The finishing blow [English version of « Le Coup Final »]

1

Two years earlier...
September 2, 2021

• Elie... ELIE! You're going to be late again. I barely manage to open my eyes.
My mother is leaning over my bed, looking at me with a worried and annoyed expression.
• Damn, the first day... I mumble. Sorry, Mom.
• Elisa Adam, she continues in a stern tone. You disappoint me. You promised me you wouldn't repeat the same mistakes as in high school, and you're off to a very bad start for your new school year. She turns on her heels and nervously closes my bedroom door. Still blurry-eyed, I fumble for my phone on my bedside table. Luckily, I didn't forget to charge it last night, PHEW! It's 7:53 AM, I guess I better hurry if I don't want to miss the next bus or make my mom even angrier. I don't even have time to take a shower. Still groggy, I quickly wash my face at the sink, tie my hair into a sort of bun, and put on the first clean clothes I can find.
8:22 AM. The bus arrives. Everyone gets on, and I stay back to avoid getting crushed among all these hurried passengers. Once inside, I quickly greet the driver and rush to sit at the back of the bus, hoping not to see any familiar faces. I must admit, I'm not a morning person. Every day, it takes me at least two hours to wake up and regain a hint of sociability. So here I am, on my way to university, dressed in cotton sweatpants and an oversized white T-shirt, no makeup, and looking like I had a rough night. I hoped for a fresh start, but I could have done better for this first day of college. At least one thing is certain, I won't be breaking any hearts today with this look. One might almost think I'm going through a breakup and completely depressed.
8:30 AM. The journey is quite long. I take out my headphones and choose to let myself be carried away by Lana Del Rey's sweet voice. I still try not to close my eyes. It would be the height of irony if I fell asleep on the bus and only woke up at the terminus.
8:56 AM. The driver brakes abruptly. I get off and take a moment to realize that I've arrived. Wow, this place is really big! Fortunately, the campus is filled with signs indicating each direction to follow. It seems very well organized. I should be able to find my way. However, I should probably stop daydreaming and get moving.
9:04 AM. I catch my breath. Despite sprinting to the building and the lecture hall indicated on my orientation notice, I have to admit that all the students and teachers are already seated in the room, and the glass door is closed. I find myself facing one of my worst fears: entering late in front of an auditorium filled with hundreds of students I don't know. How embarrassing. I hope no teacher makes a demeaning remark, I'm already embarrassed enough. My heart is pounding, and my anxiety, as usual, is at its peak, just like my shyness.
• You're late too, huh, a very masculine voice suddenly calls out to me. I turn around. Behind me stands a young man with long, curly brown hair. He is much taller than me. His very light blue eyes and the lock of hair falling in front of them give him an unfriendly and deep look. His complexion is very pale.
• I... uh...
He seems amused by the situation.
• Come on, go in. What are you waiting for? They won't eat you, he cuts me off in a reassuring yet mocking tone.

Well, he's right about one thing: I'm not going to just stand here.** I open the door with a hesitant hand. The two teachers on the lower stage stop talking and turn towards us. At the same time, I feel hundreds of eyes turning in our direction, which makes me even more uncomfortable.

• Hello, I'm really sorry for being late, I...

• Hello, miss, it's not that serious. We were just about to start this back-to-school meeting," the man kindly informs me. "You can go sit down. But please make sure it doesn't happen too often.

I comply.

• Hello, sir, the tall brunette who was following me says familiarly.

• Hello, Zachary.

What was that? How could the teacher know his name in advance? And why did they speak so informally? This young man suddenly intrigues me.

I put my curiosity aside and climb three floors. Luckily, I quickly find a seat. He follows suit and ignores the available seat right next to me, which slightly vexes me, I must admit. He goes to sit at the back of the room, without even glancing at me.

---

The morning passes without incident and very quickly. Classes don't start until tomorrow, so I immediately take the bus to go home. Once I arrive under the porch, I search my pocket for my keys, in vain. Oh no, not this! My mother doesn't finish work for another two hours...

After retracing my steps between the bus stop and my house twice, I resolve to wait for my savior on the stone steps in front of my front door. My stomach is terribly aching. In the rush of this morning, I didn't have time to eat anything since I woke up. I feel weak and my head is spinning.

Barely seated, I feel my phone vibrate in the pocket of my sweatpants. It's probably my mother checking in on my morning. I can't think of who else it could be.

📳 Unknown number:
"So, the latecomer, lost your keys?"