Change of Heart

Chapter 1

Tristan

Midway of summer 2013, I dreaded being in the house. Everyone was busy to make preparations for the arrival of my so goody-too-perfect older brother who just finished his specialization in the US after two years. My mom who was never really hands on with whatever party she organized at first took the lead in making the month-long preparations. My younger brother Michael who always had this poker face appearance and had never initiated anything in his life seemed also excited. He volunteered to render my brother a song during the party. I could hear the maids gushing about my brother. They all seemed excited, too and our relatives kept calling the house to inquire about his arrival although invitations were already sent to them. Everyone was so hyped for my brother's homecoming. Everyone probably except me.

Simon or shall he be called Dr. Simon now, is probably the first doctor in our clan. Our prominent family bred businessmen to manage our real estate properties and developments and he was the first among the sons and daughters to take up a course not related to business or to property development. That's why everyone thinks he's too good already. Just because he finished a different course and began a good career. And that's why everyone is so excited. They're so proud of him. They wish every son or daughter will be like him. Blah Blah Blah Blah. It's bullshit hearing nothing but praises from a person who in the first place wasn't really that perfect. On top of that, they continuously shower him with compliments and would give you these suggestive You-should-be-more-like-your-brother stares.

Hello? I'm me and I'll never be like my older boring you-think-he's-so-perfect brother. I prefer to be real. People say I'm the black sheep of the family, that I'm spoiled and arrogant. Okay, if you then think so, then I won't disappoint you. So yeah, I am that. That black sheep of the family who's spoiled and arrogant.

"Where are you going?" My mom chased after me after he saw me leave with my leather jacket and with keys to my hot red Audi car. She was carrying the bouquet of flowers that just got delivered by the flower shop. "Are you forgetting that there is a party tonight?"

Yeah sure, how can you forget when you are constantly reminded of it every day? Every day on the phone, my mother is consulting her organizer, debating on which motif or which caterer and scolding her set up designer who came up with the design of the banner late. So yeah, how can you ever forget that when the first thing you hear every morning at the breakfast is her loud high pitch voice on the phone with her organizer?

"I'll be back in time." I lied. I wasn't sure I was going to be back for the party. Never really intended to be there in the first place.

"Okay," she said hesitantly. "Just make sure." And she left without complaining, even when I never really answered her question of where I was going.

I dialled my friend Dennis's number. Dennis is an old buddy of mine from high school. He is pretty cocky, too, much probably more obnoxious than me and I know I was already very obnoxious. He's this kind of friend who knows what to do to entertain you. Their family owns one of the largest distributors of European cars and he knows when and where these drag races take place. Sometimes, he initiates them.

"Tonight, okay?"

"Yeah sure, dude." He said coolly. "The whole gang's going to be there as well." When he said the whole gang I know he meant not only my friends Gio, Marcus and Seth. He meant there are going to be booze, and chicks as well. Sexy girls, the ones not afraid to flash their you-know-what. The ones that are ready to do whatever you want. Dennis and Gio think they're the biggest chick magnet in the group. Ahem. I beg to disagree. If you compare them to my looks and my moves, I'm a killer. (Winks)