Chapter 10

Dan was sitting on a bench, his gaze lost in the emptiness. He had set out that morning without a real destination, just to escape the sight of the two lovers at his place.

"Ah!" he sighed, catching the attention of the old man on the neighboring bench. "Tough day?" he asked.

"Very tough!" Dan replied.

The old man stood up from his bench. "May I sit next to you, young man?" he offered.

"Yes, of course."

Although Dan had a somewhat difficult character, he was resolutely respectful towards the elderly, even though most of the time they turned out to be rather unpleasant and... perverse.

"It's a beautiful day, isn't it?" remarked the old man, with a slight accent.

"Yes, very beautiful." The sky was sunny and the wind, gentle. "Sorry to ask you this, but...are you a foreigner?" Dan asked.

The old man burst out laughing. "Actually no, I'm from here, but I lived in China. My mother was born and passed away there."

Talking to elderly people was always fascinating. That's why Dan appreciated and respected them, as they always had anecdotes and stories to share.

The old man recounted how his parents had met in 1910 in China, with an American father and a mother of unknown origins. She might have been Polish, French, or even American, just like his father. She was an orphan and had been adopted by a Chinese couple. She passed away giving birth to him in 1917.

The man explained to Dan that his father had tried to take him to the United States, but as the only member of their family, his Chinese grandparents had objected. It wasn't until 1948, after more than 30 years, that his father came back to fetch him, at a time when he had already started his own family.

"I remember that moment in 1948 very well. I didn't recognize him. In fact, I didn't know him at all. By then, I had a family of my own, with a daughter and a son," he shared.

"And your wife?"

"She was Chinese. My little Su. She was stunningly beautiful. I have never seen a woman as beautiful," the man said with a hint of sadness in his voice. "Here, young man. Let me show you a picture of her."

The old man delicately pulled out a crumpled photo from his inner pocket. "There she is!" he said, handing the photo to the young man.

Indeed, the man's wife was incredibly beautiful. The black and white photo showed vintage clothing that suited her perfectly...

"She is truly beautiful, sir."

"Call me Eugene. And... thank you, young man." He took the photo back and tucked it back into his pocket.

"Does this mean you fought during the war, Mr. Eugene?"

"There was a time, indeed," he said thoughtfully. "But I was never on the front lines. I was a strategist." A smile appeared on the man's face. "Like my grandfather, I held a high command position. Some within the army challenged my position because of my foreign appearance, but with my grandfather's confidence..."

"You are remarkable, Mr. Eugene," exclaimed Dan. "You hav..."

"Grandfather, I've been looking for you everywhere," a male voice exclaimed as he approached Dan and the old man next to him.

"Who are you, young man?" asked the old man.

"Don't pretend to forget, grandfather," the young man replied, a handsome brunette with slanted eyes, around 27 or 30 years old. Dan stared at him.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" he said abruptly.

"I'm observing you," Dan replied.

"Stop this right now!" ordered the young man before kneeling down in front of his grandfather. "It's time to go. Mom is already waiting for us."

"Ah," sighed the old man. "So I can only be at peace after my death." He tried to get up, and Dan helped him. "Thank you, young man."

"Let him go. I will take over." Declared the newcomer.

Dan had always thought that the Chinese were kind people with their sparkling eyes, but the man in front of him was anything but kind. Unpleasant and rude, he had none of the kindness Dan expected to find.

"What's your name, young man?"

"My name is Dan. Daniel. Mr. Eugene."

"Daniel. You share the same name as my father. Well, Dan, it was a pleasure meeting you."

"Likewise." Dan replied warmly with a wide smile. "Your zest for life is contagious, Mr. Eugene." The old man chuckled as he walked away with his grandson who hadn't said a word to the young man.

"You pretentious jerk!" Dan exclaimed as he sat back down on his bench. He leaned his head back, hands stretched out on the top of the bench, the sun warming his face. The morning was perfect. The sun... but a shadow made him open his eyes.

The man from earlier was standing in front of him.

"Here. This is my card."

"What am I supposed to do with it?"

"I don't know. Throw it away if you want. It's my grandfather who told me to give it to you." His voice was haughty.

"Are you always like this?" he asked.

"Like what?" the man replied.

"So unpleasant and rude. You must be one of those wealthy, pretentious snobs."

"Hah!" the man exclaimed. "I knew it. You're just an upstart who..." Dan burst out laughing, a insincere laugh. He stopped abruptly.

"Typical rich talk," he said, crossing his arms over his chest. "Look here old man, I don't care if you're a millionaire or even a billionaire. But you're blocking my sunlight."

"Is that all you have to say?"

"What do you want me to say? Oh, you want me to kiss your feet?" he laughed sarcastically, again. "Sorry sir, I'm not a bootlicker." The boy got up from his bench and turned to leave, but the man grabbed his shoulder and slipped his card into the pocket of his pants before walking away.

"What a waste. With a body and a face like his, he could have been more pleasant." The man heard these words, but chose not to turn around, allowing only a slight smile to creep onto his lips. Daniel, however, did not notice this reaction.

After this chance encounter, Dan returned home, relieved to find that the young Joy and her boyfriend were no longer there. Simone was alone in the house.

Dan had a peaceful day and with the news of Simone's family returning home, he knew that tranquility would be restored. Her husband, a gardener and caretaker, and their son.

Jack would not be there for the night, which suited Dan just fine.

By the end of the day, Dan finished his final preparations, ready for his big move to university the next day.

As sleep began to take over, he found himself thinking back to the old man he had encountered earlier in the day. "He must be over 100 years old," he thought. "And he is still so sharp. I wish to be like him at his age."