Love and Violence

Chapter 1 : Loneliness in Power

Tristan Gomez, known far and wide as a man of few words, preferred to let his actions speak for him. His mere presence alone was enough to strike fear into the hearts of even the most hardened criminals. He had built his empire on a foundation of violence, bloodshed, and intimidation, rising to the very top of the criminal underworld with ruthless efficiency.

Despite all that he had achieved, however, Tristan found himself plagued by a profound loneliness. He had no family to speak of, no close friends to confide in, and no one to share the immense success and power he had accumulated. The empire he had meticulously constructed on fear and violence had left him cold and isolated, fiercely guarded against any potential threat. 

Tristan's days were spent within the opulent confines of his mansion, surrounded by his loyal henchmen, reminding him of his powerful position. He possessed everything one could desire – wealth, influence, and respect – and yet, an undeniable void persisted within him. His wealth and power could not fill the cavernous emptiness that gnawed at his soul.

Seated alone in his study, his gaze fixated on the lively city of Manila beyond his window, Tristan's mind wandered to the roads not taken in his life. He pondered what his existence would have been like had he made different choices, choosing love and compassion over the path of violence and brutality. The melancholy of what could have been gripped him, igniting a flicker of longing for something more meaningful than the power he wielded.

But regrets held no place in the heart of a man like Tristan. He had made his choices, carved his destiny with blood-stained hands, and now he had to accept the consequences. He understood that vulnerability and trust were unaffordable luxuries for someone like him, a man who had built an empire on fear and violence. The fortresses he had erected around himself ensured he would never let down his guard, resisting the temptation to allow anyone to breach the barriers protecting his heart.

And so, Tristan Gomez, feared and respected by all who knew him, remained a solitary figure. His heart remained closed off from the world, the void within him growing only more cavernous with each passing day. The empire he had constructed, once his source of pride, had now become his cage, leaving him with nothing but an echoing emptiness within.