WHO AM I

THE CRACKS BENEATH

The silence in the room stretched on, thick and suffocating. Lila stood there, her mind reeling from the bombshell that had just dropped. Noah's eyes, usually filled with warmth, now seemed distant, clouded by guilt. Renzo, on the other hand, looked like he was thoroughly enjoying the drama he had unleashed.

"Well, this is awkward," Renzo drawled, a sly smile playing on his lips. He casually leaned back into the couch as though he owned the place. "But I guess you two have a lot to talk about. I'll leave you lovebirds to it."

Without waiting for a response, Renzo stood up and made his way to the door, leaving an air of smugness behind him. Before he exited, he turned and gave Noah a look that sent chills down Lila's spine. "Just remember, secrets don't stay buried forever, Noah."

The door clicked shut behind him, and the weight of his words hung in the air. Noah rubbed his temples, clearly struggling with what to say.

"I was going to tell you, Lila," he said, his voice low and shaky. "I just... I didn't know how."

Lila's heart pounded in her chest, the sting of betrayal still fresh. "You didn't know how? That's your excuse?" Her voice trembled with frustration. "You lied to me. This whole time, you let me believe you were someone else."

Noah stepped closer, his eyes pleading. "I didn't lie, Lila. I just didn't tell you the whole truth. I wanted you to know me for who I am, not my money, not my family's name. You, out of everyone, know how suffocating it can be to be judged by what you have."

Lila bit her lip, fighting back tears. He wasn't wrong, but that didn't make it hurt any less. "That's not the point, Noah. I trusted you. I thought we were honest with each other."

Noah's shoulders sagged. "I didn't want to lose you. I thought if you found out, everything would change."

Lila shook her head, trying to make sense of it all. "But you lost me anyway by hiding the truth. You made that choice for me."

For a moment, they stood there in the middle of the room, the tension between them palpable. Lila's mind raced, memories of their time together flooding back—the laughs, the quiet moments, the shared secrets. But now, everything felt tainted, like a thin layer of deception had coated all of it.

"I just don't get it," Lila finally said, her voice breaking. "Why didn't you think I could handle it? Was I not important enough?"

Noah reached out, his fingers brushing her arm. "You're the most important person in my life, Lila. That's why I didn't tell you. I didn't want this—" He gestured between them, the divide that had suddenly formed. "—to happen."

Lila pulled away, her emotions swirling in a storm of anger, sadness, and confusion. "Well, it did."

The room felt cold, the weight of everything pressing down on them. Noah's face crumpled, and for the first time, Lila saw the raw vulnerability in his eyes—the fear of losing her, the regret of his choices.

"Lila, please," Noah whispered. "Don't walk away. Not like this."

Her heart ached, but the pain of his deception was still too fresh. She took a deep breath, her voice steady but firm. "I need time, Noah. I need to think."

Noah didn't say anything as she turned and walked toward the door, her steps heavy with the weight of what had just unfolded. She didn't look back, even though every part of her wanted to. The moment she stepped outside, the cool night air hit her, and she felt like she could finally breathe again. But her chest still ached with the weight of Noah's confession.

Lila wandered through the streets for what felt like hours. The streetlights cast long shadows as she walked, her mind playing the conversation with Noah over and over again. She had no idea where to go or what to do next. Everything felt so uncertain.

As she turned a corner, she heard laughter coming from a nearby café. Peeking through the window, she saw Zara and Stacy sitting at a table, their faces lit up with joy as they chatted away. A pang of jealousy hit Lila in the chest. How could they be so carefree when her world was crumbling?

With a sigh, Lila decided to go in, hoping that being around them might help distract her from the turmoil swirling inside her. The bell above the door jingled as she entered, and both Zara and Stacy looked up in surprise.

"Lila! What are you doing here?" Stacy asked, a bright smile on her face. "Come join us!"

Lila forced a smile and slid into the booth next to Zara. "I just needed to get out for a bit."

Zara raised an eyebrow, clearly noticing the tension in Lila's voice. "Rough day?"

"You have no idea," Lila muttered, trying to push the thoughts of Noah out of her head.

Before she could say more, the waiter appeared with a tray full of drinks. Zara grinned mischievously and handed Lila one of the glasses. "Here, this will cheer you up. It's a 'Midnight Escape'—perfect for when you're trying to forget about the world."

Lila chuckled despite herself and took a sip. It was sweet with a kick, much like she needed right now.

As the conversation flowed between the girls, Lila found herself laughing at Zara's ridiculous stories and Stacy's playful banter. For a moment, the weight on her chest lightened, and she felt almost normal again.

But then, out of nowhere, her phone buzzed with a message.

Noah: I'm sorry. Please, let's talk.

Lila stared at the screen, her heart sinking once more. She knew that this wasn't over. Not by a long shot.