Unfinished Business

4. shots

As soon as I stepped inside the café, the cozy yet vibrant atmosphere hit me. The place was filled with chatter and the smell of freshly brewed coffee. My eyes scanned the room for Ishita, and it didn't take long for me to spot her. She was sitting by the window, looking just as excited as I felt.

She rushed over, throwing her arms around me in an exaggerated, bear hug. "Mayaa!" She practically squealed, pulling me into a tight embrace.

 "God, I missed you so much! You have no idea!" I pulled back, inspecting her.. "You look... exactly the same and also completely different—how do you do that?"

Ishita grinned. "Whatever it is, it's working. We need to catch up like crazy tonight!" She waved a hand around, gesturing to the rest of the group. "We've got the whole squad here!"

And just like that, the nostalgia hit me all at once—the familiar faces from high school, the laughter, the random jokes, and those memories of carefree days spent together. The group had a way of making me feel like I'd never left.

It's been what, like six years?"

"Six long years," I replied, grinning ear to ear. "Too long, if you ask me."

She laughed, a sound that was so familiar it almost brought tears to my eyes. "Oh my god, we have so much to catch up on. So much to do! We have all these plans, Maya. I'm going to show you everything—the new spots, the old hangouts... we're going to be inseparable again."

I couldn't help but grin at her excitement. "You're always so extra, Ishita," I teased, ruffling her hair playfully. "I think I need to catch up on all your energy first."

"You'll love it, trust me! It'll be just like old times. The gang is complete again!" she said, her voice brimming with joy.

I waved to a few more classmates sitting at the table, exchanging quick hellos, and settling into the familiar camaraderie that only a group of old friends could provide. We laughed, joked, and the conversation flowed as effortlessly as it had all those years ago.

As I sat down, Ishita leaned in, her voice dropping to a teasing whisper. "By the way, did you two arrive together? You and Karn, I mean? I swear you both were always like a package deal back then, one wherever the other went."

I froze, my face immediately flushing. That wasn't exactly how I'd pictured my return to be discussed. My eyes darted toward Karn, who had just walked in behind me. He caught my gaze and winked, making my stomach do an involuntary flip.

Ishita's teasing was the last thing I needed right now.

"What are you talking about?" I replied, clearing my throat and trying to act casual. "I was just getting my purse back from him. That's all. No 'package' involved."

Ishita raised an eyebrow. "Oh please, Maya. You two were inseparable back then. Everywhere one went, the other followed. It was like you were glued together. It just feels like—well, it still feels like that."

"Right." Karn's voice cut through the air before I could reply. He was leaning casually against the counter, his arms crossed, a wicked grin tugging at his lips. "We're still inseparable."

I gave him a deadpan look. "No, Karn, we're not. You're just a persistent annoyance."

"Oh, I'm sure you love it," he shot back, the same playful tone lacing his words. "Can't get enough of me, right?"

I shot him a glare, crossing my arms. "You really never change, do you?"

He leaned in, grinning. "Why would I? I'm pretty perfect just the way I am."