The evening air was cool but carried a faint buzz of anticipation as Alex flipped the light switch, bathing his small apartment in a soft, warm glow. Tonight was more than just a party — it was a chance to change everything. The cramped space was cluttered with gadgets, scattered notes, and posters of rockets and distant galaxies, all symbols of dreams that felt so far away from reality.
Alex glanced nervously at his phone again. Where the hell is Gaurav? The message he'd sent hours ago—an invitation to simply hang out, no strings attached—felt like a shot in the dark. He hoped Gaurav would accept, despite all the walls that boy had built around himself.
Brad, sprawled lazily on the beaten-up couch with a bottle of beer, caught Alex's restless pacing. "You're acting like it's the end of the world if Gaurav doesn't come," he teased, grinning with a confidence that only Brad could carry so easily.
Alex shot him a half-smile. "Maybe it is. If Gaurav doesn't show up, then this party's just two guys and some empty chairs. We're trying to build a team, a family — and he's the missing piece."
Brad shrugged. "He's probably just nervous. You should've seen how many times I changed my mind about coming to one of your 'brainstorm sessions.'" He laughed, but the warmth behind it was real. "But you gotta give the guy time."
Just then, the door creaked open, and in stepped Gaurav. He moved like a shadow — hesitant, cautious, clutching his backpack strap tightly. His thick glasses caught the light, and for a moment, his eyes darted nervously across the room, avoiding direct contact with anyone.
The party noise seemed to dull around Alex as he strode forward, breaking the tension with his trademark grin. "There he is! The elusive genius finally decides to show up."
Gaurav stiffened but didn't back away. "Yeah, well… don't make a big deal out of it."
Brad jumped up, energy infectious, and clapped a hand on Gaurav's shoulder. "Relax, man. No aliens here tonight. Just friends. Or as close as we can get."
Despite himself, Gaurav's lips twitched. It was the smallest crack in his armor, but it was there.
The night unfolded slowly but surely. Music pulsed through the small apartment, conversations spilled in bursts of laughter and stories, and for the first time in a long time, Gaurav felt something new — belonging.
At one point, Brad, always the instigator, grabbed Gaurav by the arm and challenged him to a dance-off. "Come on, show us what you've got!"
Gaurav hesitated, cheeks flushing, but then something clicked. The walls he'd built around himself began to crumble. Slowly at first, then with growing confidence, he moved awkwardly but with a kind of earnestness that had everyone cheering.
Alex watched, his chest swelling with pride. "That's it. We're breaking through."
Later, as the party wound down, the trio slipped out onto the balcony. The city stretched beneath them, a glittering sea of lights against the dark canvas of the night sky.
The cool breeze brushed past their faces as Alex broke the silence. "We're onto something bigger than any of us — the meteor, the secrets, the lies. We have to stick together if we want to survive, let alone make a difference."
Gaurav's gaze drifted upward, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't want to be alone anymore. I'm tired of hiding."
Brad gave him a reassuring clap on the back. "You won't be. Not now. Not ever. From here on, it's all of us against the storm."
The stars above twinkled coldly, the slow, silent ticking of the meteor's approach a reminder that time was running out. But for the first time in a long while, the three of them felt something powerful — hope.