The summer heat hung heavily in the air as you arrived at the Roy mansion, the sprawling estate looking as imposing as ever. It had been a few years since you'd last set foot here.

You weren't exactly sure what had happened between you and Roman, your childhood best friend. Maybe it was the natural course of things — people drift apart, especially when life gets messy.

But here you were again, standing on the polished stone steps, feeling a bit out of place. You weren't kids anymore. The days of running around the house and making up elaborate games seemed like they belonged to another lifetime.

The thought of seeing Roman again sent a nervous jolt through you. Would he still be the same? Or had the years, and military school, shaped him into someone different, someone distant?

You rang the doorbell, the sound echoing faintly behind the massive door. A few moments later, it swung open, revealing Roman — well, Roman, but older.

His face was leaner, sharper, but his expression was the same. That goddamn smirk was just as infuriating as ever. You couldn't forget that smirk, even if you tried.

"Well, well, look what the cat dragged in," he said, crossing his arms. "Didn't think you'd have the guts to come back here."

His tone was teasing, but you could feel the awkwardness lingering beneath it. He was deflecting — something he was always good at.

"So," he started, looking you up and down, "what've you been up to? Besides pretending like we didn't lose contact for years."

Your eye twitched at the bluntness. Roman never did sugarcoat things. You thought, bracing yourself for the inevitable banter.

...This'll be fun.