Damien stepped into the cafeteria, instantly feeling like every pair of eyes in the room had landed on him. The place was packed, the noise of conversations and clattering trays blending into an overwhelming buzz. He lingered awkwardly near the door, scanning for an empty seat but finding none.
"Hey!"
The cheerful voice cut through the chaos, making him turn. A girl was waving at him like he was an old friend, her energy impossible to ignore. She had big, sparkling eyes, flushed cheeks, and a loose ponytail that looked like it was barely holding on. A few strands of hair framed her face in a messy-but-cute way.
"Over here!" she called, bouncing a little in her seat. When he hesitated, she puffed out her cheeks in mock frustration and clasped her hands like she was begging. Joshua couldn't tell if she was teasing or just... like that.
He wasn't sure about this. He didn't know her, and sitting with strangers wasn't really his thing. But with no other options and the cafeteria feeling more suffocating by the second, he made his way over.
As he got closer, the girl scooted over clumsily, almost knocking over her drink. She beamed at him, her energy contagious.
"Hi! I'm Emma," she said, her voice bright and warm. "We're in the same class!"
"I know," Damien replied, sitting down carefully. She seemed... too nice. Like, suspiciously nice. "Thanks. I was about to head back to class."
"Well, now you've got a seat," she declared, patting the space next to her like it was some VIP spot.
Damien smirked a little despite himself. She was definitely different.
As he settled in, his eyes landed on the boy sitting across from Emma. The guy was dark-skinned, with wild, woolly hair that looked like it had a mind of its own. A pair of thick glasses sat slightly crooked on his nose, and he was hunched over a massive book, completely lost in whatever he was reading.
The boy muttered something under his breath, flipping a page like he was in the middle of solving the universe's biggest mystery.
Emma leaned closer to Damien, grinning. "That's Oliver. Don't mind him—he's, like, married to his books."
At the sound of his name, Oliver looked up, blinking like someone had just woken him from a dream. "I'm not married to them," he said, sounding offended. "I just... prioritize learning."
Emma giggled. "And conspiracy theories," she added with a wink.
Oliver sighed like he was used to this and went back to his book.
"See what I mean?" Emma whispered to Damien, clearly amused.
Just then, the cafeteria doors swung open, and a group of boys walked in. They looked like they owned the place, their uniforms somehow neater than everyone else's. Leading the pack was a tall guy with sharp features and a smirk that screamed, I get what I want.
The guy—Cassius, Damien overheard someone whisper—surveyed the room like he was picking out his next victim. His eyes landed on a shy first-year sitting alone near the middle of the room.
Cassius strolled over, towering over the kid. "Move," he said, his tone flat but clearly expecting no argument.
"I... I was here first," the boy stammered, gripping his tray like it would protect him.
Cassius smirked, leaning in closer. "I wasn't asking."
A faint spark of energy crackled at his fingertips, and the boy practically jumped out of his seat, spilling some of his food in the process. Cassius's crew laughed as he sat down like he'd won a prize.
Damien jaw tightened as he watched the whole thing. His fists clenched, and he started to stand, but Emma grabbed his arm.
"Don't," she whispered urgently.
Before Damien could argue, a voice cut through the tension.
"Trying to play the hero, are you?"
Damien turned to see Nadia sitting with her friends that seemed to follow her everywhere nearby. She looked every bit as confident as Cassius, her sharp features and piercing eyes giving her a queen-like vibe.
"Cassius isn't just anyone. He'd crush you in a second."
Damien met her gaze without flinching. "He's welcome to try."
Emma gave him a panicked look, silently begging him to stay quiet, but it was too late.
Cassius had noticed the exchange. He stood, his smirk widening as he sauntered over.
Damien stayed seated, his eyes locked on Cassius. The tension in the room was almost unbearable as everyone watched, waiting to see what would happen.
Cassius stopped in front of Damien, clearly expecting him to back down. But Joshua didn't move. His gaze was cold and unfazed, sending chills down Cassius' spine.
For a second, Cassius hesitated. He could sense killing intent far superior to his. The confidence in his smirk faltered, replaced by something almost like doubt. He covered it quickly, scoffing. "Not worth my time," he muttered, turning and walking back to his table.
Damien sat back, his expression unreadable. Emma stared at him like he'd just pulled off some impossible stunt. Across the room, Nadia's smirk faded for a moment before she turned away, clearly annoyed but unwilling to admit it.
And just like that, Damien's first lunch in the cafeteria had already left an impression.😆🔥