Chapter 105 105
Mr. Loïc brought the car to a smooth stop at the university’s main gate.
“Thank you,” Jacqueline said brightly, already reaching for the handle before he could step out to open the door for her. She hopped out with easy grace, slung her bag over her shoulder, and started toward the entrance.
Eyes found her immediately.
They always did.
She was one of the known faces on campus. Not just her, her entire gang. It was only their first year, yet somehow they had already built a reputation for themselves. Between their ridiculous pranks, loud laughter, and constant chaos, their names floated through the corridors like gossip that refused to die.
She had barely set foot inside when a shrill voice pierced the air.
“JACQUELINE!”
Thérèse came hurtling toward her and threw herself into a bone-crushing hug. Jacqueline burst into laughter, wrapping her arms around her dramatic friend.
“You scream like”
Thérèse pulled back instantly, eyes wide in warning. “Don’t even start.”
Jacqueline snorted.
Thérèse also known as the melodramatic queen of their circle was all long manicured nails, sky-high heels, glossy red lips, and blonde perfection. She looked intimidating, high maintenance even. But beneath the glamour, she had the softest heart of them all.
“Aww, such a touching reunion,” Laurent drawled as he strolled over, rolling his eyes. “How many years has it been since you last saw each other? Oh right. Eighteen hours.”
Laurent was tall, devastatingly handsome, with warm tan skin and unruly curls. And his smile his smile alone was enough to turn heads wherever he went.
“Don’t be jealous, Laurent,” Jacqueline teased.
He grinned at her shamelessly.
“Am I interrupting a private party?” Gilles called out as he jogged toward them in his jersey.
Gilles the campus jock, the resident bad boy, and absolutely aware of it. He was popular beyond reason, yet his real circle consisted only of Laurent, Thérèse, Jacqueline, and Fanny. The five of them were inseparable.
Most people assumed they’d met at university. No one knew they went further back same college, family ties woven between them. Laurent, Gilles, and Thérèse had practically grown up together. Fanny and Jacqueline joined their orbit later, and from that moment, the most chaotic, borderline psychotic, but fiercely loyal gang was born.
It wasn’t all fun and games though. They had worked hard very hard to earn their admission to Crystaldel University. Each of them made it in on merit. Well… almost. Poor Fanny had nearly dragged Gilles across the academic finish line. The so-called bad boy had been hopeless in studies until she took charge.
“Where’s Fanny?” Gilles asked, deliberately ruffling Thérèse’s hair.
She growled at him.
“She’s the nerd of our circle. Class starts in two minutes where do you think she is?” Thérèse shot back, arching a brow.
Gilles chuckled.
“Cafeteria at recess?” Laurent suggested.
They nodded and headed off to their respective classes.
Jacqueline, Fanny, and Gilles were all business majors, which meant most of their lectures overlapped. Laurent was pursuing law, while Thérèse was hopelessly, passionately in love with history so much so that she majored in it without apology.
Inside the classroom, Gilles headed straight for the back row, not before tugging Fanny’s ponytail as his version of greeting. She shot him a lethal glare. He smirked and claimed the last seat.
Jacqueline slid into the seat beside him in the back, while Fanny, the only responsible one among them, occupied the very first row.
The rest of them were proud backbenchers.
That didn’t mean they were failing, though. Far from it. They were blessed with sharp minds. They studied when it mattered, aced their exams, and still found time to wreak havoc. Balance, after all.
A minute later, footsteps echoed down the aisle. The professor entered, greeting the class as everyone straightened in their seats.
“Class,” he began, “we have a new student joining us.”
Confused murmurs rippled through the room. A new student? In the middle of the semester?
Then came another set of footsteps heavy, deliberate.
Every head turned toward the door.
He walked in.
Tall. At least six-two. Maybe more.
His head was slightly bowed, dark black hair brushed back by careless fingers, though one rebellious strand had slipped forward to rest against his forehead. His skin was sun-kissed tan. A neatly trimmed beard sharpened the lines of his jaw. Jacqueline immediately guessed he was older than most of them.
Her gaze lingered.
Pink lips pressed into a thin, unreadable line. High cheekbones. Straight nose. Thick brows drawn together as though permanently irritated. Was he angry? His lashes were dark and thick.
Her eyes drifted lower.
A fitted black full-sleeved T-shirt hugged his torso, outlining a body that made her blink twice.
Oh.
Damn.
She glanced sideways at Gilles, who was already looking at her. She lifted a brow meaningfully.
Looks like someone might finally challenge Gilles’ bad-boy throne.
Because this guy radiated danger without trying.
Black pants. Black boots. Effortlessly intimidating.
She finished her thorough inspection and lifted her gaze back to his face
and froze.
Olive green eyes locked onto hers.
Cold. Hard. Unsmiling.
He looked furious. She had no idea why.
Look away, dude, she muttered inwardly.
I know I’m pretty. But don’t stare at me in the middle of class. Where are your manners?
She held his gaze stubbornly.
Then her jaw nearly dropped.
He rolled his eyes.
Rolled. His. Eyes.
Excuse me?
What do you think of yourself? she fumed silently, returning the gesture.
Unfortunately, Gilles had witnessed the entire exchange and was now fighting laughter beside her.
Perfect.
“This is Damien Ruiz,” the professor announced.
The name lingered in the air.
“Take a seat, Damien.”
There were only three seats left. Two in the front row.
And one.
Right beside Jacqueline.
Of course.
The tall stranger walked down the aisle without a word and dropped into the empty seat next to her.
Silence settled thickly between them.
Jacqueline blinked and glanced at Gilles, who was still wearing that infuriating smirk.
Oh no.
She would not give him the satisfaction.
Determined to wipe that grin off his face, she turned toward the silent newcomer.
Damien.
Unique name.
“Hey!” she said brightly, offering him one of her signature smiles.
He didn’t even look at her.
Not a glance.
Did he just ignore me?
A snicker escaped Gilles.
Jacqueline shot him a glare.
Idiot.
She turned back stiffly, staring ahead.
Stupid, arrogant Damien.