My plan was to walk by on my side of the street and not look over her way. This, I felt, was a very clever masculine move: to meet and ultimately seduce through no contact at all. She would be made aware of me as a mysterious figure, someone with no need of her whatsoever. This is compelling to a woman.
The narrator describes a strategic approach to attraction, intending to walk past a woman without acknowledging her presence. He believes that by maintaining this deliberate distance, he can create an air of mystery and allure, making himself more intriguing without any direct interaction. This idea stems from the belief that a nonchalant demeanor will captivate her interest as he appears self-sufficient and unattached.
This method emphasizes the power of indirect engagement in romantic pursuits, suggesting that the absence of overt gestures can sometimes be more compelling. The narrator sees this subtlety as an intelligent masculine tactic, which he assumes will lead to a deeper interest from the woman, as she might find herself curious about him due to the lack of explicit attention.
