INTERTWINED FATES: THE RED STRING

CHAPTER 11

One day, when Nabi was absent from school, her friends Steve, Helena, and Isa decided to play what they thought would be a lighthearted prank. The three of them had been curious and slightly frustrated about the secret Nabi had been keeping—her relationship with Zade. They felt a mix of curiosity and slight irritation because Nabi had always been so open with them, yet she had chosen to keep something as significant as a relationship hidden. They wanted to poke a little fun at her for keeping this secret, so they came up with the idea of pretending that the whole school had somehow found out about her relationship with Zade.

The plan seemed harmless enough. They would tell a few students, let some gossip spread, and then wait for Nabi to panic when she returned to school, thinking that her secret was out. Then, they would all laugh it off and reveal that it had just been a joke. In their minds, it was just a bit of fun, something to bond over and tease Nabi about. None of them expected anything to go wrong. They had no idea that their seemingly innocent prank would lead to so much heartache.

However, as they were getting ready to set their plan in motion, something unexpected happened. Somehow, Mrs. Kim, Nabi's mother, learned about the relationship. The news hit her hard, much harder than anyone could have anticipated. Mrs Kim had always believed that she and Nabi were close. She thought they had a relationship built on trust and openness. When she found out that Nabi had been keeping something so important from her, she was devastated. It wasn't just the fact that Nabi was in a relationship that hurt her—it was the realization that her daughter hadn't trusted her enough to share this part of her life.

Mrs. Kim had always prided herself on being a supportive and understanding mother. She believed that she had created an environment where Nabi could come to her with anything, no matter how big or small. But now, she felt like she had failed. The fact that Nabi had kept this from her made her feel like there was a gap between them that she hadn't noticed before. The sense of betrayal was overwhelming, and she couldn't shake the feeling that she had lost a part of her daughter.

In her distress, Mrs Kim reached out to Mrs Addison, Nabi's class teacher. Mrs. Addison was known for being strict but caring, and she had always seen great potential in Nabi. When Mrs Addison heard about the situation, she was equally disappointed. She had always believed that Nabi was a responsible and honest student, and the fact that she had kept this secret didn't sit well with her. Mrs Addison felt that parents needed to be involved in their children's lives, especially when it came to something as significant as a relationship. Her disappointment only deepened the pain that Mrs. Kim was already feeling.

While this emotional storm was brewing at home, Helena and Isa were blissfully unaware. They continued with their prank, completely oblivious to the damage that had already been done. They casually spread rumours among their classmates, watching with amusement as the gossip took on a life of its own. They laughed at the thought of how shocked Nabi would be when she returned to school and heard what had supposedly happened. They were looking forward to the moment when they could reveal the truth and share a laugh with their friend.

But later in the day, as they tried to call Nabi to let her in on the joke, something unexpected happened—Nabi didn't answer her phone. At first, they didn't think much of it. Maybe she was busy, or maybe she had left her phone somewhere. But as the hours passed and their calls continued to go unanswered, a sense of unease began to creep in. They couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, but they couldn't quite grasp what it was.

By the next morning, the feeling of unease had turned into full-blown anxiety. Helena, Isa, and Steve were determined to find Nabi as soon as she arrived at school and tell her the truth. They wanted to put an end to the prank before it went any further. But when they finally saw her walking down the hallway, their hearts sank. Nabi's eyes were red and puffy, clear evidence that she had been crying. She looked fragile as if she were carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. The sight of her in such pain shattered their confidence. This was far worse than they had ever imagined.

Helena, who was usually so full of life and energy, felt a deep pang of guilt. She had never intended to hurt Nabi, and seeing her friend in such a state made her realize just how badly they had miscalculated. "Nabi..." she began, her voice trembling with emotion. But before she could say anything more, Nabi walked past her without even making eye contact. The pain in Nabi's eyes was enough to silence Helena completely.

Isa, who was typically the more composed and level-headed of the group, stepped forward, trying to salvage the situation. "It was just a prank, Nabi," she said, her voice soft and pleading. "We didn't mean for this to happen... We didn't know..." But Nabi only shook her head, her expression a mixture of hurt and betrayal. The bond they had shared, the trust that had always been there, felt like it was unravelling before their very eyes. The distance between them seemed insurmountable, and for the first time, Isa felt truly helpless.

Steve, who had been watching from a distance, felt an overwhelming sense of guilt as well. Just the day before, his secret crush on Veronica Roger had been exposed, and he had thought that was the worst thing that could happen. He had been embarrassed and upset, but now, seeing Nabi's pain, he realized how trivial his problems were in comparison. This was so much bigger, so much more painful than he could have imagined.

Throughout the day, Nabi did her best to avoid everyone. The whispers and stares followed her wherever she went, a constant reminder that her private life was no longer private. But the worst part was the silence at home. Mrs. Kim had barely spoken to her that morning, and the sadness in her eyes was palpable. Mr. Kim, her father, had simply ignored her altogether, his silence a clear sign of his disappointment. The atmosphere at home was thick with tension, and Nabi felt like she was drowning in it.

By the end of the school day, Helena, Isa, and Steve were filled with regret. What had started as a harmless prank had spiralled out of control, causing a rift that might never heal. As they walked home together, the weight of their actions pressed down on them like a heavy burden. They knew they needed to fix this, but the path to making things right seemed impossible to navigate.

Helena kept replaying the events in her mind, wondering how they could have handled things differently. She wished she could turn back time and stop the prank before it had even started. Isa, too, was consumed with guilt, feeling responsible for the pain they had caused their friend. Steve, who had been so preoccupied with his problems, now felt ashamed for not realizing sooner just how serious the situation had become.

The damage was done. The trust that had once held their friendship together was now hanging by a thread, and the pain they had caused wasn't something that could be easily erased. As they each went their separate ways that day, the future of their friendship remained uncertain, overshadowed by the hurt they had unintentionally inflicted. They had learned a harsh lesson about the consequences of their actions, but the question that lingered in their minds was whether they could ever truly make things right again.