Meeting Nicolas (French Love Story 55)

Michaël

On a Tuesday at the end of July, I went on a date in Paris with Michaël, a 22-year-old university student who looked just like Edward Furlong, my crush since junior high.

I was in seventh heaven when the beautiful Michaël, who looked like an adult version of Edward Furlong, told me, "I like you. Will you see me again?" and showered me with kisses.

However, I put the brakes on my feelings for him because he lived in a town an hour away from Paris and, at only 22, I couldn't imagine a future with him.

Even though I was filled with such happiness, I tried to keep my feelings for Michaël limited to "just spending the day together and leaving it as a wonderful memory of my life."

"In the first place, there's no way such a beautiful boy would stay obsessed with me. If he meets a Japanese woman prettier than me, he'll surely move on to her."

...Without considering Michaël's feelings, I tried to convince myself of that.

Nicolas

Having turned 30 and started wanting children, I began to think about marriage, which I had previously disliked so much. (Originally, I had hoped for a PACS with a French man, but I rejected that idea because it was disadvantageous for me as a foreigner due to visa issues, etc.)

My best friend Erika warned me, "From now on, you shouldn't see anyone unless you can consider marriage with them. At least 30 years old or older." and on the "international dating site" she introduced me to, I made sure to look for French men in their 30s and 40s.

Among them, 38-year-old Nicolas was a hit.

My first impression from his photo was that he was a "handsome man who looks like George Clooney."

He looked older than 38, but his beautiful, well-defined features like a silver screen star caught my eye so much that I didn't care at all.

And his greatest charm was something I hadn't found in any man I'd met before: an adult dignity, sex appeal, and... an overwhelming sense of security.

He had such an air about him that I wondered if he already had two or three children... but when I asked him, he replied, "I've been divorced, but I don't have any children."

I felt a sense of empathy because he was in the exact same situation as me: "divorced and childless."

Considering him as a marriage partner, the fact that he 'took over the real estate business from his father and is running it' also seems like a good condition with no financial problems.

I remembered the landlord couple of the apartment I am currently living in... that wonderful French-Japanese couple.

The Japanese woman

He said that due to the influence of his father, who had an interest in Orientalism, he had long admired the exotic atmosphere of Japanese women.

He seemed to like my Japanese face, and even when we were just chatting, he would call me Ma chérie (my dear), and when saying Bonne nuit (good night), he was so smitten that he would even blow a flying kiss over the webcam.

Even I, who had been keeping my guard up during my seven months of life in France, felt that I could let my guard down and rely on this person.

Perhaps... I might even be able to consider marriage.

I have five months left in France, and I don't have time to hesitate.

Whispering 'I'm sorry' to Mikael in my heart, I decided to go on a date with Nicolas.

Mandarin Oriental Paris Restaurant Camélia

My first date with Nicolas was on the last Friday of July.

'I've reserved dinner at Camélia, the French restaurant inside the Mandarin Oriental Hotel,' he said.

I headed toward the hotel, which is located along Rue Saint-Honoré in the center of Paris.

When I actually saw the building... it exuded such a luxurious atmosphere that I would likely never have any connection to it with my own financial means.

I had looked it up online beforehand, but I was a little intimidated by the 'Palace' rank, which is even higher than a five-star rating.

'Oh, I'm so glad I brought one dressy dress from Japan...'

When I waited in front of the hotel entrance, Nicolas appeared with his tall frame wearing a crisp jacket.

The moment I saw him, the word "dandy" popped into my head.

He walked up to me, said "I'm happy to meet you," and handed me a single rose.

Simple-minded as I am, I was moved, thinking, "Wow, that is so typically French!"

It might be the first time I've ever received flowers for something other than a birthday or a farewell party...

Why is it that women are so weak for flowers at times like this!?

Nicolas naturally and gently placed his hand on my back and guided me toward the hotel entrance.

His escorting manner was gentlemanly and not the least bit sleazy.

Walking with such a perfect, mature man, I almost started to mistake myself for a celebrity actress...

We were shown to a lush, green terrace seat that utilized the space in the hotel's courtyard.

It seems Nicolas chose this place after hearing me say, “I love dining outdoors on a terrace in the summer” and “I love nature in the middle of the city.” His thoughtful choice delighted me.

We were seated at a table with a good view of the surroundings.

After ordering champagne from the waiter, Nicolas explained the restaurant's features to me in slow, easy-to-understand French.

Nicolas ordered champagne from the waiter and explained the restaurant's features to me in slow, easy-to-understand French.

“Marcus, the chef here, oversees not just ‘Camellia,’ but all the restaurants within the Mandarin.

He is such a huge Japanophile that he even holds a black belt in judo, and he sprinkles Japanese essence throughout his cuisine.

I love Japanese food too, so this is one of the restaurants I visit often.

I'm sure you'll like it too.”

A sweet face resembling George Clooney smiles at me.

...In a situation that had been completely unrelated to my life until now, I almost pinched my cheek, thinking, 'Is this a dream!?' (Though I didn't actually pinch it.)

...Last time it was Edward Furlong, and today it's George Clooney.

'International dating site for romance,' this is amazing!!!!!

The conversation

During the meal, we talked a lot.

It started with the topic of what we liked about each other, and Nicolas said,'I like your beautiful Japanese-style appearance, your oriental atmosphere, and your intelligent and calm nature.'he said.

I listed what I liked about Nicolas,'Your handsome, well-defined face, the sense of security you provide, and your fatherly capacity to embrace me.'I said.

His French is easy for me to understand even as a foreigner, and he is also skilled at listening to my clumsy French.

In that sense, we might be a good match... I felt that way.

Nicolas looked straight into my eyes and asked this question.

'By the way, Reiko, are you thinking about remarrying?'

I answered honestly.

'My ex-husband was Japanese, but I divorced him because I hated his "macho"' (male chauvinist) tendencies.

'If I were to marry again, I would want a French man who doesn't have those kinds of ideas.'

Then, Nicolas also told me his personal story.

'My ex-wife was French.'

'She had a volatile temper and was prone to hysteria, so I couldn't deal with it anymore and we broke up.'

Then, holding my hand and looking into my eyes, he said this.

“Besides... I have always admired Japanese women.

If I were to remarry, I would want someone like you.”

...For now, it seems we were in agreement.

After dinner

After dinner at Camélia, Nicolas invited me to a café, but I was full and wanted to walk, so I declined and suggested, “Let’s go for a little walk.”

A short walk after leaving the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Nicolas gave me a passionate kiss.

“Come to think of it... while we were talking about marriage at the restaurant, I hadn't kissed this person yet.”

...While receiving Nicolas's kiss, that was what I was thinking.

His kiss was certainly passionate, but despite his mature, sexy looks, it felt like it was 'neither good nor bad.'

Since coming to France, my experience with kissing has gone up so much that I had developed a “habit of analyzing kisses”...without even realizing it.

Now in lover mode, we walked along the Seine holding hands and went to see the illuminated Louvre Museum.

When we finished strolling around the Louvre, Nicolas said, “I’ll take you home,” and sent me to my apartment by taxi.

I braced myself a little, wondering, “Will he ask to come up?” but he kept the taxi waiting, kissed me in front of the entrance, said “Bonne nuit” (Good night), and went home in the taxi just like that.

“Come to think of it... this is the first time I’ve been taken home by taxi in Paris.”

I was just surprised by everything being a first-time experience.

A mature man

When I got home, I was thinking back on my impressions of meeting Nicolas tonight.

For someone like me who had only ever dated younger men, everything about Nicolas's mature charm was fresh and new.

A large part of the reason I had avoided older men until now was my resentment toward my father and my ex-husband, who acted arrogant simply because they were men.

However, the way Nicolas treated me—a younger woman—as an independent individual with respect, felt like it wiped away my 'aversion to older men.'

And... it is also true that being treated like a princess by a celebrity like him gave me a sense of exhilaration I had never experienced before.

'Maybe dating an older man isn't so bad after all.'

Meeting Nicolas made me feel my perspective on men changing.

Michaël or Nicolas

Michaël, who looks just like my first love and still has a touch of innocence.

And Nicolas, who is a celebrity and full of mature charm...

Having been blessed with too much at once, I was forced to choose one of them.

I had only been on one date with each of them, but they were sending me passionate emails and love calls via chat every night.

I gave both of them lukewarm replies, keeping them at a distance.

And then, due to a certain action by one of them, I would end up choosing that person...