In Search of Amore I

In my dream, I could hear the scream of my name, "Maya, Maya," but funnily enough, this was a familiar voice. I rolled over, cuddling the duvet, struggling to get out of bed. Then the voice became more genuine. I woke up, slowly opening my eyelids, blinking a few times to fix my gaze, and met my fiancé, Drey, looking all nice and dressed up.

"Oh Drey," I greeted as I smiled from ear to ear. "I'm off to work, bae," he said, picking up his suitcase. "Won't you have breakfast first?" "Nah, I've got an appointment I have to attend to, don't miss me much," he insisted. "Alright then," I stood up to give him a peck, then we cuddled for minutes. "I love you," I stated, and he smiled back. "Bae, you don't want me to miss this appointment, do you?" "Oh no, of course," I released him and adjusted his suit. "Good luck," I waved as he left. Drey is someone I really love, he has a heart of gold and he is really sweet to be around with. On a normal day, I don't sleep over at a guy's place, but Drey is just different. Just then I noticed I've been standing, and thinking of him, I went upstairs to freshen up, had breakfast, and also stepped out for my daily hustle.

Out on the streets of Michigan Avenue in my car, listening to my favorite hit as I was bombarded with all the sweet sweet aroma of foods coming from restaurant on both sides, I saw the resemblance of my fiancé cuddling and kissing another lady outside a restaurant. "Drey?" I called out in uncertainty. He scanned around to spot where the voice came from and then he spotted me and was startled and pushed away his lady, he sure wasn't expecting me to take that route to my spa.

I couldn't bear it. I did not expect this from Drey. My head kept banging as the horns of the cars around became louder, my hands began to shiver, and my eyes became teary. I didn't know what to do, so I dashed off to my place, shut the door lock, and fell onto my couch. Tears started to run down my face in dismay. I felt very bittered and devastated. Rain started too, pounding against my window, echoing the tumult in my heart. I felt very sad and weak on my knees, struggling to get up from where I was seated.

Finally, my gaze fell upon Drey's picture, which I hung on my wall. As I reached for it, the tears became uncontrollable. I took it off the wall and sat down at the clustered table, where a photo album containing all my exes' pictures lay. Each image brought fresh heartache as I remembered the promises they all made to me. Flipping through the pages, recalling the best times I had with them and when they betrayed me, my heart weighed heavy. Adding Drey's picture to the empty page, I wept bitterly, overwhelmed by a torrent of emotions, realizing I had lost yet another man.

**Story begins:**

Well, out of this trauma, I am Maya Flare, a Spa owner, one of the most influential women in Chicago. Despite my success, the scars of past relationships still haunt me, a reminder of the pain and betrayal I've endured over the years.

It was a new day, and I woke still trying to wiggle myself out of the duvet as brightly shined rays of light came into my room from the sun. I stood up to close the blinds to keep out the intrusive rays, feeling all groovy and happy. I walked out of my room feeling 'Princessy', though I couldn't pinpoint the exact reason for my joy. Regardless, I embraced it wholeheartedly, completing my morning routine before heading off to work.

My spa is the biggest in Chicago, and I have my friends helping me to run it. As I arrived, they greeted me with enthusiasm. "Yo, Breezy!" they called out, to which I replied with a playful grin, "I'm feeling like a total boss babe!" Amidst the banter, Harper teased, "So what's up, girly? Who's the lucky guy?" I brushed off the question casually "C'mon Harpe, you know I'm off that". Just as I went to sit, the door opened, and a stud walked in, captivating my attention immediately and gosh is he a beauty and I couldn't help but keep staring......

I didn't know what usually happened to me when I saw a snacc; every single bother in my mind evaporated from the hotness that radiates from him. My gosh, he was looking at me! I hoped I didn't look quirky; my smile seemed fake. What was happening to me? Just then, a lady walked in and wrapped her hand around his arm.

"Hey," Charlotte said, blasting them a beaming grin.

"Hi," the rest of the girls greeted.

"Good morning, I brought someone," he said, as the lady, who looked relatively younger than him, smiled. Ugh, jealousy struck my heart; I was sure she came for facials.

"Hi, I'm here for hydrotherapy," she uttered.

"Over here, ma'am," Ava led her into the hydrotherapy crib. Harper then directed the stud to the lounge to wait.

Work was over, and I headed to the mall to get some lingerie I'd been longing for. As I stepped into the mall, the scent of fresh coffee and warm pastries greeted me, mingling the soft music playing in the background.

Then I bumped into a tall and handsome guy in the parking deck as I was about to leave, and it turned out to be ...

"Oh, so sorry," he said.

"No qualms," I replied and quickly turned to walk away. Then he held my hands, and I felt so cold with my heart having a resonating pump sound. His hands were as velvety. I didn't want to let go. My ego was fighting back, forcing me to lose the grip, but my soft, soft heart didn't want me to. I gathered myself and gave it a fight and re-withdrew my hand.

"What on earth, why did you touch me," I gave him a skeptical look.

"Oh, I'm sorry," he apologized.

I waited to see if he still had something to say, but still gave him a firm look to look tough.

"Erm, I came to your Spa today," he continued.

I didn't reply. I was waiting to know what he was driving at.

"Okay, that was a weird way of starting a conversation, uhn, I just want to have your number, so we can talk better."

I still didn't reply.

"I know I'm taking a lot of your time, but..."

"What's your problem?" I interrupted; he was shocked and felt remorseful. Immediately, I felt bad too. Why did I have to talk like that? His eyes became prettier and down.

"I mean, you brought your babe to my Spa this morning and now ask for my line?"

"Wha..." he tried to chip in.

"I'm- not- done," I stated. He kept quiet, then I noticed I had nothing else to say, but I felt like my retort was necessary. After about two seconds of saying nothing.

"I brought my sister, not my babe," he said in a gentleman's voice.

"Uh," I said as my smile began to increase.

"Yeah, she is my younger sister, she told me she wanted hydrotherapy and I brought her to your mall," he added.

"Uh, ohhh," I didn't know what to say at this point. "I'm sorry for the misunderstanding"

"Oh, it's no problem," he smiles, and now he looks prettier than ever. I don't know what to say but I want the conversation to wait much longer. "So...." He leaned his phone to me.

"Oh yeah," I gave him my number and collected his, just in case he forgets to call, then when we depart.

At my place.

Lying on my plush mattress thinking of this one guy that made my day. Reminiscing all that happened. From my Spa to the mall, to the touch, everything brought gladness to my heart.

Then my doorbell rings. I stood up to get it. Open my door. Then it turned out to be....

"Drey?!"

On an afternoon I thought I could make the best of, then I saw my ex.

"Drey?"

"Babe, it's not what you think," he says, stepping forward. I retreated slowly, leaving the door open. Then he walked in.

"What are you doing here?" I asked with anger multiplying inside me. He walks closer to me, so close that I could tell he had been drinking.

"Bae, I love you," he said. I looked at him in disgust. "Bae, I know you're mad about what you saw the other day, but I'm sorry," he tries to wrap me around his huge chest.

I stepped away. "Drey, get out of my house," I said with an aura of authority.

"Maya, please, I love you."

"You don't!"

I cut in, my voice echoing so loudly that even people three houses away would surely hear me. Tears ran down my face.

It reminded me of the countless times Drey had promised me the world, only to shatter my heart into a million pieces. He is a product of the fifth dating app I've tried, and the site alogrithm matched us 99% compatible and I agreed but now time has passed, cracks started to form, revealing Drey's true nature. He was charming, yes, but I can not take cheating, I just can't.

"I couldn't believe something like this would happen between me and Drey. Amidst the annoyance, I tried not to admire his face, but I couldn't help myself. My heart is just too forgiving"

"Get out!"

I shouted again, but this time my voice was riddled with shivers accompanying my tears. He sees my distress and wraps his arms around me, offering comfort. I kept crying as he wrapped his hand around me, resting my head on his chest.

"Drey, you don't love me," I stated with extreme bitterness.

"I do," he insists. Then I gathered strength to get off his sweet cuddles and said, "I'm just like the other girls, right?"

He doesn't seem to understand this, so he kept mute.

"I am just another side chick, one of the ladies you go around with, have fun with, but you don't truly love," I stated.

"It's not what you think," he protest weakly.

"You can't dictate what I think, I saw you!" Now my voice grows louder with each word.

With enough courage, I commanded "Drey! get out".

He hesitates, but the seriousness in my eyes prompts him to leave, fidgeting as he goes.

Feeling proud of my actions, I wiped away my tears and strode forward like a boss. Then, a thought about my newfound lover crossed my heart then smiles flooded my face.

I ran back to my bed, checking to see if he had called, but there was no notification. A bit of sadness crept in; I wanted the honor of calling, but it felt like giving in too easily. Plus, a bit of suspense never hurt anyone.

I stood up to make an omelette, then my phone rang.