Destructive Desire

On a bright and sunny Saturday morning, Maya woke up to the sound of her alarm blaring in her ear. She groggily reached over to turn it off and sat up in bed, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She yawned and stretched, feeling the softness of her blanket beneath her.

As she swung her legs over the side of the bed, her feet dangled in the air, searching for her slippers. She found them tucked away under her bed and slipped them on, feeling the warmth and coziness envelop her toes.

Maya shuffled to the bathroom, her eyes half-closed, and began her morning routine. She brushed her teeth, washed her face, and tied up her hair in a messy bun.

As she was about to leave the bathroom, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, scrutinizing her reflection and noticing the dark circles under her eyes as well as the tangled mess of her hair. She sighed, making a mental note to take better care of herself.

As she left the bathroom, she heard the familiar beep of her phone signaling notifications. She quickly grabbed her phone from the counter and smiled as she saw two notifications that instantly lifted her mood.

The first notification was from her best friend, Theresa, reminding her that they had planned to meet in the school's library at noon that day. "Good Morning Maya, it's our study day. Don't forget our meet up by 11:00am. See you at the library."

Maya had almost forgotten about their plans, and she was grateful for the reminder. She quickly typed out a response, confirming their meeting and adding a few excited emojis.

The second notification, however, sent a thrill through Maya's veins. It was a reminder that "The Talent Quest TV show was starting in three day's time!"

Maya, who is a binge watcher, had been eagerly awaiting the new season, and the countdown had finally begun. She has always had interests in TV shows ever since she was a kid. She admires the contestants and judges which brought about her fantasy to one day be a part of the show.

At the sight of this, she felt like a kid on Christmas morning, barely containing her excitement.

She hopped into the bathroom again, this time for a refreshing bath to get ready for the day ahead.

As she stepped into the bathroom, she began to undress. Her movements, fluid and natural. Her messy hair was tied back in a single knot band and with a quiet grace, she reached up and carefully pulled up a single strand of the knot that bound her hair. In a swift, silent motion, the entire length of her hair came undone, cascading down her back in a rich, dark waterfall. The rope, now freed from its duty, slid smoothly down her hair, its ends trailing softly across her skin as her tresses flowed like a river of night down her back.

She stepped into the bathtub and had a refreshing and relaxing bath. Minutes later, she stepped out of the bathtub feeling accomplished. She gently reached for her soft woolen towel which was neatly hanging on the bathroom rack as she patted her soft skin dry and reached for her pink bathrobes with cloud prints.

She stood in front of her 64×21 full length mirror that gave a pure reflection of her slender figure which was not oblivious in the pink lightweight bath robe she had on.

She reached for her fragranced cosmetics and gently applied them on her soft, delicate skin while silently searching her mind for what to put on for the day. Maya then went over to her wardrobe and finally decided to wear body-hug denim pants and a tank top.

She then grabbed her phone, scrolling through for any important notification or message; but there was none. With her phone still clutched in her hands, Maya clomping downstairs, her stomach growling in anticipation. Her mom Sarah was already in the kitchen expertly flipping pancakes.

"Hey, sweetie! How are you doing today?" She asked, noticing Maya's bright smile.

"Mom, Mom!" Maya exclaimed, hardly able to contain her excitement. "The Talent Quest is starting in three days! Oh my gosh, I can't wait!"

Her mom, Sarah, turned from the stove with a warm smile. "I know, sweetie, you've been counting down for weeks! Are you planning on watching it with Sophie and Theresa?"

Maya nodded enthusiastically. "Yes mom, we're going to watch it together!

"Sounds fun," Sarah said with a smile as Maya took a seat in the kitchen and asked. "mom, where is dad?"

"Your dad is still asleep. He came home from work yesterday, extremely exhausted. So he needs to have extra rest time today. I'll be sure to serve him breakfast before he wakes up."

"But mom, dad need to learn to take leaves from work. I don't know why he keeps overworking himself."

"I've told him that like a million times but he's seemingly adamant, always using the excuse of If I don't work extra time who will clear the never ending bills of the household." Maya's mom said, imitating her husband.

"Anyways mom, how much more time will that pancake take to be ready, I'm starving to death!" Maya said with a gloomy look on her face.

"It'll take as much time as necessary." Maya's mom said as she flipped the last pancake on the the fire and placed it in a plate. "Here, enjoy your breakfast." She said as she presented to Maya a stack of pancakes and a plate of fresh fruits.

"Oh mom, you're the best!" Maya said as she quietly dived into her food.

Minutes later, Maya was done with her food and she thanked her mom and headed back upstairs to her room.

She was indoors until it was time to get ready for study with Sophie and Theresa.

She laid on her bed, browsing through different social networks until she heard the sound of her alarm. As the alarm sounded, Maya jumped out of bed, excited for her study session. "Yay! It's study time!"

Maya had always been passionate about learning, and her love for books had been a companion throughout her life."

When she wasn't immersed in her favorite TV shows, you could find her nose-deep in a textbook or exploring new ideas. But what brought her the most joy was sharing this passion with her two favorite people, making study sessions a treasured time together."

Maya tackled her makeup and hair, taking her time to perfect her look. She wanted to feel confident and put-together for her study session with Theresa and Sophie. With her curls bouncing and her lips glossed, Maya packed her books and grabbed her backpack.

"Time to focus on studying!" Maya texted Theresa, and they chatted briefly about their plans. "Hey, girl! I'm so ready to crush this math test. Meet you at the library in 20 minutes." Theresa replied, her enthusiasm infectious.

Maya also called Sophie, who was already at the library, saving them a table. "Hey, Soph! We're on our way. I hope you brought your notes."

After finishing her phone calls, Maya grabbed her backpack and headed out the door, feeling confident and ready for her study session.

The library was a short walk from her house, and the fresh mid-day air invigorated her as she strolled alongside Theresa.

As they settled into their table, Sophie greeted them with a warm smile. "Hey, guys! Let's get started. We've got a lot to cover."

The three friends dived into their textbooks, notes, and discussion, their focus intensifying as they worked through problems and concepts. Maya felt her understanding of the material solidify, and her confidence grew.

After a productive couple of hours, Maya glanced at her watch and realized it was already lunchtime. "Hey, guys, let's take a break. I'm starving!" Theresa and Sophie agreed, and they packed up their things, heading out of the library.

Just as they were about to leave, Maya's phone buzzed. She answered the call. It was her mom.

"Hey, sweetie, how's studying going?" her mom asked.

"Everything is fine mom," she replied, with a bit of puzzled look, wondering why her mom called. It wasn't usual for her mom to call while she was out.

Her mom sounded serious, "Maya, we need to talk about something. Can you come home right after studying?"

Maya's heart skipped a beat. What did her mom want to discuss? "Okay, Mom. I'll be there soon."

As she hung up the phone, Theresa and Sophie exchanged concerned glances.

"Hey, what was that?" Theresa asked.

"It was my mom on the phone. I have no idea what she wants to talk about and she needs me home urgently."

"Okay…I hope it's no trouble." Sophie said.

"I hope so too." Maya said, feigning calmness.