He is 94
“What do you want to ask when you meet a guy my age?” He said.
I looked at him, trying to figure out how old he actually is and if it was polite to ask.
“mm.. what is most important in life?”
“Hahahaha” he blurted out a laugh as though everyone ask him that constantly, he shook his head slowly and said “oh dear, I still don’t know”
I smiled.
We stared at the cars passing through, most of them are white.
I still do not know why white cars are so popular here.
I turned to him
“…and what do you ask when you meet a girl my age?”
“What is your biggest problem now?” he did not even take any time to think.
“I have to choose between my boyfriend and my master study” I also did not take any time to think.
“my god, he is telling you to choose?” his eyes widened
“no….” I took a deep gulp of air “I just know, there is that risk of loosing him if I stay here for two years”
“Is this a good risk or a bad risk?”
“Ahaa.. you are a businessman”
We laughed and he nodded several times “I was. Isn’t everything in life has a risk? So if it’s still a good one, take it”
I nodded.
“How do I know which is the good risk and which is the bad one?”
“Now we are back to your first question”
“Which first question?”
“The… most important thing in life question”
“I see”
”Ok dear. Is knowledge important? Sure,but imagination can be much more important. Is money important? There is no doubt about that, but a peace of mind can not be bought. Love? Of course…but they come and go. Just make sure you do not regret your choice”
“Don’t worry, I don’t regret”
“What do you mean?” he looked puzzled.
“I just never regret anything in my life” I lifted my shoulders blithely.
He laughed again.
This time I don’t understand what is so funny.
“Young stuff…” He stopped and squeezed his eyes closed.
It was around minus three but the sun shone so bright at our faces.
He continued “are you sure you do not regret anything? Or..is it just because….you know regret means admitting mistakes and it means you will have to change yourself”
In my head I decided that I do not like this conversation anymore.
But he had opened his eyes and I could see that he was not afraid to offend me.
So I said,
“I have never thought about it that way”
And that was true.
“Anyway, is that your biggest problem now?”
“Hahaha..I know. It’s pathetic”
“Why?”
“Well my problems are always about men”
“Maybe because you prefer these kinds of problems. It keeps your mind away from other problems”
“Again, I have never thought of it that way”
And that was true.
“Anyway, what should you be thinking about? World peace?” He raised his eyebrows and chuckled.
“Shouldn’t I?” I challenged his eyes.
He laughed and I could not help myself and started laughing too.
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