Veiled Vendetta

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

The bell signifying the end of class rang through the school, releasing students from their desks. Nina and the other girls gathered their things, chatting excitedly about the latest movies they were eager to see. Amidst their animated conversation, Blake approached Nina, announcing, "I'll be hanging out with the guys today. You girls go ahead and have fun. I'll text you later." Nina nodded in agreement, bidding him farewell with a casual "Alright, enjoy."

Evy, catching the tail end of the conversation, chimed in, "Will Alex be there with you, Blake?" Blake playfully teased, "Why, Evy, eager to witness my athletic prowess on the field?" His jest left Evy flustered, speechless. Blake, flashing a smile, confirmed, "Yes, Evy, Alex is joining us." With that, Blake sauntered off, leaving the girls to continue their departure together.

As they approached the path leading to the football field, a sudden scream pierced the air, causing the group to pause. Turning around, they noticed a commotion near the entrance. Curiosity getting the better of them, the girls retraced their steps, arriving to witness a scene that made their hearts sink. Izaiah lay on the ground, blood staining his head.

Unbeknownst to the girls, Luiz, in the midst of a football game, had felt thirsty. Retrieving his water bottle from his bag left behind in the classroom, he made his way back. En route, he encountered Izaiah, who, upon catching Luiz's eye, fell forward without warning. The water bottle slipped from Luiz's grasp in shock at the sudden, inexplicable event. Reacting swiftly, Luiz dashed back to alert the teachers, the alarming scene etched into his mind.

Izzy stood amidst her friends, their words hitting her like a relentless storm. She struggled to digest what they were telling her. Her brother, Izaiah, lying on the ground, bleeding; the mere thought felt surreal and implausible to her.

"I don't believe it," she muttered to herself, struggling to contain her emotions.

Attempting to make sense of the inexplicable, Izzy sought answers. "But why would he do that?" she inquired, her voice trembling slightly.

Jayden offered his perspective, "It could have been the constant bullying from Chris."

Jade, adding to the possibilities, suggested, "Or maybe the fluctuation in his grades was affecting him."

Luiz, known to be Izaiah's friend, chimed in, "Everyone in school knew that Izaiah excelled academically. He was always among the top students. He was a kind soul."

Evy, noticing Izzy's distress, offered reassurance. "Izzy, whatever it is that's bothering you today, remember, we're here for you. Always."

A small smile crept onto Izzy's face, a silent acknowledgment of her friends' support, though her mind was still wrestling with the unfathomable reality of her brother's actions.

After the final school bell rang, signaling the end of the day, Izzy and her friends convened at a nearby cafe. The incident involving the break-in at the principal's office lingered in their conversation, puzzling everyone.

"I can't wrap my head around it. Who breaks into a school office when there's no exam session or anything?" Blake's perplexed voice echoed through the group.

Nina added, sharing the sentiment, "It's odd, and expecting us to uncover the culprit? We're students, not detectives."

Alex, pondering the situation, suggested, "Maybe the principal wants us to use our connections to uncover the intruder."

The group reacted with a collective 'Ehhh.'

Jay, known for his occasional bursts of insight, interjected, "If the school's concerned about security, why not just hire a police officer to work here?"

Izzy's eyes widened as she regarded Jay, "Jay, you're a genius."

Jay, reveling in the acknowledgment, replied, "Am I? Oh, I knew it all along."

Amidst laughter, Izzy continued, "Why should we struggle to identify the culprit? If they've done it once, they might try it again. Let's propose to the principal tomorrow that we recruit a police officer as a safety instructor. That way, we won't have to deal with this hard work."

Luiz nodded in agreement, acknowledging Izzy's suggestion, "Great idea, Izzy."

The friends left the cafe, relieved to have found a potential solution to the principal's mysterious request.

Days passed at school following Luiz's proposed idea, and the principal promptly greenlit the suggestion of hiring a police officer as a safety instructor. Izzy observed quietly from the sidelines, opting to lay low for a while and avoid stirring any more commotion.

The school atmosphere seemed to shift with the new safety measures in place. Chris and Darren, previously known for their bullying tactics, appeared perpetually injured, steering clear of causing trouble. Vivian, their once-confident sidekick, seemed preoccupied and distanced herself from Izzy and her friends. Instead, she dedicated her time to studying or managing Chris's temper, steering clear of any confrontations.

Amidst these changes, Luiz continued to offer his support to Izzy, offering assistance wherever possible. However, lingering beneath their interactions was a lingering tension, a faint discomfort that hadn't entirely dissipated between them. They conversed occasionally, yet a subtle awkwardness remained.

Rumors began to surface about Luiz's feelings toward Izzy, circulating whispers suggesting his affection for her. However, the one oblivious to it all was Izzy herself. Despite the rumors, she remained unaware, focused on navigating the complexities of school life and the ongoing mysteries surrounding the recent events.

The responsibilities of the student council were multifaceted, involving the orchestration of various school activities throughout the year. With sports events, exams, and picnics on the horizon, the council members found themselves deeply engrossed in their respective roles.

Luiz and Evy took charge of meticulous planning and organizing, ensuring everything fell into place seamlessly. Meanwhile, Alex and Nina were responsible for exam arrangements, meticulously organizing schedules and logistics. Jade and Blake energetically managed the sports events, ensuring that competitions ran smoothly and fairly.

Izzy and Jay, the dynamic duo, took charge of the picnic, and they also offered their helping hands to other council members when needed. Despite the stress and heavy workload, surprisingly, everything progressed smoothly, much to the satisfaction of the council.

As their efforts bore fruit and events concluded successfully, they noticed the impact they had on their younger peers. Students began expressing aspirations to follow in the council members' footsteps, aspiring to become academic ministers, prefects, or take up roles in the council. These words of admiration from their juniors brought a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment to the hard-working student council members.

Izzy, DJ, and BJ were taking a well-deserved break at home, spending their time unwinding from their usual workload. Amidst enjoying video games, casual conversations, and cooking together, DJ brought up the topic of Izzy visiting Izaiah. It had been several months since her last visit. However, Izzy shared her resolve, stating that she had promised herself and Izaiah that she wouldn't see him until she finished what she had set out to do.

The conversation lingered briefly before the twins decided to shift their focus back to their games, respecting Izzy's choice and understanding the significance of her promise.

Shortly after, Izzy received a message from Kira, an old close friend, expressing her upcoming visit to W City and proposing a meet-up. Izzy agreed with a simple 'Ok,' indicating her willingness to catch up with her old friend during Kira's visit.