Icebreaker (One Shot)

Icebreaker

It has been years since Kianna saw her friends that she met online. She remembered how the Kuripots, as they call themselves, had invited her to hang out after they read a particular story she posted in a writing website. After that hanging out, they introduced a girl, another reader of hers, to her and they went out on a date. Kianna tried to push the thought away since that particular girl changed her life for the good and the bad.

“Kianna!” Mikey squealed when she first caught sight of the girl.

“Hey,” Kianna greeted when she got close enough to the Kuripots.

Mikey jumped at Kianna and hugged her tight. “You’ve been gone for so long! We missed you!”

“Yeah, I’m sorry about that. I missed you, too.”

The Kuripots consisted of three couples and they all met because of that writing website. Kianna smiled, faintly remembering that a few years back, she was also the seventh wheel which prompted the Kuripots to tease her single life and eventually, introduce to her someone that would change that.

“Just because you two broke up meant you had to leave us too.” Jansen said, looking disappointedly at Kianna.

“I’m sorry, I just needed to go away.” Kianna answered, looking down.

After Kianna and the girl they introduced broke up, Kianna saw her ex everywhere and this pushed her to go away from everything that reminded her of both their happy and bad memories together, including the Kuripots who were the reason they met in the first place. Kianna went underground and most of her friends didn’t hear from her until they learned that she left the country.

“But that’s in the past. What matters the most is that you’re back.” Quinn said, tapping Jansen’s shoulder and moving to hug Kianna.

Because of Quinn, the Kuripots moved in on Kianna and they group hugged which made Kianna giggle in delight. She really did missed them.

“So, what’s the plan?” Kianna said after the hug.

“Well, since you’re back, you should know that we organized a meet up for your readers and fellow writers.” Aya, Jansen’s partner said, putting an arm around Kianna’s shoulders and steering her to the way. “You know, we’re not the only ones you left. Since your work’s still up in the web, a lot of new readers saw it and we were the ones who entertained them for you.”

Kianna felt a bead of sweat trickle down the back of her neck. “How many are we meeting?”

“About a hundred people.” Jansen announced.

“WHAT?!” Kianna exclaimed, surprised at the number.

“Just kidding, right around forty came. A lot of them has been waiting for a long time with us, you know.” Jansen explained.

“Well, they don’t exactly know that you’re coming.” Mikey jutted in. “All they know is that this gathering is to commemorate your awesome writings which brought a lot of us together.”

Kianna laughed. “Guys, stop it with the compliments. I wrote those stories when I was young. It wasn’t exactly ‘awesome’ or anything. And as if you guys haven’t written your own stories. Before I was a writer, I was your reader too!”

“Still the humble little kid we remember. Then I guess you’ll be surprised later to see how your writing changed us.” Quinn pinched Kianna’s cheeks.

As the group walked the distance to the restaurant where the gathering is, they caught up with what’s happening with each other’s lives and that’s when Kianna told them that she has gotten her degree abroad. After the break up, she couldn’t do anything else but study so hard she got an offer to continue her studies abroad and that’s where she completely disappeared from everyone’s radar. That was the good result of the break up, she focused on her studies. The bad part, she had to leave.

When they got to the venue, Jansen thought it would be better that they be the last ones to enter the restaurant. So, Quinn and the others went in first, leaving a nervous Kianna with Jansen.

“You ready?” Jansen asked.

“I don’t know what I’m expecting.” Kianna replied with a worried smile.

From the restaurant’s glass doors, Kianna and Jansen saw how the large group welcomed Quinn and the others. There were hugs and handshakes and kisses exchanged everywhere and Kianna was so sure that they’re making a loud noise inside. Kianna saw Mikey suddenly look at their direction, the smile she had replaced with a worried look.

“C’mon.” Jansen held Kianna’s arm.

“Wait, there’s something wrong!” Kianna protested, watching Mikey go back to the doors and to them. But Jansen didn’t listen and opened the door, pulling her in inside.

The noise from the group died down as everybody stared at Jansen and Kianna.

“Hey, guys. Look who’s back!” Jansen announced, breaking the sudden silence.

“Kianna…” Mikey started. But too late, Kianna already saw her.

“Oh, dear.” Jansen stopped pulling on Kianna when she realized what was wrong.

There, sitting with the group of readers and writers is Kianna’s ex. The girl who broke Kianna’s heart and made her leave the country.

The Kuripots huddled around Kianna and started apologizing for the mistake. They said they didn’t know the girl would come since they heard she was in the province. She must have heard about the meeting and thought it would be a good idea since she was influenced by Kianna’s writing too. After all, Kianna had been gone for a long time, Quinn argued that the girl may have thought she’s not coming.

“It’s okay.” Kianna breathed out to calm down. “It’s okay, really.”

The Kuripots looked at her worriedly. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah.” Kianna nodded, letting out another breathe.

There was a pat on her shoulder and Kianna turned around to see a girl smile at her. “Miss Kianna? Can I have your autograph?”

Kianna smiled, flattered that even after all this years, the writing she left behind had made its mark. “Sure.”

After signing the girl’s notebook, they made their way to the large group who were obviously not sure how to react. It wasn’t exactly a secret that Kianna and one girl they’re sitting with dated for a few months. Kianna and her ex were quite public about their relationship, posting pics together on the social media and being all lovey-dovey, exchanging sweet conversations online. Based on some of the group’s familiar faces, most of them were there when Kianna was still around.

“This is awkward.” Kianna heard Aya mutter beside her and she bursted out laughing. Everybody looked at her as she tried to stop herself.

“What are you laughing at?” Jansen asked, smirking.

“Aya’s right. This is awkward.” Kianna said in between laughs.

Everybody watched as Kianna moved towards her ex and gave her a sweet smile. It has been years since they last saw each other and they didn’t really parted ways in good terms. So, the girl looked at Kianna awkwardly, not sure how to respond to her smile.

When Kianna left, she was in deep pain and she honestly thought she couldn’t stand up right again. She wasn’t even sure if she can love again after what happened, but now, standing there, seeing her ex after so many years, Kianna realized something. This time, they’re not kids anymore. This time, they know what love and pain means. This time, they know better. And this time, Kianna’s not afraid anymore.

Kianna drew the empty chair beside her ex, sat there and smiled at the girl again. “Hello, Marie. Long time, no see.”