The calm still didn't last.
But this time, it wasn't unfamiliar.
The sound of the main door opening echoed through the apartment—loud, careless, followed by voices that carried confidence, laughter, and the kind of chaos that didn't belong to strangers.
Jay lifted her head slightly. "That door is gonna come off one day."
Lia didn't move, but the corner of her mouth twitched. "They're late."
Angelo stepped out of his room, already knowing. Kairav leaned against the wall, arms crossed, unsurprised. Ion, Mira, Lexi, Cindy, Jessica, Tiger, Daniel, Lorenzo, and Rafael all looked toward the entrance at the same time.
Four figures walked in like they owned the place.
Vidhaansh was first, jacket slung over one shoulder, confidence written all over him. Aastha walked beside him, calm, sharp-eyed, composed. Rohan followed with his usual lazy grin, and Avi trailed slightly behind, observant as ever.
For half a second, the room went quiet.
Then—
Ion groaned. "Oh my GOD. You're finally here."
Mira crossed her arms. "Took you long enough."
Rohan spread his arms. "Wow. No hug? I'm hurt."
Daniel scoffed. "You'd be more hurt if you hugged Tiger."
Tiger cracked his knuckles. "Try me."
Vidhaansh's eyes immediately found Lia.
"Happy birthday," he said, simple this time. No drama. No mystery.
Aastha smiled softly. "We would've come earlier, but Lorenzo almost got us lost."
Lorenzo raised a hand defensively. "In my defense, the GPS was wrong."
Rafael laughed. "Sure it was."
Jay blinked. "…Wait. You all know each other?"
Lexi tilted her head. "Classmates. Unfortunately."
Ion grinned wickedly. "Unfortunately for them."
Aries stepped out of Angelo's room, confused. "Why do they look like they belong here?"
Angelo replied flatly, "Because they do."
Jay's eyes widened slightly. "You didn't tell me you knew them."
Lia finally spoke. "You didn't ask."
Vidhaansh chuckled. "Still terrifying. Still minimal words."
Aastha glanced at Jay. "You must be the famous Jay."
Jay squinted. "I'm getting tired of that sentence."
Rohan laughed. "Trust me, you earned it."
The energy shifted—familiar, loud, overlapping conversations erupting all at once.
Ion pulled Avi into a one-sided rant. Cindy and Jessica immediately dragged Aastha toward the couch. Daniel and Lorenzo argued about who brought snacks last time. Tiger and Rafael compared bruises like trophies.
Chaos returned to its rightful place.
Lia watched it all quietly.
Vidhaansh approached her, lowering his voice. "You okay?"
She nodded. "I don't like surprises."
He smirked. "Good thing we're not one."
A beat passed.
"Still," he added, "today's gonna get messy."
Lia met his gaze. "It always does."
Jay leaned against her again, yawning. "Can we eat before someone starts a fight?"
Aries groaned from across the room. "That's not how this group works."
Kairav finally pushed off the wall. "Everyone eat. Then we talk."
Ion saluted. "Yes, boss-richest-man-alive."
Kairav deadpanned. "I will throw you."
Laughter filled the apartment.
But beneath it—quiet, unnoticed by most—Lia felt it again.
That same feeling.
That today wasn't just loud.
It was the beginning of something bigger.