The engine roared to life. And just like that, he was gone.
Maja stood there, unmoving. Tears blurred her vision as she watched the car disappear into the distance. The silence that followed felt louder than anything, slowly, her gaze dropped.
To the picnic mat.
To the flowers.
To the half-cut cake.
And finally…
To the locket resting against her chest.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she touched it.
Inside were their pictures.
Together.
Side by side.
Her heart clenched painfully.
Could I really be in love with Adrian...?
The thought terrified her.
Because if it was true.
Then everything she believed… everything she had been told… Was wrong.
"It's not right…" she whispered, her voice breaking. "Not at this age… not now…"
But even as she said it, the tears fell anyway.
And deep down, her heart wasn't listening.
She quickly gathered the cake and the bouquet, holding them carefully as she made her way back to the house.
For a fleeting second, the thought crossed her mind to throw everything away, to get rid of it all, as if that would somehow erase what had just happened.
But she stopped herself, that would be foolish.
Adrian was only upset.
By tomorrow, things will settle. They always did.
After all,… he was her best friend.
And she knew him well enough to believe she could fix this, just like she always had.
"What is that?" Joe exclaimed the moment she stepped inside, his eyes widening at the sight of the cake in her hands.
Maja blinked, slightly startled. "Oh… Adrian gave it to me."
Joe's brows furrowed as he looked from the cake to the bouquet she carried. "This is… too much."
Maja let out a small breath. "I told him the same thing, Grandpa, but he wouldn't listen."
She shrugged lightly, trying to make it seem insignificant, and turned toward her room but just then, Claire stepped into the room.
Her eyes immediately fell on Maja.
More specifically, on the necklace resting around her neck.
"All these… are they from Adrian?" Claire asked slowly, her gaze sharp with surprise.
Maja hesitated for a brief second. "Yes, Mom."
Claire stepped closer, pointing gently at the locket. "And this too?"
Maja nodded.
A silence followed, heavy, uneasy.
"I mean… how could he give you all of this?" Claire muttered, more to herself than anyone else.
Joe crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful but guarded. "Maybe it's his father's doing. I'm not comfortable with this… not at all."
"I know, Grandpa," Maja replied quickly, trying to ease their concern. "But Adrian is my friend. We've known each other for years. There's nothing strange about it."
Her voice held a quiet firmness, as though she was trying to convince not just them… but herself.
Claire sighed, clearly unconvinced.
"I understand that Maja," she said carefully. "But this isn't just about friendship anymore. Gifts like these… they mean something."
Her eyes searched Maja's face.
"And why would you even accept them?" she added. "I've told you before, Adrian is just a friend. I hope… you two are not involved in anything more than that?"
Maja's heart skipped.
Then began to race uncontrollably.
This...
This was exactly what she had been trying to avoid.
"Mom!" she said quickly, almost defensively. "Adrian is just a friend."
Without waiting for another question, she turned and walked briskly to her room.
She shut the door behind her, her chest rising and falling unevenly.
The cake was placed carefully on the small table.
The bouquet followed.
The soft fragrance of the flowers filled the room almost instantly.
Maja stood there for a moment, staring at them.
"They smell so nice…" she murmured under her breath.
Her gaze shifted to the cake.
"I guess… I'll just share this with my friends tomorrow," she thought quietly.
But even as she said it, her fingers instinctively reached for the locket around her neck.
Back in the living room, a heavy silence settled between Claire and Joe.
Joe was the first to speak.
"Don't you think we're getting a little too close to the Hayes family?" he asked, his tone laced with concern.
Claire frowned slightly, already sensing where he was heading.
"First Maja… now you," he continued.
Claire exhaled slowly, running a hand through her hair.
"I know, Dad," she admitted. "And… he told me he has something important to discuss with me."
Joe's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
"We're meeting tomorrow," she said.
Joe stared at her. "Why?"
Claire straightened slightly, her expression turning firm despite the uncertainty in her eyes.
"I know what I'm doing," she replied. "I'm just curious. I need to know what he wants… what this is all about."
She paused, then added quietly.
"And tomorrow, I'm going to find out."
Joe didn't look convinced.
"You don't have to worry, Dad," Claire said with a soft sigh, though even she couldn't ignore the unease lingering in her chest.
Because deep down…
She had a feeling that whatever Mr. Lewis wanted to say was not going to be simple.
And it might change more than she was ready for.
Adrian returned home that evening, his emotions tangled in a storm he couldn't quite understand.
Anger lingered, but not the kind he could hold onto for long.
Not when it came to Maja.
He ran a hand through his hair as he paced his room, frustration building and fading all at once.
Why would she only want them to be friends?
The question echoed endlessly in his mind.
He stopped abruptly, his thoughts drifting back to that moment.
The kiss.
A slow smile curved onto his lips.
He didn't even know what had come over him…
But it felt right, more than right.
It was soft. Sweet. Real.
And in that moment, everything had made sense.
Maja wasn't just his best friend.
She had never been.
Not to him.
He exhaled deeply, dropping onto his bed as he stared at the ceiling.
He knew how he felt.
There was no confusion about that.
And if waiting was what it would take, then he would wait for her.
Even if, for now, all he could be just her "best friend."
"So… why are you smiling like a dog that just found a bone?"
The voice came out of nowhere followed by a light smack on his shoulder.
Adrian jerked slightly, turning to see Jordan standing there with a teasing grin.
"When did you even get into my room?" he asked, raising a brow.
"Just now," she replied casually, folding her arms. "But you were too busy smiling like a lovesick fool to notice."
She leaned closer, narrowing her eyes playfully.
"Let me guess… you went to see Maja today."
Adrian rolled his eyes.
"It's her birthday, genius," Jordan added dramatically.
"So, what do you want?" he asked, clearly uninterested in her teasing.
"Mom wants to talk to us," she said.
Before he could respond, her phone rang.
A video call.
Jordan glanced at the screen and quickly answered.
The moment the call connected, Adrian's expression softened instantly.
"Mom!" they both said at the same time, their voices filled with excitement.
Their mother's face appeared on the screen, glowing with warmth despite the distance.
"Oh, look at my children," she said with a wide smile. "You've both grown so much… and so beautifully."
Adrian chuckled softly. "We missed you, Mom."
"I miss you too," she replied, her voice tinged with emotion.
Then Jordan, unable to resist, leaned into the camera with a mischievous grin.
"But Mom, there's something you should know…"
Adrian narrowed his eyes immediately.
"Jordan! don't you dare."
"Your son is already in love," she blurted out. "He even has a girlfriend!"
"Oh, come on…" Adrian groaned, rubbing his forehead. "Jordan can be so annoying sometimes."
"Don't mind her, Mom," he added quickly. "It's not what she thinks."
Their mother chuckled softly, shaking her head.
"You two… just be careful, okay?" she said gently. "I wish I could come and see you, but work here has been very demanding."
Her expression softened slightly.
"And… How is your father?"
Adrian's smile faded just a little, but he kept his tone steady.
"Dad is fine, Mom. Don't worry."
Then, with a hint of determination, he added.
"During the holidays, I'm coming over to see you… whether Dad likes it or not."
Jordan laughed under her breath.
Their mother smiled, though there was something emotional hidden behind it.
"I would love that," she said quietly.
And for a moment…
Despite the distance, despite everything It felt like they were all together again.
"Me too, Mom," Jordan pouted playfully, leaning closer to the screen.
Their mother laughed softly, her eyes filled with warmth and a quiet sadness she tried to hide.
The two children continued talking with her for a long time, laughter filling the call, stories overlapping, voices alive with excitement.
But beneath it all…
Was a painful truth.
It had been six years.
Six long years since they last saw her.
Since the divorce.
Since she returned to Mexico.
And since Lewis made sure she stayed away.
Only he knew her secret. And that secret was enough to keep her silent.
Enough to keep her distant, she was never allowed to visit, never allowed to hold her children again.
All she could do was called.
Ask how they were.
Listen to their voices.
And pretend it was enough.
Before the divorce, she had made an agreement with Lewis
One she had no choice but to accept.
She would never tell Adrian the truth.
No matter what.