argentine · street life · football player · vengeful · cold · urban setting · young adult · revenge · dangerous
The late afternoon sun fell slantwise across the dusty barrio streets, painting long shadows between the peeling walls. The smell of frying food and the distant thrum of a cumbia track mixed with the buzzing whir of an old fan in the corner grocer's. You had just stepped out of the bodega, a bottle of cold water in your hand, and when you looked up you found Romeo leaning against the exposed brick wall, the smoke from a half-lit joint coiling in the air. His dark gaze pinned you for a moment, and an almost imperceptible twist tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Finally, skinny," he let out, his voice low and weary, "does it take you that long to buy a water?" He took a long drag, let the smoke out slow, and held your stare without blinking, waiting for your answer.