Maia

8

Word Count: 1607

-

MAIA'S POV

Slowly awakening from my slumber, I let out a quiet hiss as I felt the dull ache in my back. As I opened my eyes, I surveyed the room and recognized that I was in "my" room, yet I couldn't recollect making my way there the previous night. It dawned on me that I must have passed out, and one of the boys must have helped me to my room.

I woke up still dressed in yesterday's clothes, which is a good sign. I stood up and walked to the bathroom connected to the room. As I looked in the mirror, I couldn't help but wonder if my bruises were visible. Anxious, I caught myself biting my inner cheek as worry washed over me.

I carefully raise the edge of my hoodie, revealing the mottled bruises and jagged cut marks beneath. A small wound I attempted to stitch weeks ago now oozes its angry hues of yellow and red indicating infection. As I reach to examine it, a searing, unbearable pain shoots through my stomach. If only I had some painkillers with me. I left them back at Jacob and Māmā's place, carefully hidden. I managed to scavenge some spare change to purchase them.

As tears threaten to spill, I tightly clench my hands and feel my nails digging into my palm. I glimpse in the mirror and notice my makeup slowly smudging, and I wonder how I'm going to cover up the marks on my skin now. It's frustrating that all my personal belongings are at the other house, confiscated for the investigation. At the moment, I'm left with only basic supplies provided by Jill.

As the hoodie slowly falls down, concealing my scars, I am interrupted by a knock on the door. I pause to clear my thoughts before making my way to the door. I open it slowly to find Wiremu standing there with a bright smile. "Good morning, sunshine. I've come to take you to breakfast," he says warmly. Stepping aside, he waits for me to join him. After closing the door, I follow him down the stairs.

The morning sunlight streamed through the dining window, casting a warm glow over the table where a delicious spread of food awaited. "I was thinking of going out after breakfast and taking you shopping for clothes and other stuff you need. The others are busy working, so it'll just be you and me. How does that sound?" he said, grinning eagerly. As I joined him at the table, he encouraged me to eat from the array of dishes laid out before us.

I reluctantly confess, "I don't have any money," as I hastily grab a small amount of fruit. I can't help but bite the inside of my cheek, feeling a wave of embarrassment, especially given their wealth.

Wiremu chuckled softly to himself as I ate the sweet strawberry, and then he began to speak. "You will never have to worry about paying for anything again. We all want to spoil you," he said with a warm smile.

I feel conflicted about accepting his money, but I choose not to say anything because he seems so happy. I don't want to ruin his mood, so I decide not to take anything at all when we get there.

As I finished my small selection of fruit, he polished off a generous portion of eggs, bacon, and toast, along with a few other items. He glanced at me with a worried expression but didn't say anything as he got up from the table. I followed suit and stood up. "Are you ready to go?" he asked.

I nodded slowly, the weight of the plate feeling heavier in my hand as I prepared to take it to the kitchen for washing. "After I've done the dishes," I murmured, already envisioning the task ahead.

He shakes his head. "Leave it here; the maids will deal with it," he says with a smile. I put it down awkwardly and followed him to the garage.

As I glanced around, I observed the array of luxurious cars and motorbikes, noting the absence of a few vehicles, presumably due to the absence of my brothers. Taking in the scene with wonder, I watched as Wiremu secured a set of keys and strolled over to an elegant grey car. I didn't know much about cars, but I had always wanted to learn.

As we approach the car, I follow him and quickly hop into the passenger seat. Without wasting any time, he starts the engine, and I can feel the car starting to rev up a bit. As he sits behind the wheel, he looks down at his phone, tapping and connecting it to a white cord attached to the car. I'm curious about what he's doing.

Then, a song begins to play, the volume set just right so he can still talk but loud enough for us to enjoy the music. I can't help but wonder who's singing. I glance at Wiremu, confused. He smiles and says, "I downloaded some songs that I thought you might like. This one's by Taylor Swift."

I'm not familiar with the artist, but I'm enjoying her song so far. I find myself drawn to the rhythmic beats and beautiful lyrics. A gentle smile forms on my lips as I gaze warmly at Wiremu, silently acknowledging the kindness he has shown me. He expertly navigates the vehicle through the garage and down the long driveway.

Our journey continues onto the open road as the songs shuffle throughout the playlist. I can't help but immerse myself in the music, tapping my foot gently. Caught in a fleeting glance, I meet Wiremu's eyes, and his beaming grin mirrors the small one I carry now.

When we arrived at the mall, it only took us a few minutes to reach our destination. Wiremu and I both hopped out of the car, and I stood by his side, taking in the sight of a large crowd of people filling the area as they came and went. We proceeded to make our way inside, and as I stepped in, I was taken aback by the sheer size and scale of the mall, causing my eyes to widen and a gasp to escape my lips. I followed Wiremu as he made his way into a store.

"Feel free to choose anything you like," he said. He beckoned a few sales assistants to assist with the process. He promptly started selecting any item I showed interest in or touched for a few seconds, instructing the sales assistants to fetch them in my size for me to try on. I gave him an awkward look as the prices of these clothes were significantly higher than the cost of a month's worth of groceries.

After we had picked out everything from the store for me to try on, Wiremu gently ushered me into the changing room. "I want you to try on at least ten outfits," he called out.

I let out a deep sigh, feeling a sense of dread about the long day ahead. As I browsed through the clothing, I carefully selected some items to show Wiremu, making sure they would conceal the scars. After trying on a few pieces, I realized that some were too baggy or didn't quite look right on me, so I handed them back to the sales assistant. Ultimately, I settled on a few pairs of tracksuit pants for their comfort and ability to provide coverage. They were also reasonably priced compared to other items.

I carefully selected a modest, floor-length dress with a beautiful pattern and a flattering fit. Additionally, I chose a few long-sleeved tops and a beautiful skirt that caught my eye. Wiremu also found some items from the collection that appealed to him. After making our selections, we completed the purchase and proceeded to the next store to continue our shopping expedition. I felt bad for all the money he had already spent on me.

After browsing through the shoe store, Wiremu handpicked many pairs of shoes for me to try on. It ranged from sneakers to heels. He bought 20 pairs of shoes. Before we left, he called someone to help carry the bags filled with my new footwear and clothes.

After waiting for about 10 minutes in the store, two men finally arrived. Their intimidating presence was immediately noticeable as they both wore impeccably tailored black suits, giving off an air of authority and mystery. As they efficiently collected the bags and securely transported them to the car under Wiremu's direction, I found comfort in standing close to him, seeking safety in his reassuring presence. The men frightened me.

The two men quickly completed the task and as they fell back to a safe distance behind us, a lingering unease settled within me. Although I felt uneasy about their intimidating demeanour, I decided to trust Wiremu's judgment and followed him to the next store without expressing my concerns.

After spending a few hours shopping, Wiremu kindly purchased everything I needed, including makeup that I could use to conceal the bruises on my face. I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for his kindness. As we made our way through the bustling shops, I realized I had forgotten to pick up painkillers and bandages. However, I hesitated to ask for them, as I didn't want my brothers to discover the truth about my injuries. Before heading back to the mansion, we made a quick detour to grab some takeout food. After finishing the food, we headed to the car.

As I sank into the car seat, a wave of exhaustion swept over me. My feet were sore feet and my eyes were heavy and drooping.

A/N: I'm sorry that this chapter is a little rushed and boring. It'll get more interesting soon, I promise. Thank you to everyone who is following along on this journey, it means a lot 💜