I quickly looked away, my heart pounding in my chest.
"Lavi, come meet Ishaan!" Shanaya called, waving me over.
I took a deep breath and plastered a smile on my face as I walked over to them.
"Ishaan, this is my best friend, Lavika. Lavika, meet Ishaan," Shanaya introduced us with a grin.
"Nice to meet you, Lavika," Ishaan said, his voice smooth and deep. 
He extended his hand, and I shook it, trying to act like I hadn't met him before. 
His touch was warm, and I couldn't help but notice how strong his grip was.
"Nice to meet you too," I replied, forcing myself to maintain eye contact without blushing. 
But it was hard. 
Those eyes... they were just as captivating as before.
"Have we met before?" he asked suddenly, his brow furrowing slightly as he studied my face.
Crap. 
So he did remember.
"I don't think so," I lied, quickly looking away. "Maybe you're confusing me with someone else."
He didn't look convinced, but he didn't press the issue either. Instead, he smiled and said, "Well, it's a pleasure to meet you anyway."
We exchanged a few more pleasantries before Shanaya dragged him off to introduce him to some of her other friends, leaving me standing there, my mind racing. 
I couldn't believe this was happening. 
What were the odds that the guy who had saved me from an embarrassing fall in a café would turn out to be Shanaya's childhood friend?
I needed some air.
I slipped out onto the balcony, letting the cool evening breeze wash over me. 
The party was in full swing inside, but out here, it was peaceful—just the distant sounds of the city and the gentle rustling of leaves in the wind.
I leaned against the railing, taking a deep breath. Why was I so flustered? 
It wasn't like anything had happened between us. 
He was just a guy—a guy who happened to be incredibly attractive and had caught me in a moment of clumsiness. That was all.
"Mind if I join you?" a familiar voice asked, breaking me out of my thoughts.
I turned to see Ishaan standing in the doorway, his hands in his pockets, looking every bit as composed and confident as before.
"Sure," I said, trying to sound casual as I moved over to make room for him.
He walked over and leaned against the railing beside me, his gaze fixed on the city lights in the distance.
"You know," he began after a moment of silence, "I'm pretty sure we've met before."
I felt my heart skip a beat. "Really? Where?"
"In a café," he said, turning to look at me. "A small one, not far from here. You were drinking a chocolate latte, and I accidentally bumped into you. Ring any bells?"
I bit my lip, trying to suppress a smile. 
So he did remember.
"Maybe," I said coyly. "But you also called me an animal, so I'm not sure I'd want to remember that."