We finished classes right at three and stayed in the main hallway waiting for Eduardo. He was in a different major; we went to the same high school, and now we go to the same university, but he decided to study design instead of music like the three of us.
It was a friendship we'd kept since we were kids. My mom used to say we were brothers from another mother.
Eduardo showed up with his backpack and a portfolio in hand. As soon as he saw us, he smiled. "Are we going in my car?"
We told him we'd be picking up the girls, and at that moment he looked at me with wide eyes, pointing at me in disbelief.
"You!? No way… Are you telling me that Ren… shy Ren… the same one whose ex had to confess to him first… asked a girl out? And not just any girl, but Christina?"
Oriol shrugged with a teasing smile. "Confirmed, I was there. Didn't take pics though."
Daniel adjusted his glasses (ever since he got into anime, he does this constantly; it annoys me, he looks like Klaus) and added, "I swear, I was there. I'm almost convinced he's a clone. Should we kill him?"
Eduardo put his arm over my shoulder. "Alright, ladies' man guru, show me your special skills."
I looked at him and sighed. "I just told her… and I'm not a guru, it's nothing special. It just came to me because, honestly, going to a gathering full of guys? Gross. Better bring some women."
Oriol raised an eyebrow as we walked toward the cafeteria. "And you decided to invite my girl."
Daniel laughed out loud. "Your girl? Please… I think Ren and Christina make a better pair."
As soon as he said that, Daniel quickened his pace and started jogging. Oriol threw his backpack at me and shouted, "Come here, idiot! Ren's a true brother, he wouldn't do me like that!"
While Oriol ran after Daniel, dodging students in the hall, I shook my head and walked with Eduardo, who couldn't stop laughing at the scene.
"Same idiots, always," he commented.
When we reached the cafeteria, we saw the two of them struggling, Daniel laughing hysterically while Oriol tried to put him in a wrestling hold.
Christina was standing outside with two more girls, watching the spectacle as if it were part of the show. One of them was short, with bright red curly hair and round glasses that gave her a serious vibe; the other was taller, blonde with pink streaks, wearing a denim jacket full of band patches, chewing gum, totally hitting the stereotype.
Christina greeted us with a smile. "Are they always like this?"
"Believe me," I sighed, "this is the calmest you're going to see them today."
The girl with glasses chuckled softly, while the blonde gave a thumbs-up.
Oriol was still tangled with Daniel when Christina came over with her arms crossed. "Hey! Are you going to keep performing, or are you going to say hi to my friends?"
Both stopped immediately, as if suddenly remembering they weren't alone. Oriol let go of Daniel, who shook his shirt, trying to regain his dignity.
Christina smiled and turned toward us."Guys, these are my friends: Hannah and Luz. Hannah is the serious one in the group, though she doesn't seem like it. When you meet her, you'll see she laughs at everything, and Luz… well, Luz is Luz."
The red-haired girl took off her glasses, put them in a little case, and looked at us. "Nice to meet you. I'm Hannah."
Oriol, with a flirty grin, held out his hand exaggeratedly. "An honor, Hannah. I'm Oriol, the handsome one of the group."
Daniel shoved him aside and bowed with fake seriousness. "I'm Daniel, the smart one."
She turned to me with a half-smile. "And you are…?" she asked, looking at me.
"Ren," I replied, raising my hand with a small smile. "Just Ren."
"And I'm Eduardo," he added, giving his portfolio a little tap. "The creative one, but not with music, more with doodles."
Luz laughed loudly. "I like this guy," she said, pointing at Eduardo with the gum in her mouth. "I'm Luz, and if you see me quiet, it's probably because I'm thinking of something I shouldn't say out loud… or I started dissociating."
"That sounds dangerous," I replied.
"It is," Christina added, barely able to contain her laughter.
Then Hannah extended her hand to me with a kind smile. "Nice to meet you, Just Ren."
I turned red instantly and started stammering. "N-n-no, uh… ah, no. I mean, my name's Ren, but I don't have a title like these idiots."
Daniel, with utmost seriousness, nodded. "He's the clumsy one."
Eduardo held back a laugh and also put on a serious face. "Yeah, he's the goof."
Oriol, unable to resist, added enthusiastically, "He's Twerpy Tempo."
Daniel and Eduardo looked at him, confused. "Twerpy Tempo?"
Oriol raised his eyebrows, his face lighting up as if someone had told him Christmas was tomorrow. "Ohhhh! Haven't told you guys yet. This dork asked me to call him Tempo."
Christina brought her hand to her mouth, but ended up laughing. "Tempo! It suits you perfectly. But why that?"
Luz snapped her fingers as if she had discovered a legendary nickname. "Stage name unlocked. I can already see it on a poster: Tempo Cadence… even sounds musical, nice!"
Hannah, who seemed the calmest, looked at me kindly and nodded. "Sounds cute… much better than Just Ren." Then she couldn't hold back her laugh and grabbed Christina's arm to stifle it.
Christina pushed her off. "Nooo! Get off me, you're going to mess me up!"
I covered my face with my hand, feeling my ears heat up from embarrassment. (Okay, dear God, let me just sink into the ground and never come back.)
Eduardo interrupted the moment and asked, "So… how are we getting there?"