Chapter Two (UNEDITED)

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"The worst feeling is pretending you don't care about someone, when really it's that person all you seem to think about." - Pinterest

Tristan's POV

'Tristan... shh.... Stop crying. You know I love you, my baby boy... I'll be back and get you, I promise.'

That was my mom's last words to me, and that happened when I was barely four years old - about twenty three years ago.

Every day since that day, I kept on waiting for her to come back – but she never did. She broke her promise.

I didn't understand what really happened. We were once a happy family. My parents even seemed so much in love.

I remembered dad chasing after mom almost everytime he came back from work. Mom looked so happy, giggling and running towards their bedroom.

Everytime they played like that, I felt so left out – they ignored me like I didn't exist. I followed them to the bedroom, but the door was locked. I was so naïve at that time. I thought they were praying, because mom kept on calling and screaming for 'God.'

Dad pampered mom too much. Almost everyday, mom went out shopping, buying tons of very expensive clothes, shoes, bags and accessories. She was very addicted in shopping. She always kept up with the latest fashion trends. She bought too many expensive useless things that our house was like a department store.

Dad understood. He always understood – because he was such a nice guy.

He said that when mom was young, she was deprived of the beautiful clothes, shoes and bags. All her things were old and hand-me-downs from her mom's employer.

My mom's mother was a housekeeper of a rich family in New Zealand. She got pregnant by her employer's only son – my grandpa, Michael Chandler.

Mom grew up in Wellington, New Zealand. Her aunt took care of her. She was eighteen when she was acknowledged as part of the Chandler family. The time when her mother died. And at that same year, she married my father – Richard Latsis, a greek billionaire businessman, who was based in New York.

Before my mother left us, there were a series of fights between my parents, and mostly happened at midnight – the time when both of them arrived home. Dad from work and mom... from the gym.

Dad was always away for business and mom was always out... shopping... meeting friends... shopping... went to the gym... shopping... then eventually, she was constantly in the gym and forgot about shopping.

Later on, I found out that mom left us for her personal trainer and they settled back in New Zealand, her hometown.

Dad was so devastated when mom left us. I saw him drown himself with alcohol. Crying in agony and calling mom's name at night. He was probably dreaming – having nightmare and couldn't accept that his nightmare was in fact a reality.

It was almost a year when dad finally recovered. At that time, mom already had a new baby – a girl.

Dad divorced mom. After a month, mom got married.

Me? They didn't care about me. When mom left, additional nanny and bodyguard were assigned to take care of me.

I was so affected when my parents broke up. I kept on crying at nights – looking for my mom. I missed my mom - her laughs, her cuddles and her kisses.

Oftentimes, I wondered if I was a bad boy. Why did she left us all of a sudden? Maybe she really didn't love us. Maybe she forgot about me – that she already had a new baby girl.

Stella's POV

Eight Years Earlier

Mom was wrong. It had been a week now, but I still couldn't stop thinking of Tristan.

Tristan... Tristan... Tristan.

More so when Mia told me that Tristan was not her boyfriend.

"Oh... Stella. He is my brother." Mia laughed at me.

"Your brother?" I asked Mia again. Checking if I heard her right. Sometimes her New Zealand accent was so hard to understand. Almost all vowels were pronounced as 'i'.

"Yeah. Tristan is my half brother. We have the same mother."

'OH!" My heart fluttered – elated, like suddenly a rainbow appeared up in the sky... and the gates of heaven opened and angels flew down singing triumphantly. Yes! Yes! Yes!

I was overwhelmed with hope, chance and possibility.

I'm falling for Tristan. He's so beautiful. His eyes, his hair and his lips... I wish he'll fall for me too.

I started daydreaming. Me and Tristan. Tristan and Me. We were in the park holding hands and sharing an ice cream cone... or we were in the movie house watching 'The Notebook' and I was crying. He would say 'Stop crying my princess, it makes me sadder when you sad." Then he wiped my tears with his fingers and hugged me so tightly.

I imagined Tristan to be so sweet, caring and loving. He would rescue me, protect me and fight for me... Exactly like a knight in shining armor. I really liked him a lot.

****

After a week, Mia was really devastated. She failed in our math quiz.

"I can't catch up in our Geometry class... and I'm afraid of our teacher, he's a terror... huhuhu..." Mia was crying like a small child. "I'm sure when my grandpa will find out, he'll have me back in New Zealand immediately."

"What? He can't do that."

"He will." Mia pouted her lips.

"Just study harder, Mia. You will do better in our next quiz." I rubbed her back up and down. But, she cried harder – that everyone in the cafeteria was looking at us.

"Help me Stella. I don't want to go back to New Zealand. My grandma hated me – she's like Miss Minchin, so strict and scolding me all the time."

"Really? My grandma is so nice... she's adorable."

"Mine is not. Maybe she would be nicer if I was really her granddaughter."

"OH!" I was confused. But I didn't want to dig her story about her grandmother... I was not a nosy person and I didn't even like gossips.

"You need a tutor. Don't worry, I'll call my mentor if she knows someone who is available." I clasped her hand. "Stop crying now."

"I can't."

I was puzzled. "What do you mean you can't?"

"I don't want any tutor. They will just scold me for being so slow."

"Mia... it's their job to help you."

She stopped crying now and started wiping her tears. "Stella, can I ask you a favor?"

My forehead creased. I was not really used in giving favors to my friends, usually it was the other way around.

"What is it?"

"Can you teach me Geometry? You topped in our math class and when our teacher asked you to explain the answers, you did it so well that I understood."

"But we don't have any time. I have to go home immediately after class."

"How about tomorrow in our house. It's Saturday." Mia eyed me so eagerly. Her hands were clasped together, like she was begging.

My heart lurched. Tristan.

Oh gosh. I reaaaalllyyy wanted to go to their house... so badly. So I could see Tristan again. Oh... Tristan. Tristan. Tristan. My brain kept on saying his name. Maybe I could finally meet him.

BUT....

"I can't. Our family will attend a charity event tomorrow at lunchtime. I don't know when it would finish. It usually ended late in the afternoon." I heaved a frustrated sigh.

Mia looked so sad, all of a sudden. Her eyes welled with tears again.

"Hey, I could come at your house after the event, let's say at five?"

"Really?" Mia's expression brightened. Her sullen behaviour was replaced with excitement. "Oh Stella, you're so kind. Thank you." She hugged me and that caught me off guard – and yeah, I hugged her back. TBH, I usually didn't hug my friends. "I'll tell our chef to cook a special dinner for us. I have a queen bed, it's not so big, but we could fit on it easily... I don't snore... do you?"

"No. Mia... I won't be spending the night at your house. My parents won't let me."

"Oh! That's too bad." She look dismayed. "Hmm... I'm really hoping you'll meet my brother, Tristan. He's a nice guy."

And that statement made me forgot all my reasonings. "Okay. I'll be there." By hook or by crook.

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Love and kisses,

Neilani Alejandrino

a.k.a. sweetdreamer33