Translation: Risk of Love

December 16 2024

It was the evening as Maya and her friends were seen having dinner, She cooked a pot of mutton biryani as everyone was enjoying the food while talking to each other.

However, Maya was lost in her thoughts, She couldn't stop thinking about Desmond and she knew she should stop now, There was no way he would accept her feelings after what he said, Maya felt like she should have expected this a little sooner.

Her friends looked at her and noticed she was eating quietly, They looked at each other before Ranveer said something.

Ranveer: What's wrong, Maya? Did a baby puked on your new dress?

Maya looked at Ranveer and had a smile on her face as she shaked her head.

Maya: No, haha. I'm fine, actually.

Hayley: Are you sure? Did you not like the food?

Maya: No, I do. It's really delicious.

Deepika: Is something bothering you?

Deepika spoke with concern, The others also knew about what happened. Maya bit her tongue and looked at them before sighing.

Maya: Well, It's just that my feelings grew stronger for him. . . Every single day. Even after i heard what he said about me. . .

Hayley: Maya, He may have said that, but. . . What if it's not true?

Maya: What if it is true?

Ranveer: You know, you can't really say anything unless you tell him.

Deepika: Ranveer is right, You can't just give up already.

Maya: I'm worried though, maybe it's true. . . He doesn't love me.

Deepika placed a hand gently on Maya's shoulder.

Deepika: Maya, I can understand why you're worried, but you won't know for sure unless you tell him. He told me a different thing, but you never know how he truly feels.

Ranveer: Yeah, that's what i always told myself when i started falling in love with Deepika.

Hayley: Besides, what if he actually does feel the same way?

Maya just nodded, but it didn't make her feel better.

Maya: I appreciate the support, but I'm afraid it will ruin our friendship, I'm afraid to. . . Break my heart.

Ranveer: If he doesn't love you, I'll go to his shop, beat him up so bad, and I'll take Jake away, and you can keep that bundle of joy for the rest of your life.

Deepika/Hayley: Ranveer!

Ranveer: What? I also don't want to see my best friend's heart broken.

Maya couldn't help but laugh at what he said, Deepika and Hayley just stared at him while Ranveer gave an innocent smile.

Hayley: But seriously, Maya. I really think you should just speak to him now. Now, this looks like the right time to say it.

Deepika: Please, Maya, don't give up already.

Ranveer: But I'm serious about one thing, and I'm not trying to bring your hope down but. . . If it doesn't go on your way, please don't let it affect you. You're an amazing person and a very smart woman. Don't let love ruin yourself.

Maya couldn't help but smile as she looked at her friends, Her heart was beating faster as she nodded.

Maya: I'll try to follow your advice and find out for myself. I've always trusted in Destiny, but if it turns out that Desmond doesn't share the same feelings. . . I'll actually hate Destiny cause the thought of him not being the one my heart wants is just too difficult to accept.

They continued staring at her as Maya finished her meal and got up, They felt a little sad by what she said and hoped the best.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Desmond: She loves me. . . And I don't know how to feel about it.

Crowe was holding his head while sitting on the couch, Jake was crawling around the living room while Logan, Alex, and Benjamin looked at him with shock.

Alex: She loves you, and you don't know how to feel about it? What do you mean by that?

Desmond: *Sighs* I don't think I'm ready yet.

Benjamin: Buddy, I know how difficult it is, but come on. . . It's been a year, almost two years now.

Logan: You love her, don't you?

Desmond: I don't. . .

He spoke silently, When Desmond said that, He felt his heart break for some reason. It didn't feel right to him.

Desmond: I didn't really know about it. . . And I feel stupid that I never knew. The way she looks at him, how she compliments me. . . She always wants to hold my hand. . . I should have known.

Benjamin: . . . You didn't reject her, did you?

Desmond: No, I just heard a whisper from her. . . She likes to monologue for some reason.

He chuckled a little as the trio stared at him.

Desmond: And I'm sure she doesn't know that I heard her.

Alex: Desmond, You may have said that you never loved her but. . . Are you sure you're not lying to yourself.

Desmond: I'm not, Relationship isn't my main focus right now.

Logan: But it is now, don't you think? You can't just lie and keep the promise you made to yourself. Some promises can be broken. Perhaps it's time to be honest with yourself and tell her how you feel.

Desmond: I'm not ready, though.

They sighed and looked at him as Crowe was thinking to himself.

Benjamin: Sometimes you have to take a risk, You know?

Alex: Maya is perfect for you, She loves you and Jake so much.

Logan: That's right, She's the diamond. You've been searching for.

Desmond was silent and thought about what they said, He knew they were right. Maybe Maya was the one he always needed, a mother that Jake always needed.

Desmond: I. . . You guys are right, but. . .

Alex: Look, remember what you said to us a few months ago? That you never wanted to break her heart.

His eyes lit up and remembered what he said, The trio looked at each other as Desmind continued thinking about Maya.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was the next day, Maya was at the daycare as she placed Jake on the crib after feeding him, He began crying and felt thirsty, wanting to drink something. Maya quickly grabbed the milk bottle and gave him the bottle as he began drinking.

Maya: You look so cute, Jakey.

Jake continued drinking the milk while staring at her, She heard another baby crying as Maya quickly went to check on the baby.

Jake continued staring at Maya while drinking his milk, Evans picked up the baby boy that was crying as she noticed Jake was staring at her, She gave a huge smile to him as Jake continued staring at her, Soon he threw his baby bottle aside and began kicking his legs and cooed, calling her over.

Later on, Maya was off from her shift early, and Desmond wasn't coming over anytime soon, so she decided to take Jake outside with her.

Jake was sucking a nipple as Maya raised both eyebrows and smiled at him.

Maya: Stop staring at me with those eyes!

Jake continued staring at her before he grabbed her hair as Maya gasped.

Maya: Jake! Not my hair.

Jake smiled at her reaction and continued grabbing her as Maya laughed before moving his little hand away, Soon she saw a supermarket and walked inside, Jake was babbling as Maya was talking to him, She went out the chocolate's aisle as Jake was looking around.

Maya: Which chocolate do you want, Jakey?

She kissed his cheek and continued looking around until Jake stared at a galaxy chocolate, Maya noticed it and took the chocolate while smiling.

Maya: You want this?

He grabbed it as Maya smiled and nodded, She took another chocolate for herself and walked to the cashier to buy it. Soon, She left the supermarket and saw a bench as she sat down and opened the chocolate and fed it to Jake.

Jake was flapping his arms, enjoying the chocolate as Maya was smiling at him, She took a bite of the chocolate until she noticed a familiar car that stopped by as Desmond came out, fixing his sunglasses.

Maya: Uh oh, Jakey. We're busted.

Desmond: *Smiles* Ahh, what are you two doing here?

Crowe quickly walked up to her and sat on the bench as Maya smiled at him.

Maya: Uhhh, well, I finished my shift earlier, so I decided to take a 0

Desmond: And you two are secretly eating chocolates, without me?

Maya: It was Jake's idea, not me.

They both shared a laugh as Desmond was staring at her, admiring her for a moment before remembering what she whispered. Those three words did make his heart skip a beat.

Maya: So uhh your done with work?

Desmond: Yeah, thank God I found both of you right here.

Maya: Sorry, I was actually about to message you.

Desmond: It's alright.

Jake looked at his dad and tried to touch his hand, but Crowe moved his hand away as Maya laughed.

Desmond: Oh, so you're making me a tissue paper? Wiping that chocolate on me?

Maya continued laughing as Jake smiled at his dad. Evans pulled out a tissue from her purse and wiped Jake's hand, Desmond watched her intently, remembering her words while admiring her beauty, Now he really wondered. Was he in love with her, but he refused to believe it?

Maya noticed he was staring at her, And that made her slightly blush as she stared at him.

Maya: Do I have chocolate on my face?

Desmond: Uhh no. . .

Maya: *Smiles* Then why are you staring at me?

Desmond really wanted to reveal the truth that he knew she liked him, But he wasn't sure, He wanted to wait it out.

Desmond: I just. . . *Chuckles* Nothing.

She looked with curiosity and intrigue as Desmond began looking at Jake with a smile on his face.

After a few minutes, Desmond was ready to take Jake back home as Crowe began walking towards his car while Maya followed him.

Desmond: Alright, Jake. It's time to go back to your home.

Maya: Awww, Can I keep him?

Desmond: *Chuckles* Are you actually living up to the name, Mama Maya?

He spoke softly as Maya blushed again and looked at Jake again.

Maya: Well, I don't want to leave him yet.

Desmond: Haha, Looks like your glued to him.

Maya: Definitely with Fevicol.

They both shared a laugh as Desmond took Jake and kissed his forehead as Maya was smiling at him.

Maya: Okay, Drive home safely. I'll see you later.

Desmond: Wait. . .

As Desmond pulled her close, time seemed to stand still. Maya's heart skipped a beat, her eyes widening as she looked up at him. She could feel he steady of his heart against her own. His eyes held a flicker of something, an emotion that left her breathless.

His heart pounded in his chest, The scent of her hair filling his senses. Looking into her eyes, he saw a mixture of hope, fear, and love that mirrored his own feelings.

Desmond: Uh. . . You can come over tonight if you want to see Jake.

They stayed close to each other, Almost forgetting about Jake who was holding Desmond's shirt, Maya already felt like she wanted confess right here, But she held back.

Maya: Of course. . . If I'm free, I'll come over.

Desmond: Alright, Take care. . .

She had a smile on her face and slowly walked away, Desmond felt empty when Maya wasn't close to him. He continued staring at her from a distance, Telling himself that he really does feel something for her.

Maybe the promise he made. . . Was about to be broken.

A/N: Thank you so much for reading and stay strong!!! :)