AsLaz- The Mysterious Cabin

4. A crack in the mask

The next morning, Asi woke up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the cabin. She stretched lazily, feeling the slight chill of the autumn air seep in through the window. She had slept surprisingly well, and for the first time, she wasn't dreading the thought of spending another day with Alaz.

Pulling on a sweater, she headed to the kitchen, where she found Alaz standing by the stove, flipping pancakes. The sight was almost comical-this sassy, spoiled boy playing house, humming softly to himself as he cooked. For a moment, she stood there, just watching him, a small smile creeping onto her lips.

"Well, this is unexpected," she said, breaking the silence and causing him to turn around, spatula in hand. "I didn't know you could do more than toast."

"I'm full of surprises," he shot back, grinning. "Figured I'd make up for my culinary shortcomings yesterday. Pancakes are my specialty."

"Impressive," Asi said, moving to pour herself a cup of coffee. "But I'll be the judge of that."

They sat down at the small dining table, and to Asi's surprise, the pancakes were actually delicious. For a while, they ate in comfortable silence, occasionally trading playful remarks. But as the morning wore on, the casual atmosphere began to shift, and Asi could feel a tension building, like a storm cloud hovering just on the horizon.

"Hey," Alaz said, breaking the lull in their conversation. "I was thinking... what if we did something different for our project? Like, instead of just talking about teamwork, we actually show how different perspectives can create something beautiful."

Asi raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "I'm listening."

"I was thinking we could make a short film," he continued, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "We'll use the retreat as our backdrop-showcase the contrast between two people who don't get along but find common ground. Sort of like... us."

Asi's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected him to come up with something so creative, something that played into the dynamic they'd been navigating since the beginning of the weekend. "That's... actually a really good idea," she admitted. "But it sounds like a lot of work."

"I know," he said, leaning forward, his eyes locking onto hers. "But I think it'll be worth it. Besides, I've seen how you handle challenges, and I know you can pull it off."

There was something in his tone that made Asi pause, a sincerity she hadn't heard before. She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, her phone buzzed on the table, interrupting the moment.

She glanced at the screen and felt her stomach drop. It was a message from an unknown number, and the text was short but unmistakable: "I know who you are, Asi. Meet me tonight, or I'll tell him everything."

Asi's breath hitched, her mind racing as she tried to process the message. How could someone know? She had been so careful, so cautious about keeping her past hidden, especially from people like Alaz. Panic surged through her, and she quickly put her phone down, hoping he hadn't noticed the change in her demeanor.

But Alaz wasn't oblivious. "Everything okay?" he asked, his brow furrowing with concern.

"Yeah," she lied, forcing a smile. "Just some spam message. Nothing to worry about."

He didn't look convinced, but he didn't press her further. Instead, he went back to discussing the project, outlining his ideas with the same enthusiasm. Asi tried to focus, but her mind kept drifting back to the message. Who could possibly know about her? And what exactly did they plan to tell Alaz?

The day dragged on, and by the time evening rolled around, Asi was a bundle of nerves. They had spent the afternoon filming around the cabin, capturing the scenic beauty of the forest and the subtle shifts in their dynamic. It was surprisingly fun, and she found herself almost forgetting about the cryptic text. Almost.