Chapter 115 115
At that exact moment, one of the restroom stalls creaked open and a guy stepped out, adjusting his belt.
“Holy fk! This is the male restroom,” he blurted, staring at Jacqueline in open shock. He moved to the sink, washing his hands, his gaze flicking from Damien leaning casually against the wall to her.
A slow smirk spread across his face.
“I see,” he drawled.
As he headed for the door, Jacqueline stepped aside to let him pass.
“Enjoy,” he mouthed to Damien, then winked at her.
She blinked at him, utterly baffled.
“Enjoy what? The smell of the farts you left behind?” she shot back.
The guy froze mid-step, embarrassment flooding his face before he hurried out without another word.
Jacqueline turned back to Damien. “Would you come outside so we can talk?”
No answer.
She was almost used to his silence by now, but sometimes it crawled under her skin. The way he ignored her like she was background noise was infuriating. If there were awards for indifference, he’d have a shelf full of trophies.
“Fine. We can talk here,” she went on. “I don’t mind. Though honestly, how are you not gagging from the smell that guy left behi---”
She stopped mid-ramble when she caught what looked suspiciously like him rolling his eyes. She wasn’t entirely sure. Maybe she imagined it.
Without a word, he pushed off the wall and strode out of the restroom.
A victorious smirk curved her lips as she followed him. Thankfully, the hallway was empty. If anyone had seen her walking out of the boys’ restroom, her friends would have roasted her alive for the next decade.
She expected him to stop.
He didn’t.
Mr. Frosty had returned in full form, marching ahead like she didn’t exist.
Frowning, she lengthened her stride to walk beside him.
“I’m thankful,” she said sincerely. “You saved me from those bullies. I still don’t know how you knew I was there maybe you saw them dragging me into the classroom. But seriously, jokes aside, I’m genuinely grateful.”
Silence.
He kept walking.
“Well,” she continued, undeterred, “you’re insanely strong. You destroyed those guys and didn’t even get a scratch. That’s impressive. You should join a boxing club or something. I bet you hit the gym like crazy. No wonder you’re built like a beast.”
Her cheerful tone had returned in full force.
Still nothing.
“Actually…” she tapped her chin dramatically. “Are you taken? Wait. Oh my God. Why didn’t I think of that? Maybe you already have a girlfriend. A super possessive one. That would explain why you never talk she probably banned you from interacting with other girls. That has to be it.”
She nodded to herself as if the theory held weight.
“But then again, you’re so broody and terrifying all the time. Who would even sign up for that? So that proves you’re single.”
She grinned, continuing her nonsense.
“I can just imagine it. Your girlfriend saying, ‘Cuddles?’ and you responding with a glare. She suggests ‘Movie night!’ and you give her the cold stare plus complete silence. Honestly, it’s hilarious and tragic at the same time. Poor girl”
“Enough.”
The word cracked through the air.
Jacqueline jolted, stepping back instinctively. Fear swept through her body so fast it left her dizzy. His voice wasn’t just deep it was raw, edged with something dangerous.
“I—I didn’t mean to offend you,” she said quickly, lifting her hands slightly in surrender. “Calm down.”
He shot her a look so icy it froze the rest of her words in her throat. She snapped her mouth shut immediately, lowering her gaze.
Only then did she realize they had reached the parking lot.
Without another glance at her, Damien walked to his car. He got in and drove off with reckless speed, the engine’s roar fading into the distance.
She scowled at the empty space he left behind, scrunching her nose in irritation.
“This man is a whole different species,” she muttered before heading back inside.
“That fker. I swear I’ll beat his ass motherfking asshle!” Gilles exploded, unleashing a stream of profanities.
They were all gathered at their usual table in the cafeteria while Jacqueline recounted everything that had happened two hours earlier.
“I thought you ran to class,” Gilles continued, slamming his fist on the table. “When I got there, the professor was already inside. When you weren’t there, he wouldn’t let me leave.”
As the jock and unofficial bad boy of their group, Gilles took it upon himself to protect everyone. Jacqueline appreciated his loyalty, but she hated how he tortured himself over things that were already over.
“Relax,” she told him gently. “Damien showed up in time. He saved me.”
Laurent’s eyes were fixed on the faint bruise circling her wrist. His jaw tightened.
“I’m feeling violent right now,” he muttered.
“I want to dig my nails into that bastard’s flesh,” Thérèse hissed.
They all cursed Benoît in unison.
“I’ll thank Damien properly,” Fanny said firmly. “He’s a good guy.”
Jacqueline shook her head. “No need. I already thanked him. As usual, he ignored me.”
The words left her quieter than she intended.
It stung being dismissed over and over like she was nothing.
And yet, the more he brushed her off, the more determined she became to crack that wall of his. She wanted to make him speak. To react. To be human.
She couldn’t stop wondering what made him the way he was. No one was born that cold. That closed off. Something had happened. Something had built those layers of ice around him.
The more she thought about him, the more he felt like a puzzle she needed to solve.
The curiosity was relentless.
She wanted to know what he hid behind that frozen exterior.
“He’s your knight in shining armor,” Thérèse sighed dreamily.
Jacqueline smiled.
A real smile.
He had saved her. He didn’t even realize how much that meant. In a world that could be cruel and ugly, he had stepped in without hesitation.
“He really is,” she said softly.