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𝑨𝑺 𝑰 𝑬𝑿𝑨𝑴𝑰𝑵𝑬𝑫 them, the only Salvador at the table whose interest I seemed to pique, looked up and met my stare. His faced was edged with a look of curious concentration. That was clearly evident. I quickly looked away as to not get caught in a trance by his piercing gaze. It was clear to me that his glance detained some failed assumption, and that filled me with disappointment.
"The one with the wavy black hair is Marcelo right?" I asked. I cut my eyes at him, and I could see that I was still the center of his attention. But he wasn't ogling at me like everyone at the school had. It looked as if he was watching something above my head with a slight look of relief which quickly turned to frustration the longer he stared. I looked away from him again. His dark eyes and that frustrated look on his face caused shivers to run down my spine.
"Yes, that's Marcelo. He's unbelievably drop-dead-gorgeous, but don't even waste your time. He apparently has such high standards for the women here that nobody is ever going too mount to much for his attention, so he prefers the single life." She said with mild irritation, a clear indication that he rejected whatever it was that she had to offer him. That would have been entertaining to watch.
I pursed my lips together so I wouldn't laugh out loud in her face. I then glanced back at him. His face was half turned away, but I thought I saw the corner of his lip turn up into a small smirk, as if he could hear our conversation.
After a couple of minutes, the 6 of them left together. They were all noticeably balletic, even the beefy, herculean one. It was unnerving to watch. The one named Marcelo didn't look at me again. I sat there at the table with Sarah and her friends longer than I would have if I'd been alone. It was my original plan to go to the library during lunch, so I wouldn't be anxious about being tardy on my first day of class.
A new acquaintance of mine, who appreciably told me her name was Katie, had astrobiology with me for the next hour. We stayed silent as we walked to class together. Katie so happened to be the quiet type and, I didn't mind at all.
When we entered the classroom, Katie went to sit at a white-topped lab table unlike the ones I was used to. She already had a partner. In fact, all the tables were filled except one. In the back, towards the last aisle, sat Marcelo Salvador with his unusual persona, sitting alone next to the only empty seat.
As I walked down the aisle to introduce myself to the professor to get my form signed, I was watching him clandestinely. Just as I came deeper into the room, his posture became rigid in his chair. He held my eyes with the most bizarre expression, it was venomous, livid with another strong emotion I couldn't decipher. His eyes looked entirely black from across the room. I could hardly see the whites of his eyes.
I quickly looked away in complete shock and confusion, growing flustered. I bumped into the table, nearly tripping over my feet before catching myself on the edge of the table. The girl sitting there giggled and in defense, I shot an aggravated glare back.
