My Once True North

Betrayed Truths

The night was deep and silent when Sebastian fell into a restless slumber. Soon, he was transported to a different world, one that was both familiar and strange. He found himself standing in the middle of a sunflower field, with Maya by his side. The sun was shining down on them, and a cool breeze was blowing through their hair. Sebastian's heart was racing with excitement, and he felt like he was in a different time and place.

"Isn't this amazing?" Maya exclaimed, her eyes bright with joy.

Sebastian couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu, as if he had been here before. He looked around, trying to make sense of the memory, and suddenly everything clicked into place. This was the place where he and Maya had spent their childhood summers, biking through the fields, playing games, and making memories that would last a lifetime.

As they rode their bikes through the fields, Sebastian felt a wave of nostalgia wash over him. It was like he was reliving the happiest moments of his life, and he never wanted to leave.

"I remember this place," he said, his voice filled with wonder.

Maya turned to him, her eyes searching his face. "You do?"

Sebastian nodded, still lost in the dream. "It's like I've been here before."

Maya smiled at him, her hand reaching out to touch his. "We have been here before," she said, her voice soft and gentle. "In another lifetime, another place. But we're together now, and that's all that matters."

Sebastian felt a sense of peace wash over him, and he knew that Maya was right. No matter where they had been or what they had been through, they were meant to be together. And in that moment, he knew that he would do anything to hold onto this memory, to keep it alive forever.

Sebastian woke up to the sound of voices coming from the balcony. As he opened his eyes, he saw Maya on a video call with someone, a man whose face was obscured from his view. The voices sounded strangely familiar to him. He got up and approached Maya to take a closer look.

Sebastian's heart raced as he saw a man on the screen with Maya. He could feel a pang of jealousy building up inside him, thinking that the man could be her fiancé. He tried to ignore the feeling, thinking that he had no right to be jealous since he and Maya were just friends on a trip. However, he couldn't help but notice how comfortable Maya seemed talking to the man, and the thought of her being with someone else made his stomach churn.

As he leaned in to get a closer look, his eyes widened in surprise and confusion. The man on the screen was not Maya's fiancé. It was his own father, and his mother  and sister, Clara, was there too. Sebastian couldn't believe what he was seeing. His mind raced with questions: What were they doing talking to Maya? Why did they not tell him that they knew her? Was this all just a set up? 

The pain in his head returned, and he held onto the balcony railing for support. Maya noticed Sebastian's confusion and called out to him, "Basti, please let me explain."

"No one calls me Basti except my family," he muttered to himself, his mind racing with questions.

Maya stepped closer to him, her hand reaching out to touch his arm. "Basti, please listen to me," 

As she pleaded for him to stay and listen, Sebastian's heart was racing with a mix of emotions - confusion, anger, and betrayal. He couldn't bear to hear any more explanations. Without a word, he stormed out of the door and into the shore.

Confused and with his head pounding, Sebastian rushed outside and dove straight into the ocean, hoping to wash away the confusion and pain that was now consuming him.

As Sebastian struggled to keep his head above water, he felt a strong arm wrap around his chest and pull him to the shore. Gasping for air, he turned around to see Maya who had saved him. She looked at him with concern, but he couldn't bring himself to speak.  He looked at her with a mixture of anger and confusion, unsure of how to react. He brushed her off and walked away without a word.

Maya followed him, but Sebastian refused to look at her or speak. He began packing his things in silence, ignoring her explanations and apologies. The tension between them was palpable, and the girl felt like she was losing him.

"Are you not even gonna ask me what that was about?" asked Maya.

Maya's question hung in the air, but Sebastian remained silent. His mind was racing, trying to make sense of what had just happened. He couldn't believe that the people on the screen were his own parents, and he couldn't shake off the feeling that everything that had happened on the trip was just a setup.

As he continued packing, Maya's concern turned to frustration. "You can't just ignore me, Basti," she said, her voice rising slightly. "I saved your life back there. The least you could do is acknowledge that."

Sebastian finally turned to her, his eyes blazing with anger. "Save it," he spat. "I don't owe you anything. I saved your life a few days ago, so let's call it quits. And as for what happened back there, I don't want to talk about it."

Maya recoiled slightly, hurt by his words. "Basti, please," she pleaded. "I didn't mean it that way. Let's figure it out together. Just talk to me."

The sound of his nickname, so familiar and warm, made Sebastian hesitate for a moment. 

But Sebastian wasn't ready to talk, not yet. The hurt and confusion he felt was too much to bear. He just grabbed his bag and headed for the door, leaving Maya standing alone in the room.  

She watched as he called the receptionist to book a taxi, and as he walked out the door without a backward glance, she felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes. She wanted to run after him, to make him understand, but she knew it was too late.

Maya's heart ached as she watched Sebastian disappear from sight.  She was left alone in the room, feeling a sense of emptiness and loss wash over her. She couldn't bring herself to move. The weight of the situation hit her hard, and she could barely muster the energy to call his family back, tears streaming down her face.

Maya said, "I lost him... again."

On the screen, Sebastian's parents apologized profusely, admitting they were just excited about the progress of their relationship and didn't think about the consequences, but Maya knew it wasn't their fault. They asked where Sebastian was headed, to which Maya replied that he had booked a taxi to the airport.

There was a moment of heavy silence before Maya made a decision and spoke again, "I guess this is it. I have to let him go. I have to let myself go. You have all been nothing but wonderful to me. I promise not to bother all of you anymore."

Sebastian's mother quickly reassured her, saying, "Oh, sweetheart. You are not bothersome to us. You're like a daughter already."

Just then, Clara showed up in the video call. "I'm still your best friend, Maya. And nothing will change that," she said.

She began packing her things, trying to keep her emotions in check. As she reached into the deepest pocket of her luggage, she felt the small, velvet box that held the engagement ring that Sebastian gave her a year ago. She stared at it for a moment, contemplating what to do. Should she keep it as a reminder of what could have been, or leave it behind as a symbol of all the pain and heartache?

In the end, she decided to leave it behind, just like she was leaving behind all the memories and emotions that had been tied to this trip. She took one last look around the room, taking in every detail, and walked out the door, closing it behind her with a sense of finality.