Time seemed to pass slowly, perhaps because the teachers immediately had us start studying; after all, we're in our second-to-last year.
Andrea, along with Mark, Seth, and Lucas, was having fun playing Tic-Tac-Toe, while I prepared to make a quick trip to the school café.
Lucas and Andrea were about to start a game. Andrea looked a bit nervous, his hands trembling slightly. I watched him more closely and noticed that Lucas had just leaned on him.
What is he doing?
Then I heard a rhythmic tapping on the notebook. I diverted my gaze to follow the sound and realized it was Mark tapping his pen on Andrea's notebook, catching both my attention—and Andrea's.
"Come on, Andrea. Are you going to pick a square? You've been stuck for five minutes."
"Y-yeah, you're right… it's just that I don't want to lose. Otherwise, I'd have to buy Lucas breakfast next time." Andrea stammered a little, his gaze fixed on the square as he tried to aim correctly.
"You really are stingy, my friend… all that for so little?" Seth said, sarcastically.
"I'm not stingy! I often treat at my parents' house…"
Mark looked at him skeptically, scratching his head with the pen.
"Buddy… the money comes from your parents, not you."
Andrea didn't answer, but his expression was so funny that everyone burst out laughing. That scene made me realize how deep the bond he had built with his friends was. I know how much it cost him to get here, and seeing him like this filled me with happiness and pride.
I decided to walk away, but I stopped again when my gaze fell on Lucas: I couldn't stop watching him secretly.
When Andrea spoke, Lucas followed the movement of his lips, then moved up to his eyes, his hair… to everything. The way he looked at him was sweet, as if admiring something beautiful yet out of reach.
And yet, to me, it almost seemed like he was trying to be noticed, to remind him that he was there—even if Andrea didn't realize it.
That thought made me uneasy. I put my hands over my mouth and started biting my nails, unsure of what to do.
Then, instinctively, I raised my voice:
"Guys! I'm going to the café. Does anyone want anything?"
I felt calmer seeing that Mark and Seth didn't waste time making an endless list, as if I were their wallet. Andrea, however, only asked me to get him a lemon tea.
I nodded, smiling, but before leaving, I looked at Lucas. His eyes were already elsewhere while the others discussed who would start the next game.
He looked thoughtful… maybe my behavior had annoyed him?
"Lucas, do you want anything from the café?"
"I don't want anything," he said, rocking on the chair and looking out the window.
"Okay."
I walked toward the classroom exit, stopping just behind the door.
I don't know what has changed… Andrea is acting strangely, and Lucas seems to notice—actually, it even looks like he likes it.
The thought unsettled me, but I couldn't shake it off.
A little later, I arrived at the café. Behind the counter was Mrs. Matilde, greeting me with a big smile.
She was a slightly plump woman, with a face marked by age, yet she radiated all the warmth and care she put into her work.
I handed her the list of things to buy for the boys, while I chose an orange juice for myself.
"How were your holidays, Sole?" she asked kindly.
"Very good, I went to London with my mother."
"London is beautiful. I went there thirty years ago, and if I could, I'd love to go back." She answered happily, even though I sensed a hint of nostalgia in her voice.
"What did you and Andrea do together?"
My hand froze as I reached for the items on the counter. I stayed still for a few seconds, eyes wide, as if that simple question had reminded me of a reality I had tried to avoid but that was still there.
"We did a lot of things together, we had fun."
Mrs. Matilde smiled gently, intertwining her hands and resting them under her chin.
"I'm glad, you make such a beautiful couple and both of you are lucky!" she said warmly, placing the last items I needed on the counter along with some candies, a small gift.
"This is from the house, next time."
I thanked her and said goodbye as I walked away. I looked for a place to sit and drink my juice when, suddenly, I saw someone motioning me to come over. The moment I looked at her, I couldn't help smiling: it was Sasha, a friend I had met in dance, in a different class.
I joined her, and we hugged, happy to see each other after such a long time.
I sat next to her and, while eating a bag of peanuts, Sasha told me the latest news from the dance school.
"You know, a little while ago our teacher said she'll give us some information as soon as we return to class."
"I wonder what it will be… maybe a new recital?"
"Maybe. We'll see."
Suddenly, I heard louder chatter in the distance. From the voices, I recognized the principal and some teachers.
They were standing there, and I noticed the principal seemed cheerful while talking to a woman with an elegant presence. Her long hair swayed with her movements as she walked confidently. She glanced around, observing the school and us with curiosity.
They seemed to be discussing some kind of project, judging by the principal's gestures.
"Sasha, who's that elegant woman next to the principal?"
Sasha looked in the direction I had indicated, shrugging and munching on some peanuts.
"Ah, I don't know… but I've heard they want to bring in a psychologist. There's been a lot of talk about how we students would benefit from some support even at school."
I nodded, noticing that the principal had already walked away with the woman. If Sasha was right, someone really needed such a figure.
The bell rang. I hurriedly said goodbye to Sasha, blowing her lots of kisses as I walked away. I headed back to class but couldn't stop thinking about the way Lucas had been looking at Andrea. The tension I had tried to shake off refused to leave me.
———
A couple of hours had passed since the lessons began. I checked my phone: it was noon.
This year, the teachers want us to focus on exams and prohibit the use of phones during class hours.
So I hadn't been able to write to Lucas to ask him to talk. But now, with the change of period, I could reach him in person.
I got up from my desk, but Andrea gently stopped me, grabbing my wrist.
"Wait!"
"What is it, Andrea?"
I turned to him. He looked nervous, as if searching for the right words but unable to find them. His head was tilted down, and his eyes darted from side to side, revealing how hard it was for him to express what he felt.
"I'm sorry if I seemed harsh before. I was angry because of my mother, but it has nothing to do with you."
When he looked up, he fixed me with a more determined gaze; the nervousness from before seemed to have vanished, replaced by a calm confidence.
It brought back so many memories of when we were little and used to fight.
My father, to make us reconcile, invented a game we called "the court": we were the defendants, and he was the judge.
In the end, instead of finding a culprit, he would just explain where we had gone wrong.
Now I wonder… in this story, does a real culprit even exist?
Instinctively, I stepped closer and hugged him.
"You didn't do anything wrong, you were just a little nervous. And I wasn't really upset."
When I pulled away, my eyes met his—two beautiful emeralds, slightly sad but full of sincere affection as they looked at me.
It reminded me so much of Dad. I miss him so much…
I didn't even have time to catch my breath when suddenly I felt someone lift me off the ground. My heart skipped a beat. I turned sharply and met Lucas's eyes.
"Hey, what are you doing?!"
"I'm carrying you… what else could I do?"
"Put me down!"
After a moment of hesitation, Lucas gently set me back on the ground.
"You scared me!"
"I won't do it again, my lady," he said with a smile, raising both hands in surrender.
He's always the same, he'll never change.
"Anyway, I was looking for you. Can we meet later?"
"That's fine with me. I heard that maybe today the PE teacher will come, so we can meet in the courtyard during class."
I nodded.
A little later, just as Lucas said, the PE teacher really entered the classroom.
Lucas greeted me with a wave and gave Andrea a small smile, while everyone welcomed the teacher.
I was about to sit down when the quick rustling of some pages caught my attention.
The speed with which the papers were flipped almost made them seem about to tear.
I looked at Andrea: he kept his gaze low and ran a hand behind his neck.
Maybe he feels left out of our group?
I didn't even have time to organize my thoughts when the PE teacher invited us to leave the classroom and go to the courtyard.
Finally, I would have the chance to talk to Lucas.
The closer the moment came to speak to Lucas, the more nervous I felt.
I wondered if this conversation would even help… or if I would just end up complicating things even more.