Lio told Tom that he was going out to explore the city.
Tom asked, “Do you know the way back?”
Leo said, “Don’t worry.
I won’t get lost or lose my way.”
Tom laughed.
“That’s not an answer.”
“It’s the only answer I have.”
Tom gave him a small piece of paper with the bakery’s address written on it.
“Keep it.”
Leo looked at it and sighed.
Then he put it in his pocket.
“Thanks.”
He left the bakery.
The street was crowded.
People walked quickly.
No one looked at him.
He was free.
For the first time since arriving, he was truly alone.
And that wasn’t a bad thing.
He walked slowly.
Looking at the buildings.
The windows.
The signs.
He analyzed everything.
The architecture: Parisian, old, and beautiful, but unfamiliar.
The people: diverse and fast-moving, ignoring each other.
But they also smiled when they bumped into someone.
The streets: clean and organized, with signs pointing in every direction.
A city designed for living, he thought.
But also a city designed for confusion.
He smiled to himself.
Then continued walking.
He searched for an electronics store.
Not just any store.
One that sold rare components.
He knew what he needed.
The watch needed five basic components to be partially repaired.
Three were rare.
And two were extremely rare.
He found a store after walking for forty minutes.
It was small.
Its front was blue.
A sign read: “Électronique du Centre.”
He entered.
The man behind the counter was in his sixties.
He wore thick glasses.
His fingers were stained with solder.
He looked at Leo.
“Bonjour.”
“Bonjour,” Leo replied.
The man stopped.
He looked at Lio more carefully.
“You’re not from around here.”
“No.”
“Where are you from?”
Leo thought about his answer.
Then said, “A faraway country.”
The man stared at him.
Then smiled.
What do you want?”
Leo took a piece of paper from his pocket.
It had a drawing of five components on it.
He handed the paper to the man.
The man looked at it.
Then at Lio.
Then back at the paper.
“These…”
“Yes?”
“These are very rare components.”
“I know.”
“What do you want to use them for?”
“A small project.”
“What kind of project?”
“A watch.”
The man raised an eyebrow.
“A watch needs these?”
“A complicated watch.”
The man looked at him.
Then returned his attention to the paper.
“I have three of these.”
He pointed at the first three components.
“But the other two…”
He stopped.
“I don’t have them.”
Leo looked at the man.
“You don’t?”
“No.
And these two types…
they’re almost impossible to get in Paris.”
Leo went silent.
“Impossible?”
“Yes.
I haven’t seen either of them in years.
Even importers can’t get them.”
Leo looked at the paper.
Then at the man.
“Do you know anywhere else I can look?”
The man thought for a moment.
Then shook his head.
“No.
Sorry.
These components are extremely rare.
If I were you, I wouldn’t get my hopes up.”
Leo looked at the two remaining components on the paper.
Then at the man.
“I’ll take the three.”
Leo bought the three components.
And put them in his pocket.
He left the store.
He stood in the street.
He looked at the paper.
Then at the sky.
Three components.
Two missing.
Almost impossible to get.
He sighed.
But I’ll find them.
Somewhere.
He walked through the streets.
The shops.
Life.
Paris was beautiful.
But it was also strange.
And he was a stranger in it.
Maybe even lost.
Only three components.
There was still a long way to go.
On his way back to the bakery, he looked at the sky.
He saw something.
Far away.
Two small dots.
One red.
One black.
They moved quickly between the rooftops.
Jumping.
Disappearing.
Then appearing again.
Leo looked at them.
He didn’t move.
He just watched.
Then took a deep breath.
“extremely fast ,” he muttered.
He returned to the bakery two hours later.
Tom was behind the counter.
When he saw him, he smiled.
“You found your way back.”
“I told you I would.”
“I know.
But I was worried.”
Leo looked at Tom.
“Why?”
“Because Paris is big.
And strangers get lost here.”
“I didn’t get lost.”
Tom smiled.
“I know.
That’s why you’re special.”
Leo said nothing.
But he felt something warm again.
He went upstairs to his room.
The watch was on the nightstand.
Still.
He sat in front of it.
He took the three components out of his pocket.
He placed them beside it.
“Three components.”
He paused.
“This is annoying.”
“Two missing.”
“They’re almost impossible to get.”
He looked at the watch.
“But I’ll find them.”
“Somewhere.”
“I’ll search.”
“And I’ll find them.”
“When I fully repair my watch…”
He looked at it.
“Then this stupid game will finally end.”
He put the paper aside.
Then went to sleep.
End of Chapter Fourteen