WHO AM I

A DANGEROUS GAME

The tension in the room was palpable. Lila's heart raced as she absorbed Zara's message. "This is getting out of hand," she said, biting her lip. "If Zara knows what we’re planning, we need to be extra careful."

Noah leaned against the table, arms crossed, considering their next move. "Zara's smart. If she’s warning us, she might not be fully on Renzo’s side. Maybe we can use that to our advantage."

"Right, because bringing her into our mess sounds like a great idea," Cathy quipped, rolling her eyes. "What’s next? We invite Renzo for tea?"

"Well, that could lighten the mood," Jasper chimed in, his grin wide. "‘Hey Renzo, fancy a spot of tea while we plan your downfall?’”

Lila shot him a half-smile despite her unease. "Jasper, focus. If we reach out to Zara, we need a solid plan. She might think we’re still with Renzo and using us to get intel."

“Or we could just ask her to bring cookies while we’re at it,” Jasper replied, winking. “You know, to sweeten the deal.”

“Guys!” Lila interrupted, her frustration bubbling over. “This is serious!”

“Fine, fine,” Jasper said, throwing his hands up in mock surrender. “Serious mode activated.”

Cathy turned to Lila, her expression softening. “We could reach out to Zara but make it sound like we’re still on Renzo’s side. Maybe she’ll drop some hints about what he’s planning next.”

“Good idea,” Noah agreed, his focus sharpening. “But we have to be careful not to give away our intentions. We can’t let her know we’re onto him.”

Just then, Lila’s phone buzzed again. This time, it was a group chat with Zara. Lila hesitated before opening it, her heart thumping in her chest.

“Did you guys see this?” Lila asked, her eyes widening.

Noah leaned over to read the screen. “What is it?”

Zara’s message was clear: “Meet me at the old cafe. I have something important to tell you about Renzo. Bring the others.”

Lila’s stomach twisted. “She wants to meet up. Do we trust her?”

“If she’s as smart as we think, she wouldn’t want to meet unless it was serious,” Noah replied.

Cathy bit her lip, looking concerned. “Or it could be a trap.”

“Let’s not freak out yet,” Jasper said. “What’s the worst that could happen? We walk into a trap and become Renzo’s newest pawns? Oh wait, that’s exactly what could happen!”

Lila couldn’t help but smile at Jasper’s antics, but the gravity of the situation loomed over them like a thunderstorm. “We should go. But we need a plan.”

“What kind of plan?” Cathy asked, arms crossed.

Noah’s face lit up with an idea. “We’ll go in as if we’re still on Renzo’s side. If it is a trap, we’ll need to be ready to backtrack quickly.”

“And I’ll bring my trusty sidekick,” Jasper said, pointing to his backpack. “I never leave home without my emergency snacks. I mean, if we’re walking into a trap, I’ll at least need to keep my energy up.”

“Just don’t eat them all before we get there,” Lila said, chuckling despite her nerves.

---

The old cafe was dimly lit, with worn wooden tables and a lingering scent of coffee and nostalgia. As they walked in, Lila scanned the room, her heart racing. Was this a setup? Would Renzo be waiting?

There, in the corner, sat Zara, her expression unreadable. Lila motioned for the others to stay behind her as they approached the table.

“Zara,” Lila said, forcing a smile. “Thanks for meeting us.”

Zara looked up, her eyes flickering with something that felt almost like fear. “I didn’t know if you’d come. I need to talk to you about Renzo, but you need to trust me.”

“Trust is a hard thing to come by these days,” Noah said, crossing his arms.

“I know,” Zara replied, glancing around as if afraid someone might overhear. “But he’s planning something big. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“Why are you telling us this?” Lila asked, her voice steady.

“Because,” Zara hesitated, glancing at the door, “I think he’s going to turn on you. He knows you’re getting too close, and he doesn’t like loose ends.”

“Great,” Jasper said, leaning in, “so we’re the loose ends? What are we, a sock with no pair?”

Lila elbowed him lightly, and Zara shot him a puzzled look. “This is serious, Jasper.”

“No kidding!” he exclaimed, feigning surprise. “I thought we were here for a coffee and a giggle.”

Lila turned back to Zara, her eyes narrowing. “So, what’s the plan?”

Zara leaned in closer. “We need to find out what Renzo’s really after. And I can help you. But you need to keep me in the loop, and we need to act fast.”

Just then, the door swung open, and a cold breeze swept through the cafe. Lila turned to see Renzo himself step inside, scanning the room. Lila’s heart dropped.

“Quick!” Noah hissed. “Act natural!”

Jasper’s face broke into an exaggerated smile, waving as if they were all best friends. “Hey Renzo! Fancy seeing you here! We were just discussing how much we love—”

“Shut up, Jasper,” Lila muttered, her eyes wide.

Renzo’s gaze landed on them, narrowing with suspicion. Lila felt her stomach twist. This was it; the game was about to escalate.