Big Dreams

Chapter 6: Fight in the courtyard

The second semester started even though we were with no energy; college was not so good, especially without parties. However, everyone believed that in our 3rd year, which would start in September, parties would be allowed again, since everyone was vaccinated and almost everything was back to normal. My father and his fiancée postponed their wedding for the summer due to a lack of money to pay for everything on time.

On a beautiful, sunny March day, Trina, Francisco, and our new friend, Dani, were enjoying our time on one of the college's outdoor benches when Dani saw my bracelet.

- "It's so beautiful, Sara, can I see it closely ? I just love jewelry", as I showed her the bracelet my phone rang and it was a message from Miguel "Showing off gifts, are we?". I looked for him and found him on the other side of the courtyard, we smiled at each other, but my smile vanished when I saw his friends calling him to make fun of some freshmen who were asking for directions, it wasn't the first time I saw that kind of thing happen.

- "Those guys are just horrible, did you know they do that ever since they are in the second year?", Francisco commented and then looked at me when he spoke again, "You really should be careful with Miguel, Sara. He is not good, he just pretends to be to get girls."

- "Wait, you know that guy? He is like the most popular guy in our year, but he's right, he has a bad reputation", Dani added.

- "Come on, don't be like that, guys, you don't know him.", I understood that they were going to discuss the matter and I really didn't want to stay there listening to all those things about Miguel, so I left with the excuse that I wanted coffee. I was waiting for my coffee to be ready when someone whispered "Hey, beautiful" in my ear.

- "Hey, shouldn't you be bullying another group of freshmen with your friends?", I said angrily.

- "Wow, someone is in a bad mood", Miguel answered.

- "No, I just don't like to see you doing things like that and having to hear people talking badly about you when I know you're much better than that."

- "So you think I'm a good person? ", and he did his usual smile like that was a joke.

- "This isn't funny, Miguel. What you and your so-called friends are doing is wrong and I would just like you to stop pretending to be a bad guy just to hang out with them."

- "Look, I know you're right, but I've known them forever and I just can't stop going out with them like that.", he realized that I wasn't convinced," I'm going to make them stop doing this, okay? But I can't change everything about them"

- "Okay then, since you stop being an idiot to other people, I don't care what your friends do"

- "But you care about what I do." he smiled and I just rolled my eyes and was turning around when he came over and whispered in my ear "Know that I'll be thinking about you" and then he looked at me and added "and I won't be an idiot, okay?" he opened the door for me and we parted without big smiles so people wouldn't notice.

A few days later, Trina and I went to the patio where we had arranged to meet Francisco for lunch. She was excited talking about her boyfriend, Paulo, who had finally returned to live in Porto, because now they could spend more time together. I was telling him about the wedding plans that I had helped with when, suddenly, we heard screams and saw that Francisco was arguing with someone and, as we got closer, I noticed that it was Miguel.

- "If you really like her, you'll stay away from her because you know you don't deserve her", Francisco was more upset than ever.

- "Oh, I'm not enough for her is that? Maybe you are?", Miguel replied