Chapter 8

She was the only woman he had ever loved. Before he first met her, he had never had a girlfriend, and his classmates kept teasing him about it in turns every time they brought it up.

He was in his final year of high school at the time, and his friends' words had echoed in his ears so many times that he could guess what they were about to say before they opened their mouths, especially his best friend Ethan.

"You have never had a girlfriend? How dare you not have one?" Ethan laughed so hard that he dropped his school bag.

Damon glared at him. "What's so good about having a girlfriend? There's nothing about it except having your head hurt from all the drama." He defended himself. Although that was what he said, it was far from the truth. The truth was that he was a chicken, he just couldn't bring himself to hit on a girl. He was one of the most handsome guys in school and countless beauties had a crush on him, but he would freak out as soon as any of them made their way to him.

He had seen a girl that he found exceptionally pretty once, but he froze as soon as she looked at him.

"Go after that beauty." Ethan nudged him when he saw a girl pass by.

He was annoyed by his friend's behaviour, until he saw the girl clearly. Wasn't that the pretty girl he was thinking about just now? The one who made her freeze with her gaze?

She was so beautiful in her blue dress and high heels, but her eyes were drooped in sadness. Why would such a beauty be sad? Who could bear to upset such an angel? They must be out of their mind.

"Don't be such a chicken. Let me tell you a secret, girls are more likely to fall for the guy who cheers them up." Ethan urged, who had been joined by more of their friends.

"Is that so?" It was an interesting assumption and besides, he did want to cheer the angel up as her frown seemed contagious.

"Go Damon!" The guys cheered him up. Feeling a burst of confidence, he hurried up to the girl and stood in her way before she could walk past them. She looked up in confusion and he froze, only to see his friends cheer him up from the corner of his eye.

He cleared his throat. "Hey, girl. Give a smile. You look like you broke up with your boyfriend." He tried to mimic Ethan's way of picking girls up, and he clearly did a bad job at it because his friends looked like they would die in an instant.

"What's it to you if I broke up with my boyfriend?" She glared at him in annoyance.

"I can replace him." He wanted to kill himself too. "I mean… I can turn your frown into a beautiful blossoming smile."

"You are too ugly." She walked past him with a harrumph, mumbling about meeting too many lunatics in this school. He so badly wanted to die.

"It's okay." Ethan patted his shoulder. "The first time is usually rough." He consoled him, and their friends agreed.

"Yeah, you just have to try again when you see her. Just be yourself."

He didn't know whether he wanted to try again but he didn't see her again during his remaining period in high school.

The next time he saw her, he was in his second year of campus. Who would have thought that they would end up on the same campus? They were in the same class as well, because he saw her when he arrived in the lecture hall. She was now a beautiful young woman and she stole his breath away with her alluring blue eyes. He couldn't help sitting next to her, which seemed to infuriate her.

"What are you doing here?" She snapped at him. It must be because she remembered him from high school and had some impression of him. Should he be flattered?

"It's a public lecture hall." He shrugged.

She stood in annoyance and found another spot to sit. He was no longer scared of women, so he followed her and sat next to her yet again.

"Why did you follow me?" She asked in annoyance.

"Because I want to." A laugh escaped his lips.

The lecture began and she couldn't spend the whole time moving around just to avoid him, so she ignored him and concentrated on the class instead. On the other hand, he spent the entire time studying her beauty. She was indeed an angel and must have landed right from heaven. Perhaps that was why he had not seen her again after meeting twice in high school-she must have gone back to heaven and was here to visit.

The lesson ended before he could realize it, and he was certain that he had gained nothing from it.

"I'll chop off your legs the next time you appear before me." She threatened before she left.

"Then I'll have to stick by your side because I will not have legs to walk away." He laughed heartily, before going to have lunch at the campus cafeteria. He was happily enjoying his lunch until a man slotted himself next to him. "Excuse me?" He asked about the sudden intrusion which, from the other man's gaze, looked almost like a declaration of war.

"Stay away from her." He warned, making Damon laugh. The other man was annoyed. "Do you know who you're messing with? That is Gabe's sister."

"Who is he?" He asked in amusement. Was there a man on campus whose sister he supposedly should not go after?

"Are you asking about me?" Came a threatening growl from behind him. He didn't bother to turn since he already knew that the man behind him must be the said Gabe.

"I don't know what's so special about you, that I should want to know you." Damon chuckled, and the other man pushed his head.

"He is seeking trouble. Boys, show him what happens to losers who go after a Vaillant."

So the angel's surname was Vaillant. Before he could wonder about what her first name was, five ruffian-looking young men closed in on him. They rained punches on him before he could process it and although he fought back, he did not escape unscathed.

"Stop!" Came a beautiful yet commanding voice from the other end of the cafeteria, startling him. Was that not the angel's voice? She sauntered over to them, landing a slap right on the face of the man who was supposed to be her brother.

He didn't know what happened between them afterwards because Gabe dragged her away. But the next time he saw her, he overheard her argument with her brother.

"I didn't ask you to protect me!" She snarled at Gabe.

"That's what brothers do. And I'm not going to sit back and watch losers take advantage of my sister." He countered, not in the slightest bit sorry for any of the things his sister was accusing him of. It seemed like he was the campus bully and had been involved in innumerable fights, most of which had something to do with her.

"I didn't ever ask for a brother! Not that I would have asked for you if I wanted one." She snarled at him and walked away. It was too late when he realized that she was heading his way, she had already noticed him.

"I'm not following you." He quickly defended himself.

She didn't look angry with him like she was when he sat beside him in the lecture hall. Instead, she was apologetic. "I'm sorry about my brother." She looked at him remorsefully. "He is always getting into fights and he is impossible.

"It's okay." He assured her, even though he wasn't. His swollen face hurt a lot, as well as his ego. How could he let her see his sorry state?

"Did you go to the infirmary?" She asked in concern, taking him by surprise.

"You know that fighting is not permitted. I could be expelled if the campus management found out.

"That's true." She sighed when she realized it. "But hey, he started it."

"It's his word against mine. Who would believe me?" He was supposed to be the campus bully but no action had been taken against him, which meant he must have a cunning tongue too.

"That's true. Unfortunately." She sighed.

"You're on my side?" He looked at her in surprise.

"I'm just on the side of the truth. Get better soon." She smiled before going on her way.

"Hey, wait. Can't you at least tell me what your name is?" He called after her and tried to catch up.

"No." She ignored him.

….

"What are you smiling about?" Avery asked the man before her, who looked lost in thought. How dare he blank out in the middle of an argument?

"You are still just as feisty." He commented, remembering how he had been ignored in the past. She glared at him and turned to leave.

She grabbed her hand to stop her. "Wait. What I mean is, I will be the best father to our son if you let me. I promise."