Chapter 2 The Golden Eyes

The music vibrated the floor like a second pulse. In the common room of the dorm where the party had been held, the hanging lights cast warm glows on the plastic cups everyone was carrying. The sound of the music, the laughter, and the bodies moved out of rhythm. Selena had stayed close to the wall, her back against the bricks, a non-alcoholic lemonade in her hands, and the certainty that she would leave before midnight.

"You don't have to stay if you don't want to," said Daniela, her roommate, shouting at her over the reggaeton. "But you promised at least for a while."

"A while," Selena repeated, and smiled so Daniela would stop worrying.

She tried to focus on the details that calmed her: the paper garlands, the snack table, the boy putting on a dance performance.

Until the air changed.

It was a faint but distinct sensation, like a breeze entering a room that's been closed for a while. A strange smell wafted through the living room, cutting through the sweet aroma of the drinks. Some turned in that direction on pure instinct. The music continued, but the sound of voices stopped.

They entered together.

It was the Blackwell triplets walking through the door. Each had a girl on their arm, yet they seemed to be alone.

"Great," Daniela murmured, her enthusiasm mingling with a sigh. "Now the party's really started."

Selena tried to make herself smaller so they wouldn't be seen. She raised the glass to her lips without drinking.

Then it happened.

Adrian, who was leaning forward, listening to someone whisper something in his ear, stopped. Barely a step, but enough to tense his shoulders. Luciano turned his head slightly, like an animal catching a slight movement. Elías blinked once, slowly, and his gaze rose above the crowd, as if searching the firmament for something.

The scent of vanilla reached them.

Selena hadn't known she smelled like that. But in a second, her presence had a name in their noses. And all three of them, at the same time, turned toward her.

Those present moved aside, and someone brushed her with an elbow. Selena's glass hit the wall, and lemonade splashed over her hands. She froze, her heart pounding.

"Don't faint," Daniela told him jokingly.

Luciano was the first to approach, carelessly dragging his companion along. He greeted those he saw in his path in a peculiar way. Elías followed a little further behind, his steps silent and firm. Adrián remained in the center as everyone moved away.

"Do you want to leave?" Daniela asked him, quite seriously.

Selena shook her head, her voice trembling.

"I feel fine."

The triplets arrived at the table, very close to Selena. Luciano let go of his partner and took a cookie. Adrian looked up and looked at her.

Selena felt her stomach flutter and the world become distant. There was a second when she thought they might come closer, say something.

Luciano arrived first.

"I don't bite. Well, sometimes," he burst out, laughing.

The girl who was already holding his hand let go with a look of annoyance. But his attention had been on Selena since he arrived.

"What's your name?" he asked without invading her space.

"Selena," she said.

"Luciano. That's Elias," she indicated with her chin. "And the one pretending not to look at us is Adrian."

Selena couldn't help but look at him, and he was looking at her too. "Do you want something to drink?" Elías intervened.

"No, thank you," he replied, clutching the empty glass.

"You're not okay," Luciano affirmed. "Your hands are shaking."

Selena placed the glass on the table.

Adrián walked over and stood next to Selena. She felt a tickle on the back of her neck, the same electricity from literature class, but more intense. It made her thirsty.

"Hi," he greeted.

Selena remained silent, and Daniela stepped in to help her.

"We're first semester students. Selena is studying Literature, and I'm studying Architecture."

"Very interesting," Elías commented honestly, looking at Daniela and giving her a smile.

Adrián didn't take his eyes off Selena.

"It smells like..." Adrián began.

Luciano laughed a little.

"Vanilla."

Selena swallowed hard; her perfume was the cheapest. They sold it at the supermarket. He knew he smelled vanilla on it; yet he hesitated.

"Dance with me," Luciano asked.

"No," Selena replied.

Luciano raised an eyebrow in delight.

"I like it."

"Leave her," Elías demanded.

Luciano responded with a grimace, taking a step back.

"I just wanted to be nice to her."

Adrian didn't smile; he turned his head as if listening to something no one else was. A second later, there was a void.

He knew her.

He knew her in a way he couldn't explain.

"No," Adrian shook his head.

Luciano glanced at him, laughing. Elías shifted his attention to the door, alert to something approaching.

"You shouldn't be here," he finally said.

Selena blinked, not understanding.

"You shouldn't be with us."

Not in a threatening tone, but as a warning. -Selena responded fearlessly.

"I'm not with you," he corrected. "I'm on my wall."

Luciano wanted to applaud; he was enchanted by Selena. Elías looked at Adrián, hoping he would choose his words carefully. Adrián took a breath, revealing his weakness for her.

"Let's go," he said, looking at his brothers.

"Shall we take your wall?" Luciano asked, mockingly.

"Luciano," Elías warned.

Adrián turned away without answering; they moved forward and left the room.

"Are you okay?" Daniela's curiosity sparked, as she had been distracted by a boy in her class.

"Yes," she barely managed to say.

The music increased, and everyone continued dancing.

She didn't understand what had happened. She only knew that when she saw him again, the world would seem to bow down to him.