bikers.

The roar of engines dominated the university parking lot—the biker gang's territory. Their leader was Derek, a guy in a leather jacket with a piercing gaze, respected by everyone; he looked like the archetypal tough guy, but he'd noticeably softened since she'd arrived on campus.

A few meters away from them, the new girl was crossing the courtyard with books in her hands, distracted by her phone and oblivious to the commotion she was causing.

Derek froze with an unlit cigarette in his fingers, seeing it off with a stupid smile that instantly ruined his reputation.

A nudge in the side from Xavi, his closest friend, brought him back to reality amid general laughter.

"Look at him, we lost him. Are you going to take a picture of her so you can keep her for a while, Derek, or are you going to keep drooling?"

"Shut up, Javi," Derek growled, trying to look serious again as his ears turned red.

Mateo joined in the taunts, sighing dramatically and mimicking his expression.

"Oh, look how our great lone wolf sighs. A guy who drives at two hundred kilometers an hour is melting over a girl who barely even looks at him."

"That's just unbelievable," Lucas interjected, laughing. "The other day she asked him what time it was, and he almost forgot how to talk. 'It's... it's... two o'clock,' you replied. What a disgrace, bro!"

“Just leave him alone, love has made him sentimental,” Xavi finished, earning him a withering look.

"If you don't shut up, you'll spend your next trip down the highway pushing your bikes," Derek threatened, stealing a glance in the direction she'd disappeared. "I'm not drooling, I'm just... checking to make sure she's okay."

"Yeah, right, that's called 'security check' now," Mateo mocked, clapping him on the back. "Come on, go check if she needs help carrying her backpack, champ."