Tristan entered the apartment and met his family sitting in the living room, looked like a meeting was going on.
He smiled at Isabella and ignored others and as usual, he was on his way to his bedroom.
"Tristan, sit" Mr. Chalie ordered.
Tristan stopped and let out a sigh, "what now?" he whispered and turned to his dad, "i am a bit tired dad and I need to sleep" he answered and noticed James coming in.
He greeted Mr. Charlie and his mom, then saw Tristan standing by the staircase. He stared at him angrily.
"You think you are a hero right? Everything I do to make her be mine is always getting ruined by you and you end up getting the credit" James thought as they both stared at each other.
The woman noticed and pulled her son's hand, "why don't you sit... Your dad was just telling us about the trip, it's going to be amazing" she said excitedly.
"Trip?", Tristan turned to his dad.
The man wanted to reply but Isabella was too excited to answer, "Yes Tristan... Prince Larry bought an island and we are all going for the grand opening” Isabella giggled, her giggle get to Tristan all the time.
He smiled, “You are excited right?” he asked and watched his sister nodded yes.
“Arent you?”, Mr. Charlie asked curiously.
Tristan looked at his dad, “Do I have to go? You guys can go have fun and leave me at home” he replied and turned to Isabella, “you should sleep early okay? You need your sleeping beauty” he winked at her and turned to leave.
Mr. Charlie stood up, “listen, young man... This is your family and there is nothing you can do about it, we are all going on that trip as one family and you can't say no to that, it is an order,” he said angrily.
Tristan who had stopped in the middle of the stairs to listen to his dad walked upstairs and shut the door.
“I am excited about the trip dad, I would make you proud as a good son that day Dad” James promised.
********************
The night sky was aglow with bright city lights.
He walked into their house without knocking, they all looked back and saw him.
“You startled us,” Nate said.
“You didn't look like you were startled,” Tristan said as he sit on the half torn cushion in the living room, “Feels good to be home” he sighed deeply.
Nick who was just coming from the bathroom saw Tristan and shook his hand, “hey Fam” he said, excited to see him.
Ever since they rescued young Tristan, he has never stopped seeing them, and now he is like a little brother to the two men.
“He just used the bathroom, ask if he washed his hand before shaking yours?” Nate said, he lighted his cigarettes and puffed.
Tristan looked at Nick who had now sat, “you didn't?” he asked eagerly and smelled his hand, “Oh my God... My hand stink” the young man yelled and hurry to the bathroom to wash his hands.
He returned to sit and frowned at Nick.
“What? I forgot, Don't you guys forget to wash it sometimes.. Why is mine new to you two?” Nick said, looking at them.
Tristan scoffed, “no I don't ever forget to wash my hand... What are you talking about”.
Nick turned to Nate who seemed interested to his cigarettes than he was to the conversation going on, he looked up and saw eyes on him. The Italian guy blew smoke out and puffed more, “I am always washing my hand too” he replied.
Tristan looked at Nick and laughed out, “you are alone” he said mockingly.
Nick grabbed a cigarette and lighted it, “want some?” he asked.
Nate looked up at him, “he is still young... No cigarettes for you till you are 30”, he concluded.
“And who are you to tell him what to do?”
They all recognized that voice, Nate put down his cigarette and walked up to the woman that just entered.
Her fashion style never changed, always with the baggy crazy jean and crop top, with big shoes.
Mitchell saw Nate coming towards her, she rolled her eyes “Nate when will you give up on me?” she asked.
“Never!!! He is obsessed with you”, Nick responded sharply and laughed along with Tristan.
Mitchell scoffed, “look at me? My mate is having better jobs and having families... Look at me, how are you still in love with me after these years,” she said and sit, the woman wasn't too surprised to see Tristan, she smiled to him “you know sometimes I forgot you have a home too, a big luxury home” she added and grabbed a cigarette.
“I prefer here to there... The only reason I go home is to see my beautiful sister's face when I get a job and I am very okay... I want to move out with her” Tristan suggested.
They all let out a surprised gasp.
“And leave everything for that woman and her son? Everything your mom and dad worked for? Boy that is called chickening out... Don't do that” Mitchell said.
Nate sit next to Tristan and grabbed his head. “I need to talk truth into your head... So you listen and digest it...” he released his head and frowned at him, “Listen that is your father's house... Isn’t it obvious those people in there want your dad's property? Are you just going to leave and make it easy for them or fight for your right and send them back to their place” Nate said.
“He is right Tristan, you are the heir of Mr. Charlie and that is the truth... Do you want some boy with his mama to take it all, how will your mom feel? Will she be proud of you or not happy with you? If not for everything, do it for Isabella” Nick added.
Tristan sighed, he knows they were right, he can not let them win, that is his home.
The young man stood up and saw eyes on him, “I will be going home now guys...see you tomorrow” he said and turned to leave.
“Bye Tristan, break a leg”, Mitchell said.
The young man laughed softly before stepping out, Mitchell saw the two men eyes on her, she shrugged.
---------------------
He drove into his apartment and saw her standing by the door, he sighed and stepped out of the car.
“Hi Tristan, I have been waiting for you”, she said smiling excitedly.
Tristan looked around, “Have you been standing here for a long time?” he asked.
Lily couldn't tell if he was worried about her or sick of seeing her, she ignored her thoughts and stretched a box to Tristan, “I made that for you... Using my grandma’s recipe... I am sure you will love it” she said.
Tristan looked at the box and then at her, “Thank you, Lily... You don't have to keep bringing me stuff” he replied.
“I insist, this tastes better than the last cupcake I gave you trust me” she said, still stretching the box to him.
Tristan couldn't relate to what she just said, he smiled and took the box from her, “thank you... You should go back in now, we don't know if those bad guys would come back again... So you gotta be extra careful” he said.
Lily confirmed he was just worried about her, she blushed and put some of her front hair at the back of her ear, “Can I come in?” she said as their eyes met, “I have nothing to do at home... Everyone is out”.
Tristan knows he doesn't like people in his room, he looked away and entered, she followed him gently.
James who was coming out of his room saw Lily and Tristan entering the room, he let out a surprised gasp “what the f%#$!”
Lily got in the room and looked around, it was her first time in his room. Felt like she had achieved one of her goals, she smiled and looked around “your room is amazing” she said.
“Thank you”, Tristan said and removed his shirt, he would have pulled the singlet but Lily.
She stole a glance at his body and blushed, Tristan sat on his chair and looked at Lily.
“We need to talk Lily,” he said.
She turned to him sharply, her heart started beating fast. Not knowing what exactly he want to talk about, Lily breathed heavily as she listened to him.
Tristan looked away, “I saw the letter you sent...” he said and paused, not knowing how to pass what he wanted to say to her, without breaking her heart. He knows it is better than leading her on, he looked at her and continued “I have to tell you the truth and I hope we don’t stop being friends after the truth, you are a good girl and I don't want to ruin our friendship” he said, hoping he said it right.
Shaking breath and weak legs, Lily smiled through it and asked “Wh...what are you saying?”.
“We can't work out... I don't see myself getting into a relationship right now, I have a lot of things in mind and I can't just date, I am sorry...” He added.
Lily smiled through the heartbreak, “I could wait for you” she suggested.
“No, you should date other guys... You are an amazing person and you deserve the best” he said.
James smiled as he walked away from Tristan’s door.
Aksara