V: Mr. President, The Heartthrob Will Give It A Shot!

First Attempt:

It's recess time and Ulysses didn't have the plan to go out to the canteen. As usual, he brought his own snacks and eats all by himself inside the classroom.

Meanwhile, a commotion starts to ignite as Dylan makes his way back to their classroom.

"See? Mister president and our prince aren't dating! If they are, they should have gone to the canteen together." Even though Ulysses is a little distant from the entrance, he still can hear the girls outside.

"Right? Of course, Dylan would not date a guy. And a nerdy someone too. Ulysses will only cause his boredom."

"Exactly!"

"Gosh, this person is too handsome. Too handsome!"

"Girls, please, let me through." Dylan said with a full smile. The female students surrounded him as usual that made him hard to go in and out of the classroom.

He loves the attention he gets for the four years he's studying in Northwestern High School. However, he has an image of a prince to girls, especially to those who are a member in his fans club. And so, he needs to look lowkey.

"Ulysses!" He calls at the silent one cheerfully. His smile is as bright as ever as if he's not disgusted by what he's doing right now. A bunch of drinks and snacks are held in his arms.

Meanwhile, Ulysses barely shows a change of his blank expression. He's just staring at this smiling angel approaching him. Dylan sits on the vacant seat beside Ulysses and dumps the food on his table.

Ulysses can't remain silent any further. With his usual blank expression, he speaks to Dylan, "What do you think you're doing?"

"Buying you snacks." The heartthrob replies like buying a bunch of food for a guy is not a big deal.

Ulysses stops eating. He raised his eyebrows and asks, "Because...?"

"Because I want you to be my boyfriend." He said casually and even winks at him.

This made Ulysses' eyebrows twitch. This guy is disgusting. Meanwhile, their classmates and the girls in the front door got silenced. They clearly heard what Dylan said.

Everyone arrived at the same conclusion. "He's not dating the Student Council President because he's still trying to win him!"

Ulysses handed the food back to Dylan. "Ridiculous. More like you want me to get fat. Try harder next time."

"Well... aren't you skinny? You should eat more." Dylan put the food back to Ulysses' table.

The SC President fakes a smile, "I can pay my own expenses." Once again, he returned the food to Dylan.

Dylan leans closer to the other and whispers, "Will you give me some face? Shut up and just fucking accept these."

Ulysses also leans closer, cutting more distance between their faces. He whispers, "Guess what? It's not my problem anymore."

Now, it's Dylan's turn to twitch his eyebrow. This Student Council is playing hard to get. Good thing for Dylan, his twin sister, and at the same time their matchmaker, came to his rescue.

"Hi, Ulysses!" Denise casually greeted. "My brother is concerned about your well-being. Please accept these. I can tell that this action is from the bottom of his heart."

Ulysses got stuck staring at this beautiful goddess in front of him. She just keeps on looking better day after day. Even though it's more like "From the bottom of his brain" than "From the bottom of his heart" (because well... didn't he give all of these because he has another motive?), he ended up accepting all the food Dylan bought.

Result for the first attempt in winning the SC President: Successful.

***

Second Attempt:

Ulysses is sorting out some important documents in the Student Council Office when his third-year SC secretary, Mico, approaches him at the president's desk.

"Mr. President, someone is looking for you outside."

The president paused and looks at his secretary. His face is plain as usual when he asked, "Who is it?"

"It's Dylan Cruz." Mico knows the situation about Dylan and their student council president very well so he's somehow hesitant to ask. "Should I... um... let him in?"

"No." Ulysses refused immediately before even asking for Dylan's intentions.

And then a man made his way across the office towards the student council president's desk.

"No need because I am coming in myself."

"Seriously?" Ulysses murmured.

Dylan made himself comfortable and sits on the chair placed before the desk, opposite to Ulysses.

He shows his killer smile and puts his leg on top of the other like a boss.

"What's with the long face, darling? Aren't you happy to see me?" Dylan emphasized their unofficial endearment that he decided on the spot.

Mico, who is silent in the side blushes. For his two years of working with Mr. President, this is the first time he heard someone dared to call him "darling". And it came from out from a guy's lips on top of that!

Ulysses knits his eyebrows. Looking at Dylan like he's staring at a piece of garbage. "Who's your darling? Stop blabbering nonsense. Aren't you ashamed of yourself?"

Dylan chuckled hearing that response. Not showing any signs of embarrassment. "Don't be ashamed. You'll get used to it sooner or later."

Then he gives the president a wink that made Ulysses want to die temporarily.

But of course, as the esteemed Student Council President, he can't lose his cool. Not in front of this stupid campus heartthrob... again.

"Well, what are you doing here?"

Finally getting asked of his intentions, Dylan beams a bright wide smile. "I'll walk you home!"

Ulysses raised his right hand, declining the offer. "No, thank you."

Then he averted his eyes and continues sorting the documents on his table.

Dylan can't help it but to facepalm. His sweet smile faded in an instant. He thought, "This SC president... he's playing hard to get. Does he think I'll give up just like that? Ha! I'll show you what I'm capable of."

He showed a lazy smile to Ulysses and complains. "Here we are again. Why are you so grumpy? How will I get your sweet yes if you're always salty?"

"Not my problem." Ulysses is still acting indifferent.

Dylan sighs as if he's losing hope. "Ulysses, Ulysses. Are you sure you don't like this heartthrob?"

Without even looking back at the other, Ulysses answers, "Do I even look like I like you?"

"Yes! I mean who doesn't?" He speaks as if Ulysses' words don't make sense, and that liking him is the most normal thing on this planet.

"You!" Dylan points at Secretary Mico.

"Me?" Mico pointed to himself.

He looked surprised because he was never a part of the conversation and then suddenly, he's included.

Dylan nods. "Yes, you. Do you hate me?"

"No." Mico immediately answered while waving both hands.

Why would he hate him when this is their first time talking to each other?

"Then that means you like me," Dylan smirked like he just won something from it. "See? Even Mr. Secretary likes me."

"..."

Mico is speechless. Actually, he really doesn't hate him but he doesn't like this guy either.

But now that he thinks about it, does the fact "He doesn't hate him" is similar to "He likes him?".

Mico could only scratch his head. He doesn't know what to think anymore.

"You really are shameless." Ulysses puts the papers in his hands down and looks at Dylan with a solemn expression on his face. "Cut the nonsense. Why are you here?"

Dylan, on the other hand, raises his eyebrows, "Didn't I told you already? I'll walk you home."

Ulysses, "Didn't I decline already?"

Dylan being rejected twice in a row made him snort. "You are really refusing my offer? Don't you know that a lot of girls wish to be in your shoe?"

Ulysses just shrugged it off. "Then walk them home instead."

Like a child throwing a fit, Dylan kicks several times and exclaims. "But they're not the ones I'm courting! You are!"

Ulysses remained looking collected. But the truth is, he's running out of patience again. "Dylan, what part of the word 'No' that you don't understand? Get out."

Dylan, "I'm not leaving."

Ulysses massages the bridge of his nose. "I still have some things to do so I suggest that you go home now."

"It's okay. I'll wait. Denise will explain it to my mom so it's fine. And... did you know? Pfft..." He tried so hard to suppress his laughter that he got interrupted by himself.

"She said she's supporting me to pursue you!"

"..."

Ulysses was never expecting that there'll be a chance for him and Denise. However, hearing that made him even more hopeless.

That's it! Fate let them meet but they're not destined to be a significant person in each other's life.

"Mr. President." Mico leans closer to the president. "What if you let him help you so these piled-up tasks will finish sooner?"

"Alright." Ulysses considered the idea. If he's this stubborn, better make good use of him. "Dylan, since you're not going home, help with these."

Dylan's lips form a mischievous smile again. "If I help, will you be my boyfriend by then?"

"Nevermind. Get out."

Ulysses' pride and reputation as the currently most respected student in the entire Northwestern High School still dominated.

He'd rather work all night than be this stupid campus heartthrob's lover.

Given without any options, Dylan frowns."Psh. Fine. What do I have to do?"

Result for the second attempt in winning the SC President: Still Uncertain. The update will be in the next chapters.