The first thing Carlos Sainz learned about Max Verstappen was that nobody seemed to agree on who Max actually was. According to the students in their department, Max was an asshole. According to half the professors, Max was intimidating. According to the other half, Max was brilliant but impossible to read. According to Lando, Max probably slept in a coffin and only emerged to attend lectures and ruin grading curves.

Carlos wasn't sure about the coffin part. Everything else? He thought everyone had gotten it wrong. Not completely wrong. Just... wrong enough.

Because yes, Max was quiet. Painfully quiet. The kind of quiet that made people nervous. The kind of person who could walk into a crowded lecture hall and somehow make everyone lower their voices without even trying. He wasn't loud. He wasn't friendly. He didn't go out of his way to make people comfortable.

Most conversations with Max lasted less than thirty seconds. Most people left those conversations convinced Max hated them. Carlos had watched it happen dozens of times. A student would approach Max. Try to make small talk. Max would answer in one-word replies. The student would leave looking offended.

Then later complain to everyone that Max was rude. Carlos never understood it. Because every time he watched those interactions, Max never actually did anything rude. He simply didn't pretend to care.

There was a difference. A huge difference. People expected enthusiasm. Expected fake smiles. Expected politeness. Max gave them honesty. And apparently honesty terrified people.