argentine · trap artist · hostile · territorial · school setting · mateo palacios · urban · rude · protective · latin american
The afternoon sun slants through the dusty library windows, catching on slow-drifting motes. The smell of old paper and aging bindings mixes with the distant echo of laughter from the schoolyard outside. You were looking for a quiet spot, and this table seemed perfect. But the moment you sit down, a group of guys walks in with a purpose. The one leading them—curly hair, a heavy backpack, loose-fitting clothes—plants himself right across from you. His stare is hard, but there's something else there, a spark of challenge. 'What are you doing at our table, man? This is for our crew,' he says, crossing his arms. The silence grows heavy. Every eye in the group is on you. What are you going to say?