On the rules of the game

On the rule s of the game

Love, is this the main topic of the world? People talk, sing, dream and fantasize about it, but is there real love out there? In a world as cynical, fast and capitalist as ours, is it possible to still believe in true love, or is it all just a game to pass the time?
I was recently hanging out with a girl I will simply call Elektra, she's smart, pretty, intelligent and has a successful career as photographer. In other words, she's quite a catch. There’s just one detail. She doesn’t seem to give a damm about love and its implications. Elektra believes in love as much as she believes in politicians and santa claus. Just a few days ago while we had lunch in a cool café downtown Frankfurt, I started to complain about my twisted relationship, she simply told me:
- Stop suffering and start playing.
- What do you mean? - I shot back.
- Be a player, just like the guys. - She answered without taking her eyes from her menu. And when I didn't answer, she looked at me with her huge brown eyes and said: - Have fun and don’t expect anything from them. Use them and then dump them. Play. It’s so easy.
I was interested. Every woman fell at least once in the hands of a nasty player, and here, sitting in front of me, sipping a cocktail, a yougster claimed she actually knew the rules... Was that possible? Aren’t women genetically programmed to look for “real”relationships?
I decided to investigate the topic and went to see my friend Tom, a hopeless romantic, who had just broken up a long term relationship. Tom was what anyone would simply call a nice guy. 24 years old, an engineer working for a big company, fun, smart, liked kids, well traveled… I couldn’t understand why he always ended up dumped. He was miserable and when I told him about Elektra’s advice, said he wished he were a player, women just didn’t seem to like nice guys, he said with puppy eyes.
Two nights later, we went out to check on Elektra's idea. Tom, his friend Alice, Elektra and me. We went to a hip bar and ordered drinks. As we sat down, Alice immediately crossed her arms over her perfect breasts and looked around. She has just recently arrived in the country and had left a boyfriend across the ocean. Alice was clearly very beautiful, dark blue eyes, black silky hair and a tall, slim figure. She was clearly the most good looking girl in the room, but no one seemed to notice her, all the smiles and glares were going in Elektra’s direction. She was sitting on her chair, relaxed and didn’t hesitate responding to the attention. She smiled at us and said:
- Rule number one: Take a nice look around and choose your prey.- She looked around the room crowded with handsome men and said: - There is no such a thing as an ungettable person, you can have anyone as long as you are brave and confident enough.
Alice asked: - Come on, can you always have whoever you want?
Elektra threw her long hair aside and answered with a sneer: - Pick any man in this room and I will show you how it's done. Tom looked puzzled, but then pointed behind her:
- How about that one?
We all looked at the chosen one. He was young, blond, handsome and well dressed. Elektra studied him for a few seconds and said:
- No problem.
- What are you doing now? – I asked. She turned around on her chair and stared at the guy’s direction. He looked almost instantly and met her eyes. We were all mesmerized by the scene, as we watched the struggle, the man, the woman, his eyes on her, her strong gaze… She smiled, he kept his eyes on her for a few more seconds and then, slowly, smiled back. She turned around again and looked at her shocked spectators and said matter of factly:
- See how easy?
- You are crazy! – Alice finally said. – What if he…
- If what? Don’t count on the ifs, just do it and think later. It’s strategy, like playing chess, predict his moves… It’s a hunt. – She said finally, her eyes shining.
- Now what? – I was hooked.
- Now, you make your move, or… You can wait for him, that depends on what are you playing. You see, your part.
Tom looked at her intrigued and asked:
- What do you mean?
- You can adopt personality traits according to what seems to attract him. Some guys like the femme fatalle sort of woman, others like the shy type, you just choose one and have fun.
- That’s crazy! It’s like you have a personality dysfunction or something! – Tom exclaimed before he could stop himself.
Elektra looked at him sharply and then said coolly:
- Men do it all the time. They love playing the sensitive type, because that’s what a woman normally looks for. He comes all sweet and understanding, he listens to you, he treats you like a princess… And then, he scores. And the real guy comes out. I’ve seen it, been there… Now, I do it. And I will tell you what, after you start beating your own expectations, there’s no way you can stop. It’s addictive.
Alice was clearly impressed. She gave a little smile and asked:
- So, what do you do after you get them?
- Is there anything else to do?- Elektra looked at me puzzled, as if it doubting Alice’s intelligence. I shrugged and said:
- Really, what do you do? Do you date them? I never see you with anyone…
She winked and said with a smile:
- The ones I like I might go out on a date. Just one. Normally after that, I lose interest. – She sighed and continued: - So, I look for a really lame excuse and dump him. After all, there are many other interesting guys out there just waiting for me…
We all went home thinking about the night. I was still in doubt if Elektra was the future or the end of romance. Alice wished she were a little more like Elektra, maybe her boyfriend would take her seriously then… Elektra kissed the chosen one, but told me the next morning she didn’t want to see him again because he seemed too conservative for her. What about Tom? Well, he went home… Converted. And a new player was born.