November 12, 20XX (6 month ago)                                                                                                          (Pierce's P.O.V)

They say fate never gets it wrong—it only waits.

Mine waited a year and a half before resurfacing.
Unfortunately, it chose the moment I least expected.  And the worst possible one.

He was in the middle of a meeting when the door behind him suddenly burst open and someone stormed in, shouting without warning.

“Yanick! Tell me you didn’t know about this!”

The voice was far too familiar.

“Kyle, breathe,” Yanick said, trying to keep his composure. “I’m in the middle of something important. Can you wait?”

Kyle.  Is it really him? The coincidence felt too precise to be harmless.

“Answer me and I’ll leave,” Kyle snapped, irritation barely contained.

Yanick took a slow breath before replying.

“Kyle, at least be polite and greet people,” he said, gesturing toward the person in front of him.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt, please forgive my lack of manners. I’m Kyle. And you are?”

The man turned. The moment their eyes met, certainty struck them both.

Kyle’s eyes widened, his breath hitching for just a second.

“You’re—”

“I’m Pierce. Nice to meet you.”

“Kyle, were you about to say something?” Yanick asked.

“Uh… no.” Kyle shook his head, never taking his eyes off Pierce. “Sorry. I really need your answer, and then I’ll leave you alone, Yanick.”

Yanick sighed, sat back down.

“If that’s all, then the answer is yes. And before you start arguing—no, I don’t agree with it. Now please, leave.”

“Okay. Thanks. I’ll… I’ll go to my room.”

Kyle left — but he did look back, just once. That alone was enough to unsettle Yanick.

“Pierce,” Yanick asked, “where do you know each other from?”

For a brief moment, Pierce felt something falter in his chest.

“We don’t know each other,” he said evenly. “And if you don’t mind, I’d like to finish this meeting. I have other things to attend to.”

“Hm… I’ll believe you. For now.”

Yanick remained doubtful, but let it go and wrapped up the meeting within five minutes.

Pierce stood and headed for the door. His hand closed around the doorknob.
He paused — just long register to register the cold against his palm.

“Do you need anything else, Pierce?” Yanick asked. “Did we forget to cover something?”

Pierce blinked, pulled back into the present.

“Oh—no. Sorry. I should get going.”

“Is this about Kyle? You want to know if he knows, don’t you?” Yanick continued. “You’re afraid he might tell someone. But don’t worry—he doesn’t know anything.”

If only you knew.  He knows about me.  And he knows far too much.

Pierce nodded and stepped away.

He was almost at the main door when he heard it.

“Bananas.”

The word stopped him cold.

Pierce didn’t turn.

He simply froze, every muscle going still.

“Fate has done its part,” Kyle’s voice came from behind him. “Now it’s our turn to keep our promise.”

Pierce remained where he was, the door already half open, his hand still on the handle.

“If it’s really you,” Kyle said, “—and I know it is—I’ll be waiting tonight. Same suite. I’ll leave a key at reception—for P.”

Pierce didn’t reply.
He just opened the door and walked out.

Had he really recognized him after all this time?
Was it the clothes?
Or the eyes—like he once said?