The girls' meeting… and Dan, goes on normally. Dan can only listen to them talk about girl things.
He can't leave because Emily blocks his way. Apparently the girls forgot he was still there, but he also didn't want to interrupt them.
Sofia sees Dan and remembers he was still there.
—By the way, Dan. Why have you been talking and spending more time with Noemí lately?—Sofia asks.
Emily looks intrigued.
—That's true, why? It can't be that…
The two look at each other, astonished by their assumption, and blush.
Dan notices their exchanged glances and rolls his eyes at their assumption.
—I know what you're implying, and no, it's not that. Or can't I get to know more people?
Sofia hugs Noemí protectively.
—But why our dear Noemí?
Emily nods her head.
—Yeah, out of so many girls you still don't know, why Noemí?
Dan looked at Noemí for a few seconds before answering.
—Because she seemed like a kind, interesting, and pretty girl.
He can't tell them it was because of a bet with his friends.
Noemí blushes slightly at Dan's words.
—And now that I talk with her, everything is fun. We haven't known each other long, but I think she's a great girl.
—I won't deny that, our little friend is very special.—Says Sofia. Noemí blushes more and more from the compliments.
Emily leans closer to him, trying to notice any expression of lying.
—I understand, but tell me. You're not in love with Noemí, right?
Now Noemí blushes intensely. She glances at Dan nervously, then looks away, unable to look at him.
Dan sighs at her insistence.
—I already told you no, I just want us to be friends.
Emily looks defeated when she sees no sign of lying on his face.
—Well, fine, I believe you… for now.
Sofia smiles.
—Better change the subject. Why aren't you with your little group of friends today? You're always together.—She asks curiously.
—They wanted to play, but I wasn't in the mood for that, so I came here to relax a bit.
—Now that I realize it, I don't know your friends. I've only heard their names and seen them from afar, but never up close.
—Well, they're not very extroverted. They just like spending time with me and their girlfriends.
—Girlfriends…—Something in Sofia changed slightly.
—Yeah, Brandon and Jhonatan spend most of their time with their girlfriends, and if not with them, then they spend hours and hours talking about their relationships.
—From what I know, from your group only you and Josías don't have girlfriends, right—Emily asks.
—Well yeah. When I ask Josías if he likes someone, he always tells me no and that he's not interested in having a girlfriend right now.
(Obviously Josías lied to him, he was too embarrassed to admit the truth.)
—I see. He seems like a shy but cute boy to me—Sofia says.
Emily nods her head and Dan stays thinking.
—Well, girls also say he's cute, but shy he isn't… well, at least not with me.
—Noemí, what do you think?—Sofia asks.
—Mmm… I think he's a very kind boy and a good person.
Emily leans toward Dan to whisper.
—Careful, Dan. Josías might steal her from you.
He grabs a cookie from the table and stuffs it into Emily's mouth to make her shut up.
She eats the cookie and then stands up from her chair to stretch.
—Well, our next class is about to start, we have to go.
Noemí and Sofia nod their heads and then also stand up.
—See you later, Dan.—Sofia says.
Noemí waves her hand goodbye. Dan smiles and waves back the same way.
After the three leave, he sighs.
—I guess I should go back to my classroom too.
He returns to his classroom. When he enters, Jhonatan, Brandon, and Josías are already there waiting for him to play cards.
Dan looks around to make sure no teacher is nearby, then approaches to play with them.
They play for a while until the teacher catches them and takes their cards away. Classes go on normally, with the four of them almost sleeping in the middle of class as always.
In the girls' classroom it was calmer.
The three of them take notes normally, although Emily was bored.
After classes, Dan, Jhonatan, Brandon, and Josías say goodbye since the three of them are going to leave by different paths.
Dan walks toward the school exit. Before leaving, he hears a familiar voice call him from behind.
—Dan, wait.
When he turns around, he sees it was Himari, the captain of the basketball team and Jhonatan's girlfriend.