When the girl tilted her head from behind the door,her eyes met Jack's.She froze for a few seconds, then said in surprise:(Grandpa, who is this?) (in Japanese)The old man smiled lightly and replied:(He's a guest.) (in Japanese)She raised her eyebrows, puzzled, and said:(A guest? At this hour?) (in Japanese)But the old man quickly waved his hand to end the talk:(I'll explain later.) (in Japanese)
Then he grabbed Jack's arm and led him toward the first room on the left, saying:(Are you sure you're okay?) (in English)Jack answered calmly:(As I told you, it's just a small cut.) (in English)
The old man lifted Jack's hand and saw that the wound was barely visible,but he clearly remembered the moment the knife had pierced the boy's hand.His eyes froze for a few seconds as he tried to make sense of it.Then he quietly cleared his throat and pulled out a small roll of bandage from one of the drawers.He cleaned the wound with antiseptic and carefully wrapped Jack's hand.
Jack stayed silent the whole time,his eyes following the old man's movements with a cold focus,as if he held questions he didn't want to speak aloud.
Just as the old man finished tending to the wound, the girl's voice echoed from the kitchen:(Dinner's ready!) (in Japanese)
The three of them sat on the floor around a simple rectangular table,with a plate of noodles topped with grilled chicken.Jack stared at the dish for a few seconds,as if memories from the old man's stall came rushing back,then he began to eat quickly.
The girl watched in astonishment and said:(Oh my God...) (in Japanese)He was eating ravenously, using his hands and making strange chewing sounds,so the old man laughed and said jokingly:(Hahaha! Looks like you were really hungry!) (in English)
Jack didn't answer. He just kept eating until he felt full,then quietly placed the spoon down.The old man looked up at the clock hanging on the wall — it was 2 a.m. —and said in a warm tone:(Since it's already midnight, how about you sleep here tonight?) (in English)
The girl immediately objected:(Grandpa! What are you saying? We don't have any free space!) (in Japanese)But the old man smiled calmly and said:(I'll handle it.) (in Japanese)
Then he turned again to Jack, who nodded slightly and said softly:(Thank you.) (in English)The old man smiled once more:(But first, you should take a shower. I'll give you some clothes.) (in English)
Jack entered the bathroom.It was simple, with warm colors — completely different from the white, coldly lit bathrooms of the laboratory.He stood under the shower, warm water streaming down his tired body.He looked at his reflection in the fogged mirror and whispered to himself:(What am I doing… what's going to happen to me now? I escaped… I achieved my dream, but… where to?)(in English – inner monologue)
The room filled with steam until the old man knocked on the door and said:(Jack, are you okay?) (in English)Jack quickly replied:(Yes, yes, I'm fine.) (in English)
He put on the clothes the old man had given him — loose blue pants and a simple gray T-shirt.When he came out of the bathroom, the old man pointed to a small couch and said:(You can sleep here.) (in English)Jack nodded and said in a low voice:(Thank you...) (in English)
The old man went to his room, while the girl sighed softly and entered hers.Jack lay down on the couch, feeling a strange warmth he had never known before,but tension still gripped his chest.
Memories flooded his mind —the chase by the security men,the sound of sirens,the punches, the screams, the cold training halls in the facility...
He opened his eyes in the dark.Every sense in his body was alert.He heard distant footsteps, cars passing slowly,and the noise of a city he had never known before.
He turned on his side and closed his eyes again...but sleep did not come easily.
End of Chapter 4.