Frudi entered her hospital room, finding Dylan sitting in the corner, scrolling through his phone.
"Seriously, why are you here?" Frudi asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
Dylan looked up, smiling. E seemed a bit tipsy. "Just wanted to talk. And you didn't reply my text, I was worried."
Frudi raised an eyebrow but settled into her bed, while Dylan took the chair beside the bed.
They chatted about random things ā movies, music, and favorite books. Frudi found herself laughing and feeling at ease.
But beneath the surface, tensions simmered.
"Hey, have you tried that new Italian place downtown?" Dylan asked.
Frudi's thoughts skipped to the Rivera-Martinez rivalry. Food, a simple pleasure, now a reminder of their families' animosity.
"Uh, no...not really," Frudi replied, trying to brush it off.
Dylan noticed her hesitation. "What's wrong?"
Frudi forced a smile. "Just not in the mood for Italian."
