Tom woke up on the morning of Christmas Eve, feeling groggy from a night of restless sleep. He wasn't a fan of the holiday, but he had been looking forward to it nonetheless, as it would be his first Christmas since he arrived in the bustling city and menacing world.
He made his way to the kitchen and brewed himself a cup of coffee, inhaling the rich aroma as he took a sip. Looking out of the window, he saw the streets were already bustling with people, hurrying to finish their last-minute shopping before the stores closed early for the holiday.
Tom sighed and rubbed his eyes, still feeling exhausted. He had been invited to a Christmas party on campus that was taking place later that evening. He wouldn't have attended the party if he hadn't been invited in an awkward way. Despite this, he decided to go and give it a chance.
As he finished his coffee, he couldn't help but think about his dad and his friends in his previous world. He missed them dearly and wished he could be with them for the holiday. But he knew there's no way in the fucking world he would get that chance, the possibility of that happening was less than one percent from his perspective.
He grabbed his coat and headed out into the chilly morning air, the snow crunching under his boots as he walked. Despite his lack of enthusiasm for the holiday, he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement in the air. There was something magical about Christmas, even if he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
As he made his way through the crowded streets, Tom couldn't help but notice the smiles on people's faces, the laughter and chatter that filled the air. It was infectious, and before he knew it, he almost found himself smiling too.
'It wouldn't hurt to relax my mind and just enjoy my second opportunity at life, even though it was in a world as messed up as this one.' Those were the words that came to his mind as he tried to accept the Christmas spirit.
Tom stood at the entrance of the house, clutching a pack of beer in his hand. He had been invited to their Christmas Eve party, but he wasn't particularly excited about it. He had never been a fan of the holiday season, and he didn't know many of the people who would be attending the party. He took a deep breath and pushed open the door, stepping inside.
The house was decorated from top to bottom in garlands and twinkling lights, with a large Christmas tree taking center stage in the living room. Tom scanned the room, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the sea of faces. He spotted his so-called friend, Andy, across the room, and made his way over to him.
"Hey man, thanks for coming!" Andy said, clapping him on the back as he took the pack of beer and gave it to someone by his side. "You recognize everyone, right?" He asked, hoping even if Tom did not have his memories he must have seen a few of them around campus.
Tom shook his head. "Not really, no."
"That's okay, you'll get to know them," Andy replied, passing him a drink. "Just relax and have a good time."
…
Turns out Andy was a close friend to Tom before the accident which was assumed to have caused him to suffer from amnesia. The first day Tom resumed for the semester, he saw him on campus and walked up to him to know how he was doing and if he remembered him.
Sadly for him, Tom walked past him without giving him a second glance as he headed straight for class. That moment made it clear that he had lost a friend and could only hope Tom regained his memory soon. He contemplated walking straight up to Tom and starting their friendship all over, but he was scared of how awkward the situation might be and Tom's personality seemed to have changed too, like he was a completely different person.
Few days before Christmas, he was shopping for his Christmas Eve party and bumped into Tom who seemed like he was observing everyone at the mall. He steeled his resolve and took the brave initiative to approach Tom.
"Hey." He said out loud, as he walked over to Tom with a smile on his face and with a waving hand.
Tom turned over to him and just responded with a wave. He had seen Andy around campus but never had a conversation with him, or even exchanged pleasantries.
"Hi Tom." He paused for a second before he continued, breaking the awkward silence. "You probably don't remember me because of your amnesia, but we were friends for many years before you had your accident."
"Oh, I'm sorry but I don't remember. I've seen you a few times around campus though." Tom said, trying to ease the stilted atmosphere.
"I should be the one apologizing." Scratching the back of his head, he let out a nervous laugh. "Anyway, I am having a party on Christmas Eve at campus and I'd like you to come. "Maybe being at a night party would help jolt back your memory."
"I wouldn't mind coming, but the part about me recovering a memory is at an extremely low probability range." He replied to Andy with a friendly smile as accepted the invitation.
"Nice. Give me your number and I'll send you my address." He reached for his phone in his pocket, and stretched it over to Tom who took it and input his cell phone number.
"Okay man, I'd be expecting you." With an ideal grin on his face, he said his goodbye before getting back to the reason he was at the mall.
…
That was how they got acquainted with each other and how Tom got invited to the party.
Tom nodded along, taking a sip of his drink. He hasn't been to a party in what seemed like forever. Unlike his previous life where he went to a lot of night parties with his friends on campus.
As the night went on, people began to break off into groups, sharing stories and laughing together. Tom felt like he was on the outside looking in. He leaned against the wall, taking another sip of his drink.
Suddenly, Andy appeared at his side. "Hey, come on man, let's join the group," he said, gesturing towards a group of people gathered around the fireplace.
Tom took a quick look at the group who were sitting around the fireplace. "I'm all good man." He replied to Andy as he tried to wave off his offer.
"Oh, I hope you change your mind bro. And when you do, please do not hesitate to join us." With that, Andy walked over to join the group who seemed to be having fun near the fireplace.
'Like hell I would.' Tom thought to himself, knowing there's no way he would want to hang out with a bunch of drunk groupies, who clearly do not respect boundaries.
He sat alone at the bar, nursing a beer and watching the crowd. He didn't know why he had come to the party when he knew he couldn't socialize, but he needed to get out of the house. He had always been a bit of a loner since he left the hospital, and socializing wasn't his strongest suit.
As he sipped his drink, Tom's thoughts were interrupted by a tap on his shoulder. He turned to see his friend Olivia standing beside him, looking expectant. Tom had been avoiding her for the past few weeks, ever since their argument over a minor issue, but he couldn't deny her friendly demeanor.
"Hey Tom, I've been looking all over for you!" Olivia exclaimed, sliding onto the barstool next to him.
Tom forced a smile and replied, "Hey Olivia, what's up?"
Olivia ordered herself a drink, then turned to Tom and asked, "Why are you sitting all alone at the bar? This is supposed to be a fun night!"
Tom shrugged and looked around the crowded room. "I'm just not feeling it tonight. The crowd seems too loud, and I can't seem to connect with anyone, not like I made an effort to."
Olivia nodded in understanding. "I know how you feel, but you can't just give up like this. You need to loosen up a little and enjoy yourself."
Tom sighed and took another sip of his drink. "I know, but it's easier said than done. It's just been a long week, and I'm not in the mood for this kind of party."
Olivia leaned closer and said, "Well, you don't have to be the life of the party. You can just chill with me and have a few drinks."
Tom considered her offer and nodded. "That was my original plan, except it was with just my drink and I."
Over the course of the night, Tom and Olivia drank and chatted at the bar. Tom still seemed a bit cranky and withdrawn, but Olivia kept him engaged and entertained with her stories and jokes. Slowly but surely, Tom began to relax and enjoy himself, thanks to Olivia's persistence.
As the night wore on, the party began to wind down, and Tom and Olivia found themselves as the only ones left at the bar. Tom turned to Olivia and said, "Thanks for hanging out with me tonight. I needed to loosen up a little."
Olivia smiled and replied, "Anytime, Tom. That's what friends are for."
I groaned as my phone rang, piercing the quiet of my bedroom. I fumbled around my bedside table, trying to find the device and shut it off before it woke me up entirely. I squinted at the screen, trying to make out the caller ID in the dim light of the early morning.
"Hello?" I croaked, my voice hoarse from too much partying the night before.
"Tom, dear? It's your grandparents," came the cheerful voice on the other end of the line. I blinked wearily at the clock on my nightstand - 8 am on Christmas morning.
"Hey, guys," I said, my tone indicating my exhaustion. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas, Tom," my grandmother replied. "We just wanted to ask you if you wanted us to book you a flight ticket to come and see us. We miss you, and we'd love for you to spend the holidays with us."
My heart sank. I had completely forgotten that my grandparents had even offered to buy me tickets. I had been so wrapped up in my own activities that I hadn't even thought about Christmas plans.
"Uh, no thanks," I said, my voice trailing off with uncertainty. "That's really nice of you guys."
"We know you're busy, dear," my grandfather chimed in. "But we miss you terribly. It's been months since we last saw you, and it might be hard on you to spend the holiday alone."
I rubbed my eyes, feeling the weight of exhaustion settling in. "I'll see what I can do," I muttered.
"That's all we can ask for," my grandmother said warmly. "We'll be waiting for you, Tom. Merry Christmas."
I hung up the phone and flopped back onto my pillow. I felt torn - on the one hand, I knew I should go and see my grandparents. They were getting older, and I didn't know how much time we had left together. On the other hand, I was so tired and the idea of flying across the country felt daunting.
I closed my eyes and tried to clear my head. Maybe a change of scenery would do me good. I sat up and reached for my laptop, starting to search for flights. Maybe I could make it work, after all. *sigh*
I tossed and turned in bed, unable to shake the thoughts of my grandparents and the flight tickets they had sent me. After a few minutes of restlessness, I gave up trying to fall back asleep and got out of bed.
I stretched my arms and legs, feeling the soreness from the previous night's party slowly fade away. As I made my way to the kitchen, my thoughts were consumed with the idea of going to see my grandparents. Maybe explore Star City a little.
I grabbed a cup of coffee and sat down at my computer, starting to search for flights to Star City, where my grandparents lived. I scrolled through the options, trying to find the best deal and schedule that would work for me.
After a few minutes, I found a flight that left later that day and arrived in Star City just in time for dinner. Money wasn't an issue, so I booked the option that'll provide the best comfort.
I quickly booked the ticket and started to prepare for my trip. I packed a bag with some clothes, toiletries, and decided to just get a few gifts for my grandparents at the airport. I also made sure to download some movies and TV shows on my tablet to keep me occupied during the flight.
As I finished up my preparations, I couldn't help but feel like the holiday was about to become a bit exciting for me. Maybe because I wouldn't mind exploring the night life of Star City, the party from the night before had reminded me of my playboy days and it wouldn't hurt to have some fun.
I grabbed my bag and headed out the door, ready to start my journey to Star City. I felt a mix of excitement and anticipation as I made my way to the airport, but I had a feeling that this trip was exactly what I needed right now.
I stepped off the plane and breathed in the crisp, cool air of Star City. It felt good to be out of the stuffy airplane and in a new city. I made my way to baggage claim, my heart racing with excitement as I had no idea what the future had installed for me during my few days in the city.
As I grabbed my suitcase from the carousel, I looked around for my grandparents. I spotted them standing off to the side, waving excitedly at me. I felt a warm smile spread across my face as I made my way over to them. I had missed that feeling of family love.
"Tom, dear!" My grandmother exclaimed, wrapping me in a warm hug. "It's so good to see you."
"It's good to see you too, Grandma," I replied.
My grandfather hugged me next, patting me on the back. "Good to have you here, Tom. We've missed you."
"I've missed you guys too," I said, feeling a wave of overwhelming emotions from the love they showed me. Which felt a bit embarrassing because I wasn't used to that.
We made our way to the car, chatting excitedly about my flight and the holiday season. I couldn't tell them about the activities I've been up to lately, so I mainly talked about school and my time at the gym. What was I going to tell them? That I was a criminal mastermind who oversaw multiple crimes and heists? Absolutely not… They advised me to socialize and make friends, encouraging me to have some fun every once in a while like a normal teenager.
We arrived at my grandparents' house, and I was immediately struck by the cozy and welcoming atmosphere. The house was decorated with Christmas lights and ornaments, and the smell of holiday baking filled the air.
I stepped through the front door of my grandparent's house, my suitcase in hand, and was immediately met with the warm and smiling faces of my relatives. My aunts, uncles, and cousins all greeted me with hugs and kisses, welcoming me back to their home with open arms.
I recognized a few from my parents' funeral, while some faces weren't familiar to me.
At first, I felt a sense of comfort and belonging wash over me. It was nice to be surrounded by family who loved and cared for me. But as I looked around at their smiling faces, my expression began to change into a fake smile.
It reminded me of my previous life, where I had been betrayed by my own family. My father's younger brother had showered me with love and affection, treating me as if I was his own son. But it had all been a facade. He had been manipulating me, trying to use me to gain control over my father's business. My death back then was due to his unprecedented betrayal.
As I looked at my relatives now, I couldn't help but wonder if their love was genuine or if they too had ulterior motives. I felt a sense of distrust and suspicion creeping in, despite their warm welcome.
I tried to push these thoughts to the back of my mind and focus on enjoying my time with my family. We all gathered around the dining table for a delicious home-cooked meal and caught up on each other's lives.
But as the night wore on, I found myself feeling increasingly uncomfortable. I excused myself to my room early, unable to shake the feeling of unease that lingered within me.
As I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, I couldn't help but wonder if I would ever be able to trust my family again. The pain and betrayal from my past life still weighed heavy on my heart, and I didn't know if I would ever be able to fully let it go.
I woke up to the sound of laughter and chatter drifting in from the living room. It was Boxing Day, and my family was already up and about, enjoying each other's company.
As I got out of bed and got dressed, I couldn't help but feel a sense of discomfort. Despite the warmth and love that surrounded me, I still found it hard to fully trust my relatives. The memories of my previous life were still fresh in my mind, and I couldn't shake off the feeling of suspicion that lingered within me.
But I tried to put those thoughts aside as I joined my family in the living room. We spent the day catching up, playing games, and enjoying each other's company. Despite my initial hesitations, I found myself gradually relaxing and enjoying the day with them.
Please kindly visit my to read 10 chapters ahead./Maverick_DaSupreme