The campus was buzzing.Not just from the heat—though that too—but from the electric energy of a new semester: students rushing around, friend groups reuniting, flyers flying through the air, and coffee. So much coffee.
And in the middle of that chaos, there she was.Lía walked alone, big headphones covering her ears, the volume high enough to mute the world. Her dark red hair fell in slightly messy waves, and she wore an open plaid shirt over a black T-shirt with a skull printed on it. She wasn't looking for attention… but she drew it anyway.
She didn't look at anyone.She didn't smile.She didn't greet.She was like a satellite in her own orbit, spinning without crashing into any other planet.
From the other end of the courtyard, Lucas saw her walk by.He was with his usual group, on the same bench as always, sipping his iced coffee with the same relaxed attitude of someone who owned the place. Laughing, talking loudly, throwing looks that were meant to be returned.
But that girl… didn't return anything. Not even a glance.And in Lucas's world, that just didn't happen.
"Who's that?" he asked, eyes still locked on her."The redhead? She's in Music or something. Weird. Doesn't talk to anyone," Matías, his friend, replied.
Lucas tilted his head slightly.The girl disappeared behind the Arts building without even looking back.
"She didn't look at me.""No one can resist you, bro," Matías laughed. "She'll come around."
Lucas didn't answer. He smiled.But it wasn't his usual smooth, charming smile.It was something else.
Lía had no idea he had seen her. And she didn't care.She was more worried about getting to the rehearsal room before it filled up. Mondays were for drumming, for isolating herself, for forgetting everything else. Being around people had never been her strength—especially now, when everything felt so loud.
She stepped into the Music room, dropped her backpack in a corner, and turned on the metronome.Three taps of the drumsticks.One. Two. Three.The drums started to pound—like a furious heartbeat no one could ignore.
—Meanwhile, Lucas hadn't stopped thinking about her.And not because he thought she was pretty—which she was—But because something about her didn't fit the mold. She wasn't trying to blend in. She wasn't trying to impress. She didn't seem to want anything he had to offer.
And that… was new.It was a challenge.