4 seconds before parting.

Nina smiled and boarded the bus.

A while later, the bus began moving and drove away.

Watching the bus disappear from his line of sight, Edward remained silent.

He couldn't understand why, but at that moment, his chest felt heavy.

"No way, I can't have feelings for her," Edward muttered to himself.

He shook his head in denial, yet the sensation of loss and emptiness lingered.

"Don't tell me I've truly fallen for her."

Edward wore a blank expression, uncertain how to react.

He was indeed attracted to her—her body, her ass, and her breasts.

However, that's all—nothing more.

Before his time travel experience, he had also dated other girls.

Some of those relationships were casual, but most were serious.

Back then, he was young and impulsive, often letting his emotions control him.

He made foolish decisions like an idiot.

For instance, there was this girl he met online.

They chatted daily, and she was incredibly kind and funny, so he pursued her.

After they became official, he treated her exceptionally well, giving her his time, efforts, gifts, and sweet daily messages, following the advice of people on the Internet.

Then, just when he believed everything was perfect, she suddenly wanted to break up.

The reason?

She told him he was too good for her.

At the time, he thought her reasoning was ridiculous and wanted to convince her otherwise.

However, a week later, she started seeing someone else.

That was the first time his heart had been broken, and he felt depressed for a while.

Fortunately, he had friends to comfort him, and he eventually moved on.

After that, he met another girl, his friend's cousin.

And, just as before, he found her to be nice and attractive, so he pursued her.

The two became a couple, and once again, he invested his time, effort, and emotions.

Yet, in the end, the same outcome occurred.

And so, the cycle repeated itself, like an unbreakable curse.

He would meet a girl, pursue her, give her all the time and effort he could offer, and then suddenly, she would grow distant and end the relationship.

These cycles continued for years, and what's even more laughable is that he didn't even realize it.

If it hadn't been for Jake, who once mocked him for being a 'simp', he would never have known at all.

The realization struck him like a bolt of lightning.

It turns out that the reason they broke up with him was that he was too invested, making them emotionally exhausted, and in the end, they lost interest in him.

And so, a month later,

He met another girl and pursued her again, but this time he was not as serious as before.

However, this time, it lasted for two years.

It was his longest and most stable relationship.

Unfortunately, they still broke up in the end.

The reason?

After spending two years together and getting to know each other, they grew bored and realized they weren't compatible, so they peacefully broke up.

At that time, Edward didn't feel much.

After all, he had already experienced many breakups, and he hadn't invested too much, so he moved on after a while.

In a way...

His earliest dating history was quite tumultuous, filled with painful breakups. However, if there was one thing he learned from it,

That is, love is a sickness.

Love can be addictive and difficult to control.

Love has the power to blind people.

Love is inherently biased toward the person it is directed at.

Love can be irrational and lead people to do foolish things.

Love makes you vulnerable.

Love is a disease—an incredibly infectious one.

He wasn't implying that everyone who experiences 'love' is foolish, and 'love' is inherently bad.

This was his conclusion after years of experience.

It may seem unfavorable until you encounter the right person for you, like his parents, for example.

...

"Damn, I was close to being a fool again," Edward sighed as he felt the weight in his chest dissipate.

"Fortunately, I realized it ahead of time."

Edward smiled wryly.

It's not that he didn't want to fall in love with Nina.

It was because he knew what kind of person she was.

She wasn't the type to be a girlfriend.

She was someone who followed her own desires and impulses.

Hooking up with him was something she decided to do because she felt like it.

However, that didn't mean she loved him.

She could hook up with anyone if she felt like it.

That's the kind of person she was.

She's a bitch, and he knew it.

However, just as he said before, he didn't dislike it.

Shaking his head again, Edward left the terminal.

A while later, at the group's usual meeting place.

Inside the billiard hall, Edward casually greeted the others as he arrived and took a seat on a nearby bench.

"Huh? You look sad?" Angela, the loli, asked with curiosity when she noticed his expression.

"I'm not sad. Just tired. But you seem quite happy," Edward replied, making up an excuse and returning the question.

"Is it that obvious? Well, my cousin just left, so I guess I am happy," Angela smiled.

"Oh? What did she do to deserve your anger?" Edward inquired with interest, knowing Angela wasn't the type to get angry without reason.

"Hmph! Remember the cute guy who was pursuing me last time? That girl seduced him."

"..."

"And you know what happened after that? She dared to brag about it to me in front of Lola and others. As a result, I beat her up, and she was forced to leave the house. Otherwise, I don't know what I could have done to her," Angela explained happily, even flexing her muscles whenever she mentioned the part where she confronted her cousin.

"... What's the name of your cousin again?"

"Nina, why?"

"..."

End.