And so, that was what he did.
After painfully—finally—managing to get Damien's dorm location, Cass now stood in front of the door, his stomach twisted in knots. He found himself contemplating every single life decision that had dragged him here… to this humiliating moment… to seeking help from the one person he had sworn to avoid.
He inhaled slowly, steadying himself, before raising his fist to knock.
No response.
He was about to knock again when the door suddenly opened, stopping his hand mid-air.
The doorway revealed Damien. His hair was slightly tousled, his red eyes glinting with a mix of shock and unreadable darkness. His voice came low, a dangerous growl:
"Cass?"
Cass swallowed hard. Yep. Exactly the reaction he expected—maybe even worse.
"Can you just… let me in? Let's talk?"
He braced himself for a brutal rejection, but to his surprise, Damien merely stepped aside, wordless, allowing him through. Cass walked in, shutting the door behind him.
And then froze.
Shock slammed into him. Awe, too.
This room… no, this wasn't a dorm. This was a house. Times three, maybe five, the size of his own room. Spacious, polished, intimidating.
Damien, catching Cass's stunned expression, folded his arms across his chest, watching him with mild amusement. "Is staring at my room what you wanted to talk about?"
Cass blinked out of his daze, turning back to face him. "I… the situation with the Dean. After you left, it wasn't resolved."
"Hm? What do you mean?" Damien asked, casually running his fingers through his hair.
Cass's eyes betrayed him—drifting. He noticed more now, things he hadn't before. The tattoos. Bold ink sprawled across Damien's chest, curling upward, patterns extending to the side of his neck. And there, etched in dark beauty, a pink rose blooming across his skin. It was… enchanting. Almost impossible to look away.
But focus, Cass. This isn't why you're here.
"Well," he forced himself back on track, "the Dean, after you left, said your standing up for me only bought me three days. Three days to gather evidence. If I fail, I'm expelled anyway."
Damien's expression hardened, though his tone stayed smooth. "So he dared to go back on his word after reassuring me?" He shook his head slightly, the calm edge in his voice razor-sharp. See why being lenient isn't always good? The Dean thought he was soft, dared to test him.
"So," Damien continued, eyes narrowing, "how's the evidence task going?"
Cass's chest tightened. "…Unfortunately, it's been going bad. That's why I need your help."
Damien, now lounging lazily on his couch, propped his hand under his chin, red eyes burning straight through Cass. "You need my help? How?"
As expected of this cocky bastard, Cass thought inwardly, irritation prickling his chest. He was the guest here, yet Damien didn't even bother to ask him to sit. But Cass, stubborn as ever, shamelessly dropped onto the chair opposite him without invitation.
"Yes. Your help. I'm sure there's no way Kai would dare go against you. And I'm sure you have a way to get the evidence out of him. So… can you help me out? Please?"
Damien's lips curved slightly. "Well, you're right. I can help you."
Cass's heart lurched—finally, ooo lord, finally—help. Real help. Relief surged through him… until Damien's next words shattered it.
"I can help you," Damien said slowly, "but where's the fun in that?"
"Huh?"
"I only help if it benefits me. I've helped you before without asking for anything, haven't I? But not this time." His voice was steady, unbothered, final. "I'm not helping you without getting something in return."
Cass's glare sharpened, daggers in his eyes. He should have known. He should have known this man wasn't good in the slightest. What had ever made him think Damien would do it freely?
But still. This was his only option left. He couldn't back out now.
"So," Cass asked tightly, "what do you want in return?"
"A favor."
Cass frowned. "…A favor? What favor?"
"That'll be up to me to decide," Damien replied, tone infuriatingly casual. "I don't know what it is yet. All I want is for you to owe me one."
Every instinct inside Cass screamed. A trap. This was a trap, obvious as day. But what could he do? At least, unlike Kai, Damien wasn't asking for sex—yet. The risk hung like a shadow, but still, gritting his teeth, Cass forced the words out:
"Alright. I agree. I'll owe you a favor if you help me out."
Damien nodded, calm, composed. As though he had already expected that answer. "I'll bring the evidence to you when I'm done. You can leave."
Cass didn't wait. He didn't want to stay a second longer in this man's presence. The moment he was dismissed, he left, shutting the door behind him, his chest heavy with unease but burning with a fragile, desperate hope.
Back in his dorm, he sank down, his mind racing. All he could do now was wait. Wait, and wait…