Absurd Romance

[Neither lead is a virgin, Happy Ending, Short Story]

One youthful summer night in high school, Yin Sui told her, "I like the gentle, considerate type who loves taking care of others."

She paused. She had nothing in common with that type.

"What a coincidence," she said, her voice calm and breezy. "That's my ideal type, too."

He paused as well. He was nothing like that type, either.

Years later, they lived far apart and hadn't seen each other in ages. Neither regretted it.

They got in touch by chance and arranged to have a meal.

At opposite sides of the square table, he sat with his girlfriend and she with her boyfriend.

She was polite. "Long time no see."

He was polite, too. "Long time no see."

No one could have guessed that many years ago, she had leaned on his shoulder while he sang a love song wildly off-key.

*

Several more years passed, and they both broke up with their respective partners.

She was transferred to the city where he lived, and he picked her up at the airport.

Somehow, she ended up at his place that night.

The next day, she woke up beside him and decided to let their absurd little romance continue for a while.

They did everything couples do.

He would turn down work to pick her up after work during rush hour, and cook meals to her taste every night. They talked about everything under the sun and had nothing to hide from each other.

Until a month later, when he booked a top-tier restaurant in advance, planning to ask her, "What if we gave a serious relationship a try?"

She put down her cutlery and spoke before he could. "I'm moving closer to the office tomorrow. I won't be coming over anymore."

"We're not right for each other," she said. "I like the gentle, considerate type who loves taking care of others."

[Content Warnings]

1. Neither lead is a virgin. Before getting together, the female lead had four ex-boyfriends, and the male lead had two ex-girlfriends.

2. The male lead is richer than the female lead, but she's well-off herself. There is no plot where some random bystander inexplicably thinks she's not good enough for him.

3. The characters have flaws, including moral flaws. They're ordinary people who just about manage to stay within the bounds of morality and the law.

Theme: A healthy, beneficial relationship takes effort from both people.