The next morning, the air felt unusually heavy as Lila walked toward school. The usual sounds of the city—honking cars, students chatting, shopkeepers calling out—seemed distant, muffled by the weight of anticipation she carried in her chest. She adjusted her backpack and tried to steady her thoughts. Something told her that today would be different, that a new challenge awaited, one that could change the delicate balance she and Kade had been building.
When she entered the school gates, she spotted Kade near the front entrance, leaning casually against the wall, but his expression was tense, more serious than usual. Lila’s heart skipped a beat. He was not joking or playful this morning; he carried the weight of something he had yet to reveal. She approached cautiously, unsure of what to
