Chapter 106 106
“Judging by Jacqueline’s face, I am dying to hear this,” Thérèse chirped dramatically.
Fanny lifted one perfectly shaped brow at Jacqueline, her expression clearly asking, What did I miss?
“So,” Gilles began lazily, leaning back in his chair, “the professor introduced a new student today.”
Thérèse immediately set her spoon down and clasped her hands together as though preparing for a royal announcement. “I’m all ears,” she declared solemnly.
These two belong in a circus, Jacqueline thought, rolling her eyes.
Her gaze drifted across the cafeteria and landed on him.
Two tables away.
He sat alone, a tray in front of him, posture straight, expression unreadable. He didn’t glance at anyone. Didn’t smile. Didn’t acknowledge the noise around him. He looked like someone had dragged him there against his will and threatened him to stay.
“Jacqueline was checking him out,” Gilles continued with a low chuckle, “when the dude rolled his eyes at her.”
Jacqueline scrunched her nose at him. “Stop.”
“Woah,” Thérèse gasped theatrically. “He must be something special to roll his eyes at this beauty.”
“Shut up, Thérèse,” Jacqueline muttered under her breath.
“That’s not even the best part,” Gilles added, enjoying himself far too much.
“Oh?” Laurent raised a brow, taking an enormous bite of his burger. “There’s more?”
“The professor told him to take a seat,” Gilles went on. “There were only three seats left. Two in the front row… and one beside Jacqueline.” He paused for effect. “Guess what happened?”
“You don’t need to narrate it like a bedtime story,” Jacqueline snapped.
“What?” Thérèse, Laurent, and shockingly even Fanny said in unison.
Jacqueline stared at them in disbelief. Even Fanny was entertained. Wonderful.
“The guy walks straight to the back,” Gilles continued, barely holding in his laughter, “sits beside Jacqueline, and Jacqueline, being over-smart, goes” He pitched his voice higher in mock imitation. “‘Hey!’”
He lost it at that point, snorting mid-sentence.
“Then?” Thérèse leaned forward eagerly.
“He ignored her existence.” Gilles burst into full laughter.
The table erupted.
“Not funny,” Jacqueline muttered, stabbing at her pasta while her so-called friends laughed themselves breathless.
“I would love to see this hunk who dared ignore her,” Thérèse mused dreamily, nibbling at her salad because of course she was dieting.
Gilles’ head turned slowly, predator-like, scanning the cafeteria before locking onto their target.
“There,” he said. “Two tables to my right. The lone wolf. Damien Ruiz.”
Thérèse’s jaw dropped.
Fanny went still.
Both of them stared openly.
“He’s fking hot,” Thérèse sang under her breath, shamelessly devouring him with her eyes.
“I agree,” Fanny added calmly.
Jacqueline’s eyes widened slightly.
Fanny never found anyone attractive.
Fantastic.
“No wonder he ignored you,” Thérèse murmured. “He looks like a Greek god.”
“He didn’t ignore me,” Jacqueline shot back quickly. “He just didn’t hear me. That’s all.”
The four of them scoffed in perfect harmony.
“Is that so?” Thérèse arched a brow with exaggerated skepticism.
Jacqueline hummed dismissively and took another bite of her food.
“Why don’t you go get me his number?” Thérèse suggested sweetly, waggling her brows.
Jacqueline laughed low in her throat. “Why don’t you get it yourself?”
“But he ignored you,” Gilles cut in smoothly. “And you said he didn’t hear you. Why not test that theory now?”
She narrowed her eyes at him.
“I’m not doing that just to prove you idiots wrong.”
“What are you afraid of?” Gilles pressed, clearly enjoying poking the fire.
“I’m not afraid of anything,” she growled.
“Then prove them wrong,” Laurent said mildly, tilting his head.
“I’m not in the mood,” she replied flatly.
“He ignored her. That’s why she won’t go,” Fanny said matter-of-factly.
More laughter.
Jacqueline leaned back slowly in her chair, crossing her arms. Her voice turned dangerously calm.
“What do I get if I prove you wrong?”
The four of them fell into thoughtful silence.
Before they could answer, she did.
“Funfair.”
A collective groan echoed around the table.
“Not that,” Gilles whined immediately, looking like a traumatized puppy.
“Funfair,” she repeated sweetly. “Or I’m not moving.”
She knew their weakness.
They hated rides. Especially the horrifying ones. Gilles and Thérèse would rather run five miles barefoot than step onto a roller coaster. Which meant they would back down.
“Fine,” Gilles said at last, though his smirk told her he thought he had already won. “If you get his number, we all go to the funfair. And yes we sit on every ridiculous ride you choose.”
Jacqueline felt the smallest crack in her confidence.
The jerk knew Damien would ignore her again.
But she was Jacqueline the Great.
She could make a statue speak if she tried hard enough.
“Fine,” she muttered, pushing her chair back. It scraped loudly against the floor as she stood.
Her heart beat faster than she liked to admit as she walked toward him.
“Here goes nothing,” she whispered under her breath, taking a steadying breath before stepping into his space.