BANE OF HIS EXISTENCE

Chapter 14: : REGRETS AND CONFUSION.

MAYA.

Before long, Hossein's car came into view, a welcome sight as Maya shivered in the early morning chill. Late November in Nigeria marked the beginning of the dry season, and the air was already crisp with a hint of coolness. Maya was grateful to escape the chilly morning air, clad only in the casual clothes she'd worn the previous day. She had always detested cold weather, and her friends and family knew that hoodies were her staple, regardless of the weather. Even Mrs. D, couldn't change her love for hoodies.

As she settled into the car seat, Maya's thoughts drifted back to the events of the previous night, and she let out a groan, burying her face in her hands. The memory of Mrs. D's panicked expression flashed through her mind, and Maya shrank deeper into the seat, feeling a wave of frustration wash over her.

The silence in the car was a welcome respite as Hossein drove them home, the only sound of the soft hum of the engine. Maya was grateful for his thoughtful discretion in not turning on the radio, allowing her to wallow in her thoughts. Her brain felt foggy, a familiar consequence of drinking too much. She cursed her lack of recall, unable to remember the events of the previous night, especially those involving Andrew.

A pang of frustration shot through her. Why did it have to be Andrew who found her? Why couldn't it have been Hossein, someone she trusted implicitly? She would have been content to let the memories of the previous night fade away, especially given the drama that had unfolded with her father's arrival.

But no, Andrew had to appear, ruining her plans and leaving her with a tangled web of emotions. Maya's mind is seethed with resentment.

Fucking Andrew! Why did he always seem to be at the center of her chaos?

From the moment Andrew burst into her life, he had been a constant, maddening presence. Whether her day was going smoothly or spiraling out of control, Andrew always seemed to be at the epicenter, wreaking havoc and disrupting her equilibrium. He had a knack for inserting himself into her life without warning or invitation, and Maya had grown accustomed to brushing him off, recognizing that his meddling was just a part of his nature. But this time, something was different.

The events of the previous night had crossed a threshold, venturing into uncharted territory. The intimacy they had shared was a game-changer, leaving Maya feeling bewildered and disoriented. Her mind was a jumble of conflicting emotions, and she couldn't seem to untangle the threads. Argh! I'm so freaking confused about everything!

Maya's mind was reeling, her thoughts a jumbled mess that threatened to overwhelm her.

"What are you going to do now?" Hossein asked, breaking the silence.

Maya's gaze drifted toward him, her expression blank. "Huh?" she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

"About your father," Hossein clarified, his eyes locked on hers with concern.

Maya let out a deep sigh, feeling the weight of her worries bearing down on her. "Honestly, I don't know," she admitted, her shoulders sagging in defeat.

Hossein offered a gentle, reassuring smile as he kept driving, his voice soft and soothing. "That's okay, take your time." His kindness and empathy were a balm to Maya's frazzled nerves.

This was Hossein's nature - kind, caring, and thoughtful to a fault. Maya knew he was curious about the events of the previous night, about where she had run off to and where she had spent the night. Perhaps he had already gleaned some details from Andrew, but his primary concern was her well-being, and he showed it by giving her space and time to process her emotions.