Dear Lucy

Chapter 8: Riddle Me This

My phone buzzed, and I checked the message. The project group meeting had started. I checked myself in the mirror one last time before heading to the PSR.

When I entered, I was surprised to see everyone was already there, including Angelina.

Liam was in his usual spot, headphones around his neck, and didn't even bother to look up.

Alex winked at me as I glanced at him, sipping on a drink.

Ethan was on the other side, eyes fixed on his phone, probably playing a game.

Angelina just sat there, looking uninterested.

"You're just four minutes late," Xena said with a smile. I smiled back, and she arched her brow, as if waiting for an explanation.

"Isn't that Ethan's jacket?" Xena asked, and all eyes turned to me, including Liam.

"Whoa, that's true," Alex said, standing up to examine the jacket more closely. "And how did you manage to... or rather, why are you wearing his jacket?"

"It's none of your business," I replied, rolling my eyes. I looked at Xena. "It's nothing serious, he just helped me, that's all."

I sat down, trying to downplay the situation.

"Helped you?" Alex repeated, looking at Ethan. "Hey, bro, don't forget she's mine, so don't cross the boundary."

"I'm not yours, I'm not for anyone , so let's just start," I said firmly.

"Okay, okay, let's start," Xena intervened. "So, checking the whole list, I managed to pick one that I think would be okay for the group, and it's the one that carries the highest mark. It's a riddle."

"A riddle?" Alex said, sounding disappointed. "That will be simple. So, a riddle carries the highest mark? And why divide us into groups for just a riddle?"

"Then let me read it out and see if it's just a riddle like you said," Xena said, emphasizing the word "just."

"'It's the whisper in the darkness that gives us hope, the warmth in the cold that makes us whole. It's the light in the eyes that shines like a beacon, guiding us through life's joys and sorrows. It's the gentle touch that heals our deepest wounds, and the soft voice that calms our troubled minds. What is the singular force that can transform our existence, elevating us to unimaginable heights, yet also has the capacity to reduce us to ashes, leaving scars that may never fully heal? What is the enigmatic entity that we simultaneously crave and fear, that we eagerly seek yet often struggle to define?" Xena read out loud and everywhere was silent

Xena finished reading the long riddle, and the room fell silent.

"Wait, what did you even just read?" Ethan asked, confused.

"Just a riddle," Xena replied, glancing at Alex.

"Whoa, that's a hard one," Alex said. "How can a riddle be that long?"

"Well, you guys should know we have a week to do this," Xena explained. "We didn't do anything yesterday, and we need to submit the answer on Friday to the school portal. Then, we present it on Monday in class."

"Meaning we have just three days to solve the riddle," I added, and Xena nodded.

She turned to Angelina. "Do you have anything to say?"

Angelina didn't respond, simply standing up, ready to leave.

"Do you think this is a joke or something?" Xena asked, her voice rising. "This is a group project, and don't you know that attendance is being taken? Do you want me to report the fact that you aren't contributing?"

Angelina looked at Xena. "I would be happy if you could report me, because I don't want any of this in the first place."

She turned to leave, but Liam stood up, his eyes fixed on her.

"Angelina, wait," Liam said, his voice calm and authoritative.

"I think you should stay," he added, and to my greatest surprise, Angelina turned back and adjusted her glasses before returning to her seat.

What just happened?

Everyone was surprised, including Xena. I couldn't believe it. I had only known Angelina for a day, but from what I had seen, she wasn't the kind of person to listen to anyone. Yet, she had just listened to Liam.

Did they know each other before?

Was that why Liam had told me to mind my business?

Did he know something about Angelina that I didn't? I was filled with questions, and I couldn't help but wonder what was going on between Liam and Angelina.

"Hey, man, what did you just do?" Alex asked, his voice laced with surprise and curiosity, as he gazed at Liam with a mixture of awe and confusion as he looked at Ethan who just shrugged

"I really don't know much about riddles, but with what you just read, I think the answer lies in the whisper of the heart where light and darkness entwines. We just need to figure out what it is." He looked at Xena.

Ethan's eyes widened in amazement, "Did you just solve the riddle?" he asked

Xena intervened, her voice a soothing balm to the tense atmosphere, "No, he only gave us what he observed like a hint . We need to work together to find the answer.

I turned to look at Liam and he smiled at me

To hell with his smile, I thought. Is this the kind of person he is? Or does he have a split personality? One moment he's cold and distant, the next he's warm and friendly. I looked away, trying to shake off the feeling of unease.

But my gaze landed on Angelina, who was staring at Liam

Wait... What is going on here? I wondered. There was something in the air, a tension that I couldn't quite put my finger on. I felt like I was missing a piece of the puzzle, a crucial detail that would unlock the secrets of this strange group dynamic.

My stomach began to ache, a dull throbbing that I tried to ignore.

But Alex noticed, his brow furrowed in concern, "Are you okay, mi amor?" he asked, his voice soft and gentle.

I brushed it off, trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy

"I'm fine, let's just continue."

But Xena was not convinced, her eyes narrowing as she came closer to me, "You don't seem okay, you're sweating."

"Just a stomachache, I'm fine," I said, trying to downplay the discomfort, but my eyes involuntarily darted to Angelina.

She was staring at Xena with a look of utter disgust and hatred, her eyes blazing with an intensity that made me shiver. The air seemed to vibrate with her animosity, and I felt a chill run down my spine.

Am I the only one who just saw that? I wondered, scanning the room to see if anyone else had noticed.

But the three guys , Alex, Ethan, and Liam were all focused on me, their eyes filled with concern and curiosity. It was as if they were oblivious to the toxic atmosphere that Angelina was emitting.

What is going on? I thought, my mind racing with questions.

Why is Angelina looking at Xena like that?

And why are the guys so focused on me?

It was as if I was the center of a storm, with everyone's emotions swirling around me.

I felt a sense of unease, a feeling that something was off, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. The tension in the room was palpable, and I knew that I had to get to the bottom of it. But how?
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A/N:- Can you solve the riddle too?? 🌚 Follow me so you will get notified when I drop a new chapter, and also don't forget to show support by voting . Thank you🤗❤️