ARCO 2 - WHAT STARTS TO BE FELT
The day after the study day, the guys are back in class. Dan was sitting at his desk staring toward the entrance for no particular reason.
Suddenly Noemí walks in with Sofía and Emily. Dan sees them and thinks: "I hope those two don't give Noemí bad manners."
Josías appeared next to him out of nowhere.
-"Bored again?".
Dan jumped, almost falling off his seat.
-"Don't scare me like that!".
-"HAHAHA, sorry. Hey, look, there are the girls." Josias saw them through the window but didn't realize he was looking more at Emily.
-"Yeah, looks like they're already good friends."
Josías smiled at him and sat at the desk in front of his.
-"Alright, now tell me. Did you like finally talking to Noemí?" he asked curiously.
-"Why do you care?".
-"I care a lot – you're my friend, I need to know, and... also because I'm curious."
Dan sighed.
-"Fine, I'll tell you only you."
-"And us too," said Jhonatan, who was already seated along with Brandon, forming a circle of the four of them.
Dan jumped when he heard Jhonatan.
-"When did you guys show up?" Dan asked.
-"When you said 'Fine, I'll tell you only you'," Brandon replied.
Jhonatan crossed his arms.
-"What were you going to tell Josias? And why only him?".
Josías laughed and filled them in.
-"Turns out yesterday at the library, Dan worked up the courage and talked to Noemí for the first time without her running away."
-"Wow, so you finally got her to talk to you," Jhonatan said, completely surprised.
-"Oh right, that's why you were smiling the whole way home," Brandon said teasingly as he remembered the moment.
-"That's a lie! You just imagined it." Dan tried to deny it but it was obvious it was true.
-"Our little one is growing up – someday they'll take him away from us," Josías said dramatically.
-"Shut up!" Dan exclaimed.
Jhonatan, Brandon, and Josias laughed.
-"Alright, let's change the subject. The math olympiad is coming up, and I heard you're a candidate to go," Jhonatan pointed at Dan.
-"Oh yeah, I went last year and got a really good spot – it makes sense they'd want to pick me again."
Brandon thought for a moment.
-"Noemí is really smart too – maybe she'll go this time as well."
-"She did last time too. I remember seeing her there but since I didn't know her, I didn't talk to her."
-"Their destiny together was written a long time ago!" Josías exclaimed.
Dan rolled his eyes and threw an eraser that hit him on the forehead.
The teacher walked into the classroom.
-"Everyone to your seats – class is starting! You three, back to your places!".
The guys quickly went to their seats as the teacher started writing on the blackboard.
Dan looked out the window again, thinking: "Going to the olympiad with Noemí? That would be nice, but most likely we'd be put on different buses. Besides, maybe Sofia will go too, so she'll be with her the whole time."
During third period, Dan's teacher hadn't arrived yet. He sighed and stood up.
-"I'm going to the cafeteria to get something to eat. Where are you guys going?".
-"We're going to play soccer on the school field," Josías said as he stood up along with Brandon and Jhonatan.
-"Alright, see you later." Dan left the classroom.
Dan walked toward the cafeteria at a relaxed pace.
"Last year's top students were in second place – first was Jack, third was... Noemí. I didn't know her then so I didn't pay attention to her," he thought as he turned a corner in the hallway.
He mumbled to himself:
-"Last year Jack, Noemí, and I went to the olympiad. I hope Noemí goes again this time." Without realizing it, his cheeks turned slightly pink.
He looked up and saw Noemí coming down the opposite hallway, also heading to the cafeteria. Dan stopped.
-"Noemí?".
Noemí saw him and smiled softly.
-"Dan? Do you have a free class too?".
-"Yeah. Did you also come to get something to eat?".
Noemí laughed gently.
-"Yes. Would you like to talk a bit while we eat?".
-"Of course, I'd love to." Dan said as the two of them walked into the cafeteria.
On the soccer field, Josias, Brandon, and Jhonatan lay on the ground after an intense game.
-"I'm going to buy some bottles of water," Josías said as he stood up.
Josías walked down the hallways. Sofia and Emily were also walking down the halls, talking as they looked for Noemí.
When Josías turned a corner, he ran into them. His cheeks immediately turned red when he saw Emily.
-"President!" Josías exclaimed in surprise.
-"Oh, Josías. Did you have a game? You look tired," she said with a smile.
-"Oh... yeah."
-"Did you win?".
-"Yeah, we won by two goals." Josías was nervous.
Ever since they'd run into Josias, Sofia hadn't stopped looking him in the eyes. Josias didn't notice, but Sofia couldn't take her gaze off him.
-"Alright, I have to go. See you later." Josías said as he quickly walked away – he couldn't look at her without blushing.
-"See you later!" Emily said, waving goodbye.
Sofia stood there watching him walk away.
-"Who is he?" she asked curiously.
-"Josias – he's Dan's friend. But come on, let's keep looking for Noemí." She took her by the arm and pulled her along.
Sofia kept looking in the direction Josías had gone, then walked on with Emily.