glasses

Overlooked

The next morning, Nicolás strolled into his first class of the day, feeling more energized than usual. The glow of victory from the volleyball game hadn't entirely faded, and even though practice had left his muscles sore, his mood was unbeatable. 

Sliding into his usual seat at the back of the classroom, he pulled out his notebook, fully prepared to half-listen to whatever the teacher had planned. 

That's when he saw him. 

Román. 

Sitting three rows ahead, near the window, his glasses catching the morning light. He was hunched over his desk, scribbling something in the margins of his notebook. 

Nicolás blinked, a strange sense of déjà vu settling over him. Was this... normal? Had Román always been in this class? 

He frowned, trying to recall. He'd been sitting in this very seat for weeks, but he couldn't remember ever noticing Román before. How had he overlooked him? 

The teacher entered, and the class began, but Nicolás found it hard to focus. His gaze kept drifting toward Román. The way his blonde hair fell slightly over his forehead. The way he occasionally adjusted his glasses, like they were always slipping down his nose. 

By the time the lesson ended, Nicolás realized he hadn't written a single word in his notebook. Instead, he'd spent the entire hour observing Román. 

When the bell rang, he was on his feet before he could think twice, weaving through the crowd of students heading for the door. He caught up to Román in the hallway, calling his name over the noise. 

"Román!" 

Román turned, a little startled, his usual calm expression flickering briefly into confusion. "Nicolás? What are you doing?" 

Nicolás grinned, falling into step beside him. "What do you mean, what am I doing? I'm talking to you." 

Román glanced at him sideways. "Okay... Why?" 

"Because I just realized we're in the same class. Since when?" Nicolás asked, genuinely curious. 

Román gave him a flat look. "Since the start of the semester. Obviously." 

Nicolás tilted his head, feigning deep thought. "Hmm, weird. I definitely would've noticed you." 

Román raised an eyebrow. "You just said you didn't." 

"Exactly," Nicolás said, a playful glint in his eyes. "That's what's weird. Someone like you? Hard to miss." 

Román stopped walking, his brow furrowing. "What's that supposed to mean?" 

Nicolás stopped too, turning to face him. He leaned slightly closer, lowering his voice just enough to make Román shift uncomfortably. "It means you're kind of... intriguing. In a 'why-do-you-always-ignore-me' kind of way." 

Román crossed his arms, clearly unimpressed. "Maybe because I don't like talking to loud volleyball players who think they're the center of the universe?" 

"Ouch." Nicolás clutched his chest dramatically, like he'd been wounded. "Harsh, Román. I thought we were bonding last night." 

"We weren't." 

Nicolás grinned wider, undeterred. "You sure? Felt like we were. You even said I played great. That's basically a love confession coming from you." 

Román's cheeks turned a faint shade of pink, and he quickly looked away. "You're impossible." 

"Maybe," Nicolás said, stepping back just enough to give Román space, but his teasing tone softened slightly. "But I meant what I said. It's weird that I never noticed you before. I guess I was too busy being the loud volleyball player." 

Román glanced at him, his expression softening just a fraction. "Maybe you should pay more attention, then." 

Nicolás tilted his head, a slow smile spreading across his face. "Oh, I will. Starting now." 

Román rolled his eyes but didn't argue. Instead, he adjusted his glasses and muttered something about being late for his next class before walking away. 

Nicolás watched him go, feeling oddly triumphant. 

"Same class," he murmured to himself, his smile lingering. "Guess I'll be paying a lot more attention from now on."