Untitled novel, chapter one draft. Need advice for editing

Hello,

This is a draft of the first chapter of a novel I am writing. I was hoping to get some help from avid readers and writers regarding how exactly to improve it. You'll note that there isn't a hook; I'm still debating whether to use one or not. My theory is that it's sometimes better to build up to major events rather than start with something, but if this is so boring that you wouldn't dream of keeping reading, don't hesitate to tell me. Thanks!

Also, it's quite a long read, I'll add (grammatically incorrect) spacing for readability.

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"Well, Isaac, to be honest, I think you're full of ****. If someone is to be a vegetarian, you can't just eat less meat. When you say that you are against the slaughter of animals for food, doesn't it follow that you should not eat any meat at all?"

These were the words spoken on the damp New Year's Eve of 2020 by Thomas Ludwin, Wellington College dux of the previous year, famed batsman of the Victoria University cricket team, and already regarded by professors and associates alike as a top student of Law. The person that his words had just been spoken to was Isaac Robinson, an old boy of the same school, unspectacular both as a sportsman and as an academic.

"It's not - it's - the idea is that of least harm; I think we have to try our best to forgo the slaughter of animals for what really is only our appetites," answered Isaac, frustrated that he could not give true expression to his noble thoughts on the matter whenever he was faced with the other man's scornful tone.

This exchange was taking place in the corner of Ludwin's flat, one of many conversations that filled the smoky, open-plan building. At the party were some of the most well-known and highly regarded men and women of Wellington; a few had even come from elsewhere in New Zealand. Just as a flock of gulls will crowd around the bird lucky or skilful enough to have found a piece of food, so were these students drawn to the charismatic Ludwin.
"But why the exceptions? What is it about fish that makes you think you can eat them? I think you simply can't stomach a nice steak, so you blame it on your double-standard morals. Kate, what is it you're drinking? Oh, well, give me some then! Here, try this too."

Kate was Kathren Bishop, girlfriend of Ludwin and second-year medicine student at Victoria University. Her father, a much respected man who held an important position in government, also happened to be the uncle of Isaac Robinson.

"You know that I'm not a big fan of whisky, Tom," said Kathren, who had been following the conversation for some time; "I very much admire Isaac for his? belief? and you - you should leave him alone."

Ludwin half-smirked and shrugged, as if to ask, "why reproach me when this is clearly such folly?" The young man turned to the group of followers who stood idly nearby, making pleasant conversation with one another, but really standing there in the hope of being noticed by the host. Staying true to what was by now expected of him as a raging socio-alcoholic, Ludwin had already gulped down enough whisky, beer, and bourbon, to cause him to stumble as he faced his devoted friends with his brows knitted into an affected state of drunken concentration.

"Gentlemen, I trust you're all enjoying yourselves tonight? Excellent, excellent? and you all saw the news this morning?"
Just as Ludwin was poised to make an agreeable commentary on the news of the day, he was interrupted by the arrival of another guest in the lounge room. This man's entering could do nothing but distract everyone else present, as even the tallest among them barely reached the height of his shoulders. Though a giant in terms of altitude, equally remarkable was his extraordinarily skinny frame, and this only added to the man's unnatural-looking appearance. Obviously aware of disturbing every conversation in whichever room he entered, he had consciously established the habit of setting his face into a statue-like, blank expression, in an attempt to avoid the silent judgement of the eyes of others, who he also feared would look on a smile or even a limp, relaxed mouth, with nothing but disapproval. Due to his exceedingly tall stature and thin, expressionless face, this young South African was commonly regarded by all as an awkward and lanky fool.

"Johan! You made it, my friend!" shouted Ludwin, smiling; "I didn't quite get to see the cricket yesterday; tell me, what was the score?"
Johan blushed, inwardly cursing the friendly welcome, as Ludwin was oblivious to the fact that he had just exposed this shy man to the undivided attention of everyone in the room. "Not sure. I don't - I mean - I haven't - seen it either. Sorry?"

But Ludwin had already turned back to his other acquaintances, and had begun to animatedly describe to them the previous day's victory of the Black Caps over the South African cricket team.

Thomas Ludwin was a handsome man, with flaxen hair that complimented his youthful, evenly-featured face. He was of medium height and stature, and his proportional limbs looked strong, despite still being covered with the radiant skin of childhood. His teeth were straight and white, and glowed almost unnaturally, as if somehow artificial. Ludwin's eyes shone with the joy of life, and everything about him gave the impression that he was (slightly conceitedly) good-natured; that he had no bad memories from the past, and was excited about what might lie in the future. This was what Johan thought as he analysed Ludwin from the safety of a low chair in the opposite corner of the room.

"What is it in this man's nature, which makes him so different to me? We are both the same age, and he is the youngest in his family too. It was certainly upbringing . . . spoiled! I struggled; it was all I knew for years. But he! No, would an easy life give a man confidence . . . why? He is confident, but stupid perhaps. Does he care about important things, or is popularity synonymous with . . . being superficial, having an empty mind? There is nothing he thinks of that could worry him, and I think - remember, and worry. But how I want to be someone! He doesn't think, but he succeeds . . . or does he think, perhaps? I should very much like to find out. Were I to swap places with him, have his popularity, imagine how far I could go! Such a difference I could make . . . peace . . . lock away my father and others of his kind! But I'm awkward and weak and I will never have anything or anyone. Birth, maybe it's all luck. I could love all of these people, if they didn't . . . despise me. And I do, I am kind; they know this without thinking it, anyway, I don't want to be like them."

*****

In the early hours of the following year, the party at the flat was nearly over. Some guests had gone home; many more lay sprawled on the floor and over the furniture where they had long ago fallen asleep. Early beer bottles sat neatly on a table; others stood on the carpeted floor, while those consumed mainly from the New Year countdown onwards were lying all over the place, in a similar manner to the people who had consumed them. Both bottle and guest also smelled equally of alcohol.

Isaac and someone unknown to him, a small, gloomy-looking man with sallow cheeks and a prominent nose, were exchanging goodbyes with Ludwin in the lounge room, next to the front door of the flat.

"Isaac, bro," said Ludwin, "thanks for coming. Listen, I'm sorry about the way I sort of attacked your belief tonight. Hard as it is, probably, to believe me, I actually respect your opinion about this because I can tell it is for the right reasons. Others might be like, all, you know? You see what I mean, thanks Isaac."

Isaac glanced at the little man standing next to him, and smiled in the way people always do when they find humour in a drunkard's words or actions, and hope to find mutual acknowledgement of this amusing thing from a third person. The indifferent eyes that met his, however, showed not the signs of sharing in this private joke; rather, they increased the bitter appearance of the man. This sour expression never did discriminate between one particular situation and another, and had in fact already been permanently imprinted on the man's brow in the form of wrinkles. Isaac frowned and told Ludwin that it was ok. Everyone was silent for a long while, as Isaac wondered whether to further defend himself, now that he had been given the chance.

"I feel strongly about my beliefs, but I haven't the courage to speak up for fear of ridicule. These things are so important; not just vegetarianism, but the subject of morals in general. Ludwin is drunk and won't remember what I say, nor will I perhaps, so it is probably better not to tell him how I feel . . . and who is this miserable character beside me?"
"Goodbye Tom, I enjoyed the party. And bye??"
"Daniel" said the other man; "I hope you get home safely," he continued, obviously unconcerned as to whether anyone else really got home at all. Isaac disliked Daniel's speech, which was mumbled, and sounded extremely whiny.
"Thanks. I'll see you both soon hopefully."
Ludwin was gazing in wonder at his own hand. "Guten Nacht mein freunde. Later."

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The main change I am already thinking of making is including more dialogue, so as to give more of an insight into the traits of the characters (particularly for Kate). Any help would be greatly appreciated.