The next day, Dylan finds everyone around him strange.
The way they stare at him is different than the usual. It seems their stares look suspicious, like there's a hidden meaning on it. Even the girls that used to get excited when he's passing their way seem to be... gossiping while staring at him. It's almost like they're seeing him deep inside and judging his soul.
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On the other hand, Denise looks so happy today. She's unusually cheerful even before they go to school. It seems like she knows something fun is going to happen.
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"What's up with you today?" He can't bare to see his sister like this anymore and finally asked.
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"Hmm? Well... nothing? Do you need any reason to be happy?" She replied. acting all innocent.
This is really strange. Just yesterday, she's so down that her club isn't receiving financial support from school anytime soon. And now, she acts like she just hit the jackpot.
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"Okay?" Dylan doesn't think it's really nothing.
There must be something behind those strange actions of these people. He thinks, maybe he'll find out sooner or later.
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Then he saw Ulysses walking at the corridor a few meters away from them, going opposite to the way they're heading.
Unlike yesterday's shy and awkward SC president, his face looks serious now... or maybe annoyed?
His head is up and looking straight at the two of them... or rather to Dylan in particular.
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When he got close enough, he yelled at him. "Dylan! What do you think you're doing, you asshole?"
Dylan doesn't know why Ulysses looks so aggrieved, and why is he suddenly yelling at him?
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"What did I do?" He asked cluelessly.
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However, this only made the other more upset. "Damn it! Don't act like you don't know anything!"
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Dylan's eyebrows knit and yells back at Ulysses, "Just what the heck are you talking about?"
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Ulysses takes his phone from his pocket and shows it to Dylan. It's a post on a social media platform containing the screenshots of their conversation last night. The one that posted it? It's the official account of their school's broadcasting club.
The post gained variety of reactions. There are some that shows support. Some expressed their hate. And there are some that laughed at the said topic.
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Ulysses Lopez, as the Student Council President, has an image to maintain and a reputation to keep clean until he graduates in this school. This issue just made his efforts for the past four years crumble.
The Student Council, Secretary Mico in particular, is currently having a word with the Broadcasting Club, hoping to delete that post.
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"Are you out of your mind? Why did you let this spread in the entire campus?!" Mr President yells.
Dylan's eyes slowly widens as he looks at the screenshots. It really is their convo last night!
Whoever reads this will definitely misunderstood it! Especially that Dylan made it look like Ulysses really falls for him.
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"What the... I didn't!" He defended himself from the accusation.
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Ulysses keeps his phone back to his pocket and blurted out, "Don't speak nonsense. If not you, who would do that? Because I'm quite sure I'm not the one."
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Denise, on the other hand, forced a smile. "Uh... I need to go now. See you later, Dylan! Ulysses!" Then she sprinted away in full speed.
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Denise... Denise...
Dylan thinks about it. Isn't she acting strange since this morning? Why is she sprinting away from them like she's afraid of something?
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"I think I know who did it." Dylan narrows his eyes and runs after his sister. "Denise! Come back here!"
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Meanwhile, Ulysses is frozen in his post. He doesn't want to think it that way but was it really Denise who leaked these pictures around?
But... But it was really her who he wants to say that to!
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"Denise!" Dylan extended his hand trying to reach his sister. "Why are you running? Why are you running?!"
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"Because you're chasing me!" She yells back to her brother.
Unfortunately for Denise, Dylan got a hold of her. And worse, he caught her long hair, pulling her into a stop.
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Denise tries to pull her hair back. "Ouch! Let me go! If you don't, I'll tell mommy about it! Do you want to get grounded?!" She tries to scare him a little but it doesn't seem to work.
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Still, her cruel and ruthless twin brother didn't let her hair go. "Was it you? Did you open my phone last night? It's you who spread the screenshots, aren't you?"
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"Then Denise slowly turns her head to Dylan. "Dylan, let me explain."
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"Alright." Dylan looks more calm now. "Explain it to me now."
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"Well..." Denise thinks about it for a while.
What should she say? She has nothing to explain!
"Uh.. aren't you two in a relationship?"
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"Of course not! It's not like what you think!" He starts to get annoyed again.
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"Right! Right! Chill!" She feels a little disappointed with the fact that they aren't actually dating.
Even so, she still tries to free herself from her brother's claws.
"Let's see... think about it this way, Dylan. If you're unlucky with girls., maybe you should date guys instead, right? A guy like... a guy like Ulysses!"
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The last statement of hers made Dylan snort. "Never."
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Even after her idea got rejected in an instant, she still insisted her opinion. "But he looks sincere to you! I think you should give it a try. You have my support."
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Dylan let out a sigh. "Like I said, it's not like what you think."
For goodness' sake, Denise, that's meant for you!
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She grins and even elbowed her brother. "Come on, don't be shy! The society is more open regarding that matter nowadays. And besides, that might be the key to break your three-month curse."
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The three-month curse. That's Dylan's rumored curse made by his ex-lover to make him very unlucky with love. This is said to be the reason why all his past relationships only lasted for only three months.
Dylan himself, heard about this but he really doesn't know where, when, how or who exactly started this story. Perhaps, it's his own fan club that fabricated such absurd story. However, he would be lying if he'll say that it didn't scare him even a little. Ever since he could remember, his relationships indeed only lasted for at most three months.
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They don't have enough proofs that could confirm the existence of this curse, however, they cannot disregard it either. And now, Dylan is willing to give it a shot.
He wonders, how come this idea never crossed his mind before? If he manage to break the curse through dating a man, and managed not to break up for three-months and a day, he'll be able to date girls without being conscious of the time after that, right?
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"You know what? You have a point. I might give it a try." Dylan finally let her hair go.
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"Right? Don't worry Dylan, I'll always take your side. Even if the whole world is against you!" She said giggling.
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Dylan raises his eyebrows. "Didn't you say, the society is more open to this matter now?"
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Denise forces a smile. She really did contradicted her own words there. "Yes, that's right! But of course, there will always be haters. Don't mind them."
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With just that, she managed to convince her brother.
The problem that Dylan has to face next is how to make Ulysses agree.