Maya's thumb hovered over the call button for a full five seconds before she forced herself to press it. The screen lit up—first Aveed joined, his calm face appearing, then Aryan popped in with his messy hair and lazy grin.
"Wow," Aryan said, leaning so close to the camera that all they saw was one eye. "Are we doing a serious meeting here or did you just miss my handsome face already?"
Maya groaned. "Aryan, can you not?"
"Not possible," he said, flopping back dramatically into his chair. "So what's this? Some big announcement? Or are you finally confessing that you two can't survive without me?"
Aveed chuckled lightly, shaking his head. "Relax, drama king. Maya just wants to confirm college plans."
"Confirm?" Aryan raised an eyebrow. "What's to confirm? We're all going to the same place. You two made me fill out forms in front of you like it was an exam. My mom thinks I joined a cult."
Maya laughed despite herself. "We just… I just wanted to make sure. Like… it's official, right? We're doing this? Together?"
"Yes," Aveed said immediately, voice steady, eyes warm. "We're in this together. No backing out now."
Aryan leaned back, stretching his arms behind his head. "Guess that means you're stuck with me forever, Maya. Good luck."
"Oh no," Maya said, mock-dramatic. "How will I ever survive your terrible jokes and inflated ego?"
Aveed smirked. "You'll manage. You always do."
Aryan squinted at him. "Excuse me, Aveed, you don't get to sound like you're her savior. I'm the entertainment here."
"More like the headache," Maya muttered under her breath.
Aveed chuckled. "She said it, not me."
Aryan clutched his chest. "Wow. Betrayed by my own people. This is abuse."
Maya rolled her eyes, but her smile lingered. "Anyway… I'm excited. And nervous. But it'll be fun."
"Fun with your people," Aveed added, almost casually, though his gaze lingered a second too long on Maya.
Maya's heart did a tiny flip, but Aryan's jaw tightened. He quickly forced a smirk, leaning into the camera. "Fun? Please. It's going to be chaos. But hey, at least we'll be together in the chaos."
Maya's cheeks warmed, and Aryan masked the sharp pang in his chest with a laugh.
The call stretched on with talk of schedules, which dorms they might get, and who'd be responsible for bringing the "essentials." Aryan declared himself Chief Snack Officer, Aveed claimed books and notes, and Maya promised to decorate their shared spaces so they didn't "all look like cavemen moved in."
"Correction," Aryan cut in. "Aveed already looks like a responsible adult. I'm just here to balance things out with raw charm."
Aveed gave him a calm look. "Charm? Is that what we're calling it?"
Maya burst out laughing. "You two are impossible."
"Impossibly amazing," Aryan said, pointing at the camera.
By the end of the call, plans were confirmed. The trio signed off with laughter, but as Aryan shut his laptop, his grin faded. Inside, a fire still burned—one he tried desperately to deny.
Packing Day
Maya's Room
Her room was chaos: half-open suitcases, piles of clothes, scattered sketchbooks. She darted around like a tornado.
"Don't forget your toiletries!" her mom called out.
"On it!" Maya shouted back, shoving socks into the wrong corner of her bag. She paused to hug a sketchbook to her chest before sliding it into her suitcase. Her cheeks still warmed at the memory of the café and Aveed's teasing smirk.
Her phone buzzed. Aryan.
She answered, out of breath. "What now?"
Aryan's voice came with a laugh. "You sound like you're running a marathon. Packing or fighting a raccoon?"
"Packing," she said, rolling her eyes. "Why?"
"Because I can already see it—you're throwing random stuff in your bag and calling it organization. Meanwhile, I'm over here packing like a professional."
"You? Professional? Please," Maya scoffed.
"Fine," Aryan said. "But you'll thank me when you forget your toothpaste and I save your life. Again."
Maya laughed. "I'll survive without you, thanks."
Aryan paused just a beat too long before answering, his tone shifting back to playful. "Yeah… right. Good luck with that."
Aveed's Room
Aveed was the opposite. His clothes were folded neatly, books stacked, bag zipped halfway. His parents floated in and out, checking lists.
"You sure you have everything?" his mom asked.
"Yes, Mom," Aveed replied softly, though his thoughts weren't on his bag—they were on Maya's laugh echoing from last night's call.
Aveed's Room
Aveed was halfway through folding shirts when his phone buzzed. Aryan.
He answered lazily, "What's up?"
"Bro," Aryan said dramatically, "I swear Maya's packing like she's preparing for a space mission. I just called her—she sounded like she was wrestling a wild animal."
Aveed chuckled, neatly stacking another shirt. "You're just mad because she's probably more organized than you."
"Excuse me?" Aryan gasped. "I'm literally the most efficient packer alive. I roll my T-shirts, Aveed. ROLL. It's a professional system."
"Or you just don't know how to fold," Aveed said dryly.
There was silence for half a second before Aryan burst out laughing. "Okay, fair. But don't act like you're not the type who color-codes socks."
Aveed smirked, glancing at the neatly arranged pile on his bed. "…Maybe."
"I knew it!" Aryan said, clapping into the phone. "Ladies and gentlemen, Aveed's dark secret has been revealed—Sock Organization Level: Psychopath."
Aveed rolled his eyes but smiled faintly. "Better than forgetting half your essentials."
"Dude, once. I forgot toothpaste once," Aryan shot back. "And I still survived. Maya didn't die either, by the way."
"She almost did," Aveed said with mock seriousness. "She told me your breath was a crime against humanity."
Aryan snorted so hard he nearly dropped his phone. "LIES. Propaganda. I'll sue you both for defamation."
Their laughter filled the line, easy and familiar. For a moment, it was just them—the best friends who had survived years of teasing, late-night calls, and inside jokes.
But as the laughter faded, Aryan hesitated. "Hey… you're really glad we're doing this, right? Same college?"
Aveed's voice softened. "Of course. Wouldn't have it any other way."
Aryan grinned, though something in his chest tightened. "Yeah… same."
He quickly masked the pause with a joke. "Just don't embarrass me in front of new people with your sock stories."
"No promises," Aveed replied smoothly.
They hung up, the call ending with Aryan shaking his head, smiling faintly at the screen. Beneath the laughter, though, a thought he didn't want to name pressed harder than before.
Aryan's Room
Aryan's suitcase was half-done, everything arranged but with an edge of impatience. His parents hovered, offering reminders he barely heard.
"Yeah, Dad," he said, zipping up a bag. Outwardly, he was calm. Inwardly, the storm replayed—the café, Aveed, Maya's flushed smile. He told himself again: It's fine. I'm fine. Not in love. Just irritated. Totally normal.
Though miles apart, the three rooms carried the same heartbeat: excitement, nerves, and the unspoken bond tying them together. Bags packed, hearts restless, they were ready to step into college—carrying more than just clothes. Carrying questions, tension, and something none of them were ready to admit yet