Under Jacarandá Stars

Chapter 2

Noelia:

Later that day, I received a text from Eric, just as he had promised in class.

-Hey, Noelia. It 's Eric, again.

          -Hi

-For the project, I was thinking of meeting somewhere...

          -Yes, sounds good. Do you know where?

     - Could be at my house, we can plan our project and start collecting some samples from the forest next door.

I agreed, my thumbs hesitating over the keyboard before replying:

          -Sounds good. See you then

I received a link to open it in google maps

          -Thanks

-You're welcome

          -So, see you tomorrow

-Bye

The next morning was a whirl of nerves. As the sunlight filtered through my curtains, casting a warm glow over my room, I found myself standing before my closet, contemplating my outfit with unusual hesitation. Typically, my choices ranged from trendy skirts to sleek dresses, all echoing the latest fashion seen in glossy magazines. Today, however, I settled on a simple pair of jeans and a plain white T-shirt—attire that felt foreign yet appropriate for the day's agenda.

I faced the mirror, tucking the shirt in and adjusting the collar. While my head was full of questions about what awaited me at Eric's house? What did his world look like? Would it be like stepping into an old movie?

Pulling my hair into a casual ponytail, I grabbed my keys and headed out. The drive to Eric's neighborhood was familiar to me, it was the same route he took every day to go to school, since he lived a few blocks away. As I turned off the main road, the houses grew more modest, the opulent facades of my own neighborhood giving way to humble homes. The streets narrowed, the lush green lawns dwindled into small patches of grass, each detail marking a stark contrast from the manicured perfection I was accustomed to.

Until there was his house, at the end of the street, next to a forest that stretched beyond sight. It was a single-story house with a simple and modern design. The siding on the house was a dull taupe, the roof was gabled with dark tiles, the house had a small front yard with neatly trimmed grass and landscaped flower beds. There was a cobblestone path leading to the front steps.

I parked outside Eric's house, stepped out of the car and walked up to the front door, my hand trembling slightly as I rang the bell.

When the door swung open, appeared Eric greeting me with a shy smile, He was just as I had seen him the day before, with shining shoes, a wool jacket despite the spring warmth beginning to be felt, his hair combed neatly to one side, and obviously his cane; it seemed that was always his style. He led me inside, his house was small but cozy, filled with a warmth that my spacious, immaculate home often lacked. The walls were lined with photographs and artwork

-Do you draw? - I asked trying to break the deep silence

-Yes, all of these artworks are mine. Art is my passion.

I was drawn to a particular painting of a majestic purple tree against a stormy sky.

-That's beautiful -I murmured, tracing the lines with my eyes.

-It's the jacaranda tree outside -Eric explained to me, his voice tinged with a fondness that made me turn to look out the window at the tree.

There it was, just at the back of the house, the most amazing tree I've ever seen, but not just that, it was the same as my flowers, my purple bouquet. Could Eric be the one who gave me the jacaranda bouquet?

Eric led me through a narrow hallway into a cozy, cluttered studio filled with his artwork and assorted supplies. As we settled down among scattered sketches and paint tubes, he leaned forward, his expression eager.

The task involved collecting data on the population of different types of birds that existed in the city using the scientific method. First, we prepared a report in which we proposed a hypothesis about what we would find, our work eventually took us outside to the forest adjacent to his house to try to spot some birds.

When went out, we passed beside the big jacaranda tree. It was bigger than it seemed, fully bloomed, creating a purple carpet at its roots...

We walked slowly among the tall pine trees, listening to the birdsong and trying to identify them. To my and his surprise, I was really good at finding them. The forest was full of scarlet flycatchers, and for the first time I saw a saffron finch, I knew their population was very low. I loved that moment.

-How do you know too much about birds? -he asked me

-I think it is because since very little my father and I went out just for birdwatching and.... -I saw movement in an upper branch -Look, there's a scarlet flycatcher.

-Oh, it's beautiful, it's a bright red color.... I'll write it down

Slowly the tension between us began to break down, I felt happy and comfortable in that place, even with Eric just by my side.

-Have you seen the documentary by the director of The Blue Planet? It's part of our project research- he asked, his enthusiasm palpable.

I nodded, smiling at his excitement

-Yes, I loved it. The way he captures the underwater world is mesmerizing

Eric's eyes sparkled with shared interest.

-Right? It's like he transports you to another universe. And the colors, he gets them just perfect.

We continued to chat, the project momentarily forgotten, as we delved deeper into our favorite films.

-What's your all-time favorite movie? -he asked, genuinely curious.

I thought for a moment, enjoying the warmth of the conversation, the environment, the temperature outside here, everything was just perfect.

-It has to be Inception. There's something about the complexity of its storyline that captivates me every time.

-Really? Noelia's all-time favorite movie is Inception? How? I thought "Mean Girls" or that kind of thing, you know...

-I know, I know, but no –I laughed, and for the first time I felt someone was telling me what they really think, no lies –What's yours?

-Mine's Interstellar. The blend of science and human emotion is just...wow.

I loved the way he talked about everything he liked; it was awesome. And it made me wonder, what could I talk about with such passion? I could talk about laws and becoming a renowned judge like my father, but I didn't do it with that passion as Eric did. What did I really love to do? At that moment, I didn't know, but I would soon find out, and it would fill all the empty spaces within me.

Our conversation flowed effortlessly, bouncing from one topic to another. We discussed various directors' styles, the impact of music in film, and our favorite movie genres. It was refreshing to talk so freely, and I found myself more relaxed and open than I had been in a long time. As we laughed and shared stories, I realized that Eric was not just a quiet classmate but someone who shared my taste for the cinematic world. This unexpected connection made me look forward to the project—and our new friendship—with newfound enthusiasm.

I found myself laughing more freely than I had in a long time. There was a simplicity and honesty in Eric's presence that I hadn't expected to find comforting. His home, his life, it was all so real, so raw.

We worked well together, moving seamlessly from one task to the next. Eric was knowledgeable. The afternoon slipped by in a series of shared tasks and light conversations.