"The Invitation to Become an Underling"

Sydney started to open up her problem to that self-proclaimed friend beside her, "I can't tell my parents that I've been disobeying the doctor. I can't tell Olivet that I ate sweets again. And I can't tell Senior that my vocal cords have been damaged."

"I don't get it… Uhh… You're sick?"

"Hmm," Sydney nodded as she looked at him with sadness, "Music has always been my favorite, and singing is something that I want to do until my last breath… Isn't it ironic that my disease is in my throat? That my tonsils are abnormally large? And that my vocal cords are now strained?" she continued speaking while tears formed in her eyes, "What did I do wrong? I love music, and I only wanted to sing…" and finally, her tears fell on her cheeks.

As Matt saw her cry, he felt a sharp pain in his chest. Matt took a handkerchief from his pocket and gave it to Sydney, "I want to offer you a friendly hug, but of course you won't allow it. Here."

"You're weird, you know, that?" she said as she accepted the handkerchief embroidered with Matt's name, and wiped her tears with it, "Thanks… But don't get me wrong! You're the only person here, so I can't help myself to talk about it."

"Aren't you too defensive?" Matt chuckled, finding her cute, "Save my number, and send me a message whenever you feel sad. I'll always be here for you. Okay?"

"What's your number?" asked Sydney.

"Just add my number to your contacts and edit my name."

"I don't have your number."

"I sent you a message last time. Check your inbox."

Sydney checked her cellphone's inbox, "Uhhh… Don't tell me you're the scammer…?"

"What scammer are you talking about?" Matt laughed out loud, "I told you I'm your bestfriend, and now it's true."

"Olivet is my bestie," she rolled her eyes at him, "You… you're just an orc tick to me."

"Orc… tick?" he wondered what it looked like, "Orcs have ticks?"

"It doesn't matter! What I mean is, I only see you as a parasite."

"Well, it doesn't matter what you think of me, Orc Lady. As long as I stick to you!" said Matt in an energetic voice, and he winked at her.

"Ugh, you're impossible!" Sydney exclaimed.

"YOU TWO. KEEP QUIET. NOW. FACE THE WALL!" their strict science teacher Aira suddenly came when her lesson was interrupted with them conversing loudly!

In panic, Matt and Sydney faced the wall immediately. Lenoir, who was peeking in one corner, finally returned to his classroom.

"It's your fault…" Sydney whispered, while Matt just laughed.

After all the classes that day, Sydney was called out by Greta. They talked at the back of the main building where no one could see them.

"Sydney, I am inviting you to become one of my friends," Greta said as she played with the ends of her hair, "Be honored."

"How boring, I thought we're going to do some wrestling. Nah. I'm not interested in your Matt Duncan Cult," Sydney said as she crossed her arms, "I'll get going."

"If you join us, we can make you return to the Music Club."

When she heard her say that, she widened her eyes, as if interested.

Greta thought that she's going to take her bait, but then Sydney said, "No thanks. I'm going to ask Matt directly."

Without further ado, she looked for Matt's number on her phone and called him. "Hey, Matt?" she said in a cutesy voice. She turned on the loudspeaker option, "I have a favor to ask."

"Sure. Anything for you. What is it?"

"Take me back to the Music Club. Please?"

"Hmm… You know my conditions…"

"Yeah. Isn't this phone call enough for you to know my decision?"

"Alright," he laughed, obviously pleased with her answer. "I'll tell the teachers tomorrow."

"Thank you, you're the best!" and then she ended the call. It was as if she called him to tease Greta and the girls, and mock them!

"Why are you sweet with each other?!" Greta asked in a loud voice, "And what were the conditions you were referring to?"

"Maybe she agreed to be his girlfriend!"

"Maybe she agreed to be his slave!"

"Maybe she agreed to get married to him!"

"Oh shut up, girls. What is this, a shoujo manga?" Sydney laughed out loud at the ridiculous assumptions of Greta's underlings, "I'll go home now. I still need to look for a song for the inter-school concert."

And with that, she started walking away.

The pissed-off Greta kicked a stone on her feet. Coincidentally, Juana suddenly appeared in the corner of the building, and the hard stone hit her forehead!

"Ah! Sorry!"

Juana placed her hand on her forehead to try to ease the pain, "It's alright, it's not bleeding… Anyway, why did you kick the stone?!"

"That Sydney! She's so full of herself! She even talked to Matt acting all cute, but we all know that she's like a brute orc lady!"

"They're close now?"

"Yes," Greta then stared at Juana with a serious look and encouraged her, "We are only fans of Matt, and as for me, I know him because our parents know each other. I seriously don't plan to run to him, plead and ask him to be my boyfriend. But as for you, Juana. I see and feel how ambitious you are. Don't worry, I will help you."

"Uhh, what do you mean?"

Greta grinned, "If you want Matt that badly, I suggest that you step up your game."