Chapter 6

"Maya! Maya, wake up! What are you doing? We are late for school!" Liam screamed, banging on the door.

I groaned and rolled over, trying to ignore him. But Liam was persistent. He kept knocking and shouting my name until I finally sat up in bed, rubbing my eyes.

"What do you want?" I snapped, feeling irritable.

"We have to leave in 20 minutes, and you're still in bed," Liam said, his tone annoyed.

"I know, I know," I muttered, pushing the blankets off me. "Just give me a few minutes to get ready."

I heard Liam sigh heavily outside the door, and then there was a long silence. I knew he was waiting for me to come out, but I didn't feel like facing him just yet. The last time we spoke, things had been very awkward between us.

I got out of bed and quickly got dressed, trying not to think about Liam. But as soon as I opened the door, he was there, staring at me with his intense green eyes.

"Finally," he uttered, a hint of a smile on his lips.

"I'm sorry," I muttered, feeling embarrassed.

Liam shrugged. "It's fine. Just don't make a habit of it."

I nodded, still feeling uneasy. "Well, I guess we should leave."

The drive to school was quiet, and I could feel Liam's eyes on me the whole time. I tried to ignore it, but it was hard. Finn and Aiden were quiet as well. This was unusual. I wondered if Liam told them about our secret incident.

As we entered the school building, Liam seized my hand and dragged me into a deserted hallway.

"What are you doing?" I asked, feeling nervous.

Liam looked at me, his eyes intense. "Maya, it seems that you are still angry at me. I apologize for what happened. I shouldn't have kissed you. It was stupid and I regret it. But I can't stop thinking about you. I know we're step-siblings, but that doesn't change how I feel."

I stared at him, feeling shocked. I did not anticipate him saying such things. "Liam, I don't know how to make you understand. It's just...we can't be together. It's wrong."

"Why?" Liam asked, stepping closer to me. "We're not blood-related. We're merely two people who happen to share a home. Why can't we be together?"

"Because it's not right," I said, feeling my resolve weakening. "We can't do this."

Liam's face fell and he turned away from me. We both felt weird and uneasy as we stood there in silence fpr a while. Then Liam cleared his throat and straightened up.

"Well, we should probably get to class," he said, his tone neutral.

I nodded, feeling relieved that we did not have the next class together.

I sat in English class, trying to focus on the lesson, but my mind kept wandering. I couldn't stop thinking about Liam and our conversation earlier. It was so confusing and frustrating. I didn't know what to do.

Then, out of nowhere, I saw him. Ethan. He was peering in at me from outside the window. I found it hard to believe. Is this a dream? Was he really there?

His dark hair was tousled and his chiseled jawline was set in a firm expression. He looked like he belonged on the cover of a magazine. He was so hot and I wanted to kiss his lips. He was wearing a white shirt that hugged his toned physique perfectly. I wanted to know how it would feel to run my fingers over his abs; exploring every curve and contour. I wanted to feel his skin rubbing against mine. I had never felt so much attracted to a man before.

He started to walk away, and I panicked. I had to talk to him. I had so many questions to ask him.

"Excuse me, can I be excused for a moment?", I asked my English teacher while trying to maintain a calm voice.

Well, I got up from my desk and said, "Sure, I just...I need to go the restroom."

He nodded, and I quickly made my way to the door. I hurried outdoors and looked around for Ethan.

I searched everywhere in the school compound, but I couldn't find Ethan. I was feeling so helpless and frustrated. My mind kept playing tricks on me. I began to question if I had actually seen him or if it had all been in my head. Perhaps I was dreaming.

I turned to look around the corner of the building, but all I saw was a figure moving rapidly before it vanished. I ran towards it, hoping that it was Ethan, but when I got there, I saw that it was only a tree branch swaying in the wind. I felt so silly for getting my hopes up.

I continued my search, going from one place to another, but Ethan was nowhere to be found. It was as though he had vanished into thin air. I decided to give up and go back to my English class. As I walked back to my classroom, I tried to calm myself down and focus on the lesson, but I was still feeling restless.

At lunch, I joined my three stepbrothers at the cafeteria.

Aiden seemed distant as I sat down at the table, but Liam and Finn smiled at me.

Hey guys," I said in an effort to strike up a discussion. "How have you been today?"

Liam answered, taking a piece of his sandwich, "It's been good." Just another dull day in class.

Aiden remained silent, but Finn nodded in agreement.

"What about you, Maya?" Finn asked, looking at me. "How's your day been?"

"I guess it's been okay," I said, lying. "Nothing too exciting."

Suddenly, Aiden spoke up. "Hey, have you guys heard about the Selene festival? In a few weeks, it will be held at the palace."

I shook my head. I was very curious. "What's that?"

"It's a festival that we hold each year in honor of Selene, the goddess of the moon. It's a big thing, and during the day, there are frequently numerous activities and festivities. Every year, it takes place at the palace." Aiden spoke while addressing me.

"The event honors the vibrant culture and long history of our monarchy. From all throughout the kingdom, there will be music, dancing, and entertainment. The renowned roasted meats and vegetables from the southern plains as well as the flavorful stews and pastries from the northern highlands will be among the diverse cuisines we provide."

"Everyone will be able to engage in games and competitions throughout the event. We'll hold foot races, archery contests, and perhaps a knight tournament. The winners will be given a reward for their courage and talent."

"As night sets, we'll use lovely lanterns and candles to illuminate the palace and the nearby gardens. The fireworks display will light up the sky, signaling the end of the festival."

Aiden took a deep breath. "It's our responsibility to make sure that everything is ready on time. This year's festival must also be succesful."

Liam raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by 'our job' ?"

Aiden hesitated before answering. "Father has given me the task of planning the festival's work, and he wants us all to participate. You, Maya, and Finn are included in it. He stated that now that we're all grown up, we must assume some new responsibilities. He's counting on us to make this event a success."

Although they both were a little taken aback, Liam and Finn nodded in accord. "Yes, we're pleased to assist", Liam replied.

Finn added, "Yeah, it sounds like fun."

I nodded, feeling a sense of excitement and responsibility. "I'm in. What do we need to do?"

Aiden smiled. "We'll need to organize the event's logistics, set up the stages and booths, and make sure the decorations are ready. It will take a lot of work, but I have faith that we will be successful if we work together as a team."