INTERTWINED FATES: THE RED STRING

CHAPTER 17

Isa had been bedridden for a week, battling a severe seasonal fever that drained her energy and left her feeling isolated. Each day felt like an eternity, and while her body slowly healed, the emotional toll of being cut off from her friends and school was hard to bear. Isa was used to the lively atmosphere of school, and being stuck in bed made her feel like she was missing out on everything that mattered to her.

Meanwhile, back at school, things were tense. Tiana, who was usually full of life and energy, had changed drastically. Her usual cheerful demeanour had been replaced by worry and self-doubt. She constantly asked her friends, "Do you think I'm ugly?" and "Am I stupid?" Her questions were so frequent and so out of character that Helena and Nabi grew increasingly concerned. No matter how much they tried to reassure her, Tiana just didn't seem to believe them. It was as if she had lost all confidence in herself, and her friends didn't know how to help her.

One day, as they walked to their next class, Helena shared her worries with Nabi. "I don't understand what's going on with Tiana," she said, her voice full of concern. "It's like she's convinced that she's worthless."Nabi nodded, her face showing the strain of the situation. "It's unsettling," she agreed. "No matter what we say, she doesn't believe us. It's like she's stuck in this dark place, and we can't reach her."

The day passed slowly, the weight of Tiana's behaviour hanging over them like a dark cloud. Both girls were distracted, their thoughts continually drifting back to their friend and what might be causing her so much distress.

That night, Helena and Isa, despite Isa being sick at home, came up with a plan to bring a little happiness back into Nabi and Zade's lives. They knew how much Nabi missed Zade, especially with everything that had been going on. So, they decided to arrange a secret meeting for the two of them, hoping it would give Nabi a much-needed boost. The perfect spot, they decided, was the janitor's lunch area—a quiet, out-of-the-way place where no one would disturb them.

Even though Isa was still recovering, she was eager to help with the plan. "That's a great idea," she told Helena. "I think it would lift their spirits. Let's do it."

The girls quickly made their plans. Isa took charge of letting Zade know about the meeting. When Zade heard about it, he was thrilled. He had been missing Nabi just as much and was excited about the chance to see her again, even if only for a little while.

The next day at school, Helena found a moment to tell Nabi about the plan. "We've arranged for you and Zade to meet in the janitor's lunch area during the P.E. lesson," she said, smiling at Nabi. "It's a private spot where you can talk without anyone bothering you."

Nabi's face lit up with joy. "Are you serious?" she asked, her voice full of excitement. "That's amazing! I've missed him so much. Thank you, Helena. And Isa—I need to call her and thank her too."

Nabi borrowed Helena's phone and called Isa. "Thank you so much, Isa," she said, her voice full of emotion. "This means everything to me."

"It's the least we could do," Isa replied. "You and Zade both need this."

The time for the secret meeting finally arrived. During the P.E. lesson, Nabi and Zade made their way to the janitor's lunch area, their hearts pounding with anticipation. The small, quiet space felt like a world of its own, separate from the worries and stresses of their everyday lives. For a brief moment, as they sat together and talked, it felt like everything was okay again. The misunderstandings and fears that had been weighing them down seemed to fade away, replaced by the simple joy of being together.

The secret meeting was exactly what they needed. It gave them a chance to reconnect and remind each other of the love and support they shared. For Nabi, it was a moment of peace amid chaos, and for Zade, it was a chance to be close to the person who mattered most to him.

While all of this was happening, Isa was still at home, trying to recover from her illness. But she wasn't just battling the fever—something else was bothering her. Her older sister, Audrey, noticed that Isa seemed different. She wasn't just physically sick; there was something else going on, something that was making her sad and distant.

One evening, Audrey decided to talk to Isa about it. "Isa, something's wrong," she said, her voice gentle but firm. "You haven't been yourself lately. What's going on?"

Isa hesitated. She didn't want to burden her sister with her problems, especially when she was already feeling so low. "It's just school stuff," she said, trying to brush it off. "Nothing to worry about."

But Audrey wasn't convinced. "Isa, you know you can talk to me," she said. "If you don't tell me, I'll have to tell Mom."

The thought of their mother, Mrs Lewis, finding out about what was bothering her made Isa panic. She didn't want to disappoint her mom or make her worry. But she also knew she couldn't keep everything bottled up inside. That night, after thinking about it for a long time, Isa decided she needed to talk to her mom.

With her heart pounding, she went to her mom's room. "Mom, I need to talk to you," she said, her voice shaking.

Mrs. Lewis looked up from her book, her expression unreadable. "What is it, Isa?"

Isa took a deep breath and told her mom everything—about the struggles at school, the pressure she felt from her friends and the mistakes she had made. She was terrified of how her mom would react, but she couldn't keep it inside any longer.

When she finished, there was a long silence. Mrs Lewis stood up slowly and looked at Isa, her face still unreadable. "Isa, I think you need to reflect on your actions," she said finally. "We'll talk about this later."

Isa's heart sank. She had hoped for some comfort, some reassurance that everything would be okay. But instead, her mom's words felt cold and distant. She felt even more alone than before.

But the worst part was yet to come. Isa's grandmother, who had overheard part of the conversation, came into the room. She was furious. "What were you thinking, Isa?" she demanded, her voice harsh. Before Isa could answer, her grandmother slapped her on the back, the sting of it making her feel even worse.

Isa fled to her room, tears streaming down her face. She felt completely abandoned as if no one understood what she was going through. The weight of everything—the sickness, the problems at school, the disappointment in her family—was too much to bear.

As she lay in bed, crying herself to sleep, Isa felt utterly alone. The world that had once seemed so full of possibilities now felt cold and unforgiving. All she wanted was for things to go back to the way they were before, but she didn't know how to make that happen.