Chapter 2 The disillusionment

***Chaz***

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The voice on the intercom of the private jet brings me back to myself. With my headphones on and the music at low volume, I had completely disconnected from reality.

I walk down the steps of the plane and the fresh wind caresses my face.

Bali, what a beautiful place!

This is the only reason why I agreed to come here in spite of myself.

At the same time, a car approaches me and positions itself. It is the driver. He gets out and opens the door, from which one of my favorite rap songs comes out. I already love this driver.

I get in the back and he goes around the car to take a seat.

"I hope you had a good trip! Your father is waiting for you impatiently."

"Yes, thank you!" I replied.

"Before we get started, Mr. Chaz I'm a big fan and would like a spelling"

I sigh and take the pen he hands me to sign his spelling on a t-shirt he has specially primed. What a driver!

I thought I would go unnoticed. At the first minute, I was already recognized. I can't imagine what the rest of my stay here will be like. I sigh.

"You know my first name but I don't know yours. What's your name?" I asked him.

He smiled with all his teeth.

"My name is André, sir" he answered.

"You can call me Chaz, nice to meet you."

I offer him my hand which he shakes hard.

I start to laugh.

"You, I feel like we are going to get along" I say with a smile on my face.

For any answer, he smiles at me and increases the volume to the bottom.

What puts me immediately in a good mood.

A few minutes later, we arrive at our destination.

I look at this gigantic house in the distance and I am immersed in ancient feelings.

"Sir, welcome home" the driver announces to me.

For all answer, I nod my head.

He drives on until we enter my father's house, the one where I grew up.

As soon as he parked, the employees of the house rushed to unload my belongings.

I don't see my father right away. He must be busy with his many things.

I walk with a weary step to enter the house. Once inside, I stand in awe. This house has a lot of memories, both good and bad.

I don't know how long I stood there until my father's voice brought me back:

"Welcome back son!" he says to me with a smile on his face and his arms wide open.

A smile forms itself on my lips. I walk slowly as Dad walks towards me as well. We join in an equally vigorous and strong hug. He gives me big pats on the back.

I find his warmth and I can't help but admit that it feels extremely good to have him back.

He finally releases me and holds me by the shoulders.

"You left a few months ago and it seems like years ago. How was your season?" he asks me.

"Dad, you got all the news you needed from the newspapers and paparazzi. What else do you want to know?" I say with a laugh.

"You know what I want to know" he replied with a suggestive look.

I stifle a laugh.

He looks at his watch.

"But I'm not in a hurry. You're already tired from the trip. It's already nine o'clock in the evening. You take a bath and we'll meet for dinner." he says with a smile.

I nodded my head.

He stops for a moment and stares into my eyes before adding.

"I'm proud of you, son. Come on, I'll see you later."

He turns and walks back into his office while continuing with his incessant phone calls.

My father is a man in his fifties who doesn't look his age. He is a businessman and the owner of the most popular hotel in Bali: the EL DORADO.

Since I was a child, he always wanted to involve me in business, but I was consumed by my passion for soccer. In the beginning, he wanted to force things, but in the end he accepted the truth.

So I was fifteen years old when I went to the training center. But before I went there, a great tragedy happened with Mom. I freeze at the course my thoughts take. Mom!? No, I don't want to think about it.

I open the door of my old room, the one where I spent my childhood. At my request, Dad has not made any changes.

I timidly turn on the light and the room lights up.

I walk over to the bed and sit down. I fall on my back, my hands behind my neck.

Ah this room! What good memories. I quickly take a shower before dinner.

One knocks at my door.

"Sir, your father is waiting for you for dinner".

It's a housekeeper. She must be new.

"Okay, just a moment I'll be right there" I replied.

I hear her turn around in her steps.

I put on my shirt very quickly and join the dining room.

Dad is all excited when he sees me coming.

"What took you so long? I was getting impatient." he says.

"Actually I....."

I don't have time to finish what I have to say. My gaze falls on that of a beautiful young woman, barely in her thirties.

My father begins to smile at my confusion.

"Oh, sorry I didn't let you know. We have a guest tonight. Silvia, my companion" he said with a huge smile on his face.

The equally cheerful young woman holds out her manicured hand to me with long thin nails.

"Nice to meet you, the pleasure is all mine. Your father has told me so much about you" she says in a honeyed voice.

For all answer, I wear a simple smile.

"Chaz is a little shy around people he doesn't know," my dad adds, taking his girlfriend's hands between his own.

And here I thought we were going to have some man time.

I pull out my chair and sit down.

The housekeeper, Georgina, serves us the meal. I don't eat much because as a sportsman I have to stay in perfect shape because the season will start again.

My father's girlfriend spends the whole dinner staring at me in such a way that it becomes embarrassing.

It's not nice to judge by appearance, but this young lady gives me the impression that she's a diamond cruncher. Afterwards, the reality may be just the opposite.

That's what I wish for my father because he really deserves to be happy. But she doesn't stop staring at me. On top of that, she adds grimaces with the intention of getting my attention. In spite of myself I put up with it for my father. Funny family moment!

Her gestures become so insistent that I can't stand them anymore. I wonder how my father can't see it all.

I decide to leave the table.

"Son, but...." he tries to say as he stands up.

"No, Dad, everything is fine. Enjoy the evening with your sweetheart. I've got other things to do" I retorted.

"Anything better than staying for dinner with your father after this long absence?" he said weakly.

I don't try to answer him. I walk out of the dining room. We'll have this discussion later or he'll certainly neglect it as usual.

I've just had an exhausting season and I don't want to get in over my head. Especially since I have a lot to think about.

I have just two months of vacation before the season starts again. My vacation has just started. I don't want to spoil it with an intruder.

But I can't help but wonder where my dad gets these kinds of girls. Oh, of course I know. Usually a friend of a friend introduces him. And that's the way it's always been in their circle of friends.

What offends me is the fact that he can't see that these girls are very often ill-intentioned. I mean, it's obvious.

Since mom is gone, he has a hard time finding himself. He's not sure how to find his balance anymore. But that's no reason for him to make bad choices all the time.

At the same time he is a big boy. It's just that his actions show the opposite.

Luckily I have my gym here inside the house. I decided to go do some crunches and sit-ups. Working out is the only thing that manages to relax me.

I execute and do several exercises. There is no lack of anything. The gym is very well equipped.

Suddenly my phone rings. I don't recognize the number but I pick it up anyway.

"My friend!? You came to Bali and you did n't inform me? If your father hadn't told mine, who told me, I wouldn't have known about it" he says with a sparkling voice.

I recognize this voice. It's Yuz, my best friend with whom I lost touch because of our professional careers.

"Yuz, I'm sorry, I've only just come and I wanted to put some order in...." I say with a short breath.

I don't finish my sentence. He cuts me off as usual.

"Why is your breath so short? You don't waste time apparently" he says in a suggestive voice.

I can't help but smile at his remark. He will never change.

"But no, I was doing some physical exercises at the gym" I answer him.

"If you say so. Well, what do you say we meet tonight? I'm around and I could meet up at your place in no time. " he offers.

"Give me time to get some air. Tomorrow night is better," I say.

"Blowing in Bali? That's the first time I've heard that. But it's okay. I'll see you tomorrow night. I'll pick you up, we'll go out" he said with a cheerful voice.

"It works, I...."

He cuts me off again. Holy Yuz!

"You've been away too long, buddy. I have too much to tell you. Well, see you later, buddy. I don't want to take your breath away."

He says the word "blowing" with a lot of sacarsm.

We say goodbye and he cuts the call.

I don't open up to people easily. Some find me arrogant, others shy. The reality is that I am very careful about who gets into my privacy. I don't let just anyone in.

Yuz is one of the few friends I've had in my life. He is the son of a friend of my father. Since we were kids, we were always together. We were more than close. But nowadays, friendships don't really last. Everyone breaks up at some point. We're not as close as we used to be.

I went to a training center and his father started to integrate him more and more in the business. Today I am a professional footballer and he is in real estate. His father can be proud of him because he knew how to impose himself in the real estate market and in the business world too.

Most of the blame is on me. Yuz always wanted us to keep in touch, but I kept to myself. But I still like him and I know I can trust him.

Suddenly, in the course of my thoughts, I see Silvia, my father's companion, in the gigantic mirror. She looks at me through the half-open door. She is in a nightie, almost naked and stares at me intensely.

I was about to tell her to go away when I hear a rough voice behind us.

"What are you doing here?"

It's my dad.