The whole walk from the hall to the lounge on the first floor was just a matter of less than a hundred steps that was completed in not even a minute. Tyler opened the door to the room and entered first, followed by his friend.
There were a few people there. All young masters of upper-class families who were a part of the circle. For these people, parties such as this one were not just for celebration, but a chance to make connections and make networks.
When Luther and Tyler entered the room, they were greeted by Kevin, who had been their close friend since high school.
"Look who has graced us with his presence. It's Mr. Idol.... Luther Zeev Grayson."
"HEY!!! It's our Super Idol..."
The others joined in too. Luther greeted them back with a pat or a shake.
"Seriously. You have been so busy these days that I thought you'd not come." Kevin said before he complained. "You even missed my birthday."
"I thought I made it up to you when I gifted you with the car... If you're no satisfied with it, I can always take it_"
Kevin did not even let Luther finish what he was about to say,
"Eehhh!!!! When did I say I was not satisfied with it. Don't you know it's rude to take back a gift that has already been accepted. I was just complaining to two closest friends who didn't appear at my birthday party."
This time he was looking at Tyler. The dude was out of the country that day.
But unlike Luther, Tyler was not a person to indulge Kevin in his pity party.
"I have to go back downstairs."
With that short notice, he walked out the door.
"Such a heatless man. I wonder what Raelyn even sees in that guy. I would have broken up with him a long time ago if I was her."
Kevin grumbled as he pouted.
"Well..." Luther took a seat and sipped the drink that Kevin passed to him. "They had been together for almost five years now. So, she clearly sees something in him that you don't."
"Gezzz..."
The other guy only rolled his eyes. But suddenly, as though something had clicked in his mind, he turned to look at the door and stared at it without blinking for a while. Luther noticed his odd action and questioned him what he was looking for.
Then, in a slightly lowered voice, Kevin asked Luther.
"She didn't follow?"
Being friends with the idol for more than ten years, Kevin noticed the slight pause that Luther made before he quickly covered it up.
"Hmm..." The man just hummed as a reply.
"Hahhh...." Kevin sighed as he leaned back on the couch. "Could she have really changed?"
He wondered out loud. But then, he quickly sat up straight as he turned to his friend and narrated excitedly.
"Do you know how speechless I was when she smiled at me and called me 'Brother Kevin.' Lu... This is Maevie we're talking about. That girl rolled her eyes every time she saw me."
Kevin shook his body as he got goosebumps recalling that incident again. Then he continued with his exaggerated narrations, totally unaware that his friend was lost in his own thoughts...
Before entering the mansion, Luther had to stop and take in a few breaths, to prepare himself for what was about to come later. It was a ritual he had developed over the years after Maevie started to pursue him. But this time, it was for a different reason.
Although he had some doubt that she would not behave the same as before after her accident. She had not contacted him ever since then. Luther believed that she may have been disappointed at him for not being there for her when she needed.
Thinking about it, he could not ignore the uncomfortable tightness in his chest.
Never in his life had Luther been this conflicted with himself. He had found himself questioning what it was that he wanted when it came to Maevie.
And as always, he did not have an upright answer.
Luther knew he did not want to accept Maevie as her girlfriend. But he had never been able to be harsh to her ever. Maybe it was because she had been the closest to becoming the sister that he had always wanted when he was a child.
When Maevie stopped appearing in front of him, stopped calling him and sending texts to him, he was relieved. He did not care about the reason why she had stopped looking for him. Only that.... He felt as though a burden weighing tons had been finally lifted off his shoulder.
But..... When it continued for more than two months, he was engulfed by a sense of loss. He did not know when it started but he found himself paying more and more attention to his phone.
He used to put it on silent mode during his work time. But for the past few weeks, he had been making sure it was never on silent mode. Every dinging sound of notification, whether it was from his phone or someone else's always alarmed him.
That was when he started questioning himself. Driving deep into his own heart and mind in search of an answer.
He began to ask why she was not looking for him now. Asking if she had finally given up on him. And if so, why? Why so suddenly?
That was when he guessed that she must've been disappointed in him. For ignoring her all the time. For not being there when she needed someone.....
He thought that he would not feel bothered even if she was disappointed in him. That was the whole reason for him to ignore her. But now that he got the result that he wanted had been achieved, he felt everything but relieved.
That was when Luther realized that what he wanted was not for Maevie to avoid him. He did not want her to be disappointed in him. But for the two of them to interact normally. For him to visit the Cacia mansion with ease like he used to. For Tyler to not look at him with hints of awkwardness.
So, when he stood in front of the eleven feet tall door of the Cacia mansion, he was hoping that Maevie would not openly ignore him. That she would at least greet him when she saw him.
And she did exactly what he hoped for. For the first time in almost ten years, Luther had a normal conversation with Maevie. He was now finally relieved of all his worries.