6. The return of Naina

It was late afternoon when Jake's phone buzzed on the kitchen counter, interrupting the stillness of the house. He glanced at the screen between sips of water, expecting another text from one of his many admirers. Instead, the name flashing across the screen took him by surprise—Naina.

For a moment, memories flooded back. Naina was different from all the girls he knew now. She wasn't just another passing fling or a trophy girlfriend—she was his first , the girl who had known him before the fame, before the curse, before everything had spiraled into the chaotic whirlwind his life had become.

He picked up the phone with a faint smile, nostalgia creeping in.

"Hey, troublemaker," he answered in his usual teasing tone, leaning against the counter. "Long time, no talk."

Her voice came through, soft yet confident, with that unmistakable European accent that she'd picked up after living overseas for so many years. "Jake! It's been ages! I was beginning to think you'd forgotten about me."

"How could I forget my old partner in crime?" he replied with a grin, using the nickname they'd called each other since childhood. "What's up? It's not like you to call out of the blue."

There was a pause on the other end, a hesitation he could sense before Naina finally spoke. "I'm coming back to your city. For work, actually. I'll be there for a few weeks, and... well, I was wondering if you'd like to meet up? It's been so long, Jake. I've missed you."

His heart skipped a beat, but he quickly masked any emotion. "Anything for my old partner in crime," he said casually, leaning back. "When are you getting here?"

"Next week," Naina answered, excitement evident in her voice. "I can't believe it's been so long. I've been thinking a lot about our childhood lately. We had so much fun back then, didn't we?"

Jake chuckled. "Yeah, we did. The good old days."

Naina had been more than just a girlfriend—she had been his anchor , the one person who could always calm him down, who could see through his bravado and reach the real Jake beneath. She was there for him when he was angry, when he was lost, and even when he felt empty inside. But now things were different. He wasn't the same boy she'd known. The man he had become—wild, reckless, cursed—was someone even he barely recognized.

"Are you sure you want to meet up, though?" Jake asked, his tone slightly guarded. "I've changed, Naina. I'm not the same guy I used to be."

"I know," she replied softly. "But maybe that's okay. I've changed too. We're older now, Jake, but some things don't change, right?"

Jake didn't respond immediately. He knew exactly what she meant, but he didn't want to go down that path again. Naina had always been special to him, but after all these years, he didn't want to hurt her by leading her on. He wasn't looking for a romantic relationship with her anymore, no matter how much she might still want that.

After a beat, he cleared his throat and said, "Well, I'll be here. Just let me know when you're in town."

"I will," she replied brightly. "I can't wait to see you."

As the call ended, Jake stood there for a moment, lost in thought. Naina . The name alone brought back a rush of emotions, ones he had long tried to bury. She had been the only girl who could calm his anger, the one who could soothe the emptiness he carried inside. But now, things were different. He was different. Naina wasn't just any girl—she was the girl he didn't deserve anymore.

---

Naina had always been different, even as a child. Born in Europe but raised in the United States, she had a grace and elegance about her, even when they were kids. Her father, a wealthy pharmaceutical mogul, had moved his family to the States for business when she was young. Despite her privileged background, Naina had never acted like the typical rich girl. She had been down-to-earth, smart, and always willing to go on adventures with Jake, even when it meant breaking a few rules along the way.

They had been inseparable growing up, a bond that only deepened as they became teenagers. Naina was there through Jake's highs and lows, his anger issues, and his wild energy. She was the one who had kept him grounded, the one who had always known how to calm the storm raging inside him.

But when Naina turned eighteen, her family moved back to Europe to expand their business, and just like that, Jake lost the one person who truly understood him. They tried to stay in touch, and for a while, they had, even trying to maintain their long-distance relationship. But life had a way of pulling them apart. Jake had changed, and he knew that as much as Naina wanted to be with him, things could never go back to how they once were.

Still, the idea of seeing her again brought a strange sense of hope, and maybe a little fear. He didn't know what would happen when they met, but one thing was certain—Naina was the one girl he could never fully let go of.

---

As the days passed, Jake found himself thinking more and more about Naina's return. Would it be awkward, or would they slip back into their old ways, laughing and joking like they used to? More importantly, could he resist the pull of her feelings for him?

Deep down, he knew Naina still wanted to rekindle what they had, but for Jake, things had changed. The world had changed him. He wasn't the same guy she had fallen in love with all those years ago.

But no matter how much he tried to push it away, the thought of seeing Naina again stirred something inside him—something he wasn't sure he was ready to face.