Where the roses bloom

Chapter 3-C

Maya's Point of View

Jenny assured me to not worry today as Kaira and Sean from morning shift took over my shift as well happily. After Uncle Kenny left for his hometown, Sara took it upon herself to pack up my entire room, chirping her usual, "just in case." For someone so chaotic, she's freakishly organized. I must've asked her, I don't know, a dozen times, "Why pack everything? I can come back for more later, you know."

Her response, without fail: "Just in case."

By the time the clock hit 9 p.m., my overly-efficient friend had somehow packed up my entire life into two suitcases. I swear, when I first moved in, these same clothes needed double the space. She's like a packing wizard or something.

"Anything left?" she muttered to herself, scanning the room like she was on a mission.

"Nope," I mumbled, more to the empty room than to her. I glanced around at the place I'd called home for the last two years. Okay, bye, home sweet home. I'll be back soon. Try not to miss me too much, honey.

"Let's go," Sara declared, her excitement bubbling over. She attempted to lift both suitcases at once but quickly realized it was a lost cause. With a huff, she settled for dragging one behind her, then paused to pull out her phone, dialing for help.

"James? These bags are ridiculously heavy. Can you come and give me a hand?" She pouted into the phone, looking every bit the dramatic diva as she called for her driver. I rolled my eyes, stifling a smile at her antics.

Determined not to let her have all the fun, I grabbed the other suitcase. Yeah, it was heavy, but I wasn't about to back down now. I waddled out, wrestling with the weight, and finally closed the door behind me, locking it with a firm click.

The car ride was smooth, as usual. James, ever the gentleman, offered his help with a friendly smile and even gave me his number, "Just in case you need a ride back from college or anywhere, miss," he said, like the kind, older brother figure he always was. I thanked him, and Sara, still buzzing with excitement, started rattling off plans for tomorrow before abruptly changing her mind.

"Actually, you know what? Let's just chill tomorrow. We've earned it." She gave me a tired but satisfied grin, stretching her arms like she was already picturing herself lounging around.

As we pulled into her neighborhood, I couldn't help but admire the row of elegant homes lining the street. Each had its own unique charm, but as always, none quite compared to Sara's. And then, there it was—her house. Even though I'd been here countless times before, it still took my breath away.

"Okay, seriously, is it just me, or does your house look even more like a photoshoot backdrop every time I see it?" I said, stepping out of the car and blinking up at the impressive facade. It was a gorgeous mix of stone and glass, with wide steps that just begged to be photographed and enough greenery to make a botanical garden jealous.

"All thanks to Adrian and his obsession with fancy designers," Sara said, rolling her eyes but smiling anyway. "He swears it's an investment."

Adrian. Oh god, I totally forgot about him for a second. Is he home? What do I even say? 'Thanks for letting me crash'? Ugh, that sounds so weird. Please don't let this be awkward, Maya, don't make it awkward!

As we drove through the gates, my brain was stuck between admiring the place and panicking about running into her brother. 

Great. Just great. Deep breaths, Maya, you've got this.

We pulled up to the entrance, and as I stepped out, the reality of how late it was finally hit me. I glanced at my phone—already 10 p.m.—and as if on cue, my stomach growled. Oh right, we totally forgot about dinner. Classic.

James, ever diligent, was already unloading the bags. "Don't worry, miss, I'll bring these in," he said with his usual sincerity.

"Thanks, James," Sara said through a yawn, and I echoed my gratitude as we made our way inside, feeling both nervous and excited to settle in.

The moment we stepped inside, the soft click of the door closing behind us, I was hit by that familiar mix of coziness and elegance that somehow made Sara's house feel both warm and intimidating at the same time. The polished wooden floors stretched ahead, reflecting the soft glow of the recessed lighting, and the subtle scent of fresh flowers lingered in the air.

"Seriously, I feel like I'm going to trip over one of these designer pieces every time," I muttered, glancing around at the modern art hanging on the walls. It was the kind of décor you could never quite relax around, but also couldn't stop staring at.

Sara chuckled, kicking off her shoes. "You get used to it, trust me."

As we walked down the hallway, I could already hear the faint clattering of pots and pans from somewhere deeper in the house. My heart did a little flip. Was that Adrian? Was he... cooking?

We rounded the corner and entered the dining room, the massive table sitting pristinely in the center like it had never been touched. The chandelier above it twinkled, and the place settings were neatly aligned, though untouched. Sara paused for a second, frowning slightly.

"Wait, do you hear that?" she asked, her head tilting towards the kitchen.

I nodded, unable to stop the curious expression on my face. "Is someone actually... cooking?"

Sara blinked, then with a burst of energy, she hurried toward the kitchen. "No way, Adrian never has time to cook!"

I followed close behind, my nerves starting to mix with curiosity. The kitchen opened up before us, all sleek countertops and high-tech appliances that looked like they belonged in a restaurant rather than a house.