Chasing in the dark

CHAPTER 1

Gabriel Fauré's Pavane echoes through the dimly lit room as experienced fingers glide over the keys from the old Kawai Baby Grand piano in Mr. Han's Diner. The 20-year-old, grey-eyed, raven head male, sways with the music as the light contrasts against his pale white skin. 

=Dae-Seong POV=

I like to play here. 

It's the only place that makes me feel safe. 

Even though the walls are rundown, the interior could use a paint job, maybe a few new tables and chairs to liven this place up and that misty smell of old oil and soy sauce... 

With all its faults, there is one thing I can count on, and that's this piano in the corner of an old and smelly Chinese diner.

His fingers continue to glade over each key as he internalizes the sounds echoing from the almost empty room. With every second key he plays, he let's out a deep sigh. 

"You're getting better"  Mr. Han closes the front door locking it from the inside. He turns the door sign to read "closed", and switches of the lights. 

I continue playing as I think to myself how people could eat at a place like this. Don't get me wrong, I love Mr. Han's diner but over the years, the once immaculate establishment has disintegrated into a shell of its former glory. 

"Thank you for letting me practice here",  I express my gratitude to the lanky old man with snow white hair, but he nonchalantly waves his hand in the air and walks to the back of the room.  Most people would think that he is being dismissive, but I've learned long ago that he doesn't like people thanking him. Why, I don't know. 

With the rain leaving track-marks against the big front window, the slightly dimmed light on the piano, illuminates through the room, impersonating shadows that seem to mock me. 

My fingers suddenly stop, leaving a deafening silence in its wake.   

Pulling me back to the present, is a loud bang coming from the kitchen. I get of my seat and run towards the kitchen, just to find Mr. Han chasing the biggest rat I've seen in my life.

 BANG... BANG!

Mr. Han continues chasing after the rat, missing every time.

I take the broom from him, open the backdoor and gently usher the poor rat back into the alleyway.

Mr. Han sheepishly looks at me. "I wonder where it came from...? The Government never keeps their promise when it comes to service delivery", he says with a tinge of sadness to his voice. 

I could tell that Mr. Han was feeling a little embarrassed about what I've just witnessed. He was a former classical music student in China. He apparently used to play in an orchestra, and was rather good. But he doesn't talk about his past life, especially before he came here. 

He actually got me interested in playing the piano.

I remember when I was younger, coming to Mr. Han's Diner with my mom and baby brother. We would sit at the big front window and eat dumplings. I remember Mr. Han and his wife would always make a spectacle, especially when they used to celebrate the Chinese New Year. 

Back when this place used to boom with business.

I remember the first time we came here. I was about 8 years old. My mom just got paid and she decided that she would treat herself to some dumplings. She would pull me through the busy streets, juggling the many grocery bags in one hand, and a tired from a long day of shopping, eight year old. She was pregnant with my brother at the time. And when we walked into the Diner, I saw it...