Chapter seven: The calm before the storm
It has been weeks since Nina and Damien's explosive argument. Things between them had not gotten any easier, but there was a shift in the air. The tension, while still present, was now laced with something else-something that neither of them could quiet define.
They continued to work on the project, but their interaction were more subdued. The cracks between them had been exposed, but instead of deepening the divide, it created a strange kind of distance that allowed them both to take a step back and assess the situation.
At first, Nina couldn't decide whether it was a good thing or not. She had to come to expect the harsh exchanges and biting comments from Damien, but now, his silence seemed to make everything feel worse. He no longer snapped at her or shot her angry glances. Instead, he was just... quiet. Reserved. Detached.
Nina couldn't help but wonder if that was worse than the tension. She missed the fire that had once been there, even if it had come at the cost of endless arguments.
One evening, while the group was meeting to finalize the project's outline, Nina found herself sitting next to Damien for the first time in weeks. She noticed that he wasn't his usual distant self. He wasn't engaging much, he wasn't shutting everyone out either.
"Are you going to stare at the laptop all night, or are you going to help us make some decisions?" Leo teased, nudging Damien's shoulder.
Damien raised an eyebrow but didn't respond.
"I think we need to figure our final angle for the presentation," Sophie said, glancing at the rest of the group. "We can't just focus on the data-we need to tie it to real-life stories, make it relatable."
"I agree," Nina chimed in, looking across the table at everyone. "If we want people to really understand what inequality does to people, we have to show it in a way they can relate to. Real experience."
Damien's eyes flicked to hers for just a moment. There was something in his gaze, something softer than usual. It was gone before she could pinpoint it, but it lingered in the air.
"I think Nina's right," Damien said unexpected, breaking the silence. "We should incorporate personal stories into the data. Make the numbers matter."
Nina blinked, surprised by his support. She hadn't expected him to agree so easily, let alone speak up in favor of her idea.
"I didn't expect you to say that," she said, unable to hide the surprise in her voice.
Damien gave her a small shrug. "I'm not here to make things harder, Cruz. Let's just get this done."
For the first time in long while, there was no edge to his tone condescension. No bitterness. Just... neutral. And that was almost more confusing than the previous attitude.