There are times where we feel like we are at the top of the world, everything around us seems to be working just the way we plan it. And then, there are times where we feel our existence is nothing more than just a mere formality that doesn't seem to serve any purpose. It feels like all of the stars have gathered to plot against you.

Today was one of those times.

After my "mind refreshing" session with my therapist, all I needed was a handful of sour vodkas down my throat. I know, I know it must be weird to imagine me doing shots. Alcohol and Maya? Not exactly a lethal combination. But hey! Don't judge me. People change with time. People need to change with time. That's the only way to keep ourselves moving forward in order to keep with this changing world.

I still don't drink. Well, not on a regular basis. But there are some fine days, as such, when nothing else helps other than booze to clear up my messy brain.

But kudos to my luck, my regular sanctuary, Swift Bar, was closed for the evening. I turned up to seven more bars but no luck. Finally, after walking on my heels for about two hours, my feet landed at a bar, named Aurora Bar, and stopped in front of the gate. I stared at the white building for quite a moment. The bar was located on the outskirts of the city, far away from my home. I hadn't heard of this place. I hadn't been there before, but something about that place made me feel at home and put my soul to ease. 

Sometimes we find a place, a spot, that connects us to the place in the best unimaginable way possible, and that happens to become our safe place. Perhaps, this was meant to be my safe place.

I pushed the door wide open and quietly made my way straight to the bar counter. The place was dimmed light with disco balls, bobbies of colors glimmering down everywhere. The bar was loud, music blasting and people swaying their hips at the beat and flow of the blasting music, few of them drowning themselves in an endless sea of fizziness.

“One Martini, please,” I screamed at the top of my voice so that the bartender could hear me clearly and slid my credit card towards him. He shot a cheeky smile and said, “Sure, coming right up beautiful.” and winked before turning back at the wine stack.  I hid my smile and checked out the guy for a nanosecond. He had a tall and lean physique and his fresh blonde hair slightly danced as he moved and did his job. He was kind of cute if I had to admit, but I knew in my head that it’s not a click. I turned around and watched people, having a good time. The bartender pushed the glass and offered a smile. I mumbled a thank you and turned around, matching my vibe with the place. 

A group of loud, giggling voices caught my attention amidst the blasting music. My sight directed towards the origin and encountered a group of around five to six people, chattering and laughing hard, together. From what I could figure, the girls ganged up and were messing with one of the guy friends and the other guy friends called the shots and refused to back him up, laughing and high-fiving. A sharp slap of nostalgia hit me as the sight brought up the realization of how much I missed my pack. My weirdos. I took out my phone and mindlessly scrolled through all the endless texts they had been sending me for the past one and a half years, when eventually before a few weeks, they stopped.  I knew it was wrong of me but I couldn’t help but wonder if they forgot about me and let me go for good. Did they not need me any longer? I shook my head, there was no one else to blame but myself, I did this to myself. And I’ll simply have to live with the repercussions. 

“Are you lost, baby?” A random guy asked, walking up to me. I looked at him with judging eyes, after which he readily apologized. “ I am sorry. I saw you standing alone and you were so beautiful, I had to talk to you so I quickly picked up the lamest pickup line.” I laughed instantly and said, “No worries. You are forgiven.” and took a sip of my drink.

“But I meant what I asked. You seemed lost.” He stared at me for a full minute, expecting an answer and I answered, just wanting to let it out of my chest. “Let's just say I did something selfish and have not been in contact with my past life and I kind of really miss it, I miss my friends,” I spoke softly, more to myself.

“Then what’s stopping you? Just call them and talk to them. It’s that simple.” He suggested nonchalantly like it was the easiest thing to do. “I wish things were that simple. It’s just… complicated.”

He looked at me for a few moments, which felt like a long time and he finally said,” You are wrong here. Nothing is complicated until you let them. If you want to do something, just do it. The ‘what-ifs’ are enough to haunt us for all our lives. Don’t let them stop you from getting what you want.”

I just stood there staring at him for quite a few moments. Too much life-changing advice for a day. Ironic.

“Huh… That’s quite good advice. You know what? I will do it. The pain of rejection would be far better than the guilt of not even trying. Thanks, man.”

I hurried out of the bar and stood at the entrance. I took out my cell phone and bounced my thumb into mid-air, hopping trying to choose who to call. After a clueless half a minute, I decided to call  Andy. He seemed to be the safest option at that moment. I had no idea how Lexi or Maddie would have reacted if I called them, and David… wasn't someone I was looking forward to talking to first after everything that happened that night. And Shawn… I wasn't ready to face him at all. I felt ashamed.

After calming my furiously shaking fingers, I tapped on Addy's number and the line picked and began to ring. I could hear the thumps of my heartbeat even through the loud music coming out of the club at the entrance. After somewhat twenty seconds, I almost cut the call when the call was picked by the receiving end. My heart jumped into my mouth. My lips refused to utter any word and I stood frozen, my ears glued to the screen, listening to the calm breaths of the receiver. Just as I mustered the courage to speak, I heard a very familiar voice after a very long time,

“Maya? Is that really you?” Maddie asked in an astonished voice, not believing that I had actually called. I was taken aback since Maddie picked up the call instead of Andy but I nonetheless felt peace settling through my nerves as I heard her voice.

God! I forgot how much I missed this voice. How much I missed her. How much I missed them.

“Uhh… Ye-yeah, it's me, Maya. Uh... I wasn't expecting to hear your voice since… you know. But… it's good to hear your voice again.” 

“Uh… Yeah. Andy left his phone on the counter. We are hanging at David's place. He is looting David's fridge. You know, Andy being Andy.” She let out an awkward laugh.

“Haha, yeah. Andy being Andy.” I went quiet, not knowing what to say.

There was a deafening silence. She was trying to figure out what to say to me, and I was trying to figure out how to come up with possible explanations to any of her questions.

“Maya… Why'd you leave without a word? Was it our fault? Did we do something that pissed you off? Why'd you leave like that all of a sudden? Do you know we were searching out for you like crazy? We left you thousands of messages and calls. You wouldn't return any of them. Why would you ever do that?” Her tone gradually shifted from being soft to the frustration that she had dug inside her mind for the past 1 and a half years.

“I-I… I don't know what to say.” My tears involuntarily rushed down my cheeks and I struggled to keep my voice unhinged. This wasn't the way it was supposed to go. “I wish I could have an answer to any of your questions,” I mumbled, trying to make any sense of the words that came out. “I honestly don't know why I did that. I don't know. I just knew that I had to do it. I'm sorry.”

“That's it? This is the most logical answer you could give for your most illogical action? This wouldn't do, Maya.”

“I don't know what to say to you to make it better. I-”

“You can't possibly say anything to make it better. You ruined it, all by yourself. You know what? I can't deal with this right now. This is all just too much. I need to go now. First figure out your shit, Maya. Call me when you do.” The line ended and I stood there, my phone still glued to my ears.

I slowly processed the whole conversation. I couldn't blame her for her outburst. It was only natural. I took in a big, deep breath and adjusted my composure. 

I need a drink. What a wonderful night!

I made my way to the bar counter, shoving bodies out my way. A few stopped me holding me by the wrist, asking me to join them to dance and I politely declined, trying to let   my wrist out of their grip, and reached the counter.

“One mojito please,” I shouted and the bartender agreed with a nod. I sat down on my chair as I turned my back to watch the people dancing and having fun. Just as I turned, a guy picking his cocktail spilled it on my outfit.

Just perfect. 

“Fuck! I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I didn't see it coming.” His words barely reached my ears.

I shook my head as I looked at the stain and looked up to the guy through my lashes. He seemed pretty wasted. So, yelling at him would anyway be a waste.

“It's okay. I'm having a rough night anyway. I'll just go and clean this up. It'll probably leave a stain.” I got up from my seat. “Hey, I'll just be back.” I motioned the bartender and left looking for the restroom.

I picked up a few tissues and turned the tap on. I tried to rub the tissue through the stain, but it was of no use.

This is going to leave a stain anyway. 

I sighed. I looked into the mirror as a memory from the deep corner crawled up to my way.

*Flashback*

“Damn it! This isn’t working. Shawn Daniels, I am so going to get back to you for this!” I hissed while shooting daggering glares at him.

“What? Is it my fault that you’re a klutz. I told you, let me have that last slice of pizza but you wouldn’t agree.” He argued with an annoying smirk.

“Because we are supposed to have equal slices and you already had yours and that was mine!”

“There is no such rule. First-come, First-serve!” He winked.

“Whatever. You took my last slice and then spilled this stupid orange juice upon me!” I complained, looking at my baby pink pajamas.

“And again, ain’t my fault that you are a super klutz.”

“Ughh! How do I get this stain out? I just bought this cute pajama the other day.” I frowned.

“Fine. Bring the magic liquid.” He asked, looking downstairs.

“Magic liquid?”

“Bring me some vinegar.  Magic liquid. It would take off almost any stain.”

“Are you sure?” I asked, not sure whether to believe him.

He threw a sharp glare.

“Ugh fine.” I got up and went into the kitchen to bring the vinegar bottle.

I followed his instructions, soaked the cloth in lukewarm water, liquid detergent, and white vinegar for about 15 minutes.

“It worked!” I jumped in excitement.

“Told you. Now you owe me one.” He winked.

**

If only I would find vinegar here. I thought to myself, a weak smile curving at the corner of my lips. 

I walked out of the restroom and mindlessly started walking towards the counter.

“Here is your drink.” The bartender slid forward two glasses and two hands stretched their arms to grab theirs.

One was mine, and the other as I looked up to see, a billion chills dashed through my spine at the same time and my heart dropped.

Those gray eyes that I never thought I would see anytime soon, indeed hypnotized me the second it held my gaze and I never intended to look away again.

And then the voice that I didn’t know I craved to hear for so long drove my existence into pure ecstasy.

“Maya…?”

I wasn’t sure if it was the way my name escaped his lips or just him standing in front of me, in flesh. But I was certain, things were about to get intense.

Hey guys, I am back! After 6 months! I know it's a really long time and I'm so sorry about it.

But now I'm back and hopefully complete this book soon.

What do you think will happen next? I am pretty sure I don't need to tell you all who is the mystery guy here that Maya encountered.

I have planned way too much drama ahead. （＞ｙ＜）

I hope you liked this chapter. Drop down your views on this chapter.

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I'll see you guys soon.
Stay tuned♡.

~Loveya~( ˘ ³˘)♥