CHAPTER 15: EXPECTAIONS VS REALITY

DREW.

Idiot! Utter moron! What had possessed me to indulge in such foolish nonsense?

Those saccharine fairy tale movies, with their neatly tied happy endings, had clearly addled my brain. I had always scoffed at the absurdity of those films, where a dashing hero rescues a damsel in distress, and they magically fall in love, living blissfully ever after. Yet, I had foolishly hoped that maybe, just maybe, I could be the heroine of my own real-life fairy tale.

But reality had brutally shattered that illusion. The painful truth was that falling in love and being loved in return were two vastly different things. My imagination, once a sanctuary of hopeful dreams, now seemed like a cruel joke. I cursed my own naive, wishful thinking.

"Fuck my stupid, fanciful notions!" I mentally berated myself. "I'm so fucking stupid!" The bitter taste of regret and self-loathing filled my mouth, as I confronted the harsh consequences of my mistake.

The words still stung: "A fucking mistake." It was a harsh reality check, especially since nothing had actually happened between us the night before. Yet, I had harbored a glimmer of hope, a hope that I couldn't quite explain. When had I started hoping that Maya and I could end up together? I had always acknowledged my feelings for her, but when did I start envisioning a future where we were more than just nemesis?

As I reflected on my emotions, I realized that my desire for something more with Maya had been simmering beneath the surface for a while. I wasn't naive; I didn't expect her to suddenly develop romantic feelings for me overnight. But I had hoped that after the events of the previous night, she might see me in a different light.

Maybe, just maybe, she would begin to consider the possibility of us being on more friendly terms. Now, with her words still echoing in my mind, I wondered if I had been foolish to even hope.

Maya had never been a fan of my carefree teasing, and my gut told me that I had made things worse by joking around with her when she woke up. Why had I been so thoughtless? My mind replayed the moment, and I cringed at my own stupidity.

The sound of Min's voice on the phone interrupted my self-reproach. "You almost here, mate?" "Yeah, pulling into the mansion's gate. Be there in a moment," I replied, trying to shake off my regret.

"Kay, see you in a bit," Min said, and the call ended with a beep. I let out a deep sigh, pulling into the parking area and killing the engine. With a sense of resignation, I climbed out of the car, my thoughts still lingering on the mess I might have made with Maya

As I stepped into the grand hallway of the mansion, a chorus of "Good morning, Master Drew" echoed through the air, the staff's cheerful greetings were a stark contrast to my own somber mood. I forced a smile onto my face, trying to reciprocate their warmth with a nod or a brief word of acknowledgment.

My mother's voice rang out, bright and melodious, as she spotted me. "There you are, darling!" She swept toward me, her eyes shining with warmth. "Min mentioned you were on your way earlier," she said, her brow furrowed with concern.

"Yeah, I just got off the phone with him," I replied, trying to sound nonchalant despite the turmoil brewing inside. My mother's arms opened wide, inviting me into a warm embrace.

"Good morning, Mother," I said, my voice is softer now.

"Good morning, baby," she whispered, her voice a soothing balm to my frazzled nerves. As I leaned into her, I felt a sense of comfort wash over me, my worries momentarily forgotten in the safety of her arms.

My mother's presence had a profound effect on me, her calm and serene aura enveloping me like a soothing balm. Being around her had a way of making everything seem more manageable, as if her tranquil energy could absorb the chaos and leave me feeling more centered.

"Thanks again for last night," My mom said, her voice filled with gratitude. "And I'm sorry for dragging you into this messy situation. It was my mess to handle. I mean, I'm the adult here, and I should have taken care of it before everything got so...complicated," She apologized, referring to the tumultuous events that had unfolded with Maya's father.

My mother's eyes sparkled with amusement as I teased her. "Glad I could help, momma. And yeah...you could've handled the whole estranged father and daughter reunion situation a little bit better, but hey! People make mistakes, and you are people," I added, my tone is playful. My mother chuckled, her laughter warm and melodious, and I couldn't help but smile along with her.

"Right, off you go then! I know they're waiting for you," my mother said, nodding discreetly toward the west wing. I smiled, feeling a sense of excitement and anticipation. "Love you, momma," I said, planting a quick kiss on her cheek.

"I love you too, baby!" she called after me, her voice tinged with amusement. "And don't forget to tell the boys to stay away from the wine cellar at least until noon!" I chuckled, already knowing that Min was likely the culprit behind the wine cellar escapades. Hossein wasn't much of a drinker, so it was probably Min who was indulging in a pre-noon tipple.

As I made my way toward the west wing, I couldn't help but think about the layout of our grand mansion. The north wing was reserved for my parents, while the south wing was home to our domestic staff and their families. The east wing was designed for guests, with its lavish suites and opulent décor. And then, of course, there was the west wing – our own private sanctuary, where the guys and I, including Maya, could relax and be ourselves.

"Oi, coming in, mate?" Min's booming voice echoed through the hallway as I stood before the entrance to our wing, his cheerful greeting and a warm welcome. Hossein's concerned expression greeted me as he settled beside me on the plush sofa, a steaming cup of tea extended in my direction.

"You good, brother?" he asked, his voice tinged with a gentle solicitude.

"I'm good, man. Thanks for the tea," I said, accepting the warm cup from Hossein.

He let out a thoughtful "hmm" before slipping off his loafers and tucking his feet under himself on the sofa. I smiled knowingly at him, recognizing the familiar quirks that made him uniquely Hossein. His tendency to be a bit extra, to internalize his thoughts and emotions, was something I had grown accustomed to over the years.

As I pondered our friendship, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of gratitude and admiration for Hossein. While Min was the outspoken one, always ready with a witty remark or a bold opinion, Hossein preferred to keep to himself. Yet, whenever we needed him, he would appear, steadfast and reliable, without ever asking questions. I sometimes felt like I wasn't doing enough as his best friend and brother, like I should be more supportive or attentive. But as I reflected on our relationship, I realized that Hossein's reserve was a deliberate choice, a way of shielding us from his worries and concerns. Min and I had learned to be more perceptive, to pick up on the subtle signs that hinted at Hossein's emotional state, and to be there for him when he needed us most.

Min's patience had clearly worn thin, and he began to barrage me with questions, his curiosity getting the better of him. "How long are you going to drag this out, mate? Spill already! Momma wouldn't tell us a thing! I'm dying to know what happened last night," he demanded, stomping his foot like a petulant child.

Hossein rolled his eyes good-natured, intervening on my behalf. "Sod off, would ya? He just got here."

I smiled wryly, anticipating Min's persistence. "Momma wouldn't tell you guys anything because there's nothing to say," I said, attempting to placate him. "Now, please let me have my tea in peace." I knew Min wouldn't take no for an answer, but I hoped to stall him long enough to savor my tea and gather my thoughts.

Min's whining had reached new heights, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes in amusement.

"Oh, come on! Phones were blowing up everywhere last night because Maya had gone missing, supposedly. All that can't be for nothing, mate," he pleaded, his curiosity getting the better of him. Hossein intervened, his voice laced with a hint of exasperation.

"Just tell him already. You know he won't shut up unless you do."

Min responded by flipping Hossein the bird, and I burst out laughing at the absurdity of it all. "Okay, okay," I relented, holding up my hands in surrender.

"So, apparently Maya's dad had been trying to reach out to her for months, but she wasn't having it. He decided to take matters into his own hands and show up in person, which, as you can imagine, didn't exactly go down well with Maya." Hossein's expression turned sympathetic, his nose scrunching up in distaste.

"Yeah, it was pretty messy," I acknowledged, feeling a pang of concern for Maya's well-being.

Hossein's expression darkened, his eyes flashing with indignation. "How could he do that to her?" he muttered, his voice low and menacing.

I don't blame him for being angry. I still have half the mind to give that son of a bitch a good beating next time I see him. How dare he hurt her like that? To say I was angry would be an understatement. I admire Hossein's sense the depth of his loyalty to Maya.

Min's pacing grew more agitated as he pieced together the fragments of Maya's past. "No way! Didn't he, like, abandon her and her mother way before she was born or something?" he asked, his voice laced with incredulity. I nodded quietly, sipping my tea as the memories of Maya's words resurfaced. "Yeah, something like that."

The atmosphere in the room grew somber, the weight of Maya's painful past settling upon us. Min's expression turned thoughtful, and he nodded in approval. "It's a good thing you found her when you did, then, eh?" Hossein's role in locating Maya wasn't lost on Min, and he turned to him with gratitude.

"Thanks for that, by the way, mate." Hossein nodded graciously, raising his cup of tea in acknowledgment. I sipped my tea, the warm liquid a comforting balm for the bitter feeling stirring in the pit of my stomach. Maya's words still lingered, a poignant reminder of the deep bond she shared with someone else – a bond that I couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy about.