Change of Heart

Chapter 18

Tristan

I had no idea how to start this. Even the book Erica lent me didn't help. She should've gotten me the 'How to Write an Apology Letter to a Bitchy Teacher for Dummies." That would've been more useful.

Anna entered the room with a new set of linen. I turned to her. "Hey, Anna, do you know how to write a stupid letter?"

"Aaaah. I'm sorry, sir. I only finished elementary schooling, so I have no idea." She said. "But you're brother Michael, maybe he can help. He's editor of his school paper, I'm sure he can help."

My brother and I have a mutual understanding of our respective worlds. We both know that we exist differently. We aren't bothered by our apathy. I think it's better that way than not getting along at all.

I knocked on Michael's room. He opened it and was taken by surprise. I don't usually come up to his room and say, "Hey, Michael, help me with this letter, will you?"

My brother let me in without any questions. Our rooms are across each other but I've never been into it until now. He has a single bed sitting in the middle of his large room. And across the bed are his musical instruments. He offered me a seat.

"What is it for?"

"It's a project for my English class." I lied. "Umm, the situation's like this..." I narrated to him how I got into trouble, pretending that it was a given situation by our English teacher.

"Why is the guy wearing a dress?"

"I would not know." I shrugged. "But the take note that the teacher's really bitchy. So make sure you use the right words."

Michael raised his eyebrows at me. "Okay. Then, he started to scribble really fast. In less than a minute, he had produced a complete letter.

Of course, I didn't forget to thank my brother. He nodded at me, but he looked at me weirdly as if there was something on my face. And I realized that it was because I said 'thank you', when normally I just leave without showing my gratitude.

"What are you staring at?" I snarled at my younger brother and he frowned and closed the door in front of me.

I don't get it. When I'm mean and rude, people complain, but when I'm being nice, they give me these weird looks.

Erica's voice reverberated in my head. "And I know that deep inside, there is a good guy." I've never encountered a person who has invested so much faith in me. Even if I'm far from the nice person, she's expected me to be, I feel like I need to work hard in order not to disappoint her.

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When I arrived for my Chemistry lab, the whole class fell silent as if a ghost just passed. You could hint the awe in some of their faces and as for the others-fear. Erica, who was reading a book glanced up at me and I waved at her the letter I had Michael made. She greeted me with a warm smile that definitely brightened up my day.

I scooted next to her, returning her smile with a smile. She only got lovelier with each passing day or I was just starting to finally take notice of her.