After buying a sandwich from the kiosk, I walk to where Sofia and Julio are, but then I realize it’d be better to leave them alone. They seem to be under a magic spell that makes intruders like me go away. I wish to be under that magic spell too, with Santiago, and stay there, protected. Suddenly, there’s the mint candy scent in the air and I realize Santiago's close, as if I had summoned him with my wish. I see him come close—quiet as always—and notice worry in his eyes when he meets mine. Maria walks slowly, with her eyes on the floor, and as she realizes she’s close to the classroom, she looks up and searches for Sofia and Julio, breaking the magic spell that surrounded them.

Santiago approaches me, and seems a bit confused after his little talk with Maria.

“Max, Maria said that you became my friend to avoid me getting closer to her, and to not worry if I feel something for her, that you’ll understand eventually, and that you’ll accept us,” he says, confused, while he takes out his mint candies. “But I don’t feel anything for her,” he assures me, and locks eyes with me. I think his eyes are telling me more than what he’s saying, my imagination completes his words with, “The one I like is you.” I look away, to avoid him noticing how nervous I am. I started daydreaming while I was looking at Santiago's eyes.

“What did you tell her? Wait, don’t tell me… You just replied with a cruel and simple, ‘no’?”

I ask while I laugh about the possibility of him giving Maria one of his monosyllabic answers.

“Well, I told her, ‘no, I’m sorry.’ Did I do something wrong, Max? Was I cruel?” Santiago asks, worried.

“Well, that reply was... very you...” I say, to try to calm him down. I keep laughing as Santiago’s worry is still shown on his face.

“Well, Max. I don’t know if you like Maria, but I don’t think you became close to me for the reasons she's stating. In fact, everything started because I asked you for help... and then, by chance, you ended up in my house because of badminton and...”

“Thanks for not believing her. And, I’m not interested in Maria. I mean, we’ve just started talking and look at all the things she comes up with. She’s been like that since we were kids, she’s got a lot of imagination.”

Santiago’s still a bit worried about Maria, but I tell him I’ll talk to her tomorrow, that everything will be fine. I’ve known her since we were in kindergarten, and she’s always coming up with these soap-opera plots. More than worrying or annoying me, I find them funny. The thing that really fills my mind is realizing Santiago doesn't use monosyllabic answers when he talks to me; maybe it’s because he’s more comfortable around me, and feels more relaxed with me than with the rest. That thought makes me feel special. It makes me smile.

When classes end we hurry to leave the classroom and go to Santiago’s house to play badminton. When we're on our way, Santiago teaches me the rules of the game, and he gives me some tips for beginners. He comes too close and our fingers touch, and at times, our pinkies get hooked up All these light and brief touches make my heart beat fast, and I come close to grab his hand, but we soon arrive to Santiago’s house.