BANE OF HIS EXISTENCE

CHAPTER 32: HE LIKES ME TOO?

MAYA.

I couldn't believe I'd agreed to this! Andrew's offer to lend me clothes in the comfort of his room had seemed innocent enough, but now I was regretting my decision. My voice had betrayed me, nodding in agreement before my brain could protest. I followed him, my heart racing with every step.

As we entered his room, Andrew rummaged through his closet, producing a pair of grey sweatpants and a white hoodie.

"This should fit," he said with a smile, handing me the clothes. I took them, my fingers brushing against his. The brief touch sent shivers down my spine.

In a moment of weakness, I brought the clothes to my nose, inhaling the scent. Andrew's hoodie smelled unmistakably like him - a mix of fresh laundry and his signature cologne. I felt a flutter in my chest, but quickly pushed the feeling aside.

"Don't worry, it's clean," Andrew teased, chuckling at my gesture. I settled for a hasty "Oh okay," not wanting to reveal my true thoughts.

I hastily retreated to the bathroom, the clothes clutched tightly in my hand. As I changed, my mind whirled with thoughts. Why did I agree to this? What was I thinking? Everything about this situation felt awkward, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I was in over my head.

My mind was racing with anticipation as I wondered what Andrew wanted to discuss. A nagging voice whispered that he probably wanted to let me down gently, to tell me that he didn't feel the same way. The thought left a bitter taste in my mouth, and I shook my head, trying to shake off the anxiety.

It had been a sleepless few nights since I confessed my feelings to him. My heart was already heavy with anticipation, and the uncertainty was eating away at me. I hoped that if he did plan to reject me, he would at least be kind about it. But knowing Andrew's straightforward nature, I doubted he would sugarcoat his words.

A desperate thought crossed my mind: was it too late to take back everything I had said? Could I somehow erase the vulnerability I had exposed, and go back to the way things were before? But deep down, I knew it was impossible. The words had been spoken, and all I could do now was wait and see how Andrew would respond.

Andrew's voice snapped me back to reality asking if everything was okay in there, and I slowly opened the door, hesitating for a moment before stepping into the room. His eyes met mine, and I quickly looked away, feeling a flush rise to my cheeks.

"Thank you for...um... doing this," I stammered, gesturing to the clothes I was wearing. The awkwardness between us was palpable, and we both avoided eye contact, unsure of how to break the silence.

I couldn't help but think about how things had changed between us. Our verbal sparring matches had been a comfortable, familiar routine. But now, everything feels different. My confession had shifted the dynamic, and I couldn't take it back. Why had I been so reckless, opening my heart to him like that?

I stood before Andrew, my voice trembling as I tried to speak. The words caught in my throat like a delicate bird struggling to break free. My eyes stung with unshed tears, threatening to spill over at any moment. The air was thick with tension, heavy with the weight of unspoken emotions.

"So, about um... about what I said last time if you could just..." My voice faltered, leaving the sentence dangling like a fragile thread.

Andrew's gaze locked onto mine, his piercing eyes seeming to see right through to my very soul. And then, in a moment that would forever be etched in my memory, he spoke.