BANE OF HIS EXISTENCE

Chapter 15: EXPECTAIONS VS REALITY

DREW.

Idiot! Utter moron! What had possessed me to indulge in such foolish nonsense?

Those saccharine fairy tale movies, with their neatly tied happy endings, had clearly addled my brain. I had always scoffed at the absurdity of those films, where a dashing hero rescues a damsel in distress, and they magically fall in love, living blissfully ever after. Yet, I had foolishly hoped that maybe, just maybe, I could be the heroine of my own real-life fairy tale.

But reality had brutally shattered that illusion. The painful truth was that falling in love and being loved in return were two vastly different things. My imagination, once a sanctuary of hopeful dreams, now seemed like a cruel joke. I cursed my own naive, wishful thinking.

"Fuck my stupid, fanciful notions!" I mentally berated myself. "I'm so fucking stupid!" The bitter taste of regret and self-loathing filled my mouth, as I confronted the harsh consequences of my mistake.

The words still stung: "A fucking mistake." It was a harsh reality check, especially since nothing had actually happened between us the night before. Yet, I had harbored a glimmer of hope, a hope that I couldn't quite explain. When had I started hoping that Maya and I could end up together? I had always acknowledged my feelings for her, but when did I start envisioning a future where we were more than just nemesis?

As I reflected on my emotions, I realized that my desire for something more with Maya had been simmering beneath the surface for a while. I wasn't naive; I didn't expect her to suddenly develop romantic feelings for me overnight. But I had hoped that after the events of the previous night, she might see me in a different light.

Maybe, just maybe, she would begin to consider the possibility of us being on more friendly terms. Now, with her words still echoing in my mind, I wondered if I had been foolish to even hope.

Maya had never been a fan of my carefree teasing, and my gut told me that I had made things worse by joking around with her when she woke up. Why had I been so thoughtless? My mind replayed the moment, and I cringed at my own stupidity.

The sound of Min's voice on the phone interrupted my self-reproach. "You almost here, mate?" "Yeah, pulling into the mansion's gate. Be there in a moment," I replied, trying to shake off my regret.

"Kay, see you in a bit," Min said, and the call ended with a beep. I let out a deep sigh, pulling into the parking area and killing the engine. With a sense of resignation, I climbed out of the car, my thoughts still lingering on the mess I might have made with Maya

As I stepped into the grand hallway of the mansion, a chorus of "Good morning, Master Drew" echoed through the air, the staff's cheerful greetings were a stark contrast to my own somber mood. I forced a smile onto my face, trying to reciprocate their warmth with a nod or a brief word of acknowledgment.

My mother's voice rang out, bright and melodious, as she spotted me. "There you are, darling!" She swept toward me, her eyes shining with warmth. "Min mentioned you were on your way earlier," she said, her brow furrowed with concern.

"Yeah, I just got off the phone with him," I replied, trying to sound nonchalant despite the turmoil brewing inside. My mother's arms opened wide, inviting me into a warm embrace.

"Good morning, Mother," I said, my voice is softer now.

"Good morning, baby," she whispered, her voice a soothing balm to my frazzled nerves. As I leaned into her, I felt a sense of comfort wash over me, my worries momentarily forgotten in the safety of her arms.