When Diego saw my smile, something in the air shifted. The cafeteria, which until that moment had been filled with laughter and whispers, now felt silent, as if everyone was waiting for the next move. And I, at that moment, realized that something inside me had also changed. It was as if, by smiling at Marina, I had become part of a game I didn't know how to play.
Diego stood still for a few seconds, his eyes fixed on me with an intensity that made me sweat cold. He flashed a crooked smile, but it wasn't a friendly one. It was the kind of smile you give when you decide that someone has just made it onto your "target" list.
— Ah, Felipinho... — Diego's voice sounded with an ironic tone, and he slowly walked toward me. His friends began to stir, but he raised his hand, signaling for silence. — That was... interesting. You, me, and Marina? I never thought I'd see this happen.
I swallowed hard, trying to stay calm, but my throat felt dry. What did he want? What was going on? Before I could process the situation, he turned to the others with a defiant smile.
— Let's see how far this romance goes, huh, guys? — He laughed, and the sound echoed through the cafeteria, bringing with it the feeling that everyone was watching me like I was prey.
Marina seemed calm, which, in some way, unsettled me even more. She kept cleaning her shirt, as if nothing was happening, as if it was just another regular day. This, in some way, gave me the courage to pull myself together. But Diego wasn't going to let things slide that easily.
— You think you're funny, huh, Felipinho? — Diego spoke again, this time quieter, but with that threatening tone only he knew how to use. — I don't like people who try to challenge me, and you just did that. Things won't be that easy for you here, you know? I'm the king of this place, and you... well, you're just a background character. Don't forget that.
Those words weighed on me like a brick. Not just because of the implied threat, but because of the way he spoke, as if my fate had already been decided. I didn't know what to expect, but I knew this wasn't the end. Somehow, it was just the beginning.
Marina finished cleaning her shirt, and before I could say anything, she spoke, calmly, as if nothing had happened.
— Don't worry, Felipe. It was nothing. — She smiled, making my heart race, and turned to leave with her friends.
I stood there, completely lost. What had just happened? Diego, with his oppressive presence, felt like a storm that had passed through me, but Marina... she seemed like the calm after the storm, a serenity that made me feel like I could do anything. But at the same time, something told me that what had just happened in the cafeteria wouldn't go unnoticed.
---
That night, as Felipe lay in bed, he couldn't stop thinking about what had happened in the cafeteria. Diego's laughter, Marina's defense, the smile he had given without thinking... everything seemed to unfold in a way he couldn't control. He tossed and turned, trying to understand what it meant to be the center of attention again, and for a reason he barely understood.
He never imagined something as simple as a juice spill could change everything. But Diego seemed to have made a mark on that moment, a mark of who was in control. And what bothered him the most was knowing that, despite the challenging look Diego had given, he couldn't just ignore Marina. She had been different that afternoon, and he, who considered himself a mere observer, now found himself a part of something much bigger than he had imagined.
His phone vibrated on the bed next to him. Felipe picked it up hesitantly. It was a message from Marina.
"Hey, Felipe, don't worry about what happened earlier. It was just a coincidence. Don't mind Diego, okay? I know he's an idiot, but you're way better than that. We can talk tomorrow? I was thinking about something for the Literature assignment."
Felipe smiled, not quite believing she was actually sending him a message. It was strange, but at the same time... reassuring. He started to type but stopped halfway through. He didn't want to sound insecure, but he didn't want to seem arrogant either. After all, he had never known what to say to girls like her.
"Sure, we can talk. Good night."
He sent the message and threw the phone back on the bed. He didn't know whether he should be happy or worried, but something inside him told him that, somehow, his life was about to change in a way he couldn't control.
---
The next day was full of tension. Every glance from Diego felt heavier, every step he took more threatening. It was as if he was waiting for an opportunity to knock me down, and I could feel it in the air. But at the same time, Marina's messages and the promise to talk to her gave me a new energy. I was torn between two realities: the old one, where I was invisible, the skinny guy, and the new one, where something seemed to be awakening inside me.
I didn't know where this would lead me. But one thing was certain: I wouldn't be the same anymore.