WHO AM I

SECRETS AND SHADOWS

Lila's mind was a mess. Noah's confession had thrown her completely off balance, and the whole thing with Renzo only added to the confusion. How had she missed such big secrets from two of the closest people in her life?

At School

The next morning, the school halls felt different. Lila walked to her locker, avoiding eye contact with Renzo and Noah, who both seemed to be keeping their distance. Cathy and Jasper caught up to her just in time, pulling her into their usual morning banter.

"Did you see Renzo's new Insta post?" Cathy asked, rolling her eyes. "It's like the guy thrives on drama."

Jasper chuckled, adjusting his backpack. "Oh, totally. If I were a secret billionaire, I'd use the money to hire a mariachi band to follow me around. Real lowkey."

Lila tried to smile, but her thoughts were still tangled up in everything that had been happening. "Yeah, Jasper, that sounds like something you'd do."

They made their way to class, but Lila couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her. Every glance, every whisper in the hallway seemed like it was directed at her. Or maybe it was all in her head.

Confronting Noah

Later in the day, Lila found Noah sitting alone by the bleachers, staring at his phone. His usual laid-back vibe seemed off, like he was carrying a weight he hadn't fully shared.

Lila approached cautiously. "Noah."

He looked up, surprised but not startled. "Hey, Lila."

She sat down beside him, the tension between them palpable. "I've been thinking about what you said yesterday. I just... I don't understand why you didn't tell me sooner."

Noah let out a long breath, running a hand through his hair. "I didn't want you to see me differently, Lila. I wanted to be just... Noah. Not Noah-the-rich-kid."

Lila bit her lip, trying to process it all. "I get that, but it's hard not to feel like you've been hiding a part of yourself. You and Renzo both."

Noah winced at the comparison. "Renzo and I are nothing alike."

"Are you sure?" Lila asked quietly, her gaze steady.

He didn't answer right away, instead glancing at his phone again. "There's more to this than you know, Lila. I promise I'm not like him."

Lila felt a chill run down her spine. There it was again—that feeling that something bigger was coming, something Noah wasn't ready to reveal.

At Lunch

Cathy, Jasper, and Lila sat together, but the usual chatter and jokes didn't feel as light-hearted today. Cathy was scrolling through her phone, groaning at every new update about Renzo's billionaire status.

"This whole Renzo thing is blowing up. It's like the guy can't take a step without it being front-page news," she said, pushing her phone aside. "You think he's going to throw some sort of epic party now? Like, 'Hey, I'm a billionaire, come celebrate my money!'"

Jasper laughed. "If he does, I'm crashing it. I'll bring my mariachi band."

Lila smiled faintly, but her mind was still spinning. Noah was hiding more. She knew it. And as for Renzo, he seemed too calm about everything that was happening. Something wasn't adding up.

After School

Lila decided to confront Renzo after school. She found him leaning against his car, scrolling through his phone. He spotted her coming and raised an eyebrow, giving her that signature smirk.

"To what do I owe the pleasure?" he asked, slipping his phone into his pocket.

"Cut the charm, Renzo," Lila said, crossing her arms. "Why didn't you tell me about the billionaire thing?"

Renzo shrugged. "You never asked."

Lila gave him an incredulous look. "Oh yeah, because it's totally normal to ask your friends if they secretly own half the city."

He chuckled, clearly amused by her sarcasm. "I didn't think it mattered. Besides, it's not something I flaunt. Or, at least, I try not to."

Lila stared at him, trying to figure him out. "And Noah? What's going on with him? He said he's different from you, but..."

Renzo's expression shifted slightly, his smirk fading. "Noah's complicated. He's got secrets, Lila. Ones you might not be ready to hear."

Lila's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?"

Renzo glanced around the parking lot, then leaned in closer. "Let's just say, being rich isn't Noah's only surprise."

Before Lila could ask more, Renzo pushed off the car and gave her a small salute. "See you around, Lila. Watch your back."

The Note

That night, as Lila was getting ready for bed, she noticed something unusual tucked inside her bag. It was another note.

She unfolded it with trembling hands.

"Secrets have a way of unraveling. Be careful who you trust."

Lila's pulse quickened. The note wasn't signed, but she had a sinking feeling that things were only going to get more complicated from here.

What's next for Lila? Who left the note, and what exactly is Noah hiding? Stay tuned!