Chapter 10: Sofia
As the professor starts the lecture, Leo slides into the seat next to me, leaning back with an easy confidence. He doesn’t have a bag or any notes, which seems a little strange, but I’ve seen plenty of people show up to class without a single piece of paper. I glance over at him, curious, and he catches my eye, flashing a quick smile.
“Not much of a note-taker?” I whisper, raising an eyebrow.
He chuckles, leaning in just enough so I can hear him without attracting too much attention. “Not really. I guess I like to live dangerously.”
I suppress a laugh, trying to focus on the professor, but Leo’s presence is hard to ignore. He sits there, looking like he’s paying attention, but I can tell he’s not really listening. It’s like he’s here, but not here, and I find myself wondering what brought him to this class.
“So, you’re a freshman?” he asks, his voice low, almost like a secret between us.
I nod. “Yeah. And you?”
“Junior,” he replies, glancing around the room. “I’m 22, but I live not far from here. Guess you could say I’m just a little more seasoned.” He gives me a wink, and I feel my cheeks warm.
I open my mouth to ask more, but he suddenly glances down at my wrist. I hadn’t even noticed the bruise forming there, a dark ring around the skin where those guys grabbed me last night. I instinctively pull my arm away, trying to hide it under the desk, but Leo’s gaze is sharp, focused.
“What happened there?” he asks, his tone a little too casual, like he’s trying not to sound concerned.
“It’s nothing,” I say quickly, forcing a smile. “Some drunk guys bumped into me last night. No big deal.”
His eyes narrow, and I see something flash in them—anger, maybe, or something close to it. Before I can react, he reaches across the small gap between us and gently takes my hand, pulling it into the light. His touch is firm, but careful, and I feel a strange sense of calm mixed with embarrassment as he examines the mark.
“Doesn’t look like they just bumped into you,” he murmurs, his thumb brushing softly over the bruise.
I glance away, not sure what to say. I can still feel the pressure of those hands, the way they held on too tight, and I swallow hard, trying to brush off the memory. “It’s really nothing,” I insist, pulling my hand back. “They were just a couple of idiots. It’s not worth worrying about.”
Leo doesn’t look convinced. He leans back, crossing his arms, and his expression darkens for a moment. “Well, for what it’s worth, I’m glad they didn’t do more damage. You’ve got to be careful out there.”
“Yeah,” I say, nodding, but the truth is, it’s hard to feel careful when the danger is everywhere. I’m not used to anyone looking out for me, and it’s strange to feel even a hint of concern from someone I barely know.
We go back to pretending to listen, but I can’t help sneaking glances at him. There’s something about the way he carries himself, something that feels out of place here. I still can’t shake the feeling that there’s more to him than he’s letting on, and for reasons I can’t explain, I find myself wanting to know more. He might be a mystery, but right now, he’s the only thing keeping my mind off everything else.
As class ends, Leo stands and stretches, then looks over at me with a smile. “You have another class now?”
“Yeah,” I say, gathering my things. “It’s just around the building, not too far.”
He nods, adjusting his sleeves as we start walking toward the door. “I don’t have any more classes today, but I’m heading that way, so I’ll walk with you. If you don’t mind, that is.”
I find myself smiling, grateful for the company. “Sure, I don’t mind.”
We head out into the hallway, and I steal another glance at the tattoos peeking out from under his sleeves. There’s one in particular on his forearm, an intricate design that looks like it’s woven around his skin. “Your tattoos… they’re really interesting. Do they mean something?”
He glances down at his arm, then shrugs. “Some of them do. This one,” he says, pointing to the one I’d noticed, “it’s for someone I lost a long time ago. Each line and shape represents something, a part of them. I guess you could say it’s a way to keep them with me.”
There’s a softness in his voice that I hadn’t expected, and it makes me wonder how much more there is to him than what he shows on the surface. “It’s beautiful,” I say quietly, and he gives me a small, almost shy smile.
“What about you?” he asks, changing the subject. “What do you do when you’re not in class?”
I shrug. “Not much. Mostly reading. And I work part-time at a coffee shop.”
“Ah, a coffee connoisseur,” he teases. “What should I order if I ever stop by?”
“Depends on what you like. I’m a fan of the classic latte, but if you’re in the mood for something sweet, the caramel macchiato’s popular.”
“Good to know,” he says, grinning. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
We continue walking, heading toward the quieter part of campus near the back of the building where my next class is. As we reach the edge of the parking lot, he suddenly stops, reaching out to gently hold my arm. I turn to face him, a little confused.
“It’s been nice spending time with you,” he says, his voice soft, almost hesitant. He pauses, looking down for a moment before meeting my eyes again. “Sofia? I’m… really sorry.”
My brow furrows, and I let out a nervous laugh. “Uh? Sorry about wha—”
Before I can finish, I feel someone come up behind me, their arm wrapping around me, pressing something over my mouth and nose. I struggle, trying to push away, but the scent is overwhelming, pulling me under. The last thing I see is Leo’s face, a look of regret in his eyes as everything fades to black.