Jane's POV
"Welcome to our humble home, Tristan," greeted my mom who was standing by the door when we came. My dad gave her a peck on the cheek and I did as well as Tristan followed us inside the house.
"Wow! This is really amazing, Mrs. Cheng. You have a beautiful home. I especially like the rose garden outside. My mom actually grows them back in California," he said in amazement.
I took a mental note on what he said and added it to my list of things about Tristan. I will ask him about it later when we are alone in the car.
"Well, thank you, Tristan. I'm glad you appreciate them," my mom said, her eyes lighting up.
My mom usually does not show much emotions. She was very reserved and rarely speak especially when she is around men. The young Chinese men that comes to our house usually don't say anything except greet her, and Tristan was the only one that made her smile like that with a simple compliment. That made my heart happy and admire him more.
I can't wait for us to be alone.
I smiled, thinking about it.
"How do you like Chinese food, Tristan?" my mom asked as she lead us to the dining table. Our dining table was long with about twelve seats which was only used for formal dining. In our house, there is no such thing as informal dining at all. We were always dressed up to eat. We are not allowed to talk unless asked to and most of the time, it was my dad who would do the talking first.
"I actually have a lot of Asian friends back in California and they always invite me for dinner. So, you don't need to worry about me, Mrs. Cheng. I could eat anything," he said as he locked his gaze on me and I blushed. If this is his way of impressing my parents, then I am definitely impressed.
The table was set for five. We all took our seats. My dad is in the middle end, my mom on his right and me on his left. Everyone has their own places including my younger brother, Joseph, who has his place beside me. But then, I saw my dad's eyebrows furrowed as Tristan took that seat instead. I looked at him as he smiled at me.
My dad didn't say anything and just cleared his throat. Clearly he doesn't like what Tristan did as he might have felt that he didn't respect our rules in the house. But he didn't dare to be rude to Tristan as he was our guest for tonight and it was not in his nature to impose strict rules to those who don't belong in our community. Plus, he does not want anyone talking about him especially someone from inside his own company. Although, I doubt Tristan would ever do that to him.
I was fully aware of Tristan sitting beside me. He almost occupied the whole inch that we were supposed to have from each other and I can feel his hairy arm prickling on my skin as he set them on the table to lift his utensils. It sends shivers through my spine and I tried not to blush. I can feel every glance he throws my way as I tried to hide my smile while my dad continously glanced our way. I bit my lip and I heard Tristan sigh.
Later on, Joseph came in and sat directly from Tristan. Mom is sitting beside him, watching him closely.
"I saw that someone finally occupied my seat," Joseph said casually as he took his chopsticks.
I gave Joseph a warning look as Tristan smiled at him. Dad cleared his throat and we all turned our heads towards him, awaiting his first speech of the night.
"Where have you been, Joseph? You're late for dinner," Dad asked him.
"Sorry, dad. I'm just out with my friends," he answered, not meeting his eyes.
"Joseph, you know you're supposed to be back by six o' clock every night for dinner, right?" Mom reminded him, her voice is so calm like running water.
"I know, Mom. But I'm not a kid anymore. Am I not allowed to hang out a couple more minutes with my friends?"
My mom didn't answer. Dad cleared his throat again and I looked at him. Joseph turned to him as well. My dad's eyes pierced through Joseph. I knew he was trying to control his anger so not to show Tristan.
"Joseph, meet me at the library later," my dad said in a dismissive tone. I knew what that meant. Whenever my dad asks us to meet him in the library, it just means we did something wrong and we need to be punished or reprimanded. But knowing Joseph, he was not one who obeys all the rules.
Joseph is only eighteen. He hangs out with his friends who smokes and drinks. He goes home late at night even if he has a curfew. Sometimes he comes to the dining table with dirt all over his shirt and my dad was just so furious that he just sent him to his room. My mom always tries to calm my dad and sometimes talks it out with my brother. But after he was sent to his room, he would never come out or open the door unless if it was me.
"Thanks, Jiejie," he said, which means big sister. "You always look out for me."
I have always been like that, taking care of everyone. I always felt the need to make everything in balance. I have to make sure everything is in line like the balance sheets. One mistake and everything crumbles, just like my family. I never let anyone down.
I always think of what everyone else would feel. I don't want anyone to be left out or feel unloved. My brother though, is my complete opposite. He does what he wants, when he wants it. He didn't think of what my parents would think or say.
When they tried to put the burden on him to learn the business, he told them he is not interested. He said he wanted to become an artist someday and that angered my dad so much. He thinks that artists don't earn anything and that will make Joseph very poor someday. Therefore, he needs a rich young lady to marry him if that ever happens. That made Joseph even furious and rebel more to the point they cannot control him anymore. He didn't do drugs but he would sometimes stay out for longer periods of times or even days. It made my mom worry but no one can convince him to come home except me.
"How long are you going to take this, Jiejie? Aren't you getting tired of it all? Because I can't deal with it anymore. As soon as I finish high school, I'm gone," he told me once.
Will there be any time left for me to make my own choices? Will I be able to do it?
After my brother rejected the business, I was forced to learn everything. Being the eldest in the family, my dad made sure that I will have a stable life someday and that I can be a good wife to my future husband. Mom taught me how to cook and do everything inside the house. Dad then forced me to take accountancy so I can manage the budgeting and balancing the finances when time comes. They made sure I meet potential husbands who are either business graduates or a bit older than me so they can pass on the company to someone who knows how to handle it.
I wonder when will be my time. Time where I can show the world what I am really made of. That I am more than all of these. I can be someone... Other than plain Jane.
After dinner, I excused myself and went straight to my room to pack for an overnight at Elisse's. My room was on the far right side from the winding staircase. Inside were plain ivory wallpaper with nothing but my graduation picture. Sometimes I wish I have at least one stuffed animal on my bed like Trudy. Something I can hold and squeezed at night. But my dad was very strict with it. Even when we were growing up, I never owned any doll except for a small china doll my grandmother gave me when she was still alive. It was tucked away now in attic along with other antiques.
I sighed as I looked at the photo of her and me on my bedside table. They said that our ancestors are still looking out for us even when they passed on and I knew she was still here, guiding me. My grandmother was a cheerful woman, always have something for me and my brother whenever she comes by to visit. She would always bring us candies which my dad frowns at. She also brought us to carnivals and made sure that my brother and I enjoy our childhood. She had a heart attack when I was thirteen and ever since then, my life has never been the same.
I took out a small red bag from my closet and placed it on top of the bed. I turned towards the closet to get a few clothes when suddenly I heard the door opened and someone came in. My eyes grew wide as I recognized who came in. It was Tristan!
"T-Tristan! What are you doing here?" I asked him as I stood frozen. No other man had ever come to my room except for my brother and having him in my room, I knew I would totally be in trouble.
"Wow! You got a very clean room," he said ignoring my question. He started to walk around my room. It was not that big and only has a queen-sized white bed with light pink plain bedsheets and two standard pillows. There was a two-door built in closet, a white bedside table with one drawer and a small white lamp on top of it. There was also a dresser with a mirror that stood on the other side of the room and on top was nothing but my brush. I kept all my jewelries locked in the drawers in the dresser.
He walked towards me and my heart pumped so fast. Having him here just makes me very nervous, one because we're both going to be in trouble if my father sees us, and another is his ocean blue eyes just held his gaze on me. I felt like any minute he would just take a few strides and kissed me passionately. I blushed at the thought as he stopped a foot away in front of me. His gaze never falters as he towered over me.
"What do you want, Tristan? Why are you in my room?" I asked him again, trying to calm my nerves. I continued what I have been doing awhile ago so I would not have to meet his gaze again which continues to follow my every move.
"Nothing. Just want to see what your room looks like," he answered and quickly glanced at my closet. "Nice closet." He took a white dress that was hanging and eyed it. Then he looked at me, as if trying to picture how I would look on it.
"This would be the perfect dress for our first date," he said and bit his lip as he held it in front of me.
I blushed as I snatched it away from him. I put it back to the closet as I heard him laugh.
I frowned. "You need to leave Tristan before my dad comes and finds you in here."
He smiled knowingly. "I don't think so."
"What do you mean? How did you know?"
"Your dad is down there grilling your brother. I think it will take awhile."
"Okay, but still you need to leave. You're not supposed to be here," and I tried to push him away. I felt his muscular chest on my hands and I blushed. I tried to snatch away my hands but he held onto them.
"You're blushing. Do I make you blush?" he said, his voice husky, as he placed one strand of hair behind my ear. I looked at him as he stared at my lips and I held my breath. He bit his lip as he met my gaze once again.
Will it be right to kiss him here in my bedroom? What if someone walks in? I cannot risk it.
Before I said anything, he let go of me and started walking out the door. My eyes followed him, confused, as he turned to me.
"See you later, Jane," he said and opened the door. I saw him looked everywhere before proceeding downstairs. I went towards the door and looked through the stairs. I saw him stop in the middle of the stairs, winked at me and smiled. I smiled back and closed the door.
I sat on the bed and wondered, "What just happened?"
I found out that Tristan is a very reckless and adventurous guy. He looks like he loves excitement and challenge which I was not. But for awhile there, I felt something I have never thought I would feel again. The adrenaline rush. The feeling of anticipation... like in an action movie. I could feel every pulse was beating faster, trying to know what would happen next.
That excitement, which I have never felt for a long time, since my grandmother passed away, came back three times more. Just like the roller coasters in the carnivals I used to ride when I was a kid, I felt like finally my life will be filled with excitement again with Tristan in it and I smiled happily as I dialed Elisse's number.