Dylan was genuinely shocked by Frudi's peck on the lips, but he quickly brushed it off. "What's wrong with you, Frudi? Why'd you do that?" he asked, trying to sound calm.
Frudi just smiled mischievously, enjoying the effect she had on him. "Maybe I just wanted to see your reaction," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
The argument escalated, with Dylan demanding answers and Frudi taunting him. But Dylan's confusion about the locked door persisted. "Frudi, why did you lock the door earlier?" he asked again.
Instead of answering calmly, Frudi's expression turned dark. "You'll pay for what you did," she hissed.
Dylan's confusion deepened as Frudi started a countdown from ten. As she reached one, she burst into sobs, pretending to plead with him.
Just then, Matthew, Jackson, Sergio, and Elias arrived at the door, concerned by the commotion. But the door was locked, and they could only hear Frudi's sobs and begging.
Elias's face contorted with worry. "What have we done?" he whispered to the others. "I think I made a mistake advising Dylan to use hazing for revenge."
The boys tried to open the door, but it wouldn't budge. Jackson quickly called the nurse, who came running.
As the door flung open, they saw Dylan trying to shut Frudi's mouth, her sobs and pleas still echoing through the room.
The nurse rushed in, concern etched on her face. "What's going on here?
The nurse rushed to Frudi's side, concern etched on her face. "Frudi, sweetie, how are you feeling? What happened?"
Frudi continued to sob, playing the victim perfectly. The nurse comforted her, shooting Dylan a disapproving glance.
Meanwhile, the boys dragged Dylan outside, their faces stern with anger. Sergio pulled Dylan by his collar, his eyes blazing. "What's wrong with you, man? You're supposed to be leading, not tormenting!"
Dylan tried to explain, but Sergio cut him off. "If Frudi ever cries again because of you, you'll hate yourself. Do you understand?"
Dylan nodded, feeling a pang of guilt. He knew he had gone too far.
Matthew and Jackson chimed in, their voices firm. "Sergio's right. This isn't what we signed up for. We're a team, not tormentors."
Elias added, "I told you, Dylan, using hazing for revenge was a bad idea. Now look what's happened. You seriously could have ignored my advice"
The boys' words struck a chord. Dylan realized he had lost sight of what was important. He nodded, determination etched on his face. "You're right. I'll make it right. I promise."
But as they went back inside, Frudi's sobs had stopped. She was smiling, innocently despite the fact that she knew Dylan could see through her fake.
Dylan apologized to Frudi there and then but the news had already reached the office of the vice chancellor, Mr. Barrera. He was known as a really strict man; one that doesn't flinch easily.
Dylan was summoned by non other than Mr. Barrera to his office.
As he walked up the stairs to the office, he feared the punishment but most importantly, he feared his father - Tristan Martinez. If the vice chancellor knows, then his father knows too.
Eventually, he arrived at the office and decided to forget about his father and keep his mind on things around him - that includes Frudi, the girl who confuses him frequently. He knocked on the door and got told to enter and take a sit.
Dylan sat in the vice chancellor's office, his mind racing. What did Frudi have against him? He thought they were just playing a game, but now he was in trouble.
The vice chancellor's voice brought him back to reality. "Dylan, your behavior has been unacceptable. Do you think hazing is a joke? If you don't want to take anything seriously, take someone else's life into thought." Mr. Barrera took a deep breath and sighed "You're no longer leader of the hazing team. That is the rules for abuse of power."
Dylan nodded, still confused. As he stood to leave, Frudi burst in, pulling him back inside.
"Mr. Barrera, I need to explain," Frudi said, her voice sweet and innocent.
Dylan thought to himself, 'What is she up to now?'
Frudi continued, "It wasn't Dylan's fault, sir. I've been on a diet, trying to achieve perfect body goals, and I passed out from lack of food. And the crying and begging? Oh, I had a terrible nightmare about a monster chasing me! He was trying to wake me up. I know it sounds comical but it's true. Don't punish him because of this, please"
Dylan thought, 'This is ridiculous. But Mr. Barrera was smiling. That was the shocker.'
"Frudi, Frudi, you're a creative one," Mr. Barrera said, shaking his head. "Dylan, it seems you took the fall for Frudi's... let's call them 'indiscretions'."
'I don't know what to make of her. One minute she's making me flustered, the next she's my enemy.' Dylan thought giving Frudi side eyes' glare.
Mr. Barrera continued, "I think you've shown yourself to be a good leader, Dylan. Taking the punishment instead of exposing Frudi's secrets. The punishment is lifted. You're both dismissed."
As they left the office, Dylan was still confused, but at least he was not in trouble anymore. Then he turned to Frudi. "What was that?"
Frudi grinned mischievously. "Just trying to keep things interesting, Dylan."
"I seriously hate people like you." Dylan seethed speeding up his steps to get away from Frudi. "Just stay away from me!"
Frudi's grin got wider as she ran after Dylan. "Yo, señor... Wait for me!"
After a while of fast-walking, Dylan started running, just to get away from Frudi who was chasing after him. At first, his face was like he was annoyed but soon he started laughing nonstop. "what do you want from me?"
"Just wait and..." Frudi couldn't continue her statement due to her heavy breathing. "...stop! I don't think I have the time to play with you"
Dylan immediately stopped his steps, realizing he was having fun which was questionable. "I also don't want to play with you, I hate you!"
Those words hurt Frudi for an unknown reason. "Gimme a ride to my condo and I'll leave you alone" Frudi said, sternly.
"As much as I love that tempting offer, I didn't bring my car. My little brother is giving me a ride." Dylan explained, honestly.
"Then he can give both of us rides! It's late already and my free ride left already." Frudi prattled, annoying life out of Dylan. "Okay"
Dylan and Frudi walked over to the art faculty's garage where Daniel, Dylan little brother was waiting for him.
Upon seeing Daniel, Frudi's jaws dropped. "Huh? You're that boy from earlier! The one with Lexie"
Daniel gave a tight lipped smile. "I am and I'm related to him! Do you hate me too?"
Frudi let out a little laugh. "Nah, we're good bruh. By the way, what's your major?"
"Dance." Daniel replied.
Frudi nodded, grinning. "Let's be partners in class. I'm a dance major too."
Dylan was frowning looking at the two as they chitchat about random things leaving him out.
"Daniel, please, I want to get home. I need to rest and get away from this" He said pointing at Frudi.
"Trust me, Dylan, I hate you more than you think. I might just unalive you one day because your existence is a real bone in my throat" Frudi hissed getting in the front seat.
The drive was mainly about Frudi's chitchat with Daniel. It just seemed like they both had a lot to talk about. It was like they had known each other for decades, no one would be able to tell that they just met less than five hours ago. "Can I get your number? I want to share my Spotify playlist with you."
"You really beat me to the question, Danny." Frudi smiled as she took the phone from Daniel and typed in her digits. "Thanks"
The drive continued with the nonstop sing-along concert Daniel and Frudi were having in the car. Eventually it came to a stop when Frudi pointed that her house was close.
"Just stop over here. This is my house." Frudi was about to exit the car when she looked at the brothers who had dropped jaws. "What?"
Daniel was the first one to speak "Your house? Do you stay alone in this huge casa?!"
Dylan's comment came in next. It sounded more like an insult. "You don't have to fake this with me. It's not like you stand a chance with me"
"Firstly, Danny, I stay with my sworn brothers and..." Frudi turned to Dylan. She pulled him closer to her by his collar. Dylan was frozen in time, he felt lost in her grey eyes.
Suddenly everything seemed to stop for Dylan, he felt like staying in this moment forever. Frudi, realizing that she had this effect on him, moved her hands to his face. She began caressing his cheeks with her right hand while her other hand shifted his hair out of his face. "I'm definitely gonna be rejecting your proposal."
Frudi's hands left Dylan's face making him fall back into reality and also miss the touch. "Bye Danny! Bye... Guy who has a total crush on me." Frudi ran out of the car and into the house leaving the dumbstruck Martinez brothers.
Daniel chortled, looking at his older brother. He had never seen his brother this vulnerable to someone. Everyone else knew Dylan as complacent, nonchalant and flexible. He really didn't care about anything, not girls he had taken to bed or his own family's business. At least a little.
That was his public image; what they didn't know was that he was faking all that. Dylan actually was a pro at combat, he could defend himself against the hit he got from Frudi but he chose to take it. He always told his brother that he'd always pretend to never care about anything in this life but Daniel was seeing something different because of Frudi. His pretense was fading.
"Wow... Big bro, I didn't know she had this much power on you" Daniel let out a light chuckle earning a glare from Dylan.
"Eyes on the road bro! I don't want to die now and die when we see dad"