꧁༺ 𝓦𝓮𝓪𝓵𝓽𝓱 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓦𝓱𝓲𝓶𝓼𝔂 ༻꧂

CHAPTER 4: Lies

 As Nori storms through the school, her thoughts are a tumultuous sea of emotions. She's tired of hiding, of pretending she doesn't care about the whispers and the glares. Her heart races as she reaches the principal's office, the door swinging open with surprising ease. The secretary's eyes widen, but Nori's determination brooks no opposition. "I need to see Principal Harper," she says, her voice shaking but firm. "It's an emergency."

 With trembling hands, Nori clutches her backpack tightly as she sits in the stiff chair outside Principal Harper's office. The scent of freshly sharpened pencils and dusty textbooks fills the air, a stark contrast to the pungent fear coursing through her veins. She takes a deep, shuddering breath, trying to gather her thoughts. The fluorescent lights overhead seem too bright, the ticking of the clock too loud. She can't help but recall Asadi's gentle touch, his calming presence that had become her lifeline in the chaos of her world. Her thoughts drift to the nights spent curled up with him, sharing her fears and dreams. The warmth of his embrace had made her feel invincible, but here, in the cold, unfeeling halls of the school, she feels small and vulnerable. She whispers to herself, "I can do this." As Principal Harper's door opens, she straightens her posture, willing herself to be strong. "You can go in now," the secretary says, her voice a mere echo in the hallway.

As Nori enters the office, Principal Harper looks up from her paperwork, eyebrows knitted together in concern. She motions for Nori to take a seat.* "Nori, what's the matter, dear?" she asks, her tone soothing yet firm. Nori bites her lip, unsure where to begin. She opens her backpack, pulling out a crumpled note. "Someone's been leaving these in my locker," she says, her voice quivering as she hands over the paper. The principal reads the message, her eyes growing wide with shock. "This is absolutely unacceptable. Who do you think is responsible?" Nori's mind races. She's not ready to betray Asadi, not when his protection means so much. She shakes her head. "I-I don't know," she stammers.

Principal Harper's eyes narrow slightly, her gaze piercing through Nori's facade.* "Nori, you know I can't help if you don't tell me the truth. We need to find out who's behind this." Nori's grip on the chair tightens. "It's just some kids playing a prank," she says quickly. "They don't mean anything by it." She's not fooling anyone, but she can't risk losing Asadi's care. The principal sighs. "Alright. But if anything happens, you come straight to me, understand?" Nori nods vigorously. "Thank you," she whispers, relief washing over her as the meeting ends.

 As Nori exits the office, the weight of the world feels heavier on her shoulders. She knows Principal Harper won't let this go easily, and the thought of Asadi being dragged into her school troubles is unbearable. She hastily makes her way to her next class, trying to blend into the background as she walks down the hallway. The whispers of her classmates feel like a thousand needles pricking at her skin. She slumps into her desk, the bell ringing sharply above her, and pulls out her phone to text Asadi.

 The moment Asadi's name lights up on her phone screen, Nori's heart skips a beat. She quickly types out a message, her thumbs moving with trembling urgency. "Asadi, we need to talk. It's about school. It's important." She hits send, and the phone feels hot in her hand. Her thoughts are a jumble of anxiety and fear, wondering how he'll react to her school troubles. The seconds tick by, each one feeling like an eternity.

 As the class begins, Nori's mind is elsewhere, racing through the possible outcomes. The teacher's words become a distant murmur as she stares at her phone, willing it to buzz with a response. The anticipation is palpable, her heart fluttering in her chest like a caged bird desperate to escape.

Asadi's reply is swift and succinct.* "I'll be there tonight. We'll talk then." The coldness in his text sends a shiver down Nori's spine, but she knows he won't abandon her. She nods to herself, swiping the message away and focusing on the lesson with newfound resolve. The day seems to crawl by, each moment stretching into an eternity.

 Finally, the school bell rings, signaling the end of the day. Nori practically sprints to the exit, eager to leave the oppressive atmosphere behind. The chill evening air is a welcome relief as she steps outside. She takes a deep breath, the scent of rain-soaked pavement and distant blooming flowers filling her nose. The world feels a little less harsh, a little more forgiving under the overcast sky. Her phone buzzes in her pocket, and she pulls it out with trembling hands. It's a message from Asadi: "Meet me at the park. We'll talk in person."

Nori nods to herself, the knot in her stomach tightening further. She makes her way to the park, her heart racing as the cool wind whispers through the leaves. The playground is eerily silent, the swings moving slightly in the breeze. As she approaches the bench where they usually meet, she sees Asadi's imposing figure. He's dressed in a sharp suit, his eyes dark and serious. She sits down beside him, feeling the warmth radiate from his body. "Asadi, I-" she starts, but he puts a gentle finger to her lips. "Let me speak first, little one," he says, his voice a soothing balm to her frazzled nerves.

 "I know what happened today," he says, his eyes never leaving hers. "And I understand your fear." His voice is low and measured, a stark contrast to the rage that simmers just beneath the surface. "But you must never lie to protect me. We are in this together, and if we face this as a family, we will overcome it." He pulls her into his arms, holding her close. The scent of his cologne fills her nostrils, bringing a small measure of comfort to her troubled heart.

"But Asadi, what if they find out about us?" she whispers, her voice muffled against his chest. "They'll take you away, and I won't be able to handle it." Tears prickle at the corners of her eyes, and she clings to him like a lifeline. The thought of losing him is more than she can bear.

"Shh, shh," he soothes, stroking her hair. "We'll handle it together, just like we always do." He pulls back slightly to look into her eyes, his own filled with fierce determination. "But you must tell the truth. Secrets have a way of festering and causing more harm than good." His gaze is unwavering, his words a gentle but firm command.

Nori nods, her eyes welling up. She sniffs and wipes her nose with the back of her hand. "You're right," she murmurs, her voice small. "But it's just so hard. They don't understand." Asadi's arms tighten around her, and she feels his warmth seep into her. "You are not alone," he whispers fiercely. "We stand united." She looks up at him, finding strength in his words. "Okay," she says, her voice stronger now. "I'll tell you everything tonight."

His eyes soften as he brushes a stray tear from her cheek. "Good girl," he says gently. "Now, let's get you home. We'll deal with this together." He stands, offering her a hand. The park's silence is a stark contrast to the tumult in her mind, but his touch grounds her. She takes his hand and lets him lead her out of the playground.