Daisuke Alexandre

˚ ︶︶𝜗𝜚︶︶‌ ₊ ˚ ︶︶𝜗𝜚 ˚ ︶︶𝜗𝜚︶︶‌ ₊ ˚

He didn't consider himself a superstitious person, but if fate had a sense of humor, it must be laughing in my face right now.

I hadn't expected to see her here.

Andrea, at the edge of the pool, arms crossed and with that neutral expression that left it unclear whether she was bored or up to something. I couldn't say I really knew her, but after weeks of seeing her around campus and that brief moment when I'd agreed to give her my contact information, her presence hadn't gone unnoticed.

But here, on my turf, she was just another spectator. And I had work to do.

—Okay, kids, the first thing is to get used to the water. Let's go in slowly, okay?

Excited and nervous voices mingled in the air as the little ones prepared to enter. I walked along the shore, making sure no one had any trouble with their floats or equipment.

Lucas, Andrea's brother, was easy to spot. Not only because of his boundless energy, but because he fired off questions every two seconds.

—What if there are sharks?

—It's a pool, Lucas.

—What if someone put a small one in and it grows?

I let out a short laugh.

—Then I'll take care of him before he reaches you.

That seemed to calm him down a bit.

When I finished making sure everyone was ready, I looked back toward the shore. Andrea was still there, motionless.

He looked at her for a moment longer than necessary. He didn't smile, but his expression left me with a thought evident in it: Who would have thought you'd end up here?