In the days following their café conversation, Tatiana found herself thinking about Samuel more and more. Their initial meeting had gone well, but she knew that if she wanted to get closer to him, she'd have to continue putting in the effort. Samuel wasn't the type to open up easily, but Tatiana was determined to break through the barriers he had built around himself. She wanted to see the real Samuel, the person hidden beneath his quiet and reserved exterior.
Tatiana decided that the best way to break the ice with Samuel was to spend more time with him outside of class, in a setting where he felt comfortable. She had noticed how he had started to relax during their conversation about chess, and she realized that connecting with him over his interests could be the key to getting to know him better. Chess seemed to be one of the few things that genuinely excited him, so she began to think of ways to use that to her advantage.
The opportunity presented itself sooner than she expected. During one of their media studies lectures, the professor announced that there would be a group project, and students were encouraged to form their own teams. Tatiana immediately knew this was her chance. She quickly approached Samuel after class, hoping to ask him to be her partner before anyone else did.
"Hey, Samuel!" Tatiana called out as she caught up with him in the hallway. He turned around, looking slightly surprised but not displeased to see her.
"Hi, Tatiana," Samuel replied, his tone as neutral as ever.
Tatiana flashed him a friendly smile. "So, I was thinking... that group project our professor just assigned—how about we team up? I think we'd work well together."
Samuel hesitated for a moment, as if weighing his options. "That could work," he said finally. "I haven't really talked to anyone else about it yet."
"Great! I'm glad you're on board," Tatiana said, her smile widening. "We can meet up later to brainstorm some ideas. Maybe we could work on something that combines both our interests—like how technology influences storytelling or something like that?"
Samuel seemed to consider this, nodding slowly. "Yeah, that sounds interesting. We could explore how different media platforms use technology to shape narratives."
"Exactly!" Tatiana agreed enthusiastically. "Let's meet up after class tomorrow and start brainstorming. Maybe at the library?"
"Sure," Samuel said, his voice still calm and composed. "That works for me."
As they parted ways, Tatiana felt a sense of accomplishment. This project would give her the perfect excuse to spend more time with Samuel, and she was determined to use it to her advantage. But beyond that, she genuinely looked forward to collaborating with him. She could tell that he had a sharp mind and a unique perspective, and she was eager to see what ideas they could come up with together.
The next day, Tatiana arrived at the library a little early. She found a quiet corner with a large table, where they could spread out their materials and discuss their project without being disturbed. She made sure to bring her laptop, a notebook, and a few articles she thought might be relevant to their topic.
When Samuel arrived, he was carrying a stack of books—some about media theory, others about technology and society. Tatiana was impressed by his thoroughness; it was clear that he had already started thinking seriously about the project.
"Wow, you came prepared," Tatiana remarked as he set the books down on the table.
Samuel gave a small shrug. "I thought it might help to have some resources on hand. I wasn't sure what direction we'd take, so I brought a few different things."
Tatiana nodded appreciatively. "That's smart. I've got a few ideas too, but I'm really interested to hear what you think."
As they began discussing the project, Tatiana made a conscious effort to keep the conversation flowing naturally. She asked Samuel for his thoughts on different topics, encouraging him to share his ideas and opinions. She noticed that once they got into the subject matter, Samuel became more engaged. His responses were thoughtful and insightful, and she could tell that he was passionate about the intersection of technology and communication.
After about an hour of productive brainstorming, Tatiana decided to take a small break from the project discussion. She wanted to shift the conversation to something more personal, to continue breaking the ice between them.
"So, Samuel," Tatiana began, leaning back in her chair, "I've been thinking... since you're into chess, how about we play a game sometime? You could teach me the basics, and we could see if I have any natural talent."
Samuel looked a little surprised by the suggestion. "You want to learn chess?"
"Yeah, why not? It seems like a fun challenge," Tatiana said with a grin. "Plus, it'd be a good way to take a break from all this academic stuff. I could use a little mental workout."
Samuel hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. I can teach you the basics. It's not as complicated as it seems once you get the hang of it."
"Awesome!" Tatiana replied, genuinely excited. "Let's do it after we finish up here. We could grab a coffee and find a quiet spot to play."
"Sure," Samuel agreed, his tone softening slightly. Tatiana could tell that he was warming up to the idea, even if he wasn't the type to show it overtly.
They spent the next half hour wrapping up their brainstorming session, finalizing their ideas for the project. By the time they were done, Tatiana felt like they had made real progress—not just with the project, but with their budding friendship as well.
As they packed up their things, Tatiana turned to Samuel with a smile. "So, ready to teach me some chess?"
Samuel gave a small, almost imperceptible smile in return. "Yeah. Let's go."
Together, they left the library and made their way to the campus café. As they walked side by side, Tatiana felt a sense of contentment. She was breaking through Samuel's walls, bit by bit, and she couldn't wait to see where their journey would take them next.