Brother's Keeper✔️

23. And a One

Manny POV

He was on cloud nine after his win at the talent show. He went from a nobody to the man on campus. Everyone was greeting him, trying to get his attention. His videos on social media were getting massive hits and shares.

And that brought lots of attention from girls.

Never before in his life had he had this type of attention from girls. Still, he was shy around girls so there was not much he could say to all the attention. Except he liked it.

"I think with all your newfound fame, you should explore your options." Shamiya sat next to him while he hung out in the first-floor game room. They were having a dorm event and he thought it would be good to do something different while he had a little free time.

"What options?"

"Other girls," she said, smiling at him.

Why was she doing this to him? She knew he had a girlfriend, but she was tempting him. He looked away just in time to see Laila walk in. By the look on her face, she was not happy to see Shamiya so close to him. He quickly stood up and walked to her.

"Hey, I didn't think you were coming because you said it was lame."

"Yeah, well it's a good thing I did. What were you and Shamiya talking about?"

"I think she likes me," he admitted to her. There was no reason to lie about it. "But don't worry because I'm happy with you."

"Okay," she simply said.

For once, he enjoyed himself around others and not just his girlfriend and his roommate. He needed to make other friends besides them. Soon he would be in a fraternity but having frat brothers was different than having friends.

He thought the Big Brothers would take it easy on them that week after they won big, but for some reason, they were on them even worse.

"Don't let that lil shit get to your head. When you're an Epsilon Upsilon, a taste of greatness is not enough," Taj yelled at them while they were on the floor doing push-ups for no reason. "And by the way, second place is not the winner."

"Y'all was good and all, and the bruhs liked that shit, but now you're on everyone's radar. When you cross with those letters on your chest...I mean, if you cross, it's not about you anymore, it's about us!" Brian would not let up either and he was their Dean of Pledges, there to help them.

He was sweating profusely, droplets of sweat beading down his forehead and onto the carpeted floor. Jordan was in a bit better shape than him, but even he looked like he would pass out any minute. He stopped for a second to catch his breath.

"Did I say stop!" Taj yelled at him.

"Maybe they need a water break?" Brian asked, and he was relieved the Dean suggested that. "Or maybe not. Twenty more before you get that break."

He did not think he had twenty in him, but Brian counted them out and he pushed through them. He collapsed to the floor. What had they done to deserve this?

"Y'all done? Do you want to quit now? There's the door," Taj said.

He did not come all this way to give up. He looked to Jordan who was already scrambling to his feet. He made his way to standing, arms felt like goo.

Brian handed them each a bottle of water and water never tasted so good.

"That's enough," Brian said, taking the bottle before he was even halfway done. "To the wall and squat."

Wall squats were the worse. He never worked out a day in his life, nor played sports, so all this physical activity was new to him. He stood against the wall and squatted down against it like they had done before when they were in trouble.