CHAPTER 18: LOST FOCUS

Drew.

"You are killing me here, man!"

Min's sudden explosion of frustration caught me off guard, his loud groan echoing through the air. I turned to him, taken aback by his outburst, but Hossein's nonchalant demeanor suggested that this was a familiar spectacle.

"Hmm, what did I do?" I asked, genuinely perplexed, as Min's exasperation seemed to grow by the second. His repetition of my question was laced with incredulity, his voice rising to a near-yell.

He leaped out "You're seriously asking me that right now?" The incredulity in his tone was palpable, and I found myself looking back and forth between Min and Hossein, wondering if I had missed something glaringly obvious. Min's reaction was so over-the-top that I couldn't help but wonder if he had somehow grown an extra head, his behavior was so bizarre.

Min's dramatic flair was in full swing as he swept his arms wide, encompassing Hossein and me in his gesture. "Has he been here the whole time while I was talking, or did I just imagine having a full-blown conversation with you and him?" His words were laced with exasperation, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of amusement at his theatrics.

Sighs escaped my lips as I watched Min's antics. I couldn't help but wonder what had fueled his energetic outburst. Whatever it was, I wished I could bottle some of that vitality for myself. Min's usual composure had given way to frenetic frustration, his perfectly styled hair now being pulled aggressively, as if it was the source of his irritation.

Hossein intervened, gently restraining Min's hands before he could inflict any more damage on his locks. At this rate, Min might just end up bald, I mused, still perplexed by the cause of his distress. What was eating at him? I had no idea, but his over-the-top reaction was starting to get comical.

Min's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing as he called me out. "You haven't stopped sighing and spacing out since you walked in here, and heaven knows you're not paying attention to a word I'm saying. So, out with it. Come on!" I opened my mouth to respond, but Min was relentless, cutting me off before I could utter a word.

"Don't you dare deny it!" he exclaimed, his voice laced with mock outrage. "I was talking about some hot chick I met earlier today, and you didn't even blink. Dude, like an actual girl; bro! Who are you, and what have you done to my brother?" Min's dramatics were comical, but his point was valid. I never passed up an opportunity to discuss girls – it was a topic that usually held my rapt attention.

Min's eyes sparkled with curiosity as he asked, "What's up with you, mate?" I felt a twinge of unease, wondering if Min had somehow sensed that something was amiss. Was this a trick question? What did he know? I opted to play it cool, attempting to brush off his inquiry with a nonchalant shrug.

"Nothing's up with me," I replied, trying to sound casual, but Min's knowing gaze made me wonder if he saw right through my facade.

I attempted to maintain a calm demeanor, responding to Min's inquiry with a measured tone. "Why do you ask?" But Min was not so easily deterred. He let out a derisive snort, his eyes glinting with amusement.

"You might think you're trying your best to look cool right now but trust me, it's not working," he said, his voice laced with a hint of teasing. "I know something is wrong," he pressed on, his expression turning serious. Min's gaze bored into mine, and I could tell he wasn't going to let this drop without a fight.

Min's voice softened, taking on a gentle, probing quality. "You said nothing is wrong, and you're trying to act like nothing is wrong, but we can tell there's something on your mind. It's obvious that whatever it is, it's bothering you; otherwise, we wouldn't be having this conversation," he pointed out, his eyes locked onto mine with an unnerving intensity.

Min's smirk grew wider as he cracked his knuckles, his eyes glinting with a mischievous challenge. "So, why don't you do us all a favor and spit it out already? I don't wanna force it out of you," he concluded, his tone dripping with mock menace. I winced, feeling a surge of discomfort under his intense gaze.

My eyes darted to Hossein, silently pleading for him to intervene, to rescue me from Min's inquisition. But Hossein simply shook his head, his expression a mask of neutrality. I glared at him, feeling betrayed. Some brother he was!

Traitor!

I attempted to fall back on my familiar lie, but Min and Hossein's skeptical glares made me falter. "Nothing's wrong..." I began, but my voice trailed off as I swallowed thickly. I decided to switch tactics, opting for a different lie in the hopes of throwing them off the scent.

I sensed their skepticism, so I hastily added a caveat, hoping to deflect their scrutiny. "Like I've been trying to tell you guys, nothing's wrong...not with me, anyway." Their piercing gazes softened, replaced by expressions of concern, and I knew I had successfully shifted their attention.

With their emotions now in play, I seized the opportunity to drive my point home. "You know the thing about Mom and Maya's father," I began, my voice laced with genuine worry. "I'm just worried that it'll drive Mom and Maya further apart, considering how strained their relationship was before all this." I paused, letting the weight of my words sink in.

"Both of them have worked so hard to repair their bond and get to where they are currently," I continued, my concern genuine. "I'm just worried it'll affect their relationship in the future." My words hung in the air, and I could see the concern etched on their faces, knowing I had successfully manipulated the conversation to my advantage.

While my words weren't entirely a fabrication, they weren't exactly the truth either. Still, it was a convincing enough distraction, and I hoped it would suffice for the time being. The real reason for my distress – the awkward encounter with Maya – was far too mortifying to share.

Min's reaction was immediate, his eyes widening in a silent "Oh" as he slumped onto the sofa. His bottom lip found its way between his teeth, and he began to chew nervously, his discomfort palpable. Min wasn't exactly the emotional type, and conflict made him squirm. I couldn't blame him; this was uncharted territory for all of us.

A pang of guilt struck me for deceiving my friends, but I just couldn't bring myself to confess the truth. Not yet, at least. I'm sorry, guys, I thought, feeling a twinge of regret. I wish I could be honest with you, but this is just too embarrassing.

"I have been thinking about that too" Hossein's thoughtful tone broke the silence, and Min's head jerked up, his interest piqued. I wasn't surprised, though - Hossein had always been the most empathetic and concerned when it came to Maya.

"Have you seen Maya since that day?" Hossein asked, his eyes locked onto mine. I felt a flutter in my chest as I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Why was he asking me that?

I opted for a lie, the words tumbling out of my mouth before I could reconsider. "No, I haven't." The falsehood tasted bitter on my lips. Fuck, this is bad. I shouldn't be lying to my brothers.

I quickly tried to deflect attention from my deceit by asking, "Why, did you hear anything?"

Hossein's expression turned somber, his voice laced with concern. "No, I didn't. I'm just wondering why she won't meet up when I ask to meet. It just feels like she's avoiding me or something." His words trailed off, and he looked at me with a hint of dejection, oblivious to the fact that I was hiding something.

The words hovered on the tip of my tongue, longing to be set free. "She's not avoiding you, but me," I yearned to confess to Hossein. But I couldn't. How could I reveal this truth without exposing the complicated web of emotions that Maya and I had entangled ourselves in?

Hossein's concern for Maya was genuine, and I knew that he cared for her deeply. Maya, in turn, had a soft spot for him, and their bond was unique – albeit annoying at times. As I watched them interact, I couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. Yet, it was also strangely heartwarming to see Hossein let his guard down and be himself around her – a rare sight, reserved only for those closest to him, like Min and me.

I pushed aside my conflicting emotions and opted for a neutral tone, attempting to sound nonchalant. "Have you tried going to her place? She might just be busy with school or something," I suggested, trying to deflect attention from the real issue at hand.

Hossein's response sent a jolt of surprise through me. "I did go to her place; she hasn't been home in a couple of days," he revealed, his words dripping with a hint of concern. I felt my eyes widen in alarm, my mind racing with questions. Why hadn't he mentioned this earlier? What could have driven Maya to abandon her home for so long?

Hossein's raised eyebrows indicated that he had caught the fleeting look of panic on my face. I swiftly composed myself, attempting to mask my growing unease. "Where's she staying?" I asked, my voice a little too casual as I cleared my throat. The air seemed to thicken around me, and I felt a creeping sense of restlessness.

Hossein's response only added to my anxiety. "I ran into Eric yesterday, and he said she's staying at Sasha's," he disclosed, his expression thoughtful. My mind began to whirl with worries about Maya's well-being. Was she eating properly? Was she getting enough sleep? The uncertainty gnawed at me, and I couldn't shake off the feeling that I needed to know more.

Inquiring about Maya's well-being now would undoubtedly raise suspicions, so I bit back the question. My brief encounter with her earlier had been too fleeting to gauge her emotional state, but I could sense that she was far from okay. She was putting on a brave face, a mask of faux serenity to reassure her friends that everything was fine. But I knew better.

As someone who had been secretly stalking the corridors of Maya's faculty, hoping to catch a glimpse of her, I was painfully aware that she was deliberately avoiding me. The realization stung, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. I fucking miss her. The admission echoed in my mind, a haunting reminder of the rift that had grown between us.