Prologue: Dylan

Introduction: Twist of Fate

DYLAN

The moment I drove off the hospital is also the moment the rain started pouring. It was raining so hard that there was almost zero visibility out there. "Damn it." I cursed.

I remembered the woman crying in the backseat, she was sobbing and curling herself up and I couldn't help but feel sympathy for her. Her loud sobs were an indication of something tragic, and the fact that she was going to the hospital meant something really bad happened. I clutched the steering wheel as I remembered my stomach churning out of pity when I saw her trembling. 

She was a mess.

I am kind of guilty for not consoling her, but I don't think she needs my consolation, and besides, I also have some consolation to make for myself.

I parked the taxi in the parking space of our manor. I glanced at the backseat and I facepalmed when I saw the woman's phone resting on one corner. "Oh, right." I mumbled frustrated. I reached for it, and put it in my pocket. I'll bring it back to her.

I saw my chauffeur slash the real owner of this taxi looking pale and depressed; once he saw his car, his face brightened up, he quickly went to me. I opened the door and smiled weakly at him. "Young master, your father is furious."

I bobbed my head in surprise and tapped his shoulder. He was holding an umbrella for me so I pushed his hand away and went out. I started to get wet because of the rain. "Young master, you're dripping wet because of the rain please take this umbrella—"

"Edgar, you probably need it more than I do. If I get soaked, I'll be fine, if you get soaked, you'll have a fever and eventually die. You're old." I joked and patted his shoulder. "Anyway, what a warm welcome." I winked at him and he chuckled. "Got yah!" I punched him jokingly and started to run inside the house.

"Young master!"

I wasn’t running that fast to not notice different luxurious cars of my brothers parked on the lot, too. I closed my eyes tightly and breathed hard.

"Damn it."

I was about to ring the bell on the entrance when it suddenly flung open before me and swiftly, a clenched fist met my face and I was dizzy on the ground.

"Shit!" I cursed, I immediately felt my head throbbing because of the punch.

"You still got the nerve to step on my house!?" My father's voice boomed under the pouring rain. "The admission was so easy and yet you failed!" he roared.

I was out in the rain and he was standing inside the house, near the door. Well, I am safe here, there's no way he was going to get out and beat me. That's so not him.

I tried standing up, immediately Edgar held my hand and helped me. "Edgar, please." I said and he immediately let me go, causing me to fall back down again. "Damn it, Edgar!"

"I'm sorry young master—I thought you wanted me to let go—"

I signed him to hush and so he did. I looked at my father and he was standing so tall, his whole figure showed up when lightning suddenly flashed from the sky and the sound of thunder came along with it.

"Father—"

"Do not call me father, you're an idiot!" He bellowed.

I was taken aback at his statement. I held my chest dramatically and signaled him to stop. "Take it easy, old man!" I muttered incredulously. "You're hurting my feelings—"

"You're a shame to this family, Dylan!" he said. And so, I zipped my mouth. Well, being called an idiot is bearable but being called a shame is another thing.

I faked a laugh and shook my head. "Okay." I bluntly retorted.

"You disgust me. It's a disgrace to be called your father," he stated. I frowned and combed my fingers through my hair. "You keep playing around, Dylan, what do you want to do with your life?" he asked, as if he didn't know it yet.

As if the embarrassment from my father was not enough, from behind–my three older brothers took a step forward and eyed me with disgust.

"Useless." Gerald mumbled while he was holding a glass of white wine in his hand. I furrowed my eyebrows at him.

"Pathetic." Geronimo muttered.

"Oh, give him a chance." Geoffrey said while looking at his other twins as if they were stupid. He looked back at me and winked. I made a face but still mouthed my gratitude.

"You had Trina's beautiful face, and you also inherited her stupidity." My father started, I gasped when I heard his awful statement. "If I only knew a son from her would be this dumb then maybe I shouldn't have sex with her—"

"Father." Geoffrey warned while his gaze was still on me. "You didn't have to say that," he added.

Gerald let out an insulting laugh. "You keep on defending this useless thing, Geoff," he stated, "He's not worth it. When do you plan to work your life out, Dylan? Do you want to be a burden for your whole useless existence?"

"We have to give him a chance—"

"We've done that for ages—but all he wants to do is to fool around." Geronimo butted in.

"He was not fooling around, have you seen the films he directed? His cinematography, his photography—"

"Worthless piece of crap." My father's voice echoed. "He is investing himself with these worthless hobbies of his—"

"They are not worthless." I couldn't help myself.

"Shut up!" my father commanded. "You do not impress me!" he said. "Have you seen what our forefathers invested in? They've invested in Science and Technology—advancements, internet connections, and your brothers have invented a way to bring perpetual motion into life and you are fooling around with your camera?!"

Then suddenly, the rain started to fall harder this time. I sighed and shook my head. "Maybe it's just not for me—"

"No, it's either you're dumb or this family is not for you."

My breathing went rigid. "I'm sorry."

"That is not enough."

"I've tried father, I went to review centers for the exam..."

"Then you haven't tried enough."

"Geronimo, will you please shut up?" I wasn't able to control my temper when he interrupted us again. "You are as dumb as me. If not for your other twins' success then you'll also be called a dumbass by that old man next to you." I said as a matter of fact.

His face hardened and he clenched his fist. "You're wrong," he mumbled, "but I wouldn't want to waste my time explaining to you."

"Exactly what a dumbass would say." I answered back.

"It was so easy to pass Harvard, Dylan." Gerald spoke. I did not reply, of course, they have a mind of a genius. I have a mind of an artist, and it's just totally different—and the Hearst, my family, they do not care about artists like me, they only care about Science.

"When you were young, you were so good at mixing colors." My father broke the silence. "You figured things out very quickly, you remember them and you paint them on a wet canvas. One time you drew my face so correctly it was bizarre, it sent shivers down my spine—I was thinking of the accuracy of every angle on my face, the curves, the wrinkles, the lashes and the eyes. You remembered them all with just one look," he paused and looked at me directly, out of shame; I looked away. "I thought there was a genius within you, that out of all my sons you are the most brilliant. That out of all, Miguel Delfino Hearst's offspring you'd be the most unconventional." He said. "I have hoped, Dylan, for years and years, I have hoped."

I looked down on my knees, and a painful lump started to form in my chest.

"And through all those years, you've failed me." After that he turned his back at me, then the triplets followed him leaving me feeling downhearted underneath the dark sky.

His last words hit me hard, they swallowed me whole. I looked at my side and I found Edgar looking at me with sympathy, he was still holding his umbrella. "Man, don't look at me like that." I said. "And, put down that umbrella, it's not raining." I forced a smile.

He came near me, and suddenly I was covered under his umbrella. "I don't need it, but I think you need covering, young master. You can cry, your father's gone and the heavens won't see. I got you covered." He smiled down at me.

With disbelief I looked at him, and then I wasn't able to help it, a tear escaped my eyes and underneath the dark sky, I cried silently. It didn't bother me; the heavens won't see, I am covered.

"I've tried for years, you know." I told Edgar while we were driving downtown. I needed fresh air, I needed a drive. "I can't do Mathematics, Ed—it's not for me, moreover, Science."

"Well, your father might have believed in you so much."

"No, Ed—he did not."

"Then why is he so disappointed?"

"Because—" I thought for a while.

"Because he believed in you." He said and I held the steering wheel tightly.

I shrugged my shoulders. "I didn't feel it."

After that we drove in silence, I turned the radio on as we passed by the city lights. I was lost in the scenery, I suddenly felt I was inside a film or something. I matched the car speed to the tune of the song and it felt surreal. The city lights were not just lighting anymore, they suddenly felt like stars on land. The building's silhouettes suddenly became the dark night sky and the lights from their windows suddenly were twinkling.

"Isn't that beautiful?" I asked when I saw a broken stoplight, the red light was blinking and the green and yellow once didn't seem to work. I thought it was aesthetically pleasing, under the gloom of the night, along the empty streets and silently passing cars. The slow blinking of that stop light seemed to harmonize with the quietness of the evening.

I looked at Edgar and he was frowning at the stop light. "Pretty much could cause traffic, goodness, that should be fixed," he said and I rolled my eyes at him.

They just don't get me.

I drove off to my girlfriend's apartment. I halted and looked at Edgar. "Here I am, Ed. I don't want to stay at my flat—I feel lonely." I said.

He looked at me and nodded his head. "Alright, young master. Just call me if you need anything." He reminded me and I smiled at him.

"Thank you, Ed."

I slid off his car and he shifted from the passengers to the driver's seat. "G'night, man!"

He started the car and drove off.

I started taking the stairs to Maddie's apartment and as I got closer, I heard soft moans from inside. I was suddenly taken aback.

"Oh, Jackson—so good." That was Maddie's voice.

"Mads..." Jackson, moaned.

"This is my reward, you passed Harvard." -Maddie.

I caught my breath.

"Why? Your man didn't?"

"He's too busy working on his paintings, films and some crap..." she suddenly panted. "Oh!"

"Man, tell him he's going nowhere—"

I closed my eyes and clenched my fist. God damn it. I was planning on confronting them, on punching Jackson's face and shouting at Maddie, but that is just not convenient. Besides, they were right. I shouldn't let my anger overpower me. I am better than this.

I quickly yet quietly launched off the stairs. I almost slipped when I reached the last step but I was too serious to flop. "Shit." I breathed.

The wet road patterned with my steps; my heart was feeling so heavy. "So many things could happen in a moment." I mumbled.

I was about to go inside an old pub by the street but I was rattled when I felt a vibration inside my pocket. "Holy shit!" I exclaimed in surprise.

I quickly fetch the phone. I bobbed my head backwards as I realized that it was the lady passenger's phone and not mine! "Goodness!" I muffled out of annoyance.

Jenny calling

I breathed hard and answered the call. "Hello?" I said.

"Hello? Hello? Who are you, where is Candice?" A hysterical cry from the other line greeted me.

"Well, hello—"

"Oh god, a man! Are you her lover?"

"What? No!" I denied.

"Then where is she!?" she exclaimed.

"I don't know, I mean I do but—"

"What did you do to her!?"

"Calm down!" I hysterically said. "She's in Sta. Maria Medical City—"

"What happened?!"

"I do not know!" I retorted.

"Oh goodness." She breathed. "Why do you have her phone?"

"She got in my taxi; I drove her off!"

"Oh, please could you fetch me—take me where she is?"

"I don't have my taxi—but you could go there, tell the driver you're off to Sta. Maria Med City, they know it."

"Alright, okay—"

"I'll meet you there, I have to take her phone back, she forgot it." I said.

"Alright, oh goodness, thank you." She said and hung up.

I sighed and looked up at the bright sign of the pub. "Well, change of plans." I muttered.

I am momentarily looking at Candice's phone on the way to the hospital. It needs a password but the screen was her (I recognized), a man and a woman, which I presume to be her parents. She was wearing a toga and she got medals of all sizes worn on her neck, some sashes, a bunch of trophies and certificates. As if the medals were too much for her, her parents had to wear the other medals and they had to hold other trophies for her. They were smiling widely, Candice's eyes almost seemed like nothing but a curvy line. She has slanted eyes which I think she got from her mother and a hint of an American feature, which I think she inherited from her father.

I remembered her sobbing about her parents from the backseat and I felt fear for her—imagining what could've happened.

"Here we are sir," the taxi halted. "That's about 5 bucks."

My eyes widened at the driver. "5 bucks? Man, you should calm the freak down!" I exclaimed.

He frowned at me, "Hey buddy, it's almost 12 in the evening—I should've been sleeping soundly with my family, you owe me," he added. I grimaced and half heartedly handed him 5 bucks.

"Hope it'll make you rich!" I spat as I closed the door. "Right, I've spent 5 bucks just by bringing this phone to its owner—and I didn't even let her pay, yes good day."

'And probably by tomorrow all my accounts will be frozen, with dad being my dad.'

I went in and the media was still piled up at the entrance. I quietly entered and proceeded to the information desk; in there I found a ginger-head girl making crazy gestures with her hand.

"Larsen? Candice? Slanted eyes, Korean yet American?" she hysterically expressed.

The nurse looked at her, confused. "I am not sure ma'am what's the case with your friend?"

"I do not know, someone said she was here—"

I butted in. "Ms. Candice, I am not sure if her parents met with an accident—that's what I heard."

They both looked at me. I faced the ginger-head girl and nodded. "I believe you are Jenny; I am the taxi driver." Then I showed Jenny's phone.

"Sure, you're not." The nurse said to me, I looked at her surprised.

"More of an action star—"

I nodded awkwardly at her statements. "You're really going to say that after I've just said that—" I glanced at Jenny, "Our friend's parents met an accident? How professional of you." I said sarcastically.

"Oh, sir I'm sorry."

"Where is she?"

"The ICU sir," she pointed to the hall, "It's not going well for her parents."

Before I could even say a word, Jenny rushed into that hall and so I followed her. "T-thanks!" I said to the nurse. She followed me but all I could do was track down Jenny.

"Candice!" I heard her exclaim. "Oh goodness!" and then her voice broke and she started crying. I slowed down while I was looking at them.

Candice Larsen looked more Asian in person, or maybe it was because of her swollen eyes and her unstoppable cry. Jenny hugged her then they both cried in each other's arms. I was slowly breathing as I looked at them. Eventually, the accident didn't end well. I found a seat and rested there quietly as I listened to their sobs in the hallway. I felt a pang of pity in my heart as I looked at Candice curled up in Jenny's arms, her hair was a mess and she was wearing pajamas and a wrong pair of slippers.

It took a while before the both of them calmed down, Jenny was sitting quietly beside Candice while she was rubbing her back. In this manner, I decided to interrupt.

"Hey," I called out. Candice seemed oblivious of her surroundings, however, Jenny looked at me and smiled weakly. "I am sorry." I voiced out.

Jenny nodded; I was just dumbly standing there looking at both of them. I was about to say something when two police officers appeared and asked if they could invite Candice in.

"Do I really need to?" her voice was almost fading out. The police officer pursed his lips and apologetically looked at Candice.

"Yes, Ms. Larsen, they've taken them to the morgue."

I heard Candice's muffled cries as the officer guided him to God knows where.

"Can I come?" Jenny asked, standing up.

"I'm sorry, Ma'am, just the closest relative for now," the other police officer said. Jenny nodded hesitantly.

Candice went away with the officers and from here I saw how weak she was. She was trembling, and barely could take another step.

I placed my hands in my pocket as I went to Jenny and sat beside her. "So..." I trailed off "What happened?"

Jenny looked at me and pursed her lips. "Her parents met an accident," her voice broke, "They weren't able to make it," she caught her face with her palms then she sobbed. I didn't know what to do so I just sat silently while waiting for her to stop crying. I rubbed her back if that's any consolation. She looked up at me and she spoke. "You know, she was so excited, she topped the entrance exam in Harvard." She said and I gasped. "She was really excited to tell her parents—" she wiped her tears, "But then this happened." Then she cried again.

"I'm sorry." That was everything I could say.

And in my head, I was thinking:

How can many things happen in a moment?