Chapter 20 by Johanna

What's next?

Round 2, naturally

Some of the non-Asian-female participants merely shift tables, but others leave the stage entirely to be replaced by new candidates. You are faced with another man, an older one this time with the looks and behaviour of a schoolteacher. As his time begins, George (this time you are sure about the name) indeed turns out to teach history and this is his first foray back into the dating game after a long period, the details of which he does not seem to want to share. This probably would have been a deal breaker even if you gave him a fair chance to start with; presumably it has something to do with a marriage, which should at least have been mentioned.

You make even less effort to listen from that point onwards, although a part of you is becoming increasingly nervous about the upcoming consequence. The base line of bare breasts has been established; it will escalate from here. You guess, though, that second round would still prove not too much of a jump in intensity. The point of this is to press Asian girls into making their matches slowly, not all at once by breaking their bar with a truly unbearable punishment. When the time comes, you press the red button confidently enough with the same (although this time less sincere) apologetic smile...

... and you wait, trying to ignore the expression on the man's face.