damofitzâ:
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Damian listened to Kat with a surprising attentiveness despite all of the party bustle going on throughout the house. If anything, it was the way she shared her story that challenged his focus. Finland, Denmark, Sweden, then Norway. His mind pictured each place on a map as she went on. A smile â a genuine one â graced his features when Kat mentioned a lightbulb and pointed above her head. She always did charm him in that way, being sort of⌠casually offbeat in the most delightful way. âNervous?â He echoed her word choice. âWhy?â One would argue Nighmore, Broadripple⌠it all felt very small. A tiny world of its own. Wouldnât that be familiar? âIâm very happy for you,â he told her once she finished catching him up on whatâs been going on in her life these past few years. âYou⌠really seem to have found your place in the world. Always a beautiful thing.â
âMyself? WellâŚâ Damian pressed his lips together thoughtfully. His life, regardless of the details that changed since the last time they saw each other, felt strangely the same. He supposed it came with the territory of following a plan, a path chosen for him before his eyes even properly saw sunlight for the first time. âThe plan was always going into the field of Medicine for me, attending something of an elite establishment on my way there. Hence Essex. Iâm taking Biological Sciences. On the pre-med track with intentions to go to Harvard Medical afterward⌠I still swim. Captain of the team here now. Spearheading them to victories has been a challenge, but a very rewarding undertaking nonetheless.â What else? âIâm part of a brotherhood now.â He gestured vaguely to the room they were in. âI was a bit hesitant at first given the reputation fraternities get but⌠Pi Kappa Alpha has an amazing alumni network. We also do good philanthropic work. Thatâs the bit of it I most enjoy. The lackluster habits and rowdy gatherings⌠I tolerate more than anything else. But itâs good to be around people who arenât like you. College is where the world gets more real isnât it? Iâve learned to adjust. Loosen the reins a little so to speak. Itâs⌠actually been quite nice actually.â
Finding it a bit strange to loiter in his own room, Damian sat himself on the edge of his bed. âWhat made you want to go on an exchange program?â A beat. And then, âWhat are you even taking anyway?â A question asked with a tilt of his head. He couldnât recall if Kat seemed particularly passionate about anything last he saw her. She did like plants. Showed an interest in House Captaincy. Was very knowledgeable on food and nutrition if he could remember correctly.
Kat felt another pang in the pit of her stomach, her insides clenching just a little tighter when Damian explained his enrolment in biological sciences. âOh yeah, I think I remember that,â she had actually forgotten it completely and It was more than likely that they would be in the same circles, maybe even some of the same classes depending on how Katherineâs credits from the University of Oslo translated to Essex. She couldnât help the small, but undeniably fond smile that tugged at the corner of her lips at the mention of the swim team. It felt more like the Damian she recalled for a moment and it was nice. âMaybe not as much has changed,â she conceded. He had felt like a stranger minutes before but all this talk of studying, swimming, volunteering his time for charitable affairs - that was the Damian she knew. The Damian she had been so embarrassingly infatuated with. âItâs a good time to get to know yourself, I think - and not worry so much about other peopleâs opinionsâ at least that had been Katâs experience, a far cry from how she had felt during her high school years.
She wasnât sure if Damian was aware that Andrea was on campus - surely they had crossed paths before but if that was the case, had they truly never spoken about Kat when they did? She tried not to think about it for too long. âJust saw the opportunity and you know, I missed friends and family at home so why not?â she shrugged her shoulders. When he asked about her studies, her mind returned to her previous thought. âNursing, actually,â she wondered if the same thing would cross his mind about them being a part of the same faculty.Â















