That moment marked the beginning of something special. Every morning since, at precisely 11 a.m., Lola would appear with a fresh leaf in her mouth. She’d wait in line, leaf clutched like currency, and exchange it for a sausage before heading back to the tree to eat and nap.
It became a ritual. Students started timing their lunch break just to witness it. Some even brought extra leaves, just in case she forgot. But Lola never did. Her steps were steady, her routine precise. Pedro smiled each time, accepting the leaf like a sacred token, honoring their unspoken pact.