INTERTWINED FATES: THE RED STRING

CHAPTER 13

Isa sat in her room, staring at her phone, the guilt gnawing at her. The prank had gone too far, and now, it felt like she had lost someone important—Zade, who had always been like an older brother to her. The thought of it made her chest tighten. How could she have let things get so out of hand? Helena, who had been in on the prank, was equally devastated, but Isa felt the weight of it more deeply. Zade had always looked out for her, and now she had betrayed his trust.

The next day at school, the atmosphere was tense. Zade's 11th-grade exams had started, and the teachers were strict and watchful during the first session. Mrs Addison, who had always been known for her no-nonsense approach, seemed to have her eye on Zade and his group of friends. Helena, who usually managed to stay out of trouble, was now in the spotlight. The teacher's sharp questions made her nervous, and she struggled to come up with satisfactory answers. It was clear that Mrs Addison held her accountable for the prank, which had caused such a mess.

After school, Zade and his friend Harry decided to call Nabi. They had been worried about her since the prank had been exposed and wanted to check-in. Nabi answered, her voice a little strained but still friendly. As they talked, trying to keep things light, Isa watched from a distance, the guilt twisting in her stomach. She couldn't stand it anymore. Without thinking, she marched up to Mrs. Addison's office and knocked on the door.

Mrs. Addison looked up from her desk, raising an eyebrow as Isa entered. 

"Isa, what can I do for you?" she asked, her tone calm but authoritative.

Isa took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly. "Mrs. Addison, I need to tell you something," she began, her voice shaky. "Zade and Harry called Nabi earlier, and I think you should know."

Mrs Addison leaned back in her chair, studying Isa closely. "Why are you telling me this, Isa?" she asked, her tone softening slightly.

Isa hesitated, feeling the weight of her actions. 

"Because... I feel like I've lost someone important. Zade was like a brother to me, and I ruined it. I don't know how to fix this."

Mrs. Addison's expression softened, and she nodded slowly. 

"Thank you for being honest with me, Isa. It takes courage to admit when you've made a mistake. But you need to understand that actions have consequences."

Isa nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. 

"I know, Mrs. Addison. I just want to make things right."

Mrs Addison sighed, her stern demeanour softening even more. 

"Perhaps you should start by talking to Zade and apologizing to him directly."

Isa nodded, wiping away a tear. "I will. Thank you, Mrs. Addison."

Meanwhile, Penelope had been feeling uneasy about the whole situation. She was terrified of how Nabi's family might react if they found out about the prank but she didn't know that it was already revealed. The thought of facing their wrath kept her up at night. She tried to distance herself from the whole situation, but the guilt lingered.

Two days later, as the school day was ending, Zade was walking down the hallway, lost in thought. He was still unsure of where things stood with Nabi, and the uncertainty was eating away at him. But as he turned a corner, he saw her—Nabi was walking towards him, her expression calm. For a moment, they locked eyes, and Zade's heart skipped a beat.

Then, to his surprise, Nabi smiled and waved at him, a small but genuine gesture. Zade felt a rush of relief and happiness wash over him. She hadn't cut him off; she hadn't given up on him. That simple wave gave him the hope he needed to keep going, to believe that maybe, just maybe, things could still be okay between them.

As Nabi walked past him, Zade couldn't help but smile back, feeling a renewed sense of hope. He knew it wouldn't be easy, but he was determined to fix things with Nabi. After all, she was worth it. And maybe, just maybe, he could find a way to mend things with Isa too.