Unspoken

WHY?

As the lunch bell rang, the cafeteria filled with the usual buzz of students grabbing trays, chatting, and finding their seats. Selena and Olivia sat at their usual corner table, unpacking their lunches. The topic of their group assignments was inevitable.

Selena took a bite of her sandwich and said, "So, you've got Rafael in your group. That's great, right? You two will probably work so well together."

Olivia shrugged, her expression a mix of forced nonchalance and hidden irritation. "I guess... but his best friend Mateo is in your group. Now you'll get to hang out with both of them." She gave a teasing smile but avoided eye contact.

Selena blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "Mateo? Yeah, I guess. He seems nice... but honestly, I don't know how I'll survive being in a group with Daniel. He's so—"

Olivia cut her off, smirking. "Annoying? Loud? Full of himself?"

"Exactly!" Selena said, laughing. "And his jokes? Ugh. He was cracking jokes about the test while everyone else was panicking."

Olivia's smirk faltered for a split second, but she recovered quickly. "Well, maybe you'll keep him focused. You're good at that stuff."

Selena raised an eyebrow. "I'm not his babysitter. And anyway, you're one to talk! Rafael's always be asking you for notes and advice. I bet you two will be study buddies in no time."

Olivia gave a playful scoff, twirling her drink cup. "Sure, he's smart, but Rafael never asks me for notes or advice. He knows I'm hopeless at studies," she added with a sheepish laugh.

Selena giggled, nodding. "Yeah, but still, having him in your group means you'll have an edge. And it's Rafael; he's so... organized."

Olivia smirked, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Oh, and you're one to talk! You've got Mateo in your group—Rafael's best friend. Guess you'll be spending time with him."

Selena blushed faintly and rolled her eyes. "Oh, stop it! Mateo is... he's just a classmate."

Olivia leaned in, her voice teasing. "Uh-huh, 'just a classmate.' We'll see. Anyway, enjoy Daniel too. He's in your group, isn't he?"

Selena hesitated for a moment before laughing nervously. "Yeah, but you know he's always with Juan and Marco. I'm not sure how much we'll really talk."

The two girls shared a laugh, masking their underlying emotions—Olivia's subtle envy over Daniel's attention toward Selena and Selena's conflicting feelings between Rafael and the new dynamics of her group.

Selena and Olivia wandered out to the school's football ground, seeking a break from their boredom. The sun cast a warm glow over the field as students cheered enthusiastically.

They noticed a crowd split into two groups: one chanting Rafael's name and the other rallying for Daniel. Both boys were on opposing teams, their faces marked with intense determination.

The tension on the field was palpable as Daniel and Rafael clashed, vying for the ball. Daniel darted forward, his movements swift and calculated, while Rafael blocked his path with equal determination. There was a moment of stillness where the two locked eyes, their rivalry clear as day. The crowd hushed briefly, sensing the competitive spark.

"Wow," Selena muttered, her gaze shifting between the two. "They're so serious."

"Of course, they are!" Olivia replied, her tone carrying excitement. "Look at them—Daniel and Rafael are practically the school's football royalty."

Selena tilted her head, her eyes drawn to the way Daniel's hair glistened with sweat as he darted past defenders with effortless grace. Rafael wasn't far behind, his focus unwavering, barking out instructions to his teammates, including his best friend Mateo. The way Rafael's muscles tensed and his brows furrowed with every pass made it clear he was giving his all.