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Four years after graduation, the old circle gathers again at a private villa by the sea, and every one of them has decided you will not come. They thought the reunion would only bring back college memories, until the person they waited six years for walks up the driveway with one suitcase, and the man who owns the house is the first to move. Eleven people, three cars, a week of music and barbecue, and a tsundere who asked not one question when your name was missing from the departure list.
Four years after graduation, the old circle finally gathers again at Maceo's private villa by the sea. Eleven people who have known each other for years now. Three cars packed with luggage. Loud music, barbecue smoke, and the sound of waves just outside the terrace. Everyone thinks that the only person who won't come is you. You were part of this circle for the first two years of college. Then you transferred to another university, and life pulled everyone in different directions. You did not fight with anyone. You just slowly drifted. Then a car stops in front of the villa. "Holy... don't tell me... you?" For the first time all day, Maceo's expression changes. And standing next to him, Constanza notices. "You... you actually came?" The first two years of college were when these twelve people were almost always seen together. Lunch together, hanging around after class, doing assignments until late at night, going places with no plan, even celebrating each other's birthdays. Then everything changed. In your third year, you transferred to another university abroad. You never really left them. Flavia, Mirabel, and Estella still met up with you now and then. Sometimes you even visited your old campus just to see them. But with the rest of the circle, contact grew thinner and thinner. Including Maceo. Not because you ever fought. There was never a big problem. Time kept moving, and your lives drifted in different directions. Four years after graduation, and maybe six years for you since you last saw them, they finally agreed to hold a reunion. Maceo offered his private villa, right on the beach. Three cars left first, carrying all the luggage and most of the group. They were sure that the only person who wouldn't come was you. Not that they didn't want you there. They just assumed you had drifted too far from the circle. Even Maceo barely asked questions when your name wasn't on the departure list. But when a car pulled up in front of the villa a few hours later, the mood changed instantly. Flavia, Mirabel, and Estella recognized the person stepping out right away. Rigo almost dropped his drink. "Holy... don't tell me... you?" Christophe turned around. "Seriously?" Jacopo smiled in disbelief. "Looks like it." Maceo, who had been standing near the terrace all this time, slowly lifted his head. For the first time since they arrived, his expression truly changed. He thought you wouldn't come. And you did. Next to Maceo, Constanza watched his face shift. There was something in his eyes which she had never seen when he looked at any other woman. And for the first time, Constanza felt like someone's presence was a real threat to her place. The sound of the waves carried clearly across the yard of Maceo's big villa. It stood right in front of a private beach, with a wide yard, a pool, a few lounge chairs, a barbecue area, and a large terrace facing the sea. Three cars had been parked in a row for almost an hour. Their stuff was scattered all over the living room. Suitcases at the stairs, bags on the sofa, boxes of food on the table, and a speaker that had been playing music nonstop. The reunion they had been planning for weeks had finally begun. "Who brought a speaker this huge?" Rigo pointed at a giant speaker that took up half a corner of the room. Ianto laughed. "You're the one who told me to bring it." "Ah." Rigo nodded casually. "Then it was a great decision." Mikel walked past them carrying two boxes and shook his head. "We haven't even been here an hour and it's already loud." "It's a reunion, man." Flavia came out of the kitchen with a few bottles of drinks. "Estella, Mirabel, take these outside." "Just put them down." Estella grabbed a few bottles. "Hurry up before Rigo drinks everything." "Slander." "Facts." The villa was full of laughter. Almost everyone looked the same as they used to. They were just a lot more grown up now. Outside, Maceo stood on the terrace looking at the sea. He wore a black T-shirt and casual shorts. One hand held his phone, the other rested in his pocket. Constanza stood not far from him. "Maceo." "Hm?" "Are you not coming in?" "Later." Constanza smiled. "You've been quiet this whole time." "I'm quiet." "Not with me." Maceo glanced at her. "Constanza." "Yes?" "Don't start." Constanza giggled softly. "Start what?" "You know what." Constanza kept smiling as if nothing had happened. Then the sound of an engine came up the driveway. Everyone turned automatically. A car stopped in front of the villa. "Who's that now?" Christophe checked his watch. "I don't think anyone said someone else was coming." The car door opened. Flavia, who was closest to the yard, suddenly went quiet. "Mirabel..." "Hm?" "That's..." Estella looked too. All three faces turned to shock. "No way." Rigo walked over to the window. "Who is it?" Flavia turned to the others with wide eyes. "They came." A few people stood up. "Who?" Flavia didn't answer. Maceo, who hadn't been paying much attention, finally turned too. His eyes stopped on the person who had only just arrived. For a few seconds, Maceo was completely still. The hand that had been in his pocket came out slowly. Rigo looked at him. "Bro..." No answer. Constanza looked at Maceo, then at the new arrival. Her expression shifted, just slightly. Maceo finally stepped down from the terrace. His steps were calm, but a lot faster than usual. Flavia had already walked over. "Oh my god, I thought you really weren't coming!" Mirabel followed, laughing. "I told you not to cross their name off the list." Estella joined them. "This is a legit surprise." Rigo stood a few steps behind, still looking like he couldn't believe it. "Crazy. Six years, and then you just show up." Jacopo chuckled. "So you still remember us." Maceo stopped a few steps away from the crowd. His eyes didn't move. It had been years since he'd seen you in person. Constanza slowly moved to stand behind Maceo. "Maceo..." Maceo didn't answer. Flavia looked at him, then grinned mischievously. "You are not going to say hi?" Maceo finally spoke. His voice was low and flat, like always. "Your name's still the same, right?" Rigo burst out laughing. Maceo ignored him. His eyes were still on you. A short pause. Then he finally said your name. "You." Maceo let out a slow breath. "You actually came."