Chereads / Dear Damien / Chapter 2 - THE MAN IN THE PICTURE

Chapter 2 - THE MAN IN THE PICTURE

The first picture I saw was of a man standing in front of a lake, holding a fishing rod in one hand and holding a fish in his other hand

  The second picture was of the same man sitting between my father and mother in a restaurant. He sits in the middle. But the picture was not very clear

I looked at the first picture. Then the second, then I turned the pages one by one to find a clearer picture. While I was flipping through the pages. A photo fell from the album. I grabbed it and looked at it carefully, it was the only clear picture. It's so clear so that i can be sure ...

My father puts his hands around a man's shoulders, a man who has the same face as me. An exact copy of me. It was like they were at a party or something. They smile together and look very happy, And very close.

I turned the picture around and found that he had written a short phrase on it that said, "To the most important man in my life, naughty Sammy." Underneath he wrote, " your dear Harlan."

Harlan? So his name is Harlan? . I'm starting to think that the owner of this room and these clothes is Harlan. But he was still shocked by the strong similarity between me and him. To the point that if I showed this picture to someone they didn't know, they would say it was me.

I felt angry and anxious at the same time. I was not satisfied with these explanations in my head. Now I want a full explanation from my father. Not from anyone else.

I want him to tell me everything from beginning to end. About Harlan. And about this room, and about his relationship with him. Specifically why I look like him?

Is it possible that....

I stand up and walked over to the closet and pulled out one of the coats there. Then I pulled out the perfume bottle and sprayed it on my neck. I stood in front of the mirror and held the picture.

I look at myself in the mirror and then at the picture. I noticed that this person named Harlan has hair that is slightly down on the right side and not up like my hair.

I styled my hair the same as in the picture. Then I looked at myself for a long time this time. I felt like I was this person in the picture. This is what he looked like? is this how he smell like? Is this how he was standing? . What will my father do when he sees me like this? Will he get angry?

I put the photo in the coat pocket and opened the room door to go out like this.  I found my mother climbing the stairs to meet her while I opened the door.

  When she looked at me, she dropped the laundry basket in shock.  As if she saw a ghost.  I looked at her with furrowed eyebrows.

"I don't want explanations from you, mum. I want to hear everything from my dad."

She remained silent, staring at me, but I passed by her and went down the stairs without saying anything else.  I entered the living room and sat up straight.  I waited for my father to come back to talk to him about the matter

After several seconds, I hear quick footsteps coming down the stairs. My mother enters the room with a very worried look on her face

"Damian, your father is not feeling well these days. You have noticed that. Please do not bring this topic to him!"

"No, I want an explanation for everything."

"I'll tell you everything about Harlan, just don't bring his name to your father's."

"It seems like Harlan and Dad have a big thing going on between them, right?"

"I will tell you everything, but first take off this coat and wash yourself so that this smell goes away."

"I will not. I will remain sitting until dad comes. I also told you that I do not want to hear explanations from you, I want to hear them from him."

"For God's sake, son, you will only make your father worse. The doctor says that he should not be pressured. Don't you see that he took a week off from work yesterday?"

"I've waited a long time, and I won't back down now. He'll be fine, don't worry."

"Damian, you have to listen to me!"

At this same moment we heard the front door open and close.  My father just entered the house.  The air was filled with tension.  And my mother's face turned yellow.

  I took a deep breath and straightened my seat.  I hear my father's footsteps approaching the living room

We both look expectantly at the door...

Nervous....

Until we heard my father's steps rushing towards the living room. He entered quickly and his eyes were looking for someone.  Or the source of this smell. 

Until his eyes settled on me.  He stares at me in shock and I stare at him angrily.  My mother is standing in the corner with her hand over her mouth.

I didn't know what to say at first and the staring continued for several seconds. I finally spoke in a serious voice, hiding that I was nervous about this situation as well.

"Please sit down, Dad, why are you still standing?"

I motioned for him to the sofa opposite me to sit.  He shook his head and moved towards the sofa to sit.  And all this while he did not take his eyes off me.  It's like he's seeing me for the first time.  I, in turn, do not break this eye contact

I took the photo out of my pocket and threw it on the table in front of him

"I want you to explain everything to me. Who is this man here?"

I pointed my finger at the man next to my father in the picture.  then He looked at the picture for several seconds and smiled slightly sideways, which I noticed. 

Then he turned his gaze to my mother, who was frozen in the corner

"Pour us two glasses of whiskey, my dear Elizabeth. We have a long talk, me and this man here."

I noticed the trembling of my mother's hand as she poured the whiskey into the cup.  This whole situation worries her.

  While putting the whiskey on the table.  She looked at me for a moment and then turned away

"Now I ask you to leave us alone so we can talk."

My mother came out immediately.  It was as if she was waiting for him to say this.  I looked at my father again.  He seems relaxed and not angry. 

So I also relaxed.  He raised his glass from the table and sipped a little whiskey, and I did the same.  Then I put my cup back on the table.

I leaned back and rested my hands on the sofa.  I said in a tone full of curiosity that might sound a little rude

"So tell me, who is Harlan?"