Naveen toyed with the edge of the tablecloth as he looked in the direction of the glass doors again. A small lamp overhead illuminated the table and the menu over it, but food was the last thing on his mind. He couldn't even tell if the rumbling in his stomach was hunger or butterflies. He shouldn't be this nervous. He was just meeting an old friend, right?

Just then a bell tinkered and the breath was knocked out of his lungs when he saw Marina's delicate frame pass through the doors. She was dressed in a floral white dress which ended just below her knees and matching pumps. So simple yet so beautiful, just like her, he thought. He looked at the way she tucked in a strand of hair as her eyes darted around searching for him and when her eyes finally meet his, he realized that he had been shamelessly staring at her.

She smiled and waved softly at him, and he thought his heart might burst from all that hammering inside his chest. How was he going to spend the whole evening with her if this was the effect a small wave from her had on him? Get a grip Naveen! he told himself as he took a few deep breaths, calming his breath, as she walked towards him and took a seat across from him.

"Hey!" she said, and with a small smile added, "are you okay?"

He realized he probably looked like he was hyperventilating. "Oh nothing, it just got a little hot in here." he said, smirking.

"Oh I see," he watched as she bit her lip smiling and looked down at her lap. Always the shy girl, he thought to himself. Back in school, he would loudly declare to the class about how he plans to take the prettiest girl in the class to dates and what he intends to do at each of those dates and then turn back to look at Marina turning a shade of beet red or burying her face in her hands. She would later yell at him and bang her tiny fists into his chest but he would simply lift her up in one swoop and kiss her deeply, melting away all her anger in an instant.

"You look beautiful." He breathed, because honestly it was getting harder to keep all the admiration for her within him.

"Thank you," she blushed, "you look great too!" It was his turn to blush now.

"How is you dad by the way?" she asked suddenly, "What did the reports say?"

He took a deep breath as he said, " They said he has a tumour, benign though. He will probably need surgery."

Marina placed a hand on his and assured him, "He is gonna be okay." And as he looked at her soft eyes, felt her gentle touch on his hand, he knew everything will be alright.

They soon placed their orders and talked. About their lives after school, about their experiences in the university, and about the friends they made there. They then had food and drinks, pulled their chairs closer to each other, and talked more. About their friends and teachers in school, about the pranks they pulled together in school. Technically the pranks Naveen pulled on his teachers, while Marina covered for him.

"God, you always got me into trouble!"

"But somehow you always had a way out!"

"Of course! I was a good girl!"

"Uh huh, sure!" he smirked, "I don't think good girls make their boyfriends repay for their mistakes the way you did."

Marina blushed deeply as her mind filled with the images of the things they did in her room while her mom was away at work, and one look at his smouldering eyes and she knew even he was thinking of the same things. But at the same time, a bittersweet feeling took over her and she looked away, hoping he wouldn't see the wetness of her eyes.

"I'm sorry-" Naveen stuttered, "I- I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

"That's okay," she replied, "it doesn't matter anymore. It's over."

Those words made his heart twist painfully in his chest. He thought he had moved on, dating other girls was proof enough of that, isn't it? Then why did her words hurt him so much?

The deep intimacy that had grown between them over the evening suddenly seemed to have vanished. Even though their chairs were close, they were sitting withdrawn from each other, the air around them thick with tension.

Marina stood up abruptly, "I should get going-"

"I'll drop you."

"You don't have to, I'll just take the ca-"

"You're coming with me." Naveen declared with an air of finality.

She looked like she wanted to scream, but after a moment of deliberation, she merely nodded.

The wind swept across Marina's face as the car zoomed past the dense forest, chilling the interior but she couldn't care less. In fact she wanted it, hoping the numbness from the cold would also numb the swirl of emotions the boy sitting next to her had caused.

"Could you please pull up the window?"

She tilted her head slightly to see Naveen desperately trying to shrink into himself, his teeth chattering, which was almost comical had it not been such a tense situation.

She pretended to not hear him, and continued to look out of the window. She knew she was being petty, but she couldn't help it. She wanted him to feel his skin prick with the cold, and maybe he would then know how it feels like to feel that kind of iciness in your heart.

"Marina, please pull up the windows."

Something in her snapped.

"You know what," she started, "just stop the car. I want to take a cab."

"Marina, you won't get a cab in the middle of nowhere!" Naveen tried reasoning with her.

"Just stop the goddamned car!!"

He slowed the car, and parked it by the side of the road, and was visibly alarmed when Marina bolted out of the car, slammed the door shut and started walking away from the car in the darkness.

"What the fuck do you think you are doing walking in the middle of nowhere?" he said as he hurriedly got out of the car to catch up with her.

"Why do you care?" she yelled without looking back as she continued walking, hoping to get away from him, get away from the feelings that had risen again within her. She could hear his steps getting closer and she tried walking faster, but soon enough, she felt his hand around her wrist as she was spun around to face him.

"Just stop, okay!" he panted, "What are you doing Marina?"

"Let go of me!" she desperately struggled against his grip, but he was much stronger than her, firmly holding her in place.

"I'm not letting you go."

"But you did!" The feelings she had been trying to control finally burst out, and she started weeping inconsolably, banging her fists against his chest and chanting over and over, and he let her.

He watched her with moist eyes as she let out all her anger and hurt onto him, and he knew that he deserved it. He deserved to feel the pain and hurt he had caused her. He thought that cutting off from her would make moving to a new city and moving on from her easier, but looking back, he realized that was probably one of the stupidest decisions of his life. It hadn't made it easier, he still missed her every single waking day, hoping he could talk to her again and listen to her sweet voice once more. When he finally did gather the courage to reach out to her, he found out that she had changed numbers and there was no way to contact her. Life had however given him a second chance, he realized, and as he watched the tears roll down her cheeks, he knew he would do whatever it took to make things right.

"I'm sorry," he breathed shakily as Marina was now sobbing against his chest, "I'm so sorry Marina." He wrapped his arms around her and held her close, never wanting to let go.

"I missed you so much." she sniffed as she slowly returned the embrace, closing her eyes and cherishing its warmth.

"I missed you too." They stayed that way for what seemed like forever, knowing that this was what they needed, that they were meant to be together. They might have to work out their differences and misunderstandings which had developed over these years, but they knew it in their heart that everything was eventually going to be alright.

When they finally pulled back, Marina realized that her makeup must be completely smudged, owing to the waterworks. She sheepishly looked up at Naveen, sniffing and said, "I probably look very ugly right now."

Naveen couldn't help but smile at her. She was just as cute as she was all those years ago. He gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and caressing her face said, "Do you think I care?" as he leaned down and their lips met.

It was slow and deep, as they relished the feel and taste of their lips on each other, reminiscing, breathing heavily between kisses and holding each other closer than they possibly could, melting into each other.

When they finally broke off, they smiled against each other's lips, slightly dazed. Naveen decided he would not waste any more time.

"So my dear Marina, as of the sea," he said grinning from ear to ear, "would you let me be your boyfriend?"

Marina was grinning now too, and instead of responding, she simply pulled him back into another lingering kiss.

A/N: Hello again! Well that was loong break haha! I apologize again, life got really busy and I barely had any time to breathe, let alone write. Also, I had a personal reason to finish this story, hoping to find some sense of closure in this imaginative world of fanfictions. Hope you all like it!

P.S. Would you like to see another chapter in their life? A marriage proposal maybe? ;)