Reunion with Michaël (French Love Story 78)

from Nancy to Château-Thierry

The morning of September 26th, the final day of my trip.

Leaving Mizuki-chan, who I had been traveling with until yesterday,at the hotel, I boarded the train from Nancy alone.

To go see my beloved Michaël,I set off...

Château-Thierry

By early afternoon, I arrived in "Château-Thierry," the town where Michaël lives.

There are no particular tourist attractions to speak of, and I likely never would have come here if not for my connection to him.

I had already told Michaël my train arrival time.

When I stepped onto the platform and looked around, I saw Michaël looking for me.

Seeing Michaël for the first time in three months, he was as beautiful as ever, and his hair had grown longer, making him look more mature.

“Michaël!!”

When I called out to him, he found me and smiled.

Just seeing that smile makes me feel indescribably happy.

Michaël came right up in front of me.

I wondered, would his greeting for our reunion be a bise, or a kiss... which one would it be?

As I waited, Michaël kissed me, a little hesitantly.

My heart fluttered at that exquisite balance.

When we left the station, we walked holding hands.

Just like the day we first met three months ago, we walked hand in hand after kissing, as if we were simply continuing from that day.

Have you had lunch yet?

When I replied, "Not yet," Michael suggested, "Let's go get some lunch first."

The area around the Château-Thierry station is a residential district, and it doesn't seem as rural as I had imagined. However, an Asian person like me will surely stand out.

I wonder if Michael doesn't mind being seen walking around his hometown with me by people he knows...

I suppose he invited me to this town because it's fine, but I felt intimidated by the thought of being seen as the girlfriend of someone as handsome as him.

I thought I should thank him for the poem Michael gave me as well.

The poem you wrote for me before, Michael, was so romantic and wonderful.

It was the first time in my life a man had ever written a poem for me, and I was so moved.

Thank you so much.

Michael said, looking a bit shy.

I'm glad you liked it, Reiko.

When I heard in August that you had a boyfriend, I tried to give up many times.

But I have always loved you, Reiko, so I tried writing those feelings down in a poem.

I wanted you to know just how much I love you, so I gave it to you.

I apologized to Michael.

I'm sorry for choosing someone else as my boyfriend.

But I have broken up with him now, and I love you, Michael.

I'm so happy to see you today."

Then, Michael stopped and hugged me.

"I'm also very happy that Reiko came to see me.

I thought I might never see you again...

Ever since we met three months ago, I've dreamed of holding you every day.

Thank you so much for coming to see me today."

...Hearing him say that while in Michael's arms, I felt like I was in a dream.

Lunch

He took me to a bistro run by a madame.

Since the "plat du jour" (daily special) was written as "Saumon Meunière" (salmon meunière), we chose that.

As I talked with Michael, I realized that my French skills had improved over these past three months.

Is this all thanks to Ms. Anna...?

While eating, Michael began to talk about his recent life.

"Actually, I graduated from university this July.

Right now, I'm working part-time to save money while studying Japanese hard.

I plan to get a working holiday visa next year or the year after and live in Japan.

Reiko, will you be with me then?"

"Michael might come to Japan"... My heart raced at those words.

"Bien sûr." (Of course.)

I answered that, but in my heart, I added, 'I can't promise I won't get a boyfriend before then, though.'

After all, I don't know right now if he'll be able to get a working holiday visa or if he'll really be able to come to Japan.

I couldn't commit my future to such uncertain conditions.

'If it's decided that he's really going to live in Japan, I can think about it then,' I thought.

The main dish, salmon meunière, was light and delicious, and gentle on my stomach.

Michael explained the dish to me.

'This beurre blanc sauce usually uses white wine, but since this is the Champagne region, they use champagne instead of white wine.'

'The aftertaste of the butter sauce is refreshing and has just the right amount of acidity, doesn't it?'

...It's true, just as Michael said.

'Michael, that's amazing!!'

'Could it be that you're actually quite good at cooking?'

Michael said, looking embarrassed.

'I've loved cooking since I was a child, and my mother taught me a lot.'

'If I have the chance, I'd love to cook for you, Reiko.'

Having Michael cook for me... I wonder if a dream-like day like that will ever come.

As I gazed at the handsome young man, I imagined him standing in my kitchen.

Porte Saint-Pierre

When we left the bistro, Michael said,

'Come to think of it, you like Joan of Arc, don't you, Reiko?'

I'll take you to the place where she came."

I was surprised.

"Oh, Joan of Arc has been to this town too?

I didn't know that..."

Come to think of it, Château-Thierry is between Paris and Reims, so it's no wonder Joan of Arc came here.

We decided to walk toward the place associated with Joan of Arc.

Crossing the bridge over the Marne River, we came to a large intersection, and in the center stood the "Statue Jean de la Fontaine" (Statue of La Fontaine), who was from this town.

"La Fontaine's stories like 'The Tortoise and the Hare' and 'The North Wind and the Sun' are very famous, and all Japanese people know them." I said, and Michael was surprised.

After walking for about 10 minutes, we arrived at the "Porte Saint-Pierre" (Saint-Pierre Gate), where Joan of Arc is said to have come.

There stood a stone gate that looked like it had remained since that time, and a plaque bearing the name of Joan of Arc was attached to it.

The plaque had a record written on it: "Joan of Arc passed through this gate on July 30, 1429."

I was moved that the fact that "she came here" felt so real because it even had the specific date written on it.

"I'm sorry. I'm not very knowledgeable about history."

Michael apologized, but I was just happy that he had brought me here.

Château de Château-Thierry

Leaving the Saint-Pierre Gate, Michael took me to the castle ruins nearby.

He said humbly,

"It's not a castle that's still fully intact, so it might be boring."

I told him honestly what I was thinking.

"I like ruins, and I love castle ruins that still hold traces of the past even as they decay."

Hearing those words, Michael seemed relieved.

I love that humble side of him, too.

The ruins of Château-Thierry were located on a small hill.

After climbing the slope and finishing our walk through the castle grounds, we stood on the ramparts and looked out at the scenery of Château-Thierry.

Spread out before us was a charming townscape that hadn't changed since the days of Joan of Arc.

"What a lovely view.

The old-fashioned buildings are still well-preserved, it's like stepping back into the Middle Ages."

As I shared my thoughts, Michael said happily,

"This is the scenery of my hometown that I've been looking at since I was a child.

I'm so happy that you like it, Reiko."

We smiled at each other and kissed.

Kisses

We walked around the castle for a while, but since there didn't seem to be anywhere else to go, we sat down in a patch of grass in one corner.

It felt like a blind spot, sandwiched between the ruins and the castle walls.

Perhaps because it was a weekday afternoon, there was no one else around.

Before I knew it, Michael and I were kissing, and it felt like it might last forever...

Michael's kisses are gentle, careful, delicate, and above all, overflowing with love.

The sight of Michael's face at such close range between kisses is so beautiful that my love for him only continues to grow.

When I look at Michael's face, I am reminded of Edward Furlong, whom I was infatuated with when I was in junior high school.

The pure feelings I had back then come rushing back, andthat alone makes me feel completely fulfilled and incredibly happy.

Normally, after kissing this much, I would be thinking about what comes next, but Michael is so much of an idol to me that my thoughts don't even go that far.

But... what about Michael?

The words Mizuki-chan said yesterday,"He's a 22-year-old guy, so there's no way it's just going to end with kisses,"pop into my head.

I love Michael so much, so if he were to ask for more today, I was prepared to agree.

However, looking at Michael's behavior, it doesn't seem like he's going to invite me to his house or a hotel, let alone do anything here...(Though, naturally, doing it outside would be impossible anyway.)

Since I can't ask him his true feelings, I decided not to worry about it.

After all, it might be that I will never see him again...

...We spent hours kissing at the ruins of Château-Thierry without ever getting tired of it.

When we realized it had gotten dark, we stopped kissing and looked at each other, smiling shyly.

Gare de Château-Thierry

As we left the ruins, I said, "I'm going back to Paris now."

Michael invited me to dinner, but if I did that, I felt like I really wouldn't want to go back to Paris, so I hardened my heart and declined.

When he realized I was leaving, Michael looked sad.

It was the same during our date in Paris three months ago, butat times like this, the feeling that "he likes me this much" outweighs the feeling of "sadness."

That is how much Michael was my idol.

Michael came to the station platform to see me off.

As the train I was about to board approached, Michael hugged me and asked.

"Reiko, will you meet me again?"

Oh, why does this man say such things to me?

"Peut-être...."

Answering "maybe" was all I could manage.

Michael kissed me passionately until the very last second before the train departed.

It was like a scene from a movie, a situation more than enough to make me swoon...

from Château-Thierry to Paris

Even after the train left Château-Thierry and I was alone, I didn't feel lonely.

...No matter how much we kissed or how much affection he showed me, Michael remained "an unreachable, ethereal person I longed for."

"I'm happy just to have met him"

"I'm happy just to have kissed him"

"I'm happy just that he tells me he likes me"

And...

"Even if we never meet again, I'm happy just to have the memories of the day we met"

Michael was such a special existence to me that I could think that way.

to Italy

I returned to my home in Paris after finishing my three-day, two-night trip, but I had a trip to Italy coming up on October 5th.

Unfortunately, I couldn't find a friend to go with me on the Italy trip, so I had to go alone.

Because of that, I ended up having a new encounter in Italy as well...