Bab 11: THOMAS 1
Thomas used to lead a simple and carefree life. He was born into wealth and surrounded by the love of his parents and friends, experiencing a genuine sense of happiness. However, his tranquil existence took an unexpected turn the day he was introduced to Dylan Morgan.
Thomas vividly recalled his mother's words during that peculiar introduction. "Darling, make sure you become good friends with that boy. Mummy and daddy need you to," his mother had insisted.
While Thomas was already acquainted with Dylan, the "crown prince" of their social circle, he couldn't shake off the feeling that this new connection would alter his life in unforeseen ways.
Dylan, always surrounded by people vying for his attention, had a reputation for being the enigmatic figurehead of their group. Thomas, observing from a distance, noted that Dylan never seemed to care about his friends, acting solely based on his mood. If Dylan felt good, he treated people with kindness; if not, chaos ensued. However, Thomas soon realized that his initial understanding of Dylan was woefully inadequate. Dylan was not just indifferent – he was worse.
It took young Thomas three weeks for nine-year-old Dylan to remember his name, another month to infiltrate Dylan's inner circle of "friends," and a considerable three years for Dylan to genuinely consider him a friend. This gradual process exposed Thomas to the complexities and unpredictabilities that came with being associated with Dylan Morgan.
Becoming Dylan's first genuine friend significantly altered Thomas's life for the better. He found himself enjoying exclusive privileges, frequenting high-end establishments, receiving top-notch treatments, and basking in the preferential treatment bestowed upon Dylan and him. The duo became magnets for attention, especially from the opposite sex, as girls would flock to them.
Despite these material benefits, Thomas had to navigate the challenges of tolerating Dylan's erratic behavior and attitude. At that time, Thomas believed that dealing with Dylan's occasional tantrums was a small price to pay for the extravagant lifestyle they led. Dylan, in his own way, expressed his appreciation through lavish gifts like cars and houses, which Thomas reluctantly accepted.
However, at the age of seventeen, Thomas experienced a new facet of life – love. Jessica, a girl he found to be the embodiment of sweetness, kindness, and cuteness, captured his heart. They were deeply in love, and Thomas felt compelled to introduce Jessica to his closest friend, Dylan. Little did he know that this would mark a turning point in their friendship.
Upon laying eyes on Jessica, Dylan delivered a directive that shook Thomas to the core. "Break up with her," Dylan instructed. Thomas, deeply in love and unwilling to heed Dylan's advice, refused. Undeterred, Dylan insisted, "Trust me, she's not worth it."
Thomas, despite Dylan's earlier claims and warnings, stood firm in his love for Jessica. He continued to bring her into his life, introducing her to friends, family, and even his parents, who seemed to approve of their relationship. Life was flourishing for Thomas until the fateful day he received a text from Dylan, summoning him to his villa.
Upon arriving, Thomas bypassed formalities and headed straight to Dylan's bedroom, only to be confronted with a scene that shattered his heart. Dylan lay in bed with Jessica, the girl he loved. Betrayal and anger surged through Thomas.
"You're finally here," Dylan remarked casually, shaking Jessica awake as if orchestrating a twisted rendezvous.
As Jessica stirred, she snuggled into Dylan's arms, her actions further deepening the wounds of betrayal. She met Thomas's gaze with a soft smile, her words delivering the final blow.
"Sorry, Tommy. I love Dylan," she confessed.
Dylan, observing Thomas's shock and betrayal, regarded him with a look that seemed to say he had proven a point. The foundations of trust and friendship between Thomas and Dylan were irrevocably shaken.
Thomas, consumed by grief and anger, stormed out of Dylan's villa and sped back home. He locked himself in his room, unleashing the torrent of emotions that had been building up. For the first time in his life, he broke down, crying and screaming. His parents, concerned for their son, pounded on his door, begging him to open up and share his pain. However, Thomas remained inconsolable, drowning in the depths of betrayal and heartache.
For five days, Thomas secluded himself in his room, enveloped in the darkness of his emotions. Then, an unexpected visitor disrupted his solitude. A knock echoed through his room, and Dylan's voice pierced the silence.
"Stop acting like a girl and open the fucking door," Dylan demanded. Thomas, filled with rage, swung the door open and delivered a punch to Dylan's face. In retaliation, Dylan lashed out, further intensifying the confrontation.
"You should be thanking me," Dylan insisted, a statement that baffled Thomas. How could Dylan expect gratitude after betraying him with Jessica? Thomas wanted to laugh at the audacity of the claim.
"I told you she wasn't worth it, didn't I?" Dylan continued, his anger palpable. Thomas, weakened by the emotional turmoil, considered striking Dylan again, but he lacked the strength. Dylan, however, was relentless in justifying his actions.
"She was never interested in you. She was only using you to get to me," Dylan asserted with a sinister confidence. The revelation added another layer of pain to Thomas's already shattered heart.
Dylan's revelation struck Thomas like a series of blows. Jessica's betrayal cut deeper than he could have imagined. As Dylan callously exposed the manipulative scheme, Thomas felt an overwhelming mix of pain, anger, and humiliation. The tears rolling down his face mirrored the collapse of the world he thought he knew.
Amidst the emotional turmoil, Thomas found an unexpected response to Dylan's claims: laughter. It bubbled out of him, a bitter and ironic release of the suffering he couldn't articulate.
"You have nothing. Your parents don't love you, your friends hate you. You're all alone," Thomas retorted, his voice carrying the weight of his broken spirit. Dylan, seemingly unfazed, dismissed Thomas's outburst as pathetic.
However, Thomas wasn't prepared for the revelation that followed. Dylan's response went beyond the bounds of normalcy.
"That's the best you've got? You've been with me for all this time and that's all you've got? Pathetic," Dylan taunted.
At that moment, Thomas realized he wasn't dealing with a normal friend; Dylan's sanity was questionable.
"You're fucking crazy. Get out!" Thomas yelled repeatedly until Dylan finally left. The truth or falsehood of Dylan's words became secondary to the overwhelming sense of betrayal. Thomas curled up on his bed, weeping once again, as he grappled with the ruins of a friendship he once cherished.
A week later, Dylan's mother visited Thomas. "I want you to continue being my son's friend," she urged.
Thomas stared at her, trying to comprehend the strange nature of the Morgans, particularly Dylan's ageless mother, who appeared more like a woman in her late twenties than the mother of a seventeen-year-old.
The unexpected visit from Dylan's mom left Thomas grappling with conflicting emotions. As she presented a business proposition tied to continued friendship with Dylan, Thomas questioned the sanity of aligning with a family that seemed to harbor more secrets than stability. "Why? You know what he did," Thomas confronted her.
In response, Dylan's mom, with a smile that carried both mystery and calculation, revealed her willingness to cooperate with Thomas's family company.
"I don't know much about love, but I know about business and money," she admitted, leaving Thomas to ponder the peculiar bargain that had unfolded. The promise to support Thomas's family company hinged on his continued friendship with Dylan, a condition that added a layer of complexity to their already tumultuous relationship.
The next day, Thomas mustered the courage to face Dylan. The wounds from Jessica's betrayal were still fresh, and Dylan's apology sounded hollow against the backdrop of his mother's unsettling proposal.
"About Jessica, I'm sorry, dude. I realized I messed up. I shouldn't have done that; I should have told you. Sorry, man," Dylan confessed.
Thomas, uncertain of Dylan's sincerity, adorned a façade of acceptance. "Don't worry about it. You were right; she wasn't worth it," Thomas responded, masking his inner turmoil beneath a counterfeit smile. The fragile dynamics of their friendship seemed to hang in the balance, precariously tethered to secrets and promises that Thomas was only beginning to comprehend.
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