Chapter 2 TRISTAN'S TRUE FEELINGS

After the whole graduation ceremony,

Lana and Bryan were in the limo with Tristan and they were headed to their favorite restaurant, Eat n' Take.

"Men,

That girl's speech was long and boring." Tristan said dryly, Bryan chuckled but Lana wasn't amused,

"Stop it Trist,

That was a nice speech she gave back there.

Wish I was intelligent enough to compose something as education, realistic and inspiring like that." She retorted,

Tristan scoffed and pulled the leather strap of the seatbelt,

"You're far more intelligent that anyone I've ever seen,

She might have composed that educational, realistic and inspiring speech like you said, not my saying."

Bryan chuckled from his seat.

"But Lana,

You're still the most intelligent person I've ever seen met,

You're smart, beautiful and intelligent."

"Awwn."

"Yes,

I'm serious.

So when are you going for you interview?" He asked her,

She picked her diploma and took off the red band that held it.

"By next week I guess,

I should be hearing from them by next week." She said to him and he nodded,

Left to him,

He would have wanted her to do her internship in his company,

He didn't want her to go wait for hours in waiting halls,

Waiting to be interviewed by some company directors.

But knowing she would never agree to intern in his company,

He'd come to a final conclusion,

A conclusion he'll put to action from next week,

For now, spending time with her is the most important thing for him.

When they got to Eat n' Take,

Lana went to their favorite spot, at the other side of the restaurant while Bryan and Tristan went to get their lunch.

The place had been their favorite eating spot since Lana's first year in Paxton College.

It isn't the normal restaurant where you've waiters ready to serve you or take your orders,

At Eat n' Take,

You go get your order yourself just like in high school cafeteria,

You get your meals and pay for them,

Then come back to your table to eat.

To Tristan,

It's stressing and annoying, especially when you've to wait in a queue to get your orders,

"Why waste my time in a queue when I could get some waitress to take my order and bring it back to me?" He'd asked Lana the second time he got to wait in a queue,

She'd smiled to him and said,

"That's the fun of it all."

He didn't want to be coming there but Lana loved coming there,

She wouldn't eat in any other restaurant if not Eat n' Take,

So he'd to join her there and slowly,

He had started to like the place.

They came back a few minutes later with their tray of food,

"Pasta salad and asparagus for you." Tristan said as he pushed Bryan's lunch to him,

"Tacos and your favorite apple juice for you." He kept Lana's plate and the two juice box while she grinned like a child who'd been given her favorite chocolate,

Satisfied with the smile on her face, he sat down with his plate of lunch, same with Bryan's

Pasta salad and asparagus.

Lana was about to dig into her meal when he stopped her,

"Wait!"

She stopped and looked at him,

"What's it?" She asked impatiently,

Her mouth was already watery at the sight of the food in front of her.

She's no big eater but tacos is one food she can't resist.

"I've a gift for you." He said and brought out the small box from his pocket,

"C'mon Trist,

You know you didn't have to..."

"No, I'd to.

You gave me shift on my graduation,

How can I not get you on yours?" He said to her.

"Bring you hand."

She brought her right hand forward,

He opened the box and brought out the diamond bracelet,

"Jeez!

This is too expensive Trist, "She complained seeing the bracelet, it even glitters.

"As expensive as you.."

He wanted to add my darling but chose not to,

He didn't want to be too forward.

He wore the bracelet around her wrist while she looked at it with great admiration,

"Thanks a lot Trist." She cried in uncontrollable happiness,

"You're most welcome, Lana.

Happy graduation." He said to her and Bryan squealed,

"I wish I was the one graduating instead."

"Don't worry,

Your gift awaits you." He assured him, still not taking his eyes off Lana who was still admiring her bracelet.

The joy in her face made his heart screamed in happiness,

Oh!

How much I love this lady and how far I'll go just to be with her?

The next morning,

Lana woke up to her ringing cellphone,

She kicked away the comforter and got up from the bed to take her phone from where she had left it to charge,

It was Tristan calling her.

"Hello sleepy head,

Are you still sleeping?" He asked her in a mocking laughter,

"I won't be taking your call if I was still sleeping,

All thanks to you,

You've just ruined my much needed rest." She sighed as she walked back to her bed.

"Rest you say?

Lana you aren't in college anymore and you should learn how to get up early,

It's almost eight am on a Sunday morning and you're still in bed..."

"Thank God you said Sunday morning,

It's Sunday and I'm permitted to sleep till whatever time I want to and so you know,

I'm an early riser." She said, driving that particular point to his blunt head in case he'd forgotten how she use to wake him up early whenever she's sleeping over at his place.

"Yeah I know.

Well, mom said she wants you guys to come over for lunch,

Since they didn't make it to your graduation ceremony yesterday,

She wants you guys to come over for lunch." He informed her.

"Awwn,

Aunt's such a sweetheart,

I still can't get why a loving woman like her would beget a wicked son like you, robbing people off their sleep."

"Me!

You just broke my heart Lana." He feigned a broken heart my clutching his chest with his palm, faking a painful groan.

"Oh I did,

Don't worry,

I'm gonna get it mended when I come over for lunch.

Tell aunt I won't miss her lunch for anything and you hold on to your broken heart till I get there." She said to him,

"Okay,

I'm waiting." He said and she ended the call.

Still smiling to himself,

He walked back into his room,

Brought out his laptop and went to his mails,

The door opened unexpectedly and he looked up from his laptop,

It was his mom at the door.

"I told her already and she said she's coming." He informed the woman,

"And you're thrilled about it?" She asked even when the answer was obvious to her,

"Being thrilled is an understatement mom,

I'm super happy," He got up and stood on the bed,

His face happy like he'd won't a trophy.

"I'm super excited mom,

I'm so excited I feel I'm gonna explode soon." He said to the woman and she smiled watching her son,

She too can't wait to have Lana as her daughter in-law.

She'd found out her son loves Lana when he was still in high school,

He was in his senior year then and she was four years behind him.

Countless times she'd came to make sure he was sleeping well and those several times,

She'd hear his nocturnal confessions and all revolved on one girl,

Lana Campbell.

It went on till one day, he finally confided in her and told her his true feelings for the girl,

He was in his sophomore year in Harvard Business School then,

And he'd came home for a short break.

A senior from Lana's school has asked her to be his date for his junior prom and Lana had blurted it to him out of excitement,

He had taken the news calmly but she knew he wasn't happy,

He refused dinner that night and even breakfast but lied to everyone he was fine.

Later the next day, she went to his room and he, in a fit, he confessed his feelings for Lana to her,

She asked him to tell her and even wanted to help him but he refused and made her promise she was to going to tell anyone.

Eventually,

Lana didn't go with the kid to prom again cause he got down with diarrhea the week he was to go to prom and he was hospitalized,

So promise was canceled for her and for the kid,

Poor kid.

While her son continued to hide his feelings for Lana, masking it as friendship as he's waiting for the right time,

She continued to wait with him and several years had passed since then,

She's still waiting, although it won't be for long now.

After the call with Tristan,

Lana kept her phone on the bedside drawer and went to the bathroom to wash her face and brush her teeth before going out to know what's in for her for the morning.

Coming out of her room,

It was quiet everywhere,

Apparently,Bryan was still asleep in his room.

She walked to the kitchen and made herself of cup of tea,

She's no fan of coffee,just like her mom.

Holding the cup of tea,

She sauntered back to the living room and slumped on the sofa,

Her mind traveled to the speech that was given yesterday at the graduation ceremony,

What's Next After College?

What's next for her?

She was expecting the companies she'd sent her application to would call her that week,

After which she would go for her interview and then,

She might get a pass to one of them and start her internship there.

The one company she really wants to intern in is Blue-Stone Corporation,

It's the most exclusive corporation in New York and it's owned by Gray Salvador,

She'd hear a lot about the man but has never been opportune to meet or even see him.

There,her chances of learning and earning is going to be high there,

Their modus operandi is competitive and cooperative and she heard that just six percent of internship application are considered yearly,

That was why she'd applied there immediately she heard they were open for internship and now,

She's just waiting for the reply.

"Good morning sissy." She turned and it was Bryan,

His dark brown hair tousled up as his groggy eyes scanned the whole place,

"Morning kid,

How was your night?" She emailed after taking another sip from her tea,

"Fine." He said groggily and came to the sofa beside hers,

He slumped on it,

"I'm so tired." He yawned,stretching his limb sleepily,

The sight made her chuckle.

"Aunt has invited us for lunch." She informed him and immediately,all traces of sleep in his eyes vanished,

"What?" He asked,

"Yeah,she invited us for lunch to make up for not coming to my graduation ceremony yesterday." She explained to him,

"Awwn,

That's so thoughtful of her..

When are we leaving?" He asked in excitement,

Definitely,he wouldn't want to miss her lunch for anything.

"Dunno,

I didn't even ask Tristan." She sighed and looked at him,

"Go get me my phone from my bedroom." She said to him,

He got up immediately and rushed to get the cellphone while she continued sipping her tea.

It was decided,after much persuasion that Tristan would come pick Lana and Bryan by one pm,

"Hope it isn't gonna be much trouble for you?

You've done a lot for us already and we can..."

"Lana." He called her,

"Yes Trist." She replied,

"I haven't done half of what I want to do for you,

I haven't done a quarter of it and this...

It's nothing okay.

I'll come by one,so get ready." He told her,

She exhaled and nodded,

"Okay."

"So go get ready,

You gat just five hours left and you know best not to keep mom waiting,

She'll have your head for lunch instead." He reminded her and she nodded,

"Aye,aye captain." She chuckled,

"Okay bye." She finally said,ready to hang up but Tristan wasn't saying anything.

"Trist.."

"Sorry,

Go get ready." He finally said and hung up.

She felt it was kinda weird the way they stayed silent for awhile,

Just like they were waiting for who to speak first,

But she shrugged it off and kept her cellphone,

She's known him for long and he's practically the one guy she's comfortable with.

She prepared scrambled eggs and bacon for breakfast,

Gave Bryan his share which he ate right up and came back wanting more,

"Don't tell me you've..."

"Don't blame me,

Blame my stomach and your delicious meals,

I just can't get enough of them." He smirked,

She exhaled and gave him part of hers as she knew she wasn't going to eat them all.

She took out a bowl and poured little cereal inside it,milk and two cubes of sugar,

Then she took it to the living room,together with her egg and bacon,

"You're gonna eat all that?" Bryan asked in disbelief,

It's no secret she's a small eater and would nibble on one plate of food till thy kingdom come.

"Yes,

I'm gonna eat all of it." She said and crossed her legs on the table and started picking the floating cereals on the milk bowl.

A few minutes after twelve,

She went to her room to shower and asked Bryan to go do the same.

Bringing out a summer strapless gown from the wardrobe,

Then with a matching summer sandals,

She laid them on the bed and went into the bathroom to freshly up.

Coming out later,

She applied lotion on her bare skin then dried her wet hair with the blow dry machine that used to be her mom's.

She picked up a lacy underwear which she wore then went to the bed,picked up the gown and got dressed in it.

Packing her hair in a messy ponytail which she rolled into a bun,

She applied eyeliner and mascara,followed by her favorite strawberry lipstick.

"Bryan!" She called her brother when she came out of the living room,

It's so unlike Bryan to dress up late,so she went to his door and knocked,

"I'm almost done sis." He yelled from inside,

She nodded and went to sit down.

But the doorbell didn't allow her,cause it rang right when she wanted to get seated,

She rushed to the door and opened it,

"Trist." She called in sheer excitement as she hugged him.

Tristan's heart tumbled in ecstacy as she hugged him,

Never had her felt so nervous before and not especially for a girl,

But having Lana hug him,

He felt so many emotions in one and didn't want her to let go.

"You came early." She said when she finally pulled away,

"Yeah,

You know mom hates it when we come late for lunch,

She acts like a woman whose child has just rejected her food." He mocked and she slapped his arms playfully,

"Not funny,

She just loves it when you're on time that all." She said in defense of the woman.

Brian joined them later and they headed to the car while he locked the door,

With Lana in the front passenger seat beside him and Bryan at the back,

They started the drive to his house.

The Martinez lives in Lockwood Estate,Manhattan

About fifteen to twenty minutes drive from Shore Park where Lana lives.

The family had bought the multi millionaire mansion from the real owner a few months after Tristan turned ten,

They'd it renovated to their taste and had lived there since then.

The house,a large white modern house,situated on the two acres of land and twenty thousand square feet,spread on most landscape of the estate,

The house is one of the most expensive in the estate.

Tristan's car drove the driveway and he stopped the car,

Threw the key to his valet and opened the door for Lana while Bryan helped himself out,

"Still as magnificent as ever." Lana exclaimed as they walked towards the main entrance,

"Yeah,mom would be thrilled to have you over." Tristan said as he gave her soft palm a light squeeze.

Mrs Angela Martinez was waiting for them in the living room and seeing them come in,

She got up and walked to them,beaming with smile as she hugged Lana.

"Good afternoon aunt." Lana greeted the woman as she pecked her,

"Afternoon dearie,

I heard about your graduation,

Sorry Tony and I couldn't make it.

Congrats." She said,giving her another peck on the other cheek while Tristan and Bryan continue to laugh at them.

"Thanks aunt." She said to the woman,throwing a death glare at her best friend and her brother,

I'll kill you both!

Her eyes spelled out as she stared at them and prayed the woman releases her.

The woman eventually did and she walked to Bryan,

"Good afternoon aunt." He greeted too and like he expected,she enveloped him in a big hug,

"My baby boy." She said hugging him,

"You've grown so big," She said then looked at Lana,

"What're you feeding him?"

Still looking at her,waiting for a reply,

Lana shrugged,

"Everything edible."

Everyone laughed at her words while the woman slowly detached from the boy.

"Not funny." Bryan whined,

The woman took his hand and her and led them further into the house,

"Don't mind her,

She's jealous because she's as skinny as a rail,

Wonder if she does at at all." She said.

Bryan stuck his tongue at Lana from the woman's blind spot and she stuck her back as they walked towards the dining hall,

While Tristan just followed behind them,

Watching in love and admiration for Lana as she continued to stick her tongue at Bryan.