Chapter 129 - 127 Where a "We" Begins to Be Born

Chapter 129: Chapter 127 Where a "We" Begins to Be Born

Thursday morning arrived without announcement, and with it, the Institute returned to its usual rhythm. The classrooms filled again, footsteps crossed through the hallways, and the murmur of hundreds of students accompanied every class change.

Sebastián, Virka, Óscar, and Valentina continued with their respective schedules, meeting whenever their timetables coincided again. Zaira began to appear with them with a different frequency. She still had not agreed to become part of the club, but she had decided to accompany them and observe for herself.

She did not need to announce it. Her presence was enough.

During the class changes, the new dynamic began to become visible. Óscar found any opportunity to keep the atmosphere light with carefree comments and gestures that elicited some reaction from the others. Sebastián usually answered him with the same brevity with which he handled almost everything. Virka remained nearby, attentive to everything happening around her, although the distance she had previously maintained from the group had begun to disappear.

Valentina, on the other hand, seemed not to need any reason to enjoy those moments. She moved among them with the naturalness of someone who already considered that small group part of her life.

Zaira observed more than she intervened. She did not seek approval or try to fit in with them. When something seemed interesting to her, she stayed; when a conversation offered her nothing, she simply let it continue without her.

Even so, little by little, she began to respond to Óscar’s jokes, walk alongside the others from one class to another, and share the same space without maintaining the separation of the first days. Her pride did not need to raise a barrier to prove her worth. It was enough for her to know who she was.

When lunchtime arrived, the five ended up gathered in the same area. The food remained in front of them while the noise of the Institute filled the space. Óscar kept the atmosphere relaxed, Valentina enjoyed the company, and Virka remained calm beside him. Sebastián only intervened when he had something to say, while Zaira slowly grew accustomed to that mixture of personalities which, despite their differences, seemed to work effortlessly.

The rest of the classes passed without any events capable of breaking the normality.

For Zaira, however, that day had been different. She had not received a definitive answer, nor had she given hers. She had simply remained with them long enough to begin understanding what Óscar had tried to show her.

And, for the first time, the idea of belonging to the group stopped seeming like something foreign to her.

When classes ended, the five met again in the dining hall. There were no more lessons ahead; only the activities they had planned for the afternoon remained.

Óscar began leading the group toward the club room.

Before they could leave, Zaira approached.

She had spent the day observing them and wanted to see that place before making a final decision. It did not mean that she had already agreed to become part of the club. She simply wanted to see how much it could offer her and how it would fit into her life.

None of them objected.

Shortly afterward, the five headed toward the room.

The journey was brief.

Upon entering, the golden afternoon light passed through the enormous window and spread across the marble and wood. Beyond the glass, the sea occupied the horizon beneath the last tones of the day.

Several documents related to the organization of the trip toward the north remained on the table.

Sebastián, Virka, and Óscar took seats beside them. Valentina left her backpack near one of the chairs.

Zaira, on the other hand, walked directly toward the window.

She stopped there, gazing at the sea.

The sunset light traveled through her red hair until it made it appear ablaze. Her posture remained firm, and her golden eyes followed the waves without losing that confident expression that usually accompanied her.

Behind her, Sebastián, Virka, and Óscar began reviewing the travel plans.

Valentina listened for a few moments.

Then she lost interest.

She looked toward Zaira and began walking toward her.

—I’m glad you came.

Zaira lowered her gaze slightly.

—I’m still seeing if I’ll stay.

—But you can stay while you decide.

—That’s what I’m doing.

Valentina smiled.

—Then you’re already my friend.

One of Zaira’s eyebrows rose slightly.

—Did you already decide that?

—Yes.

The answer came with such naturalness that Zaira remained silent for a few seconds.

Valentina turned her gaze back toward the sea. A group of fish broke the surface.

—Look!

She pointed excitedly toward the water.

Zaira followed the direction of her finger.

—I saw them.

—They jumped so high!

Valentina placed her hands against the glass, following the movements of the fish. Then she looked at Zaira.

—I like being here.

—It shows.

—And now you come too.

Zaira glanced at her from the corner of her eye.

—It still doesn’t mean that I’m going to join.

—Why not?

—Because first I have to know if this fits me.

Valentina frowned slightly.

—But you can be with us.

—It’s not that simple.

—Is it going to change a lot of things?

—Probably.

Valentina looked at the sea again.

—But they can be good things.

Zaira remained silent.

The girl turned toward her again.

—If we’re all together, we can do many things.

That childish certainty needed no explanation. Zaira did not know Valentina’s past, nor did she know how much having people around her meant to her. She only saw a girl who spoke of being together as if that alone were enough to overcome any problem.

—I have to think about it.

Valentina’s eyes lit up.

—Really?

—Really.

—Then think about it.

Zaira watched her for a few seconds before nodding.

—I will.

Another group of fish jumped in the distance.

Valentina immediately pointed at them again.

—Look again!

Zaira directed her eyes toward the sea.

—Yes. I see them.

Valentina smiled, satisfied, and remained beside her.

On the other side of the room, Sebastián, Virka, and Óscar continued organizing the trip.

The afternoon continued to pass.

Zaira still had not made a final decision, but she no longer needed to be invited to stay. She had begun doing so of her own accord.

The afternoon continued to advance as the light outside descended over the horizon. The golden glow that had crossed the window was beginning to fade, leaving a dimmer light over the marble and wood.

In front of the glass, Zaira and Valentina continued gazing at the sea. Behind them, Sebastián, Virka, and Óscar finished reviewing the documents related to the trip toward the north.

Sebastián took the last sheet, reviewed it one more time, and placed it on the table.

—With this, we’re finished.

Óscar nodded, satisfied.

—Then there’s nothing else left to organize.

For a few seconds, no one said anything. They were in no hurry to leave.

Then Óscar stood up.

—I just had a great idea!

His voice broke the stillness. Valentina immediately turned her head, and Zaira did the same.

Óscar placed one hand on the table.

—Why don’t we all go out together tomorrow? We could come in the afternoon and, instead of staying here organizing things, do some activity to strengthen the club’s unity even further.

Zaira frowned slightly.

—You’re already making plans and you haven’t even asked me.

Óscar pointed at her with a carefree smile.

—First I had to present the idea. Then you can tell me what you think or propose something else.

—That sounds pretty similar to deciding it beforehand.

—Then propose something better.

Zaira narrowed her eyes.

—That easy?

—That easy.

Beside her, Valentina gave two little hops.

—Then you can say an idea too!

Zaira lowered her gaze toward her.

—Yes.

—What idea do you want to do?

The girl’s open excitement caused Zaira’s expression to lose some of its hardness. On the other side of the room, Óscar remained silent, waiting.

Sebastián directed a serious look toward him.

Óscar noticed it and discreetly raised his thumb, assuring him that he did not intend to intervene.

Virka remained calm. Valentina’s excitement made any comment unnecessary.

Zaira turned her eyes toward the sea again.

For a few seconds, she thought about what had happened since Óscar had made the proposal to her. She had trained with them, traveled alongside the group as part of their plans, and now found herself there, participating in decisions that she was still not obligated to accept.

Finally, she turned toward the others.

—We could go to a Rakzar virtual training center.

Sebastián raised his gaze slightly.

—Virtual?

—Yes. We can train together, improve our skills, and work on synchronization. Besides, since it’s virtual, we wouldn’t have to worry about Valentina getting hurt.

Valentina’s eyes widened.

—Then can I go too?

—Yes.

Zaira’s answer was immediate.

—You’ll be able to run with us without getting hurt.

Valentina’s eyes lit up.

—Then I want to go too!

The girl gave another little hop, unable to hide her excitement.

Óscar clasped his hands tightly.

—Then it’s decided!

Sebastián shook his head slightly, although he did not seem annoyed. Virka accepted the decision with her usual calmness.

Óscar pointed toward the table.

—Tomorrow we’ll go directly to the training center. Afterward, we can continue with the travel plans.

Zaira nodded.

—Sounds good to me.

Valentina smiled and turned her gaze back toward the sea.

The afternoon continued descending over the Institute.

Zaira still had not formally accepted, but she was already making decisions alongside them as if becoming part of the group were something increasingly natural.

The afternoon ended with nothing else left to do. After organizing the documents and gathering their belongings, the five left the club room as the last light of Thursday disappeared from the windows.

Friday passed normally. Classes occupied most of the day, and when they ended, Sebastián, Virka, Óscar, Valentina, and Zaira met again.

This time, they did not return to the room.

The plan had been decided the previous day.

Shortly afterward, a blue van traveled through the streets of the city center. Afternoon traffic was beginning to intensify, and the lights of the shops gradually turned on among the concrete and glass facades.

As they moved deeper into the central area, the buildings grew larger. Tall structures dominated the avenues, and enormous illuminated screens began to stand out over the streets, gradually replacing the natural light.

The van continued until it reached one of the city’s main commercial areas.

Then it appeared.

The shopping mall rose before them like a gigantic structure, several levels above the avenue. Its enormous glass surfaces reflected the lights of the nearby buildings, while extensive modern facades stretched along both sides of the main entrances.

Its size set it apart even among the buildings surrounding it. Numerous entrances received a constant flow of people, and on the upper levels, interior lights formed long bright strips behind the windows.

The van slowed down and finally stopped in front of one of the entrances.

The five got out.

For a few seconds, they remained in front of the building while the movement continued around them. People entered and exited, vehicles traveled along the avenue, and the automatic doors constantly opened to receive new visitors.

Zaira raised her gaze toward the enormous structure.

This was the place she had chosen.

Without saying anything else, the five began walking toward the main entrance.

The doors opened before them, and the group crossed inside.

________________________________________

END OF Chapter 127 The path continues...

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