BANE OF HIS EXISTENCE

Chapter 12: FEELINGS.

DREW.

Thirty minutes had passed since I'd settled in beside Maya, and what a revelatory thirty minutes it had been. Drunk Maya, it turned out, was a hilarious and affectionate creature. She tossed and turned, using me as a human pillow, grabbing, squeezing, and poking my chest as she searched for the perfect sleeping position. Pillows had gone flying, and the bed had been transformed into a war zone, but through it all, Maya had clung to me like a lifeline.

I was astonished to discover that the prickly, standoffish Maya I knew was, in fact, a cuddle bug when drunk. Who would have thought that beneath her tough exterior lay a snuggly, affectionate heart? I found it all endearing, and my initial reluctance had given way to a warm, fuzzy feeling. As Maya used my arm as her headrest, I didn't mind staying this way, even if it meant sacrificing my arm to numbness. It was a small price to pay for the privilege of holding her close.

I didn't care if it was just a fleeting fantasy; all I wanted was for this moment to last a little longer. As Maya lay nestled in my arms, I reveled in the illusion of being with her, of having her close. Even if she was oblivious to it all, I savored the sensation, knowing it would be short-lived.

Tomorrow would bring reality crashing back, and I'd be forced to return to a world where Maya and I were sworn enemies – or, at the very least, pretended to be. The thought was a bitter pill to swallow, and I clung to this fragile, drunken-induced intimacy, not wanting to lose the warmth that radiated from her body, the sweet, strawberry scent of her shampoo that wafted up to tease me whenever she stirred in her sleep.

As she turned, I found myself leaning in closer, helpless against the allure of her presence. Gosh, she smelled incredible! I hated how perfectly her body fit into my arms, hated the way my heart skipped a beat as I held her close. I hated it because I knew that when this night was over, I'd be haunted by the memory of this moment forever – a bittersweet torment that would linger long after the universe had moved on.

I considered it a cruel punishment, a perpetual torment, to live alongside the girl of my dreams, yet be unable to claim her as my own. Not in the way that truly mattered, anyway. As I gently brushed strands of hair from Maya's face, she purred contentedly, like a cat basking in affection. My gaze drifted to her lips, and I felt an overwhelming urge to kiss her. My heart racing, I leaned in, my resolve crumbling.

Just as my lips were about to touch hers, a loud, cautionary voice echoed in my mind. "Don't do it!" it yelled, and I blinked rapidly, disoriented. I looked around, wondering if someone had actually spoken, but realized it was just my inner voice, screaming at me to stop. Ah, my conscience, still intact, still trying to steer me towards the right path. But I was beyond reason.

As my inner voice protested, begging me to reconsider, I silenced it with reckless abandon. I ignored the warning signs, the doubts, and the fears. I took a bite of the forbidden fruit, pressing my lips to Maya's, and in that instant, I knew I could no longer hide my true feelings for her. The floodgates had opened, and there was no turning back.

Flashback: Nine years ago

It was a sunny day, with a gentle breeze rustling the leaves of the trees surrounding the Villa. Two young children, Maya and Drew, stood facing each other, their eyes locked in a fierce stare. What began as a harmless argument over their bicycles had escalated into a heated debate, with neither willing to back down. The air was electric with tension as they negotiated the terms of a bet.

"The first one to get to the other end of the Villa is the winner," Maya declared boldly, her ten-year-old voice steady and confident. Drew's eyes lit up with excitement as he considered the challenge. He was eleven, and his competitive spirit was already well-developed.