chapter 4

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the classroom as Almira and James stayed behind to finalize the school fair schedule. Ms. Dela Cruz had left them with a stack of papers and a few words of encouragement.

James spread the papers across the table. "Okay, let's start with the performance slots. What time should we schedule the band?"

Almira, though physically present, found her mind wandering back to the strange behavior of Kyle and Jane. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. "Um, maybe 7 PM? That's usually when most people are free," she replied, a little distractedly.

James glanced up, noticing her lack of focus. "Almira, are you sure you're okay? You seem really preoccupied."

Almira sighed. "It's just... I can't stop thinking about Kyle and Jane. I don't understand why they're acting like that."

James leaned back in his chair. "Maybe they're just stressed about the fair too? Everyone's feeling the pressure."

"I don't know, James. It feels different. It's like they're deliberately avoiding me, but then I catch them staring. It's so weird," Almira said, her voice laced with frustration.

James thought for a moment. "Okay, how about this? Let's finish up here, and then maybe we can casually walk by where they usually hang out after school. See if we can get a sense of what's going on. But no confrontation, okay? Just observe."

Almira considered his suggestion. "Okay, I guess that's better than doing nothing. But I still don't want to make a big deal out of it."

They worked in silence for a while, finalizing the schedule. As they packed up, Almira felt a knot of anxiety tightening in her stomach. She wasn't sure what to expect, but she knew she needed to find out what was going on with her friends.

As they walked out of the classroom, Almira spotted Kyle and Jane near the school's old acacia tree, their usual hangout spot. They were talking in hushed tones, and Almira could feel her heart pounding in her chest.

"Okay, remember, just observe," James whispered, giving her a reassuring nudge.

As they walked closer, Almira could hear snippets of their conversation. "...not fair to her..." "...should just tell her..."

Almira's curiosity piqued. Tell her what? What wasn't fair? She was about to approach them when James gently pulled her back.

"Wait, let's not interrupt. We don't want to scare them off," he cautioned.

They hid behind a nearby pillar, trying to listen without being seen. The tension was palpable, and Almira could feel her anxiety growing with each passing second. Whatever Kyle and Jane were hiding, it was clear that it involved her, and she had a feeling it wasn't good.

Suddenly, Kyle's voice rose slightly. "But what if it ruins everything? What if she gets mad at us?"

Jane sighed. "It's better than letting her find out from someone else. She deserves to know the truth, Kyle."

Truth? What truth could they possibly be talking about? Almira's mind raced, trying to piece together the fragments of their conversation. She was about to step out from behind the pillar when her phone buzzed in her pocket.

It was a text from an unknown number: "Don't trust them, Almira. They're not who you think they are."

Almira's eyes widened in shock. Who sent this message? How did they know what she was thinking? A chill ran down her spine as she clutched her phone tightly.

"What's wrong?" James whispered, noticing her pale face.

Almira showed him the message, her hands trembling. James read it, his expression turning grim.

"This is getting serious," he said. "We need to figure out what's going on, and fast."

Just then, Kyle and Jane started walking in their direction. Almira quickly shoved her phone back into her pocket, her heart pounding in her chest. She took a deep breath, trying to appear calm.

As Kyle and Jane approached, Almira forced a smile. "Hey guys! What's up?" she asked, trying to sound casual.

Kyle and Jane exchanged nervous glances. "Hey, Almira," Kyle said, his voice a little strained.

"We were just... talking about the school fair," Jane added quickly.

Almira raised an eyebrow, but decided not to push it. "Oh, really? Anything interesting?"

Before they could answer, another student approached them, interrupting their conversation. "Hey, Almira! Ms. Dela Cruz needs you in the office. Something about the decorations for the fair."

Almira sighed inwardly. "Okay, I'll be right there." She turned back to Kyle and Jane. "I gotta go. We'll catch up later, okay?"

As she walked away, Almira couldn't shake the feeling that she was walking into a trap. The text message, the hushed conversations, the nervous glances – it all added up to something big, something she wasn't sure she was ready to face.

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