Chapter four: Tension on the stairs
The bell rang, signaling the end of another long day at the university. Nina gathered her things quickly, eager to escape the stifling atmosphere of the classroom. As she walked on the building, she was already prepared for the next chapter of her busy day: more research and if she was lucky, a quiet evening.
But as she made her way on the narrow stairwell leading to the exit, her thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice.
"Cruz,"
Nina's steps faltered. She didn't need to look up to know you it was. Her pulse quickened, and took a deep breath before turning to face Damien Blackwood, who stood on the landing above her, arms crossed and eyes cold.
"Are you always in such a rush?" Damien asked, his tone dripping with disdain.
Nina rolled her eyes. "What do you want, Blackwood?"
Damien gaze sharpened. "I've been meaning to ask you something. Are you going to pretend like you care about this project? or do you like just been a torn in my side?"
Nina's heart skipped a bit, and she felt her frustration bubbling up. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me," Damien snapped, taking a step closer. "You're here to make a point, aren't you? You think you can change the whole world, but you are just here to cause problems. This isn't about the project. It never was. You're just trying to get under my skin. I don't like you Nina."
Nina's mouth went dry. For a moment, she couldn't speak, her anger mixing with strange sense of hurt she didn't quiet understand. "You don't like me? That's rich, coming from someone who's too focused on being perfect to see what's really going on."
Damien's eyes flashed, jaw tightening as he clenched his fist. "You're to delusional if you think I care about anything more than getting this project done right. You don't even understand half of what you're talking about."
Nina's chest tightened, but she refused to back down. "And you think you have all the answers? That everything you do is the 'right way?"
Damien didn't answer, but silence spoke volumes. He stood there, looking down on her, his face hard and unreadable. And for a moment, they just stood there, a battle of wills plying out between them
Without any words, Nina pushed past him, her heart pounding on her chest. She didn't want to stay there a second longer, trapped in a suffocating tension between them. She hurried down the rest of the stairs and out the gate, her mind racing.
When Nina finally arrived home, she was greeted by a warm scent of cooking food. The house was buzzing with life-her younger sibling running around the house, her parents discussing their day at the kitchen table. It was a sharp contrast of the storm she had walked out of.
Her mother Maria Cuz, was at the stove, while stirring a pot with a content smile. Her father, was reading a newspaper, his glasses perched on the bridge of his nose.
"Hey, Nina, "her mom called, glancing up with a smile. "How was school today?"
Nina hesitated for a moment, the frustration of the day still lingering in her chest. "Same as usual," she muttered, setting her bag down to by the door. "Group project is going fine. You know, just the usual."
Maria's eyebrows furrowed as she sensed something was off. "Just the usual?" she asked, giving her daughter a pointed look . "You're not telling everything."
Nina sighed and dropped on the couch, running a hand through her hair. "Damien Blackwood... he's impossible. He acts like he's the only one who knows anything, and he keeps treating me like I'm just here to make his life difficult."
Her father, who had been quiet up until now, lowered his newspaper and looked at her. "Blackwood the one with wealth and privilege?"
Nina nodded. "Yeah him. He's so stuck up. He's got this 'I'm better than you' attitude, and I can't stand it. I don't know how to deal with him."
Carols leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "You know people like that aren't just difficult for the sake of it. They hide behind their arrogance. Maybe there's more to him than you think."
Nina shook her head, not convinced. "I don't care what's behind his arrogance. It doesn't give him the right to treat me like that."
Maria put down her spoon, wiping her hands on a fish towel. "Well, honey, you're strong. I known It's tough, but don't let him get to you. You have a purpose here. Don't lose sight of that."
Nina smiled at her mother's words, but couldn't shake the feeling of the tension that lingered in her chest. It wasn't just about the project anymore; something about Damien was starting to get under her skin in ways she hadn't expected.
But for now, she was home, surrounded by warmth of the family. She needed to hold onto that, at least for a little while longer.