Chapter 303 How Does It Feel to Be Rejected?
Sebastian had left, and Doris had no interest in staying any longer.
"I'm heading home," she announced, then turned and walked away, leaving Darren standing there.
Darren stood bewildered, his mouth half-open. He wanted to run after her, ask what was wrong, maybe offer to walk her home. But then he remembered his responsibilities as a faculty advisor—he had other duties tonight that he couldn't shirk.
Doris could come and go as she pleased, while he remained bound by obligation.
He couldn't help but sigh.
They were supposed to be a couple, yet why did he always feel that Doris was so distant? So unreachable that he never seemed to understand what was going on in her mind. And after all this time dating, they'd done nothing more intimate than hold hands—not even a kiss.
Darren hung his head, feeling a wave of dejection wash over him.
Suddenly, someone bumped into him.
"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry! Did I hurt you?" It was Hestia, juggling a plate loaded with four or five pastries in one hand and a drink in the other, some of which had spilled in the collision.
"It's fine, don't worry about it," Darren said, waving dismissively. He pulled out some napkins and offered them to her. "Here, you should wipe that up—your drink spilled."
"Thanks!" Hestia instinctively reached for the napkins before realizing both her hands were full. She froze, visibly embarrassed.
Darren noticed her predicament. "Let me hold the plate for you?"
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely." He took the plate from her.
Hestia wiped her hands dry. "I'm really sorry about that. I'm always such a klutz."
"It wasn't your fault. I was lost in thought and not watching where I was going."
"Have a pastry, please—consider it my apology."
Darren now noticed the variety of desserts on the plate: mango mousse, durian mille-feuille, napoleon pastry...
"Sure, why not?" Darren didn't hesitate and chose the durian mille-feuille with a smile.
Hestia's eyes betrayed a flicker of regret.
"Something wrong?" Darren asked.
He found this chubby girl quite amusing—her expressions were so transparent, revealing exactly what she was thinking.
Hestia shook her head. "No, nothing. That durian pastry is really delicious."
"You've tried it?"
"Yes! Three pieces, actually."
"Your face says otherwise. You didn't want to give it up, did you?"
Hestia laughed awkwardly. "No! I just wasn't sure if you liked durian. Many people can't stand it. I didn't think you'd choose that one."
Then it would still be mine! The last piece!
"I love durian," Darren smiled.
Though he hadn't eaten it in ages because Doris hated the smell. Once, Betty had shared a small piece with him, whispering, "Our secret—I won't tell Doris."
Darren had figured that since Doris wasn't in the lab that day and they wouldn't see each other until the following day, the smell would be gone by then. So he'd taken a small bite.
Somehow, Doris had still detected it the next day and given him the silent treatment for three days straight.
Since then, Darren had sworn off durian in any form.
But today, he suddenly didn't feel like restraining himself anymore.
"I'll definitely take this one! Thanks!" he said, preparing to leave.
"Is that the hidden Kim's Food Charm keychain?" Hestia had been about to walk away when she spotted the keychain on Darren's phone—the "Little Hot Dog" she'd been trying to collect for ages!
She immediately grew excited. Hestia had a bit of a compulsive collector's streak; she always had to complete sets no matter the cost.
She had almost the entire food charm collection except for the "Little Hot Dog," which was an ultra-rare hidden item with extremely low odds of finding.
The sweet shop only sold these blind boxes during special promotions, and Hestia's luck had always been terrible. After nearly two years, she still hadn't gotten the hidden charm. Now, seeing it dangling from Darren's phone, she couldn't contain herself.
Darren looked surprised. "You shop at that place too?"
"Yes! Their cakes are amazing."
Darren rarely paid attention to these little trinkets. Partly because Doris looked down on them, and partly because he thought that at thirty-something, having phone charms seemed childish. But this particular charm had been on his phone since he bought it, and it wasn't particularly noticeable. He was impressed that she had spotted it.
"How many boxes did you open to get it?" Hestia asked.
"About three times in total, I think."
Hestia nearly ground her teeth to dust hearing this.
Why was everyone else so lucky except her?
Seeing her frustrated expression, Darren couldn't help but laugh. "If you don't mind, you can give me your address. I have another hidden charm at home that I could send you."
Hestia looked up sharply, meeting his warm, smiling eyes. He reminded her of the neighborhood boy who used to play with her when she was little!
Darren had handsome, well-proportioned features, but more importantly, he exuded a gentle, scholarly air. When he smiled, his eyes seemed to light up—warm and completely non-threatening.
Hestia stared at him, suddenly feeling heat rise from her cheeks to the tips of her ears.
Her words came out in a stutter. "Y-you... r-really want to... to g-give it to me?"
Darren was confused. She'd been fine just a moment ago—why was she suddenly stammering?
He found her quite endearing and was about to say something else when someone called out to him, "Darren, the event's wrapping up soon. We need you to check and sign off on the materials being collected!"
"Coming right away," he called back.
Suddenly remembering something, Darren turned back and handed Hestia a business card. "My phone number's on here. Text me your address."
Hestia held the card, watching him until he disappeared from view before finally looking down.
"Darren Norris," she read.
Camilla had left, and Marcus had no interest in socializing further.
He normally wouldn't attend these functions at all; he'd only come because of Camilla.
Before leaving, however, Marcus made sure to have a word with Dean Cecil Marshall, taking the opportunity to speak ill of Otis.
Cecil, ever the shrewd operator, smiled and nodded. "Don't worry, I'll handle it."
"Good to hear."
Once outside, Marcus felt a nicotine craving hit. His hand was halfway to his pocket, reaching for his lighter, when he suddenly froze.
Leopold was standing not far away, leaning against his car, smoking.
Leopold looked up, giving Marcus a cold stare. "What's this? Craving a smoke? I thought you'd quit."
Marcus smirked. "I did. Just not completely."
"Want one?" Leopold offered.
Marcus kept his hands in his pockets and walked toward his own car, which, as luck would have it, was parked right next to Leopold's.
Instead of accepting the cigarette, he took out a pack of gum from his car and started chewing. "No thanks, I've got this."
Leopold scoffed.
Marcus changed the subject. "Why are you out here? Weren't you dancing with your girlfriend?"
"We finished. It was getting stuffy in there with all those people. Came out for a smoke."
Leopold flicked his lighter and lit up.
The familiar scent of nicotine wafted through the air, making Marcus's craving intensify, though his expression remained unchanged.
Leopold couldn't resist taking a jab: "Your little scene in there was quite entertaining. So tell me, how does rejection feel?"
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